Vultures all over the world

[Marbzy]

The egg's gotta wait!


And just as the egg's wait is about to end...


... the female returns (with some soft stuff to line the nest)

[Marbzy]

She's then off on another errand...


... and returns with more soft material


This is another nest with the female acting as the master builder

[Marbzy]

Come on, I'm doing my best


Is something illegal going on over to the right?


Somewhat unexpectedly, it is the male who takes off next

[Marbzy]

He is soon back, but the female is already incubating again


Off the branch and into the nest


The "kissing" ritual follows

[Marbzy]

A stately couple, aren't they?


OK, lad. See you tomorrow!


The male makes himself and the egg comfortable

[Marbzy]

Hello, I'm back (this time with a twig)


Having checked on her partner, the female finally flew away for good a minute later


Half an hour later the male got some unwanted company

[Marbzy]

He's had to defend the nest. The visitor just bounced off the nest and hopped onto one of the branches


It turned out to be an inexperienced youngster banded in 2019


Inexperienced and bored...

[Marbzy]

The visitor changed his viewing point a few times, frustrating the incubating male a little


Just like last night, the visitor finally went to seek some other company


It's going to be peace at last


Good night!

[Marbzy]

3 April

Incubation in progress:


There were two main bouts of activity today. The first - just after 2 pm:


An unusually quick changeover started with the female's arrival

[Marbzy]

The "kissing" routine:


A look to the left:


And we're down to one again:

[Marbzy]

But before the female was able to lie down on the egg, the male returned with some nest material:


The mates had a quick word:


And the male was off again:

[Marbzy]

Just preening!


The other bout of activity occurred between 5:07 and 6:07 pm. The mates swapped places a few times, fetched a few brand new twigs, etc. It ended with a spectacular departure:


Then two more visits were paid to the nest. The first by a conspecific:

[Marbzy]

The other by a raven:


Ravens have a rich record, including some on the LK forums, of taunting raptors (as well as grey seals ), but perhaps it was too late in the day for mischief:


The raven left, without bothering the incubating vulture, half a minute later. Good night!

[Marbzy]

4 April
The male approaches the landing area:


He's brought another twig:


He offers the female relief:

[Marbzy]

The future Mom (fingers crossed) accepts:


She returns just a few minutes later:


And gets the prospective Dad to leave (he first jumps onto the branch and leaves half a minute later):

[Marbzy]

The female over the egg. The adults usually turn around over the egg (once or twice), stepping very close to it with utmost care, before lying down to incubate:


The male came back in the afternoon:


The female gets up and stretches (a part of the male's wing can still be seen at the top of the image):

[Marbzy]

But the male may have surprised his partner by taking off before she was ready to leave:


She leaves anyway:


The egg on its own:

[Marbzy]

The lady is back after two minutes...


... and is soon joined by the gentleman:


This time the male does take over:

[Marbzy]

She returns in the evening to relieve the male:


She rolls the egg with her beak:


The male leaves:

[Marbzy]

The male comes back with some nest material:


The male contemplates another errand:


Back to work: