Kites in La Seu, Spain (1 Viewer)

[Dizzy Debs]

Hi there,

I have just returned from a friends in Andorra and she works at a dog home in La Seu in Spain and its right next to a land fill site and I was totally blessed with the birds of prey there. At any one time I must have seen at least 50 / 60 buzzards, vultures, possibly and eagle and kites. Whilst the views around were spectacular, the stench from the land fill was awful so not exactly the nicest place for bird watching but worth persevering with the smell just for the spectacle of seeing all these birds. However, I am uncertain what the kites were. Being such a lover of Red Kites and from travelling to see them in Oxfordshire on so many occassions I would certainly recognise them but I just didn't notice any of the typical redness. I thought perhaps they were Black Kites but from having looked at pictures they are a lot darker than what I saw. They were definitely Kites because of the tail but I just didn't think they were Red.

Also, has anyone been to La Seu and seen these birds as I wondered if the vultures I saw were European or Griffin.

Thank you !

 

[Jon Turner]

The Kites were most probably Black, their plumage can be quite variable. The Vultures were both!! European Griffon Vultures most likely, although you could get Egyptian, which are much smaller.

 

[Dizzy Debs]

The Kites were most probably Black, their plumage can be quite variable. The Vultures were both!! European Griffon Vultures most likely, although you could get Egyptian, which are much smaller.

Thanks Jon. I just didn't feel they were Red Kites. They had the most distinct light (non-red) markings but sadly I could only get to see their underside. Thats great news about the vultures. To get to see all these huge striking birds at one time, in such huge numbers. Well I was in bird heaven !! As only bird lovers will know (my friend just doesn't get it...!!)