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Description
The Aigoual is worth a visit at all seasons, but winter and spring will be best. The summit itself is a vast pasture with ľabtuška vrchovská and strakoš obyčajný. Surrounding conifer and beech forests host a nice mid-european bird community with tesár čierny, pôtik kapcavý, kuvičok vrabčí, sýkorka hôrna, sýkorka uhliarka, ľabtuška hôrna and other common species that do not occur in the nearby mediterranean plain. vodnár potočný breeds along rivers on the way to the top, eg near Valleraugue. The Vallée du Bonheur which leaves from Camprieu pond is a good place for strnádka cia and strakoš obyčajný in May. This place will offer some of the best birding of the area.
The Aigoual is also worth a visit from late october to late march for vrchárka červenkavá (up to 15-20 indivuduals winter around the weather station and castle at the very top) and possibly snehárka vrchovská (up to a few tens but missing some years). Thrushes may show up in the nearby Camprieu plain if the weather is cold (drozd čvíkota and drozd červenkavý). Raptors can occur in good weather (orol skalný , sup bielohlavý).
Details
Access
The Aigoual is a 2h drive north from Montpellier. In spring, the Vallée du Bonheur from Camprieu pond (2) is probably the best bet for a morning visit (foot track from the pond climbing gently upwards along the valley, then crossing a beech forest - it is a 2-3h loop). The Lac de Pises (3), a 30' drive from Camprieu, deserves a morning or evening visit (avoid it during midday as it is a classic picnic place). Wolves sightings have become regular in this area. For forests, try the Col du Minier (4) and forests between Camprieu and the summit. You can park at the Aigoual summit (1). Note that it can be very cold in windy winter days. You can wander around the weather station for vrchárka červenkavá and snehárka vrchovská in winter or strakoš obyčajný, skaliarik sivý and ľabtuška vrchovská in summer.