While I was working today, Marilize and Joubert spent some time at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park’s Vulture Hide. And they were rewarded with a fantastic sighting of another rare South African bird, the Bearded Vulture! Am I jealous? Yes. Yes I am.
DeWetsWild 
Fantastic! talk about right place, right time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely Meg! Marilize & Joubert were very chuffed with themselves and their special sighting, and I had to be content with their photos.
LikeLike
Good picture. We will have to visit Golden Gate sometime.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure you’d have a lovely time at Golden Gate, James!
LikeLike
Sjoe pragtige foto , ja ek dink saam al die ander is ek ook jaloers … om nie daardie oomblik daar te kon gewees het nie. Maar dankie vir die deel …
LikeLike
Ek sal jou gelukwense, en jaloesie, aan Marilize oordra, dankie Spokie!
LikeLike
They render such a wonderful service, the bone collectors! I discovered the word ‘ossuaries’ through their lair of bones. Is it correct that they drop the bones from a height to smash them to get to the marrow?
LikeLike
We’ve never seen them drop a bone in person, but have seen it filmed on wildlife documentaries: shattering large bones dropped from great height on rocks, and then swallowing the fragments. They must have very strong stomachs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ek is ook nou jaloers!Dis sekerlik een van die mooiste aasvoëls en daardie geluid wat hulle maak,as hulle so sweef,laat my hare rys van pure lekkerkry!
LikeLike
Mens sien hulle nie baie so naby en so duidelik nie, ne Dina! En ek stem saam, as mens eers eenkeer die geluid van hul vlerke bo jou kop gehoor het, vergeet jy dit nie sommer nie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks absolutely beautiful, up there in the sky, Dries: but when it’s on the ground, does it have a head as ugly as all the other vulture …?
LikeLike
Unlike most other vultures Margaret-Rose, the bearded vulture’s head and neck is fully feathered; that’s because they eat mainly bone fragments and not rotting meat and innards. In all, it makes for a more attractive bird 😉 The one pictured is an immature bird, the adults have a cream-coloured head and neck.
LikeLike
I am DELIGHTED to know this, as it certainly gives every sign of being a beautiful bird.
Thanks for widening my horizons !
LikeLike
Thank you for spending time with us M-R!
LikeLike
the wingspan on that bird!! Beautiful!
LikeLike
They’ve got an immense wingspan Lois, almost 3 metres (over 9ft)!
LikeLike