Col de La Croix is Open ....

.... but as soon as I had gone 300m the snow covered the path up to the farm there. I could hear the black grouse calling as I had hoped, and sort of “snow swam” up to a point where I could see 6 males parading (3 in extras). Everything is so late this year, I think they will be doing their display for a few extra weeks till the females decide it is warm enough to breed. 

Thanks so much for your double woodpecker enthusiasm, they have just flown to the first Popular Page.