Bird Watching or Twitching in Andalucia Southern Spain
June 2006, Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus
With the over wintering migratory birds now departed it is time to concentrate on residents and the summer visitors. The Egyptian Vulture arrives in late March and stays until September. There are two areas in particular where you should see this large bird, soaring on thermals with flat, up to 2 metre span wings, the Alcornacales National Park and the mountains west of Gaucin and Ronda. This vulture has a white upper body and yellow 'fluffy' head with a pointed tail rather than a fan shape. Unlike other raptors the Egyptian Vulture will eat just about anything, carrion, insects, household waste, small reptiles and will even take small birds from nests.