LAMMERGEIER !!

Shooting landscapes with long lenses from small hides is not an easy option. This is one of the slopes in foot of a cliff visible from the hide.

D3s, 200-400 4,0, 400 mm, f6,3, 1/640, ISO 500 

Spanish Pyrenèes nov 12th 2011 : Beeing totally overwhelmed by the griffon experience (gåsegribb) my photographer friend Dario Mesonero Romanos and I had in the remote Pyrenèes that morning on the 12th of November (see last blog), the silence in the hide after the vultures had left was... total. I honestly expected nothing more of Torre de Tamurcia !! However Dario kept talking about the lammergeier (lammegribb), about the bird being a loner, extremely shy and rare, and said we had a chance for it since the swarm of griffons now was gone.

I was in "deep flashback emotions" over the incredible griffon adventure, as Dario suddenly whispers : "Lammergeier !!"  I thought the guy was joking (would have been a very bad joke Dario !!!), but he kept going "Lammergeier, lammergeier".  Then I saw it too, a quick shadow in the air above, with that typical lammergeier silhouette :  long arrow-shaped tail, slightly angled wings, a huge bird with wingspan close to 3 m and still : with that quick raptor flight. My heart was up in my throat beating !!
These vultures eat bones, not meat. I knew they would just pick a knuckle and leave again. We had the birds (a pair) for only a minute or two. Cameras went like machine guns ... and then, just as suddenly they appeared, ..... they were gone again, "eaten" by the vast Pyrenèe landscape !!

I smiled all the 700 km back to Madrid

The pictures are not the best, I know that,- but for me it was a great experience and still : a good photographical  start. I will definitely come back for this one !! 

My first close encounter with this majestic bird

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6 1/1000, ISO 1000

On ground for very short time

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/2000, ISO 1000

Wingspan up to 2,95 m makes a pretty big bird !

D3s, 600 4,0, 5,6, 1/640, ISO 1000

Typical angled wings and arrow-shaped tail is visible. Holding a knuckle by the claws.

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/640, ISO 1000

I have been shooting red kites (glente) before, but never had them close on ground before.

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1000, ISO 1250

Red kite (glente)

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/800, ISO 1250

Red kite (glente)

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/800, ISO 1250

Red kite portrait (glente)

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/320, ISO 640

Red kite flight (glente)

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1000, ISO 1250

Red kite flight (glente)

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1000, ISO 1250

Red kite flight (glente)

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/800, ISO 1600

This is what a scabies-infected (skabb-infisert) fox looks like. Poor animal !!!

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/1000, ISO 640

A scandinavian wagtail on winter holiday in Spain ?

D3s, 200-400 4,0, 280 mm, f6,3, 1/640, +0,33, ISO 2000, handheld

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/250, +0,33, ISO 500

D3s, 200-400 4,0, 400 mm, f5,6, 1/640, +0,33, ISO 1600, handheld

THE SPANISH FLY

In the remote Pyrenèes a local fly happened to come into our car. Her full name was :

Carmen Maria Quebrantahuesos Tamurcia
For us, she was only : Carmencita

We were not aware of her presence in the car as we were leaving Torre de Tamurcia, and by accident ....she came with us all the 700 km back to Madrid. Carmencita of course had a family in Torre de Tamurcia and her ancestors have been surviving on cowshit and local carcasses up there for decades. Now she`s suddenly and unwillingly become a "country girl in the big city of Madrid", ...which of course, may pose some minor problems. 

So, Carmencita, if you ever read this, we want you to know that we are so sorry for putting you in this situation !! 

Now, our best piece of good advice  to you would be as follows : Get rid of that silly country accent of yours, adapt some fancy urban habits and try to look "pretty cool". Over time we are sure that you will find yourself a handsome and caring city-boy for future husband. Yes, city carcasses are hard to find (in best case you would normally just find a dry, half eaten hamburger), but with your sense of smelling, you will surely find a proper place for many future eggs in your future city life.

Good luck Carmencita !!