ML442892241

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Success!!! The object of our journey to the Sierra was found late in the trip, when four distant birds were picked out. I accidentally locked onto a Red Tail, and so was skepticap of Dad’s insistence... until I happened to sweep left and catch the aerial leviathan mid glide! We raced further uphill to get a better look, for the Condors were clearly going back into the highlands. Sure enough, after a minute or two, the four birds drifted closer... then it became abundantly clear there were an awful lot more than four! These birds... they are utterly effortless, towering into the skies, and the few times they flap it is like a blow to the gut of the observer, looking remarkably like some kind of giant Corvid to my mind. My favourite moments were when they banked around on the thermals, showing the evermore breathtaking white flashes on the underwings. It was worth the hours of driving to see such a staggering bird! A true highlight of my birding life!

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P610

ISO

100

Focal length

258 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.5

Shutter speed

1/640 sec

Dimensions

1600 pixels x 1200 pixels

Original file size

946.63 KB