Day 12: Cormaranche

At Cormaranche is a lovely wooded hillside above a lake. The wood is a mixture of Birch, Beech and Spruce. I went there early one morning, hoping to see Crested Tit, Penduline Tit and Hazel Grouse.

On the way I drove past Thurignin Gorge, and was rewarded for stopping there by seeing this Viperine Snake. Natrix maura. Despite its common name it is a non venomous relative of the Grass Snake. It often waits in ambush at the bottom of pools, and can remain submerged for 10 minutes.

The track leading up through the mixed woodland at Cormaranche.

Record shot of a Crested Tit. A lifetime first.

Record shot of a Penduline tit. Another lifetime first. I also caught a glimpse of Hazel grouse.

Some of the magnificent Beech trees.

Mating Red-legged Shieldbugs, Pentatoma rufipes.