Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), sub-adult. Serradilla, Monfragüe, Cáceres. 05-08-11 (David Álvarez).
In June 2010 and also in June 2011 this blog reported sightings of Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) at Salto del Gitano, Serradilla, Monfragüe. One-and-a-half months after the last of these observations, on 5 August 2011, another different bird was seen and photographed hard by, within the same municipal district of Serradilla (Cáceres). The excellent photograph (click on it to open it up) shows that this bird was a sub-adult, maybe in its 4th or 5th year. The lucky observers this time were David Álvarez, Ivan Álvarez and Ismael Izquierdo.
To date there have been 3 accepted records of this species in Extremadura (May-June 1992, May 2000 and June 2004) plus another three, ostensibly genuine, yet to be officially accepted (May 2008, June 2010, June 2011). There have also been 3 accepted records in Portugal, where the river Tagus runs along the border with Extremadura: 26 May and 11 June 1992 (the same bird recorded in Spain), 5 June 1998 and 18 February 1999. There are also several other Extremadura records without much to go on. This all suggest a very scarce but more or less regular presence in the region. Among the records now "lost to science" a Rüppell's Vulture was said to have been photographed in late 2010 eating carrion in Serrejón-Casatejada (Cáceres).
See previous entries about Rüppell's Vulture in Extremadura.
