Vautours fauves – Gyps fulvus

Vautours fauves – Gyps fulvus



Griffon vultures – Vautours fauves – Gyps fulvus – Accipitriformes – Accipitridae

In hide for stags, I am sitting on the ground against one of the 2 rocks in the field and literally hidden by a few grass stalks; the camera fixed on the tripod 40 cm above the ground and the camouflage net over head, I am surprised to hear suddenly an impressive whistling blow of air a few meters over my head, then a second and a third.

I freeze and finally raise my head to discover about 10 vultures gliding down towards the valley below! An uncommon sight since I am in the Pyrenean foothills and not up in the mountains and they only come down occasionally to clean up a dead animal. As they circle the place, I try to shoot them but as I am lying on the ground it it is quite a challenge. Average weight: 8 kg, max. wing span: 2.65 mètres.

Vautours fauves – Gyps fulvus

En place pour affuter les cerfs en ce 27 septembre, je suis couchée contre une des 2 seules grosses pierres du champset planquée littéralement par 3 brins d’herbes; l’APN sur mon trépied à 40 cm du sol et le filet de camouflage par-dessus le tout, quelle ne fut pas ma surprise d’entendre tout d’un coup un sifflement d’air impressionnant à quelques mètres au-dessus de la tête, puis un second et un troisième.

Je me paralyse puis lève enfin la tête pour m’apercevoir que c’est une dizaine de vautours qui arrivent en planant vers la vallée en contre-bas! Un cas peu commun car je suis dans les contreforts des Pyrénées et non en pleine montagne et ils n’y descendent qu’occasionnellement quand il y a une bête morte à nettoyer. Ils cerclent le coin avec instance et je tente de les photographier mais étant à moitié allongée sur le sol, cela se révèle très difficile. Poids moyen: 8 kilos, envergure max.: 2,65mètres. Voici les 3 meilleurs clichés de vol d’une série hélas pas tout à fait assez nette mais pas question de me faire repérer:

Here are the best 3 flight shots of a series not quite in focus but it was out of the question to be detected:

OIS Vautour D7200F 9961 160927

OIS Vautour D7200F 9963 160927

Vautour 0198 160927

Pendant que je regarde en l’air, l’un d’eux s’est posé à environ 35 mètres de moi. Place aux images et admirons la magnificence de ces oiseaux qui ne tuent pas pour manger mais sont les équarisseurs naturels du règne animal – n’en déplaise à ce que certains veulent nous faire croire pour toucher des subventions aberrantes – :

As I was busy watching the flying birds, one landed about 35 m from me. Let’s admire their magnificence, knowing they do not kill to eat but clean up dead animals in nature.

OIS Vautour D7200F 9968 160927

OIS Vautour D7200F 9978 160927

OIS Vautour D7200F 9979 160927

OIS Vautour D7200F 9983 160927

OIS Vautour D7200F 9985 160927

OIS Vautour D7200F 9989 160927

OIS Vautour D7200F 9990 160927

OIS Vautour D7200G 0127 160927

OIS Vautour D7200G 0158 160927

OIS Vautour D7200G 0160 160927

Vautours fauves – Gyps fulvus

 

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Noushka

Passionate about Nature and photography but mostly animals and birds. I live in France at the present, but have lived in Africa for 16 years and in the U.S. for 3 years and with Australia in mind for the future. With my husband, I created and managed a Bird Park in South Africa, raising mainly psittacines; the breeding facility housed over 1000 parrots at any given time. My photography is about sharing fauna's beauty with other enthusiasts! Equipment: NIKON lenses: 400 mm Z F4/5, 800 mm Z, 500 mm, 200/500 mm, 800 mm f5/6E

Noushka Wildlife

Passionate about Wildlife, Photography and Wildlife issues. I live in the south of France at the present, but have lived in Africa for 18 years, in the U.S. for 3 years. With my husband, I created and managed a BIRD PARK in South Africa, raising mainly psittacines; the breeding facility housed over 1000 parrots at any given time. I speak French and English alike and manage decently in Spanish. My photography is about sharing fauna's beauty with other enthusiasts! Equipment: ALL NIKON Cameras: Z9, D850 Tele lenses: 70/200 mm f2/8, 500 mm f4, 800 mm Z f6/3, Zoom lenses: 24/105 mm, 200/500 mm * * * My work can be seen HERE: https://www.facebook.com/wildlife.gateway

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