The Alpine chough is most probably the moutaineering star of the bird kingdom and noted for having the highest altitude nests of any other bird species.

Here in the deep Austrian alps and high above the Pasterze glacier these bird race through the air with the speed and precision of ,well Alpine choughs I guess!!

Being almost impossible to photograph in flight we simply watched their swift and acrobatic manoeuvres as they soared in the updraughts. Just stunning.

Alpine chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus).

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Alpine Chough’, 1/1000s f/3.5 ISO320 200mm