An Immersion With Rémuzat Griffon Vultures / Tour Report October 2020

We arrive in the middle of the morning. The weather is splendid. Bright sun, no wind, beautiful fall colors, the conditions are perfect. Everyone is looking forward to spending these 2 days in Drôme Provencale as close as possible to the Griffon Vultures in the Baronnies Provençales Regional Nature Park.

We move first to our accommodation, a magnificent farmhouse isolated in the middle of nature, facing the vulture colony.

After dropping off a few things and enjoying a good coffee in the sun with our hosts, we set off towards the Rocher du Caire. The walk is easy and pleasant, and very quickly we see our first vultures. We arrive at the edge of the cliffs and begin to photograph these mythical birds.

They are everywhere! Above us, at eye level, and below us. The plateau on which we are located is in fact located just above the cliffs where a large part of the colony of Griffon Vultures of Rémuzat nestles. The place is simply exceptional, and it is always a great joy for me to show the place.

All the seasons are beautiful. In the fall, pairs form and we see many display flights where male and female fly together, very close to each other. These scenes are strikingly graceful and beautiful.

Another advantage of Rémuzat when doing wildlife photography is that you have the time to push your creativity and try out slightly different images.

How not to be moved when these birds of almost 3 meters in wingspan pass you a few meters away, hearing the sound of the wind in their wings? How not to feel privileged to witness such a magical show in landscapes that are just as magical? How not to be touched when you know that only a few decades ago, no Griffon Vultures flew along these cliffs?

We are living the moment to the fullest, still taking the time to take a break to enjoy a nice picnic in the sun.

A guest finds a Praying Mantis in a bush. What a fascinating animal!

The vultures come and go, the ballet is captivating and almost incessant! We also see other beautiful species of birds, such as the Peregrine Falcon, the Long-tailed Tit, or the Common Raven.

But the star of the day, beyond the tens or even hundreds of Griffon Vultures, was without a doubt the Cinereous Vulture. 2 individuals passed twice, and at the end of the afternoon one of them passed us very close, circling in the thermal just in front of us for several minutes. Unforgettable!

We stay there until sunset, then go to dinner in a famous restaurant in the beautiful village of Nyons.

The next morning, I meet our participants for breakfast. Fresh and local products, homemade jams with fruits from the garden, good coffee, what more could you ask for! : D Everyone slept very well and we are all looking forward to spending a second day with the vultures of Rémuzat.

When we get there, shortly after dawn, we walk through the mist. The light is superb.

Soon after, we find ourselves above a sea of clouds. The sunrise is beautiful.

First it is a Common Raven which repeatedly passes through the mist.

Then the vultures begin to show themselves in the late morning. We have lunch again on site to make the most of this incredible place.

We also have the chance to see a migrating Red Kite, Jackdaws, and a Wallcreeper! A few hours later, it's time to leave the scene, with plenty of incredible memories.

It was another memorable tour with the vultures of Rémuzat.

Jonathan
Guide Salva Fauna