Griffon Vulture

N.B: I have replaced my original blip of a wallcreeper the next day (12/1) with this one of a griffon vulture.  I have a distinctly better wallcreeper for  12/1.

We headed into steep territory this morning, not far from our hotel in Loarre (Aragon). It was a fantastic birding day, with nothing but sun and comfortable temperature.  Huge griffon vultures were nearly everywhere above us in the heights; many perched, but normally high above us--this was the only one that came to rest relatively low, permitting this surprisingly intimate portrait. There were also numerous red kites--a beautiful and graceful bird that is one of my favorite raptors.  We also saw our first life bird of the trip: a black wheatear, very special,--and beautiful.