Gryphon Vultures --- Gatecrashing the Party

[Gottshotz]

Travelling through the Spanish Sierra de Andujar mountains in May this year I came across a "wake" of Gryphon Vultures feeding on some animal remains on nearby hillside.

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Of course this number of birds attracted more to join the party, and the sky was filling up with a string of other Vultures spiraling in to get a piece of the action !

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They came in at speed and started to apply the "brakes" as they got within 40 feet of the main group.

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As they got within 20 feet they dipped their heads and lifted their feet to the front to present their best weapons--talons and beak.

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With this very aggressive posture they were able to muscle their way into the centre of the group, scattering others to the sides and thus gaining a quick opportunity to grab some food before the next bird arrived.

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[Rassie]

Good shots, all of them. The last crop is just WOW!

 

[ssheipel]

Wow, those are great. Nice work.

 

[Gottshotz]

Good shots, all of them. The last crop is just WOW!

Hi Rassie --- I knew this crop was a winner, so much detail and intensity.

 

[Gottshotz]

Wow, those are great. Nice work.

Thanks Steven --- vultures are good subjects, they don't fly too quickly and look really mean.

 

[seh]

Wow is right! What a way to grab a bite.

 

[Mark Hauser]

Beautiful set of pictures and great work

 

[Gottshotz]

Wow is right! What a way to grab a bite.

Thanks Scott --- Interesting to note that if the larger and rarer Black Vulture (largest of the Old World vultures ) wants to get at the remains the Gryphons stand aside, and he simply swaggers through the melee without having to resort to the "bully boy " tactics of his smaller cousins.

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Spanish Black Vulture (this one from the Pyrenees).

 

[trapper12]

Lovely series of pics,love the last crop lovely detail

 

[Gottshotz]

Beautiful set of pictures and great work

Thanks Mark --- I don't always bring along a 400mm f2.8 but when I get an opportunity like this it's worth its weight in gold.

 

[Vincent_VdB]

Lovely shots man, well done.

 

[Gottshotz]

Lovely series of pics,love the last crop lovely detail

Thanks Trapper12 --- yes, the cropped image from the previous pic illustrates the advantages of using a high MP camera with f2.8 prime attached.

 

[Gottshotz]

Lovely shots man, well done.

Thanks Vincent --- always a pleasure to share.