Читать книгу Mountain Adventures in the Maurienne. Summer routes for a multi-activity holiday in the French Alps онлайн

14 страница из 40

Bouquetin above l'Ecot

Marmots will be heard before they are seen. Their shrill alarm calls echo around the valley and these members of the rodent family can be seen standing atop rocky outcrops on sentry duty. An adult marmot will weigh around 5–7kg, and they live in communes of two or three generations. Once used for meat, fur and medicinal purposes, marmots are now a protected species. They hibernate during the winter and can be seen from late April onwards once the snow starts to melt. One particularly pleasant place to observe them is from the veranda of the Femma Refuge, although any open sunny mountainside will host any number of marmot family groups feasting on berries.

Less frequently seen are the large birds of prey. Golden eagles and bearded vultures live in the mountains and may well be seen soaring on the thermals. Ptarmigan and black grouse (tetras-lyre) also populate the mountains, along with nutcrackers, choughs and snow finches.

Lizards may well be spotted basking on rocks in the sun from Easter onwards, along with a whole host of butterflies and insects.