Rare Egyptian Vulture Spotted in Ireland

The Egyptian Vulture has made an incredibly rare New Years visit to Ireland, exciting birdwatchers in the south Roscommon area. As far as records go, this would be the first sighting of an Egyptian vulture in Roscommon ever. It is also the second sighting in the Republic of Ireland, with the first having recently taken place in Donegal in July, 2021.

The Egyptian vulture appears to have flown to Ireland on its own. The reason it has arrived so far from home is not yet understood by experts.

In June 2021, the Egyptian Vulture shocked the United Kingdom by appearing in the Isles of Scilly, the first time the bird has been spotted in the UK in over 150 years. Known as ‘Pharaoh’s chicken’ or ‘White scavenger vulture’, the endangered Egyptian Vulture was previously spotted migrating through the UK only two other times in the island’s history: once in 1825, and again in 1868.