Birdlife is one of the highlights of the region. Penquin-suited dippers stand out against the snowy river banks in winter as wagtails bob up and down. Overhead, lonely birds of prey, such as golden eagles, buzzards and red kites circle the skies, and may swoop through a group of majestic griffon vultures as they cruise the heavens, or cling to the cliff faces. Busy crag martins share the river with the many herons, and lesser, greater and green woodpeckers flit through the wooded valleys.
Such abundant foodsource gives rise to a multitude of insect life. Butterflies abound in the spring, giving way to less delicate crickets and praying mantis in the autumn. Reptiles such as green lizards and snakes (including several species of viper) scurry away, and on a wet night, you may be rewarded with a golden salamander the size of a dinner plate