Ruppell's Vulture (1 Viewer)

Simon Wates said:

In the last minutes a Ruppell's Vulture has been sitting in front of a webcam situated at Portas de Rodão (near Vila Velha de Rodão) in the Griffon Vulture colony. It has been seen in the area now for 3 years or so and is in adult plumage. (The regular autumn birds we get at Sagres have all been imms. except one - 3 different birds in 2010)).

See the webcam here

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Jon Turner said:

I think I've asked this question before: 'Where are all these immatures coming from?' There seem to be quite a few kicking about in Andalucia too.

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Simon Wates said:

Maybe about 8000 imm Griffons from Iberia disperse south into N.Africa in late autumn and some numbers have been seen in Senegal (at least) where Ruppell's has been seen associating. Also Ruppell's has been seen arriving across the straits with returning Griffon's. It is believed therefore, that Ruppell's are completely wild and have been accepted as so by rarities committees in Iberia. The Ruppell's at Sagres the last few years are always associated with the large movements of Griffons and its thought that many of these Griffons are the on the way to N.Africa.

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Simon Wates said:

Correction...in Portugal there have been two cases of Ruppell's sitting in Griffon colonies in the breeding season.

One of them was in the PN Tejo Internacional in 1998 and 1999 when a bird was paired with a Griffon and on one of those years an infertile egg was laid.

Later, was the bird which has returned to Portas de Rodão

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