Weaving continues

 75% of the way through...the end is in sight!

Red billed Leiothrix!

I was surprised yesterday evening to catch a glimpse of a little flock of colourful birds I couldn't recognise. Today I returned and got some photos. A fast flying passerine, the red billed leiothrix comes from China and the Himalayas and was imported to Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some escaped and they are now established in small numbers across southern Europe.

 

Mazères

A trip to the north of the Ariège to see the Storks at Mazère and then a spot of orienteering in Pamiers with Sheri, Michiel, Paula and Andy. Mazère was bloody freezing and Susie and I were completely caught out as we'd got used to the sunny weather here. Thank god we didn't wear shorts which has been the norm here for the last week!

 

Latest wildlife photos with the new lens

Whilst planting some new fruit trees, I spied a weasel coming in and out of the sheep shelter.  As I waited patiently for an hour for her to return I was also rewarded by the squirrel! Later I found I buzzards nest which if not abandoned might give some great pictures of young.

 

Towards Mont Ceint

Retaining wall all finished...about ten trailer loads of stone and two blackened nails!

Yesterday, a snow shoe with Emily and Myla (who we haven't seen for ages) from the Etang de Lers towards Mont Ceint. Icy hard snow in the morning and a strong south wind so we decided to make a leisurely shorter day and summitted point 1839m instead. Myla's first time on snow shoes, she did very well even on the steep ground which was at the limit of snowshoeing.

Emily and Myla on the summit in the strong winds

Crazy clouds caused by the strong south winds

 

Stone retaining wall

About 5 years ago we terraced the vegetable garden using posts and wriggly tin, slowly these have been pushed over and so it was time to do the job properly with stone walls....a job I've been putting off. With dry weather now seemed like a good time, as the the clay is stiff and won't collapse too much when the old tin is removed. I m slowly working my way along the slope and building the wall high enough to take out two walls. Heavy work so I'm  limiting myself to mornings only.

 

Tuc de la Curate

A walk from the Col d'Ayens, the view from which is far more spectacular than I remembered, especially as it is only 950m high. From there an easy walk on piste forestières and wooded ridges over the peaks of Cap de Calamane 1360m, Cap des Embausses, Tuc de la Courate 1421m, Cap de Sarradère 1390m, Tuc de Coume Grande 1335m and Cap de la Bouyche, before returning to Col d'Ayens.

From the col d'Ayens

Clouds spilling over from Spain between Pointe de Rabassère and Pic de Certescan

Telephoto of Dent de Médé with Pic d'Estats beyond

Lauch, one of several hamlets above Rivèrenert

The unusual trig point on tuc de la Courate

 

Weaving underway

This will be the face of the fabric

 

Cour vic (ski tour)

After a day of South winds which dumped red sand and dust across France, 5-10cm of snow was forecast above 1000m so I hastily rallied the troops (Andy and Paula) for a modest ski tour. The snow has been iron hard for the last week or so but a bit of fresh on top suggested good conditions. In the early morning it looked dismal but as we arrived at Faup the clouds cleared the sun came out and great day looked possible.

The temperature stayed cold and after a kilometre in ski boots carrying our skis we finally reached the snow and could start skinning up to the Col de Pause. A group of skiers and snowshoers were ahead of us, who we exchanged places with throughout the morning. Mixed conditions skinning up to the cabin ONF, lower down we had to cross a stream which wetted the skins and made them ball up, then higher up the fresh snow wasn t sticking to the iron hard snow below and a few kick turns on the steep slopes felt exposed. After the cabin all was perfect and we changed our objective from Tuc de Bignau to Cour Vic as progress was slower than I had hoped.

We ascended the ridge behind the cabin and made a direct line for Cour Vic.

After the ridge above the cabin, Col de Pause at the extreme left

Nearing the summit

We'd watched strong winds arriving at the summits and by the time we reached Cour Vic the spindrift was blowing around. After some quick photos and a bite we decided to descend whilst the snow was still cold and light.

View of Valier from the summit

Cour Vic in the distance - a short carry to the col above Couret des Etangs

Descending to the Etang d'Areau (frozen and snow covered).

Although the couloir from Cour Vic beckoned (the other skiers descended it), Andy lacks confidence and experience off piste so we decided to stay together and return more or less the way we had come. It was a magnificent ski down in great snow and Andy didn't fall once!