Could anyone id this BOP for me please?

[bionicsherpa]

I took this bird of prey at an altitude of about 4000m in the Everest region of Nepal but have not been able to positively id it. Can anyone help please? I did wonder if it was a long legged buzzard (buteo rufinus)?

 

[MarkEvan]

Hmmm hard to tell....to be honest my first thought on opening was Lammergeier but I can't see the head properly so take that with a huge pinch of salt.

Do you mind if I put it on Birdforum and see what they can come up with?

 

[mark richards]

Lammergeier , to me...

 

[MarkEvan]

Well the chaps on birdfoum all say Lammergeier so I think we can safely say its been ID'd.......sorry bout posting it on birdforum streight away.......I couldn't wait, iv'e always wanted to see a lammergeier but as most of my holidays are in the UK there is not much chance of that ever happening, ah well.

 

[bionicsherpa]

Wow. Thank you so much for that id. It was a massive bird and it came right down to have a look at us. Having now read that lammergeiers live entirely on bones, I can only imagine that he thought I looked pretty tired.