Wildlife

Several years ago on my first trip through the Alps (http://cycletouring-genevamontecarlo.blogspot.co.uk/) D and I camped at La Grave by the full-flowing Romanche river. As we supped the cheeky but fruity and overlaid with a hint of caramelised oniony/liquorice €1 red, we were disturbed by a sudden flurry of movement among the large boulders beneath our relaxing butts. It was like the Mystery Guest on a Question of Sport - glimpses of half of this, a furry bit of that - was that a whisker? a paw, a claw? But, before we had time to investigate further, it, whatever it was, was gone. Did it swim or just scurry in a flurry, all furry, and hide?
This year as I hurtled down the Izoard towards Arvieux a most unusual furry animal hopped clumsily across a tight bend fifty yards ahead. Traffic had stopped for the floppy haired creature, about two feet in length, during a fish-out-water moment. This animal was more used to the close cover of nooks and crannies than the open road. I had no time to get a photo as I was momentarily transfixed by the odd looking bundle of fur.
There was only one thing it could be - and I was privileged to see it, as were the rubberneckers in the cars that had stopped to let is pass. The Marmot is only found above 800m and spends nine months hibernating - the other three is  briefly spent mating before stuffing its face. 

All kinds of birds of prey can be seen hanging on the breeze. Without a good zoom lens, these are impossible to photo properly as they are just too far away and lost in the vast backdrop. But, cycling along a precipitous road beside a silent gorge, with a huge bird hovering at your level above the chasm below is one of those sights that gives the Alps the allure it has. Then, watch as the bird suddenly drops out of its stationary orbit and swoops down to kill. It returns to the air, crushing a bundle of bloodied fur between its deadly talons. Darn it, there goes another Marmot.