Vultures all over the world

[Marbzy]

Another stroll at 12:51:


Up again half an hour later:


And again:

[Marbzy]

El macho sets his neck in weaving motion (these birds seem to do this when their conspecifics are flying above):


He makes sure the egg is safe:


And prepares for a confrontation:

[Marbzy]

But no intruder makes it into view and the male continues its vigil:


I may have missed something, but if my count is right, he hasn't left the nest for over 50 hours now:


The last changeover I was able to document took place at 11 am on 8 April. The stream went down a few times on that day, but there's a very good chance that el macho's shift is already 55 hours old:


He takes another break at 19:21, does some preening, goes to the loo, walks back slowly to the centre of the nest, lies down the agg at 19:21. Nest relief would be welcome, as would be a change in the weather... (but the outlook for the weekend is simply bad).

[Marbzy]

11 April

El macho continues to brave the elements:


A real tough guy:


The male says hello to el huevo:

[Marbzy]

74 hours and counting:


El macho has just plucked his own feather:


Some exercise follows:

[Marbzy]

Suddenly, the male gets ready for an emergency (note the tail):


The unseen visitor is clearly not welcome:


Things return to normal:

[Marbzy]

But the threat is soon back:


This is not exactly a friendly look:


Oh, dear!

[Marbzy]

The banded foot has landed centrally on the egg:


That was close... (but the tail is still up):


The danger is still on the radar:

[Marbzy]

Five seconds later the stranger pays a flying visit:


That foot comes dangerously close to the egg again:


Either the same or another stranger flies into cam view again:

[Marbzy]

El macho can finally calm down:


Past the 76-hour mark now...:


The afternoon turns even wetter:

[Marbzy]

Just short of 78 hours...:


... la hembra!


Kisses:

[Marbzy]

The male is off in under 20 seconds since the female's arrival:


Hola, el huevo!


The male comes back to say thanks:

[Marbzy]

He's brought her a branch - it's not an olive branch, but it will do anyway:


El macho takes off again. It seems that he only makes it to one of the neighbouring branches and is off a liitle later, but he is not seen around again today:


The female rolls the egg (with her foot!):

[Marbzy]

She looks a bit weary:


Good night:

[Marbzy]

12 April

Good morning! La hembra makes sure el huevo develops properly:


No noteworthy events take place before noon:


Genuine activity begins at 12:53:

[Marbzy]

The female rises and spreads her wings:


She jumps carefully over the egg to avoid damaging it (the male could take a lesson here):


And then she takes off:

[Marbzy]

El huevo remains unattended...:


... for just under two minutes:


El macho is back!

[Marbzy]

And so is la hembra:


She's delivered some soft green stuff (it's in her beak, just over the male's yellow band):


The couple give the viewers an excellent opportunity to compare their heads (el macho's head is much darker on the top):

[Marbzy]

The female then leaves:


The male has a new characteristic feature that can aid identification - the white stains on the left wing:


Before the male can settle on the egg, the female returns:

[Marbzy]

Their beaks make contact:


The female has persuaded the male to leave:


And just when it looks as though she's about to resume her 19-hour-long vigil...: