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
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.
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.
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: Sneaking around
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: Sneaking around
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: Shake your tail-feathers
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: Shake your tail-feathers
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
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
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
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
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: Picking a feather
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: Picking a feather
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: oops
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: oops
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: It wasn't me...
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Dirksland, The Netherlands
Remarks: It wasn't me...
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Andalusia, Spain
Remarks:
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Andalusia, Spain
Remarks:
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Andalusia, Spain
Remarks:
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Andalusia, Spain
Remarks:
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps fulvus
Dutch name: Vale gier
Common name: Griffon vulture
Location: Andalusia, Spain
Remarks:
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.
Geluid:
During the feasts the most dominant birds hishes and the other Vultures respond with grunting sounds.