Vulture fly-past

Our last full day in Majorca. An early start saw me on the viewing tower at S'Albufereta by 08.00hrs, and during the next hour watched seven Purple Herons arrive from the south, six Night Herons decide on where to roost during the daylight hours, three noisy Stone Curlews that were in a constant state of agitation, two Purple Swamphens and a Marsh Harrier that caused apoplexy amongst the Black-winged Stilts. The nearby beach played host to 16 Kentish Plovers, before a gradual dispersal caused by the arrival of human paddle-boarders.

As I returned to Port de Pollenca by the coast road, I cut inland, along the quiet roads that I have come to love, bordered by scrub, small fields, weedy corners and villas surrounded by bougainvillea. From here you have an uninterrupted view of the mountain spine to the north, and it was not long before the clear blue sky was joined by a few black dots - big black dots. 

I was able to watch three Black Vultures, broad of wing and meagre of effort, as they glided along the mountain line, before some imperceptible movement broke the invisible umbilical chord that they had with the high ground. They were coming straight towards me. After a couple of minutes this flirtation with the lower terrain was called off and they sought solace with the mountains once more. It had been a brief, but unforgettable encounter. A single Griffon Vulture and a Booted Eagle joined in the fun afterwards, but, after the Black Vultures, it was a hard act to follow.

Comments

Factor said…
Lovely stuff - holidays are great, aren't they?
19 July 2016 at 20:42
Steve Gale said…
They certainly are Neil, and as you know only too well, this corner of Majorca is rather special.
19 July 2016 at 22:46
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