Griffon Vultures

I have just processed my Griffon Vulture images from Spain in 2017, adding 78 new images to my website. Here's a selection of a few of them.

This was one of my favourite species we photographed on the trip, they were real likeable characters. Considering they had travelled a fair distance to the offerings of meat, some of them seemed to have just come along to enjoy the trip. They would lie down and sunbathe in the grass and flowering Lavender, seemingly with no interest in feeding at all. Others would gallop around and bicker with each other.. nothing aggresive, they just seemed very laid back.

Those were from a hide, we also visited a mountain top castle at Monfrague National Park. The birds were flying past level with or below us here, as we waited for the lowering sun the shots got better and better. They were flying so close at times that we were unable to fit the whole bird in the frame. As you can see from some of the close-ups here which haven't been cropped.

Extremadura, Spain. Trip Report. Day 3

Day 3. February 22^nd

Weather: Sunny with white cloud.

First today would be a trip around La Rocca de la Sierra and Villar del Rey. Some of the first birds seen were: A good group of Azure-winged Magpies, Black Redstart and Dartford Warbler. A walk behind an industrial area in the town of La Rocca de la Sierra would give us: Stone Curlew, Spanish Sparrow, Black-winged Kite, Hoopoe, Little Owl and a Great-spotted Cuckoo was heard. 

 

Crested Lark

Stone Curlew

 Then we had a good stroll along the river, we would see Griffon, Black and Egyptian Vultures. A Bonelli’s Eagle was circling overhead as well as a large forming group of Common Cranes which were heading off on migration. On the journey to our lunch venue at Alberqueque, we would see Bonelli’s and Spanish Imperial Eagle.

 

Black Vulture

Bonelli's Eagle

Common Crane

Common Crane

Griffon Vulture

Griffon Vulture

Griffon Vulture

Griffon Vulture

Griffon Vulture

In the afternoon we would take an excursion through the Sierra de San Pedro to the Castle of Azagala. The castle sits high up above the surrounding countryside and is a great vantage point. With a lake and rocky outcrops below, there would be a lot to look for here. Species seen here would include: Golden Eagle, Black Stork, Crag Martin and Black Vultures which were loafing around on the rocks below.  

Crag Martin