Just look at that for majesty! When I braved the icy wind to go for a walk with my relatively new 100-400 mm, I was thinking more about blue tits and redstarts, but instead I hit it lucky. I just happened to find myself under a group of griffon vultures heading back home after a morning’s carrion hunt. I’m still very new to bird photography with a long lens and in my agitation I successfully messed up 95% of the shots, but this one turned out more or less OK, even though it was almost directly into the sun and pretty high in the sky. Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) had been extinct in the central Italian Apennines for several centuries, then about 30 years ago they were reintroduced in the Monte Velino State Nature Reserve right opposite where I live. There are now about 60 breeding pairs and seeing them pass by overhead is quite a common occurrence. With their massive 2.5 m wingspan, they’re always a thrilling sight. An excellent way to bring 2025 to an end (and actually MUCH easier than blue tits and redstarts!).