The weather looked good, in fact quite beautiful. Rainbows spanning the valley's and gorges. It had snowed here in the last 48hours, this made us wait for our revisit up the high mountains to watch the Lammergeiers.
Cameras, back packs and most important lunch, all secured we set off once more. Leaving the lower mountain areas the weather soon started to change, and not in our favour.
Not long into our climb upwards we popped out of the swirling cloud, letterbox views allowed us glimpses of the snow clad mountains.
Behind us the weather looked like it may improve.
The rainbow seems to hold the cloud up, giving us a clear view to our destination.
Still a long way to hike, the weather changes by the minute, rain and then sun.
Our first Lammergeiers of the day, battling the ferocious wind, that is now roaring down from the peaks.
As we move along the top edge of the gorge we disturb a group of Griffon vultures, they must have been sitting out the growing storm. As they fly to another sheltered ledge, along the rock face, they pass through another rainbow.
Griffons in the rainbow.
We to have entered the colourful world.
A adult Lammergeier glides along the gorge. In this picture you can clearly see why they also have the name, Bearded vulture.
A low pass, looking for food over the grass cropped short by roaming sheep.
Picking up good light and showing the beard well on this adult.
A juvenile passes on the wind, which is now a problem. This picture not only shows first year mottled
colouring, you also see the much shorter tail and broader wings which do not have the pointed ends.
In the last minutes that it is possible to stay here, another adult glides over the gorge. Looking back at these photos, all seems calm, in reality the wind is now gusting hurricane force, it is hardly possible to stay on your feet, let alone take photographs. It is time to beat a retreat!
As this last adult turns and heads down the gorge we say thank you and head for the cover of the lower
ground just like them.
It takes five years to attain full adult plumage, just look at those striking lead grey feathers.
Full combat wet weather gear and still wet through but exhilarated, having shared some time with these wonderful birds, high up in the Pyrenees, let us hope for their future and in countries like Switzerland the success of the reintroduction programs.
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