Switzerland 3. Birds and Flowers on Our Walk

A few more images from yesterday's walk. Having started in the cloud and snow, by the time we got to Kleine Scheidegg, the clouds were clearing. As I took an image of the Eiger, a very large flock of Choughs came through and a Nutcracker landed on a nearby post. Flowers included here -  Knapweed, Rosebay Willowherb, Field Gentian, Sorrel, Golden Rod and Monks Hood

 

Switzerland 3 Mannlichen in the Snow

In the many visits I have made to the region, all in late June/early July, we only ever seen snow on the top of the Mannlichen so it was a new experience to see the area with its light covering of white. The clouds opened intermittantly to give views of the surrounding peaks.

A Week in Switzerland 1

This is the first time I have visited Wengen in the Bernese Oberland in any month other than June/July but the first view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley still looked very familiar!. The meadows are all cut in Wengen itself but the gardens all have plenty of colour. The weather for the first couple of days is due to be cloudy and fairly wet but it does give some great cloud and peak views. Last two images infrared. 

Switzerland Day 7. - All Creatures Great and Small

 For our last day in Switzerland, we took the train to Wengen alp and then walked slowly down to Allemand. The cows had just been milked and were returning to the meadows to graze, The warmer weather had brought out all kinds of bugs including Robber Flies, Spiders, Hover and other Flies, and finally a Shield Bug

 

Switzerland Day 6. Eigergletsch Again!

We started the day by taking the cable car up to Mannlichen and spent an hour or so photographing there including this Spring Pasque flower and Trumpet Gentians. We travelled by gondola down to Grund and then round by train to Kleine Scheidegg and up to Eigergletsche where I walked the start of both the eiger Trail and the Ridge walk looking for high level flowers such as the Glacier Crowfoot (5th image). finally the walk down to Kleine Scheidegg produced lots of photos!

Switzerland Day 5 Schynige Platte

The day dawned clear for our expedition to Schynige Platte - this involves getting to Wilderswil by two trains from Wengen and then the wonderful cog railway up to the Platte. The line was opened in May 1893, and was electrified in 1914. The journey takes 50 minutes with panoramic views of Interlaken area and then the Jungfrau range. Unfortunately the weather didn't hold for long. We left around 2.30 and by 5pm in Wengen a thunderstorm arrived.