Lammergeier - Bearded Vulture - Derbyshire & South Yorkshire July & August 2020

First seen in Holland and Belgium, a young Bearded Vulture originating from the Alps made its way across the channel to the UK in June 2020.  Initially sighted in the UK in the Midlands, a number of  relatively brief sightings were reported from Derbyshire over the next week, and a few days later the Lammergeier was seen several times in the valley to the east of Ladybower reservoir on 10th July.  I still managed to miss it several times despite being in the area, but later that day it was pinned down roosting in a steep valley towards Howden Moors.  This meant a long trek in the dark the next morning for several hundred birders, from the Strines Inn over to the location to catch it before it left its roost spot at dawn. A large number of people made it in time to the valley edge opposite its location as it dropped off its cliff ledge just after dawn and glided down the valley and then up over towards Back Tor.  After about ten minutes gliding over the nearby moors it headed back and spent a short while back at the roost site before heading off again.

Over the next couple of weeks the bird stayed in the same area, ranging over a wide location and not always roosting in the same place.

Its roost location in Howden Moors involved a long walk, usually a 3am start would get you to the location fro dawn!  There was no guarantee it would be there, as it clearly had other locations as evenings it wasn't returning and gradually became less frequent at the Howden Moors site.  The final part of the walk to overlook the gorge was quite treacherous underfoot, but the midsummer location provided some spectacular views:

The Bearded vulture on the first morning over Howden Moors:

Leaving the gorge it regularly roosted in:

Above its roost spot:

A week later I was near Bamford Edge when the bird performed superbly as it briefly flew along the edge before heading over to Ladybower:

Taken back at its roost site one morning:

After disappearing for a week, the vulture was relocated further north-west at Crowden near Glossop where it remained for a further three weeks in August before finally departing late in the month, and finally leaving the country in October.

Here the Vulture is at its roost location in the valley above Crowden.

In flight in the valley above Crowden:

Overall I made 12 attempts to see the Bearded Vulture at its various locations, and connected on 10 occasions. Even my mum made it on the last attempt:

Thanks for Looking!