To see a Griffon vulture circling high above the Spanish hills, wheeling and swooping on the thermal drafts is an awe inspiring sight.Tomas Mowlam goes looking for a truly awesome bird of prey.

To see them up close is even more impressive. They’re massive birds, up to a metre long, with a two and half metre wingspan, the Griffin vulture can weigh up to 13 kg.

Native to North Africa, Middle East, the Griffon vulture can be found in Andalucia and in northern Spain on the border with France. With a pale white head and caramel coloured outer feathers they’re pretty striking.

Vultures haven’t quite got the status of an eagle, but they perform a vital task cleaning up carcasses that die on the hillsides and Spanish farmers used to use them for this very purpose. Since an EU directive that dead farm animals can’t just be dumped and left for the vultures the numbers have declined, but Spain is probably the best place to see them in Europe – the populations in Sardinia and Sicily are almost gone and the Croatian numbers on the island of Cres are small.

They’re year round residents so your chances of getting a look at one are good. If you really want to ensure your chances though it might be worth joining up with a dedicated tour that provides hides and guides.

P&O ferries run the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry service.

Image Credit: Wiki Commons

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