Monday, February 7, 2011

Clean up crew

Being somewhat migratory 'birds' ourselves, we've noticed some feathered friends down south that we also have in abundance, in season, up north. Lately we've seen, but more often heard, red-winged blackbirds - I expect they'll be heading north around the same time we will be. But we've also seen another bird in large numbers that we saw quite often back home - the turkey vulture, or buzzard as some people call them.

They feed primarily on carrion which they can spot and/or smell from some distance. They have a magnificent wingspan that can reach over 170 cm/67 in. The parental instinct must be strong because vultures have faces that only their mothers could love.

(70-200mm  f11  1/400 sec  ISO200)


17 comments:

Dawn said...

Wow Rick! This is an incredible shot!
Just beautiful!

darlin said...

Rick this is a stunning shot! What a huge bird, I never realized that the wing span was so vast.

Karin / Southern Meadows said...

What an amazing photograph! I see buzzards regularly around where I live. They like to sit on the roof of my neighbor's house as they sit high on a hill it is a great perch place. They are by no means attractive but they serve a good purpose.

Unknown said...

This is a beautiful bird, magnificent and so majestic!

Greetz,


Joseph

Leslie said...

"faces only a mother could love." So very true! I often see them flying high and think/hope they're hawks.

Love the detail you've captured in the outspread feathers...

Bitch said...

You are lucky with this capture.
A flying bird is quiet difficult to
photograph!
I have taken some seagulls here from
a moving ship...

Marty said...

très belle photo ! j'aimerais prendre des oiseaux en vol, mais je n'y arrive jamais ! trop haut, trop rapide ou mon appareil n'est pas prêt !!!
c'est très réussi, très beau vol !! love it
bisous volants rick !!!

Carolyn Ford said...

wow! Look at that incredible wingspan! Great capture, Rick!

Tiago Braga said...

AMAZING! so georgeous :D
love it

imac said...

Real grand shot Rick.

Soraia said...

Great photo!

Ruth Hiebert said...

A Vulture in flight is magnificent sight.I love their wing patterns.

Michelle said...

Excellent!

magda said...

Ooooo, fantastic photo !!! Bravoooo!!!

Rick said...

Thank you Dawn !

Thanks Darlene - yes, hard to imagine when you see them so high up; a lot easier to see with the telephoto lens.

Thanks Karin - we seem to have quite a few around (not sure what that says about the neighbourhood, but there aren't many dead things around).

Thank you Joseph - and they serve a good purpose !

Rick said...

Thanks Leslie - attractive they're not, but very utilitarian.

Thank you Monika - I took a number of shots in burst mode to get a few keepers; you're right - not easy to do.

Merci Marty ! Of the many shots I try, a few are worthy - but I keep trying ;-) Plein de bisous pour toi !

Thank you Carolyn - they are quite large but don't look it when so high up.

Rick said...

Thank you Tiago !

I thank you Stewart !

Obrigado Soraia !

I agree Ruth; there is beauty even in what appears to be unattractive.

Thank you Farmchick !

Σας ευχαριστώ Magda !