Vorarlberg: Austrian Alps

19th - 23rd June 2025

This was primarily a short trip to search for orchids and butterflies in the Vorarlberg region of the Austrian Alps. We had arranged to meet our friend and guide Bernhard, and his wife, who both knew the area very well and would hopefully help us locate some of the special montane orchids found in this region.

Thursday 19^th June: A 2 hour flight from Manchester to Zurich where we picked up the car rental and drove to the very attractive village of Hittisau in Vorarlberg. Around the hotel we quickly spotted Red Kite, Common Swifts, Black Redstart and Common Buzzard.

Friday 20^th June: Our first excursion was to the nearby town of Mellau where we took a cable car from the car park up the mountain. At the top the profusion of wildflowers was immediately noticeable and we quickly found Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid which were very common. More careful searching revealed a few Globe-flowered Orchids, together with Common Twayblade, Common Spotted Orchid and a few very small Frog Orchids. Further along on the walk we discovered a superb patch of Burnt Orchids and several Chalk Fragrant Orchids together with singles of Greater Butterfly Orchid and Sword-leaved Helleborine. In terms of butterflies, the highlight was a False Heath Fritillary as well as Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Large Grizzled Skipper, Woodland Ringlet, Green-underside Blue, Dingy Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue and Small Blue.

Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid

Globe-flowered Orchid

Frog Orchid

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Burnt Orchid

Sword-leaved Helleborine

Saturday 21^st June: On day 2 we decided to head off to Damüls for a long walk which would hopefully result in some new alpine orchids. Soon after leaving the car park we found a large patch of Small White Orchid, another one of the key target species for the week. Further along the trail were several Frog Orchids, a few Greater Butterfly Orchids and Globe-flowered Orchids as well as plenty of Chalk Fragrant Orchids and a single Early Purple Orchid. Finally, as we approached the highest point of the walk, and after much searching, we located the target for the day, namely some very small Dark Vanilla Orchids. Butterflies included Orange Tip, Large Skipper and Green Hairstreak with a singing Garden Warbler.

Small White Orchid

Dark Vanilla Orchid

Globe-flowered Orchid

Sunday 22^nd June: For the final day we drove to Bezau which would hopefully provide opportunities for some new butterflies in the montane wildflower meadows. We took the cable car to the top and sure enough butterflies started to appear including Large Blue, Common Blue, Small Blue and Green-underside Blue. Pearl-bordered Fritillaries were seen frequently and less familiar species such as Olive Skipper, Geranium Argus, Alpine Heath, Large Wall Brown, Wood White and Swallowtail as well as Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Clouded Yellow and Wall Brown. Orchids were again plentiful including a single Dark Vanilla Orchid, Greater Butterfly Orchid, Chalk Fragrant Orchid, Frog Orchid, Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid and Small White Orchid.

Large Blue

Large Wall Brown

Olive Skipper

Wood White

Swallowtail

Large Blue

Overall an excellent long weekend with some great new orchids and butterflies. We drove from Bezau to Zurich Airport and the following day flew back to Manchester.