Martagon or Turk’s Cap Lilies

... are Alpine beauties and quite rare so I was amazed to see this huge specimen (extra shows the whole flowering stem) under the cliffs of the Tour d’Ai. What a fabulous short walk up to this summit. I was just about to set off down when 5 griffon vultures glided overhead! I have never seen these magnificent birds before and my camera was already back in the rucksack so the one shot I eventually took is not good enough to post except as a poor extra. What a thrill to see them as they set course for the French peaks. 

Thanks so much for yesterday’s moon comments, hearts and stars which have placed it on the first Popular Page!