Happy #InternationalVultureAppreciationDay

#birding #TurkeyVulture #SolaceInNature #BirdPhotography

For this #Mastodon experiment to truly work for me, I'm going to need to be able to share larger files. Most of the #nature video content I collect to share via social media is in the 30–60 second duration range, but still too big for this platform.

So here's a still of a #TurkeyVulture from a far cooler video segment that I was unable to make small enough to be worth sharing. 🤷‍♂️

Nothing says "Wild West" like a buzzard* on a dead tree... New World Vultures are only distantly related to their Old World counterparts - the similarities in appearance are an example of convergent evolution.

*Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

#BirdsOfPrey #BirdWatching #Birds #Wildlife #TurkeyVulture

I got some really nice shots while out on the short loop through Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. Didn't have a whole lot of time to explore deeper into the Refuge, so just took the Auto Tour around Upper Foxtail Lake.

#LahontanValley #StillwaterNWR #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #Lizards #SnowyEgret #YellowBackedSpinyLizard #TurkeyVulture #BarnSwallow

I'm going to try to not duplicate birds I've already posted. Today, I took pictures of over 40 species and saw gobs more while driving around Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Carson Lake and Pasture, and out on Seven Mile Flat.

There were SO MANY Pelicans! So Many! SO SO SO Many. LOL

I always check a strand of trees on my way into the refuge because the Turkey Vultures roost there at certain times of the year. Sure enough, there were 13 hanging out in the trees this morning.

Once I got to the Stillwater Point Reservoir, I was swarmed by a bunch of Tree and Cliff Swallows. I watched both for awhile and kept seeing the Cliff Swallows dive down to a shallow area on the shore of the reservoir. Carefully moved to see them and watched as they gathered beakfuls of mud. Nest building time, I suppose.

Also wading along the shore was several Black-necked Stilts and Long-billed Dowitchers. Enjoyed watching both until a Killdeer thought I was too close (he was way on the other side of the parking area!), raised the alarm, and flew along the shore causing everyone else to fly away. Stupid Killdeer.

#LahontanValley #StillwaterNWR #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #TurkeyVulture #CliffSwallow #BlackNeckedStilt #LongBilledDowitcher

Another turkey vulture.

Though, the bird was far off, I like the angle of this photo. It really gives a good view of the vulture's wing feathers. They're quite striking.

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #birds #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #turkeyvulture

Twilight zone tune 🎶🎵

These three vultures were circling overhead a few days ago. Notice that two seem to be flying counterclockwise and one clockwise. I think the clockwise one is a black vulture, and the others are turkey vultures. This assessment is based on the wing's shapes, but they are hard to see in the photograph.

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #birds #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #BlackVulture #TurkeyVulture #raptor #BirdOfPrey

Good morning. ☕☕☕

The clouds in the sky this morning look pretty ominous. It's supposed to rain today, we'll see.

I went to sleep late last night, at least late for me. I try to be asleep by 10 PM. In the olden days, long ago, I could push that to 4 AM. But those days are long gone. Bottom line, I's still a little sleepy because my buddies were right on time this morning. Ben is snoring.

Speaking of sleep, I have a sleepy internet connection. It's faster than dialup but not by much. It also drops off once a day and that is what just happened, saved my work and rebooted. Perhaps my router is starting to have problems.

"Sleep is a key part of the requirements for resilience and good decision-making. " - James G. Stavridis

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #morning #sleep #birds #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #TurkeyVulture

The wind was blowing so hard it made watching those brave enough to take flight entertaining. A Turkey Vulture was using its large wings to glide and a red-tailed hawk somehow managed to hover after being blow off the branch it was perched on.

#LahontanValley #StillwaterNWR #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #TurkeyVulture #RedTailedHawk #Killdeer #LoggerheadShrike

Silhouette

I haven't done a black and white in a while and this seems like a good candidate. It's a turkey vulture flying past a treetop. The treetop is out of focus. and the vulture mostly under exposed.

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #birds #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #TurkeyVulture

Look up ☝

Whenever I see these huge turkey vultures soaring past, I can't help but to point my camera up and take pictures. The result is I post a picture on Mastodon. They really are beautiful when flying.

"Turkey vultures are surprisingly big. They have a wingspan of 6 feet, and they can fly for hours without tiring." - learnbirdwatching.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #birds #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #TurkeyVulture #birdofprey #raptor

Shhh 👆

The title is from the punchline of an old joke that I hardly remember. There is an outside chance somebody will get it.

I took this photo about an hour ago. I haven't posted one of these for a few days So here is a photo of a turkey vulture flying overhead. I like the detail in this photo.

"The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds. Its heightened ability to detect odors—it can detect just a few parts per trillion—allows it to find dead animals below a forest canopy. The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals." - allaboutbirds.org

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #birds #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #TurkeyVulture

Good morning ☕☕☕

The morning silence is wonderful. It's a time to think. Which is what I'm doing right now, trying to think of something to type. The silence hasn't been broken but my pals just came in to join me ... oops they left when I ignored them.

"Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So, on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #birds #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #TurkeyVulture

Flying Bird, 2

Monday, this turkey vulture took an interest in me and the dogs. The bird flew low over the back yard several times.

:Turkey vultures are surprisingly big. They have a wingspan of 6 feet, and they can fly for hours without tiring." - learnbirdwatching.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #birds #birdwatching #birdsofmastodon #TurkeyVulture #raptor #birdofprey

#turkeyvulture #pointlobos ##cabirds

Turkey Vulture.

This bird flew over the house yesterday.

"The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds. Its heightened ability to detect odors—it can detect just a few parts per trillion—allows it to find dead animals below a forest canopy. The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals." - allaboutbirds.org

#photo #photography #photographer #birds #birdwatching #birdsofmastodon #TurkeyVulture

Turkey Vulture

I wasn't going to post this photo because I don't particularly like how the photo came out or the composition. But today I change my mind ... about posting it anyway. It is a bit interesting.

"The Turkey Vulture’s stomach acid is extremely acidic, so Turkey Vultures can digest just about anything. This also allows them to eat carcasses tainted with anthrax, tuberculosis, and rabies without getting sick. By taking care of the carrion, vultures provide an essential service for the health of our ecosystems. Without them, carcasses would accumulate, and diseases would spread from rotting flesh." allaboutbirds.org

#photo #photography #photographer #birds #birdwatching #birdsofmastodon #TurkeyVulture

Turkey Vulture.

Why do they call them turkey vultures? From afar, they look like turkeys.

One day a few years ago, I came home to see a bunch of birds at one corner of my property. At first, I thought wow turkeys. But then it occurred to me that they were vultures. Unfortunately, I had to move an armadillo carcass away from our house.

"If you’ve gone looking for raptors on a clear day, your heart has probably leaped at the sight of a large, soaring bird in the distance– perhaps an eagle or osprey. But if it's soaring with its wings raised in a V and making wobbly circles, it's likely a Turkey Vulture. These birds ride thermals in the sky and use their keen sense of smell to find fresh carcasses. They are a consummate scavenger, cleaning up the countryside one bite of their sharply hooked bill at a time, and never mussing a feather on their bald heads." - allaboutbirds.org

#photo #photographer #photography #birds #birdwatching #birdsofmastodon #TurkeyVulture #birdofprey #raptor

Glamour Shots

I wanted to post some closeups to show the face of turkey vultures for anybody who hasn't had the privilege. The birds were high on as water tower, and it was a cloudy day. But all-in-all, these aren't too bad.

#TurkeyVulture

Turkey Vulture

I went out to run an errand. On the way back, I noticed a vulture flying to the west. Then I noticed that there were several vultures roosting on a water tower. I drove over to investigate and found both black vultures and turkey vultures roosting on the tower together - though perhaps not in the companionship sense. I've been looking of a turkey vulture at rest for a few months. So, here's a pic. Cheers.

#photo #photography #photographer #birds #TurkeyVulture