France - Jura and Annecy areas

European Beaver swimming in the Reserve Naturelle du Bout du Lac at the south end of Lac d'Annecy. We walked down from the campsite at dawn, sat quietly for an hour and this animal swam within 3 metres of us!.

Evening sunlight shining through the spruce trees near the Source du Doubs in the Jura.

Autumn Crocuses (Colchicum autumnale) also known as Meadow Saffron or Naked Ladies, growing near Allèves. All parts of the plant are deadly poisonous and contain the drug colchicine. These are not to be confused with the Autumn Crocus (Crocus vernus) nor the Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus) which are true crocuses.

Adult male Mouflon with female harem. He had eighteen in all and the herd ran past within 50 metres of us, though I didn't have my camera at that point! In all we saw over 50 mouflon and three Chamois here, just below the summit of Crêt des Mouches.

Mont Blanc as seen from the summit of the Crêt des Mouches. The summit did have quite a few flies buzzing around - so it was aptly named!

A large species of bush-cricket, the Wart-biter (Decticus verrucivorus) on a rock in mountain pasture on the Crét des Mouches.

Trees with beautiful golden autumn colours in the Foret du Massacre in the Haute Jura National Park.

This is a view from the campsite at dawn over the Lac de St Point.

Male Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus), sunning itself at the farm above Le Côte.