Griffon glide-by - Juan Manuel Hernández López - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2008

2008: Animal Portraits - Highly Commended

Juan Manuel Hernández López Enlarge image Griffon glide-by

Juan Manuel Hernández López (Spain)

Griffon glide-by

'My favourite perch is on the cliff-edge, close enough to eyeball the vultures as they rise on updrafts of warm air. As this griffon glided past, its head spot lit by the sun, I could hear the whoosh of its massive wings.' With a wingspan of up to three metres, the griffon vulture is one of the largest birds in Europe. It is built for soaring flight, travelling hundreds of kilometres each day in search of food. These sociable birds breed in large colonies on cliffs and rocky ledges. The deep gorges of the Hoces del Rio Duratón Natural Park in Spain are home to around 500 of them.

Nikon D70s + 400mm lens; 1/1600 sec at f5.6; ASA 200.