Griffon Vultures/Buitre Leonado in Spanish
Some of my favourite Griffon Vulture shots over the last few years, will probably edit this as I take new ones or re-discover old good ones. Maybe even add one or two in colour to please the missus!
Laguna del Salobral or Conde
After some good rain in late 2025 and early 2026 Laguna del Salobral had some water in it for the first time in 8 years and life returned. unfortunately by August 2026 it was desert dry again and all life gone. First photo February and the last in black and white taken in July, in between a brief burst of life. Trying to get some good shot but years with no water have led to bushes and straws growing all over making it difficult to get clean photos of the birds. Still got some decent ones I think. Species include Mallard duck (Ánade Azulón), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común), Little Grebe (Zampullin Común), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común), Grey Heron ( Garza Real), Black Winged Stilt (Cigűeñuela Común), Black Winged Kite (Elaine Común) and the critical endangered Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna) among others. Maybe get some more species added on later.
Moorish towers
The terrain in and around Sierras Subbeticas is dotted with these towers dating back to the Moorish times in Al Andalus as Andalusia was then called. Will be adding more photos as I get around to it or take new ones.
Portraits of Olive trees
Soon after moving to Fuente Tojar in the Mancomunidad Subbetica I was amazed of the beauty of the olive trees, especially the older ones, reminded me of people with a long and interesting life. So I decided to start taking their portraits. So I went out in the morning and the evening to catch them in the golden hour light, favoured light for landscape photographer but I was not happy with the result, I think there is maybe two photos here taken in evening and one in the morning light that worked out, the rest taken during the day with harsh sunlight, maybe a bit overcast but light from high in the sky seem to work best for me, nice contrast and rich grey tones, nothing else to say.
