Piran

I couldn't find a suitable thread for my post, which is about birds.
I'm not a dedicated bird-watcher but in the evenings I keep by binoculars next to my tipple as I relax, to see what's about.
Sunday we saw an amazing sight, a Lammergeier flying over the forests which rise above Alcaucin, Axarquia. Thes birds are instantly recognisable from other birds-of-prey from their colouring and shape. We are used to two or three varieties of Eagle and of course Griffon Vultures.
According to the books, Lammergeiers are only resident in the Pyrenees, S. France and the Middle east so a really exciting event for us.
I'd be interested to know if anyone else has seen these birds?

Pocaloca

I am very envious as I have never seen a lammergeier. I am surrounded by griffon vultures and see the occasional black vulture, even alimoches (Egyptian vultures?) but not one of these beauties.

He is called quebrantahueso in Spanish, which means bone-cruncher. Very appropriate!

agoreira

Not unusual, given that they have been breeding them in Cazorla, Andalucia and four have been released, you probably saw one of them, 'Tono', 'Hortelano', 'Blimunda' or 'Huéscar'! It seems the last one died in Andalucia 20 years ago.
http://www.europapress.es/andalucia/...204115442.html



Edit. Seems more were released earlier.
http://www.andaluciabirdsociety.org/...andalucia.html

billgates

Wouldn't want to leave the baby outside when one of those things was around.

Piran

The bird we saw differed markedly from the photo above. This bird had totally jet-black wings, top and underneath. The only colour apart from black was the body, and head, which from underneath was a light, possibly buff colour.
The other very different feature was the shape of the wings, which tapered significantly and were much more narrow than say a Griffon Vulture, also they were possibly slightly forward-pointing.
I assume this was a young bird to account for the colour differences from the photo but would invite comment.

Pocaloca

Have you seen the Internet Bird Collection website? It has lots of photos and videos of lammergeiers and all the birds you can think of, showing all the variations that occur with age and time of year. It even has sound clips! A really useful resource.

agoreira

Nice video of the Cazorla setup here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=4wZ17IztAQE

Pocaloca

Thanks, I enjoyed that. So important that the next generation has a real appreciation of wildlife, and not just as stuff to shoot at.