Spring flowers and the high Estive, Pyrenees Discovery level walking holiday.

We had a fun day out in the sun today with temperature into the 20s even at 1900m. The spring flowers such as the Snakeshead Fritillari, Trumpet Gentians and Naked Globe flowers are starting to chase out the early Hepaticas up near 2000m giving a great variation in colours. We also had the chance to admire several big raptors who were cruising up the thermal escalators to the top of the Montagne Fleuri opposite Bareges village. First sighted was a Short Toed eagle and Kestral shortly follwed by a pair of Golden eagles a pair of lammergeier or bearded vultures (3m wingspans!), and finally a squadron of Griffon vultures! 

Snakehead Fritillari with the Col du Tourmalet behind

Fritillari and naked globe flowers