Vultures all over the world

[Marbzy]

And back into the burrow:


Egg inspection?


And the snow kept falling...

[Marbzy]

Is it Christmas yet?


Apparently not!


The periscope is out again:

[Marbzy]

According to SEO BirdLife Spain, this is the male. They are a little wary, because it's a youngster - he only hatched in 2015 and this could be the first time he's breeding.


But he has soldiered on like a proper macho (Spanish for 'male', the word is used all the time in the chat next to the YT stream)


He got up several times during the day, and each time headed to the bathroom. If it wasn't for this basic need, he likely wouldn't have moved an inch

[Marbzy]

Should I just slide down into the hole?


The talons are out to cope with an itch


Finally, the perfect route is discovered

[Marbzy]

SEO BirdLife Spain claim that some CV pairs lay eggs even at the altitude of 1800 metres asl in minus 20 degrees centigrade, so a wintry spell of this kind is unlikely to do affect incubation


Still it's hard not to feel for this brave buitre negro


It got a little warmer in the evening

[Marbzy]

And the snow started to melt


But it's still very wet out there


And these conditions are far from perfect, if you're an egg


This specfic nest is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama (SdG) range at about 1500-1700 metres asl. More rain, snow and sub-zero temperatures (especially at night) are forecast for the whole week. According to SEO BirdLife Spain approximately 30% of eggs fail every season (around a 100 pairs are reported to be breeding in the SdG colony now). I do hope this pair manage to withstand the inclement conditions and the egg remains intact. Fingers crossed!

[Marbzy]

1 April

April's fools?


The young male has been at the nest for more than 24 hours


The vigil continues

[Marbzy]

The snow came back with a cameo


Is something cooking?


Physical exercise over the egg

[Marbzy]

The banded leg


The bum is up


Shall we play some football?

[Marbzy]

The male resumes his duties, but is growing restless


He knows something is about to happen


Change is round the corner

[Marbzy]

But the usual procedures are broken


The egg is briefly left unattended


Fifteen seconds after the male's departure the female comes flying in like a bullet

[Marbzy]

She's only just began to settle on the egg...


... when the male storms back to the nest


He's brought her a thank-you twig

[Marbzy]

But after a lengthy shift in atrocious conditions he's earned a holiday


He duly leaves the nest


And the female lies down in the middle of the white ring

[Marbzy]

Two hours later a companion arrives


And another


SEO BirdLife explain that these are likely non-breeding members of the colony. Neither visitor is the incubating female's partner

[Marbzy]

Such visits pose a danger to the egg. While no fighting normally occurs in the nest at this stage of the breeding season, each time the incubating adult rises to protect the egg and show the visitors they are not welcome, there's a risk of incidental damage to the egg


The visitors leave one by one...


... in the space of five seconds

[Marbzy]

Another CV lands by the nest, causing the female to rise to her feet


This visitor is in no hurry


But he eventually decides to spend the night somewhere else

[Birdfriend]

Thank you for informations and pics, the weather will be warmer now. Hope they are successful.

[Marbzy]

2 April

The future Mom inspects the egg


Her pancake act is top-notch


Another inspection

[Marbzy]

A changeover was performed in the (late) afternoon


The "legitimate" male arrived at 17:38


The female was initially in no hurry

[Marbzy]

But once she'd risen...


... she sprang onto the branch in front of her...


... and was gone in a matter of seconds