Thursday, May 22, 2008

V is for Vultures


These are common Turkey Vultures or many in North America refer to them as Turkey Buzzards or simply buzzards. They feast almost exclusively on the carcass of dead animals - ugh!
Beautiful in flight, up close - not so much!!!
These were flying above some penned in chickens at a neighboring home. The first shot I literally stopped in the middle of the road because they were right above me and I shot the image through the windshield. Therefore, it isn't as clear as I'd like. The later shot I had a chance to roll the window down. The road I was on is the rural road I travel so stopping in the middle of it wasn't dangerous in case you thought I might be a tad bit out of my mind.
I always hope for a nice brown hawk; but, I take what I can get!
For more Alphabet Photo Challenge participants please visit Quilly!

19 comments:

Rose said...

That top photo is a really nice capture--you should have used it for Sky Watch.

Anonymous said...

Lovely to look at. Not so lovely to contemplate.

judi/Gmj said...

Hee, Hee, glad you clarified about the penned chickens. "right above me" is not the picture I want in my mind when reading a post about these birds. :) Good shots and your are not crazy to stop in the middle of the road, that would make me crazy also and I am not.

Melli said...

AS I was coming home from the hardware store yesterday (2nd trip) I turned onto my lane and in the front yard of my neighbors home sat 5 of these creatures circled around... a TREE! I wondered what on earth they were doing? Of course I had left my camera sitting on my desk -- but I sO wished I had it because for ONE time in their lives they were NOT picking a carcass! They ARE lovely in flight... but yea... up close they are "U" words! They worked really well for "V" also!!!

Rose said...

Carlettta, go to yesterday's post that shows the words to Good to Be Home, go down and click on the comments, and Neal has a link in his...click on it if you haven't already.

And the idea for todays post is not my own, but I looked and looked for this post that I ran across that gave me the idea and I cannot find it!

Anonymous said...

I like your buzzard photos. By the time I see them circle they are no longer over my house so I seldom get a nice shot like you did. Nice.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Carletta: Very nicely done, I'm still trying to photo them in flight. You are lucky these guys cooperated so well.

dot said...

Beautiful shots and the music goes perfectly with them!!

Tom said...

Well captured.. not the thing I'd like to look up and see above me... not if I was feeling a bit rough as well :O)

Dr.John said...

I've never seen a vulture in flight. Those are great pictures. A really good V.

Robert said...

I so agree. We get lots of turkey vultures around here. So beautiful to watch soar, but close up - ick!

MaR said...

Truly amazing!! Love the shots.
Vultures remind me of Snoopy...

Unknown said...

What wonderful captures. We have them here in Massachusetts. You are right they look dreamy soaring in the sky, but up close and personal, not so much. One day there were about five of them perched on top of my neighbor's roof with their wings stretched up and out. It was so eery, but I wish I had taken a photo. Never saw them do that again. Karen

Jientje said...

Those are truly great pictures, I like the top one best!

Neva said...

I also did a shot through the windshield this week. Us West Virginia girls just know how to get it done ( I am from St. Albans but now live in a suburb of Chicago).
Very familiar with the turkey vulture but have never taken a picture....it is amazing what one sees now that I have a camera and a photo blog!!! Thanks for visiting!

Janice Thomson said...

I've never seen one of these. Interesting bird and definitely useful in getting rid of carrion. Great shots.

juliana said...

gorgeous shots!

buzzard in europe is quite a different kind of bird

Andrea said...

Great shot. Be concerned when they start making cirlces above you.

George Townboy said...

This cracked me up!! I only eat seafood and veggies ... no more carcass of dead animals for me!! LOL