Need ID. Mallorca - Tramuntana range - Eagle or Vulture? (1 Viewer)

[oldjoanna]

Hi

Today I was driving down the Sa Calobra road to the Torrent de Parreis in Northwest Mallorca. This road is in the Sierra Tramuntana mountain range and this was taken at the viewing area before the main descent along this famously windy road.

This bird was circling with 3 others. I know zero about birds but do know there are some protected vultures and eagles in this range. I do apologize for my inexperience but would love to know what bird this just for my own edification and for my writings about my trip.

Any help much appreciated!

Thanks

Nicole

 

[Sangahyando]

That's a Griffon Vulture, the most common (or "least rare") vulture species in Europe. Spain is one of the best areas in Europe to see eagles and vultures.

 

[AllanM]

A nice photo too, Nicole

 

[oldjoanna]

Adding a couple of images

These aren't as clear but I thought they still might be helpful for an ID.

Thanks again...

Nicole

 

[oldjoanna]

Thank you!

Sorry I didn't see that you had already answered! I'm so impressed and very grateful to have the photo identified.

Yes thanks re the photo - I'm a photographer so rushed to get my gear out of the trunk. Didn't quite nail the eye but not a bad effort considering a) how excited I was and b) the fact that I was standing next to a fairly precipitous drop!

Cheers and thanks again,

Nicole

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Second set of pics shows black vulture - a bit rarer than the griffon.

 

[oldjoanna]

Thanks!

I was wondering about that - I guess just didn't think eagles and vultures would be circling together so assumed all the same. I know - I don't even qualify as a novice birder! Makes sense re the Black eagle as they are very proud of having successfully reintroduced them here.

Regardless I'm happy I got to enjoy a great moment - not everyday that you have these beautiful creatures flying by at eye level!

 

[stuartvine]

We got a bit lost hiking in the same area - in a particularly nasty but with steep dropoffs all around. The cherry on the cake was being followed by a Black Vulture which looked quite interested in our plight.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

I was wondering about that - I guess just didn't think eagles and vultures would be circling together so assumed all the same. I know - I don't even qualify as a novice birder! Makes sense re the Black eagle as they are very proud of having successfully reintroduced them here.

both are vultures by the way, Black Vulture and Griffon Vulture

 

[Sangahyando]

Second set of pics shows black vulture

Not to be confused with the (much smaller) American bird of the same name.

 

[Dortmundbirder]

Second set of pics shows black vulture - a bit rarer than the griffon.

On Mallorca it is the other way round from my experience.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

On Mallorca it is the other way round from my experience.

True. When I was there about ten years ago there was only a single griffon vulture on the island, I saw it a couple of times at Cuber on different visits. Then a few years ago (6 or 7?) a severe winter storm dumped two or three dozen griffons, presumably from Spain, on Mallorca. They effectively became stranded and they were easy to see with the reintroduced black vulture population when I was there last year.