I will be trying to visit as many collections as possible next year with a major aim to see as many as possible Vulture and Eagle species, I was wondering which collections I should visit as to get as many species as possible. Please bare in mind I have to use public transport and will already be visiting my local collections of which not many actually have Vultures or Eagles held within them (Dudley Zoo, Twycross Zoo, Birmingham Nature Reserve & West Midland Safari Park) will be visiting my favourite Falconry collection quite a few times this being Hagley Falconry Centre (just arrived Stellar Sea Eagle and the Ruppell Vultures are nest building again so here’s hoping for more success with the pair next year). Any information would be great on locations for Vultures and Eagles even if there is only a single species in a collection that I haven’t seen before I would visit that collection
Not local to you, but the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Weyhill near Andover has an excellent collection of both, more Vultures than Eagles though.
Cotswold Falconry Centre - albeit not terribly near yourself - has the following taxa: African white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) American black vulture (Coragyps atratus) Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) Palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)
Many thanks folks for the info Cotswold Falconry centre will be on my to do list as it can be done by public transport on the same day as Birdland park & gardens in Bourton-on-the water
Gauntlet bird of prey centre is also worth a visit. They specialise in vulture conservation. Experience Falconry and Flying Birds of Prey in Cheshire at Gauntlet Birds of Prey Eagle and Vulture Park.
Lake District wildlife Park hold a single griffon vulture and an american bald eagle. They actually have a pretty impressive collection of birds of prey with various birds and owls and a flying display twice a day. Nice little park, though you might struggle to get there on public transport. Though I do believe that you can catch the bus that runs from Kewsick and it takes 40 mins from there. To get to Keswick you'd probably best catching a train to Penrith, then a bus from there to Kewsick.
Why not use Zootierliste to find out where specific birds are - Rueppell's griffon vulture for example Rueppell's griffon vulture Or what a specific zoo is holding - Dudley for example Dudley It might be quicker than waiting for responses
The responses here have been quite good I think (considering the OP has to use public transport, it wouldn't be entirely useful to suggest a location right down south in the middle of nowhere for example)... Maybe a bit slow because it is a busy time of year. Zootierliste isn't always 100% accurate. In some cases and collections, it is years out of date. That isn't to say it isn't helpful. But if I were to go to a collection to see a certain species, I would certainly phone up or email first.
I agree totally Zootierliste is a great helpful site to have and even though it is slightly out of date on most collections it can be a good indictor ass to which collection holds what species. I did start a thread on here so people could update the lists within Zootierliste but it failed to achieve what I was hoping would be a great help to people. To the person who sent a p/m I have now responded with e-mail many thanks for the help and info.
London Zoo has black vulture, King vulture, eurasian kestrel, common buzzard, grey buzzard eagle, Ruppell's griffon vulture, black kite and various hawks...
Banham Zoo in Norfolk has a Bald eagle and also holds Ruppels and Hooded Vultures, I'm not sure how accessible it is by PT though
Yorkshire Dales Falconry Centre, Nr Settle in North Yorkshire, hold several species of vulture and eagle.
Having recently visited I'd also point out that it's not particularly easy for most people with private transport either. It's not quite the middle of nowhere but I've heard you can see it from there.
I have to agree with you on this. Finding it isn't so bad because there are ( a few) signposts, but getting home is another matter!
