In 2014, we made an excursion to try and find a Bald-Headed Ibis, sometimes referred to as a Waldrapp. This would entail visiting Vejer de la Frontera in the Cadiz province of Spain. The main focus was to find some and then photograph these scarce birds.
To reiterate what we said then, they are critically endangered. They are still found in Morocco and now Spain, following the Spanish re-introduction program. They also existed in Syria in small numbers, but the last few years have obviously been bad for the Syrian birds, and as of now, we still do not know their fate.
To reiterate what we said then, they are critically endangered. They are still found in Morocco and now Spain, following the Spanish re-introduction program. They also existed in Syria in small numbers, but the last few years have obviously been bad for the Syrian birds, and as of now, we still do not know their fate.
This February, we arrived once again at Vejer de la Frontera, where the re-introduced birds have made their own roost and nest site in Spain. First released onto the cliffs near Barbate in Andalucia, they found this nesting site after sustained gull predation at the release site.
It appeared the Ibis were doing well. Once again, the weather was not great for us. These are the pictures we managed to take of them up on the cliff face.
All the birds carry multiple Identification rings.
In 2014, some birds had radio telemetry devices fitted on their backs; none were seen this year.
A bald-headed Ibis returns to the roost, looking like a flying witch!
When a bird returns to the nest site, there seems to be an act of welcome or courtship!
At times, quite a few birds arrived together; as they queued to enter the hollows in the cliff face, there seemed a familiar resemblance to the opening of the British Parliament, Black rod, cloaks, drivel and all that pageantry!
From the cliff face, they launch directly over the Cattle Egret colony below. It may be a coincidence, but their original release site was also alongside an Egret colony.
Press on the link http://roadrunnersmikelinda. To see the Cattle Egret colony. blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/cattle-egret-bubulcus-ibis-what.html
Others find higher vantage points to watch over the proceedings below.
They appear to be doing well. There are now other areas across Cadiz province where they can be seen, along with a few in Portugal, and a tagged bird from Vejar de la Frontera has turned up in Morocco. With other programs underway in Austria and Switzerland, let us hope the bird that was once nicknamed the' forest raven ' will continue making good progress.
Press on the link http://roadrunnersmikelinda.blogspot.co.uk/20 to view our previous visit.
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