I took a drive on my bird road on Monday. Suddenly from the ditch flew a bird so big that its wing span was wider than my station wagon. I knew immediately that it was a turkey vulture because of it's coloring and size.
On Tuesday I returned at the same time of day. But I got my camera ready and held it on top of the steering wheel while I drove slowly. This was on a Vermont back road where there is no traffic. The same bird flew out of the ditch at the same place. I got two shots of it in flight and pulled over. I searched the trees and saw it perched high in a tree. I used 10x zoom on my Kodak Z710 Zoom camera. I took these photos without a tripod.
The vulture kept an eye on me and after 20 shots it flew away. These five photos are the best of the bunch. They are untouched except for some cropping.
I have returned every day and will continue for at least another week or so. It may return because its food is still there. What was it eating? A dead porcupine and raccoon. These animals were not hit by cars. They may have been shot by kids that live in the area. There was another dead raccoon in the woods a short distance down the road.
When clicked, these photos will open, full size, in a new window.Thank you for visiting.
To view other participants, click 
Sky Watch Friday
or Wiggers World
Sky Watch Fridayor Wiggers World
Technorati Tags: Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
_/\_/\_
Wonderful photos of turkey vultures, Andree. Thank you for telling how you got the photos. They sure are BIG birds!
ReplyDeleteWow. What a group of fantastic shots.
ReplyDeletegreat group of shots! no it was a display :) i cropped out the stand ;) have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteLovely shots - put me in mind of the old song `Old turkey buzzard ....''
ReplyDeleteI have never used a tripod and quite honestly, don't think I ever will.
Perhaps .... maybe .....
Great turkey shots.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to shot birds and turkeys.
This is a rare and so lucky moment...what a wonderful catch....awsome.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your so generous comment.
happy wee...end
Great shots of the turkey up on the tree branches.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm hungry currently. It reminds me of Turkey Dinner during X'Mas :P
Happy Weekend!
You amaze me. Driving along a Vermont back road with the camera poised AND getting all this fabulous photos! These are great photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a good look at one of these guys. I wonder what he thinks every morning when he looks in the mirror? Am I a turkey? Am I a vulture? Does my mother love a face like this?
never seen one before (guess it's because I don't think we have them here); great shots! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat turkey shots.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to shoot birds and turkeys but you sure showed us it can be made in perfection.
Superb photos of this big, big bird!
ReplyDeleteGreat shot for SWF! mine's up too, hope you can drop by. Have a wonderful friday and weekend!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! Just be careful about driving and taking photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots!! You're like a hunter!
ReplyDeletewonderful...
ReplyDeletePlease check out mine Thanks
behind that turkey, i can see wonderful sky at that moment.
ReplyDeleteWill you visit mine Thanks
To be honest, I'd never even heard of a turkey vulture but it's easy to see how it got it's name. These photos are superb and after seeing your post,I can say that I have learnt something new today so thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteThat was an impressive bird indeed. I have never heard of it before, so thank you for both photos and information
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing these five pictures of a bird I only came across through blogging.. I love the head with no feathers so they do not get messy when eating.. great sky watch pictures for sure... can you get some shots of them circling ;o)
ReplyDeletegreat shots ~ thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThank you for your nice comment on my sky watch post!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are amazing! An interesting post.
I want to give to you an "I learn from you" award! Please copy it from my sidebar :)
excellent shot
ReplyDeleteexcellent catch, well done.
ReplyDeletewow that buzzard is huge, nice capture
ReplyDeleteGreat series of shot. We see vultures in the fields after the first hay mowing. MB
ReplyDeleteI just love this photos:) Very very nice!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for your nice comment:)
Have a lovely weekend:)
How interesting ! I didn't even know such a bird !
ReplyDelete"glubb-glubb" I don't know if that is what a turkey says but in the cartoon Donald Duck (In Norwegian) , it is what they says!
ReplyDeleteNice shot!
Petunia's ABC
Must have been startling to have that rush of wings overhead. Funny looking bird, eh, little head big body.
ReplyDeleteI love these photos of the old boy up in the tree. Good job!
Andrée, those are beautiful pictures of an ugly, ugly bird. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLovely set of shots Andrêe!
ReplyDeleteYou hit the jackpot on these shots. They are really great!
ReplyDeleteSo, who would win a fight between a turkey, a vulture and a turkey vulture? Or we would just get a really ugly love-in?
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! You certainly put a lot of work into capturing such wonderful shots!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and special. :)
Thanks for visiting my Sky Watch. :)
Ida