Griffon vultures seem to have found their way to the Netherlands. With only 7 sightings in the previous century from 2007 onwards yearly larger groups are spotted. In 2015 a group of over 30 stayed for a couple of days.

I saw my first Dutch visitor in the summer of 2016 when an solitary Vulture stayed on Goeree-Overflakkee (an island in the southh-west of the Netherlands). Quite funny to see a Griffon vulture on the neatly mown green of a golf court.

Griffon vultures lay only one egg per year. It is hatched by both parents and the young stays in the nest for the next half a year. The breeding couple is  monogamous and stays together 'till death do us part'. Griffomn vultures are social birds, they breed and hunt in colonies. Nests are situated 2 meters from each other and are fiercely defended by the parents.

With its enormous wings it travels long distances and while the birds seem to float slowely they can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h and travel hundreds of kilometers a day. They need thermals to save energy in flight.

All my pictures can be seen here

8
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands

Remarks: Early june 2016 suddenly a Griffon vulture in the Dutch polder of Goeree Overflakkee. It loved the mowed lawn of the local Golf court.

By the ring it could be determined as the one staying on Texel the year before. I'm curious if it returns again next year.
7
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands

Remarks: Sneaking around
6
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands

Remarks: Shake your tail-feathers
1
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Spanish pyrenees

Remarks: And this is how I saw them in the Spanish Pyrenees
2
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands

Remarks: This Crow wasn't too fond about the vulture
3
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands

Remarks: Picking a feather
4
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands

Remarks: oops
5
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands

Remarks: It wasn't me...
9
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Andalusia, Spain

Remarks:
10
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Andalusia, Spain

Remarks:
11
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Andalusia, Spain

Remarks:


Field characteristics

An adult Griffon vulture is 95 to 110 cm in length and has a wingspan of 2.4-2.8 meter. It weights 6 to 11 kilogram. It is therefore one of the largest flying birds in the world. Unlike eagles, the heads seems small and is bend down during the flight.

Griffon vultures are colored sandy to dark brown with a white head and neck. They have a white collar. The wing feathers and tail feathers are darker to black. Young animals have a brown collar and are darker than adults.

Wings are wide and broad, the primaries remind of fingers. Legs are relatively short.

 Geluid:

During the feasts the most dominant birds hishes and the other Vultures respond with grunting sounds.


 

 

 

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