A bearded vulture has been spotted in the U.K.

[Soubriquet]

And even more amazing, she’s been seen in my local area.

There are so many videos on my local Facebook group but this is the best photo of her so far (yes it’s female)

It’s amazing thing as it’s only the second one to ever be spotted in the U.K.

Isn’t she beautiful?

Women are too busy with childcare. Ever sat in a hide trying to focus binoculars with a couple of toddlers running around behind you? It's not fun!

big generalisation i know! But it's probably part of the reason.

How very true!

Things are getting a little easier now DS is 6 nearly 7 but still have to use bribery to get him to go anywhere. Sigh.

@ErrolTheDragon

Personification

Or anthropomorphism

Yes, that. Not in my primary school job though!

Reports have put her flying back over London, so people are speculating she’s found back to where she came from.

She is being closing followed by bird watchers so I’m sure we will know where she will end up.

They have called her Vigo

Genetic analysis of a couple of feathers has been completed now, confirming her sex (F), age (born last year) and origin (French Alps): www.4vultures.org/genetic-analysis-reveals-origin-and-gender-of-bearded-vulture-vigo-uk/?fbclid=IwAR04GmayPjZEgfddOeymFIqFsA5YLuHgM2xIt4kf7GZJYQ_QGYDhcy5HYLI

Wow. Great to have all that info from a feather!

Oh, I love birds! She’s beautiful ❤️

[quote GerundTheBehemoth]Genetic analysis of a couple of feathers has been completed now, confirming her sex (F), age (born last year) and origin (French Alps): www.4vultures.org/genetic-analysis-reveals-origin-and-gender-of-bearded-vulture-vigo-uk/?fbclid=IwAR04GmayPjZEgfddOeymFIqFsA5YLuHgM2xIt4kf7GZJYQ_QGYDhcy5HYLI[/quote]
Wow, that's amazing! Determining her sex from the feathers was I suppose straightforward but getting her origin and age too - curious to know how they did that.

About 6 weeks-2 months ago I was walking at Hade Edge, above Holmfirth to the very north of the Peak District, and there was a big excited cluster of twitchers. I wonder if the vulture is what they were looking at?

Very likely BikeRunSki. She’s been in the Peak District for weeks and has only recently moved on.

And also a foolproof way rather than to look for the bird itself is to follow the crowd of twitchers (I can confirm that this also works with moose, though not in the UK)

There is a long running breeding programme and reintroduction of the bearded vulture into the Alps, now fulfilling all the hopes of many years. So this is how the genetic information for this wonderful bird was able to be discovered so quickly.
I’m sure she is being monitored carefully by conservationists to ensure her safety as far as possible.

She was photographed over Kent yesterday. Might have crossed into mainland Europe by now.

I tracked the bird over the summer whilst she was in Glossop. Absolutely fascinating to watch and the wingspan and the way she flies is something else. I was hoping "Vigo" would try and get home but crossing the channel is obviously daunting and dangerous. I just hope she survives. I believe she is around 2 years old. Just need to make sure she is eating and not being harassed. I think the greatest worry is she will get shot or eat poison ☹️ certainly worth a visit to see x

I think if anyone deliberately hurt Vigo, they would face a wrath from the public.

She’s too closely monitored and they would be found out quickly.

Wow, that's amazing!

Anthropomorphic personification. Amazing photo of the two birds.

Not a wild one but hope someone spots him soon.

She's at Seaford now. Perhaps getting ready to tackle the Channel. Sea crossings for large, soaring birds are quite challenging as they don't have the help of thermals to gain height. This map shows the northbound migratory route taken by a satellite-tagged honey-buzzard, as she travelled from her wintering grounds in South Africa to her breeding grounds in Finland. Migrations back to the breeding grounds in spring are usually quicker than southbound migrations - she holds a really straight course the whole way until she reaches water!

The Sea Eagles will be pottering around the coast over the winter too

flying barn doors they are known as

FABULOUS creatures

Just have to stop people shooting them

Shes gorgeous...i love vultures.

Seafood you say?! That’s quite near me. What’s the chances of spotting her if I just jump in the car and hang around there looking up?!

I'm not sure that beautiful is a word that I would choose but impressive for sure. A bit scary looking to me!

@GerundTheBehemoth, Thanks for that great map!

This is why Gibraltar is such a major crossing point for migratory birds too.
Fingers crossed for a safe journey for our lammergeier!

We think we saw this back in the summer. We are used to red kites and buzzards daily, but OH called me outside and there was a bird much much bigger than both

She's beautiful! I'd love to see her in the wild. I hope she fares well, wherever she's heading.