Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus
I've just returned form a couple of weeks in the south of France and have one or two photos to share ;)
I had to travel pretty light so could only take my EF 300mm f2.8 MkII lens and a couple of adaptors.
I once lived down there in this very region for a few years and regret that I wasn't doing wildlife photography at the time... so much on my doorstep!
This is the first one, from last Friday. I'd walked up pretty high onto a plateau in Provence, in the hope of seeing either a Bonelli's Eagle or an Egyptian Vulture, but knowing their scarcity, I wasn't holding my breath.
It was raining a little on my ascent and looked like it could get heavier so the outlook seemed bleak, but I persevered.
As I approached the summit it began to clear. Given the rain I hadn't expected to see any large raptors on my way up, but as it cleared and the air warmed I thought this could just be perfect. I was also alone up there so that might improve my chances.
The first thing I heard at the top was a Dartford Warbler and then a Subalpine Warbler.
In order to try to photograph the Dartford, I edged my way along an opening towards the edge of a cliff but the Dartford remained low and in ground covering so there was no success there.
It was then that I spotted something appear from around a distant rock-face and begin to circle in the gorge below. Binoculars on it.... An Egyptian Vulture!... my heart skipped a beat or two and I began to rattle off a couple of photos, not knowing if it may just disappear again.
It then came closer below me, ever circling and gaining altitude... It made two or three passes as it climbed up and then went back towards the rock face it had first appeared from and vanished from view. The next thing I knew it (I presume the same bird) was circling above me. Constantly using the updraft and thermals as the air began to warm in the sun following the rain it gained height quickly and was seemingly gone off to the North West in a matter of a minute or two.
This looks like a fully mature bird to me and probably there to breed.
If that Dartford warbler hadn't been singing out along that opening I would never have seen it until it was high above me. It was one of those moments I'll never for get.
I will post some more photos soon.
Many thanks for taking the time to view, fave and/or comment on some of my photographs.
Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus
I've just returned form a couple of weeks in the south of France and have one or two photos to share ;)
I had to travel pretty light so could only take my EF 300mm f2.8 MkII lens and a couple of adaptors.
I once lived down there in this very region for a few years and regret that I wasn't doing wildlife photography at the time... so much on my doorstep!
This is the first one, from last Friday. I'd walked up pretty high onto a plateau in Provence, in the hope of seeing either a Bonelli's Eagle or an Egyptian Vulture, but knowing their scarcity, I wasn't holding my breath.
It was raining a little on my ascent and looked like it could get heavier so the outlook seemed bleak, but I persevered.
As I approached the summit it began to clear. Given the rain I hadn't expected to see any large raptors on my way up, but as it cleared and the air warmed I thought this could just be perfect. I was also alone up there so that might improve my chances.
The first thing I heard at the top was a Dartford Warbler and then a Subalpine Warbler.
In order to try to photograph the Dartford, I edged my way along an opening towards the edge of a cliff but the Dartford remained low and in ground covering so there was no success there.
It was then that I spotted something appear from around a distant rock-face and begin to circle in the gorge below. Binoculars on it.... An Egyptian Vulture!... my heart skipped a beat or two and I began to rattle off a couple of photos, not knowing if it may just disappear again.
It then came closer below me, ever circling and gaining altitude... It made two or three passes as it climbed up and then went back towards the rock face it had first appeared from and vanished from view. The next thing I knew it (I presume the same bird) was circling above me. Constantly using the updraft and thermals as the air began to warm in the sun following the rain it gained height quickly and was seemingly gone off to the North West in a matter of a minute or two.
This looks like a fully mature bird to me and probably there to breed.
If that Dartford warbler hadn't been singing out along that opening I would never have seen it until it was high above me. It was one of those moments I'll never for get.
I will post some more photos soon.
Many thanks for taking the time to view, fave and/or comment on some of my photographs.