Vulture Party
Nature journal excerpt from January 14, 2018...
© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66422024 - Turkey Vulture;
Clarke County, Georgia. January 14, 2018.
Sunday, 3:43 PM – I went for a birding walk through the wooded greenspace of my neighborhood between morning and evening church services this bright blue but chilly Sunday afternoon. Not spying too many other birds, it was basically a vulture walk. Standing camouflaged under the tall snags, the vultures would fly in to perch directly above my head; their wings sounding like flapping plastic trash bags as they not-so-gracefully landed.
Every fall a mixed gathering of vultures descends upon our neighborhood. Thankfully they stay off the roofs but choose the several tall dead White Oaks to roost. There are two types of Vultures here in Georgia. The Turkey Vulture and the Black Vulture. If one has a clear eye on their head color, the difference is obvious. In the air when the head color isn’t as discernable, it is a little trickier. But size, color and how they hold their wings are good indicators.
I was happy to get a shot of both species sitting side-by-side for comparison. I had to sneak into my neighbor’s yard to get closer. I could just hear them inside the house, “Honey, our crazy bird loving neighbor is in our yard again looking at vultures!” Oh well.
© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66418836 - Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture; Clarke County, Georgia. January 14, 2018.
The following day (Monday, January 15) I was off from work for MLK Day. I sat alone next to my backyard fire pit watching over 30 vultures in the trees. Again, not a cloud in the clear blue sky. Yesterday’s strong winds have died down a bit and the vultures are soaring in squadrons across the sky. Dozens upon dozens in the trees; groups soaring overhead; loners perching and lifting off from the snags… a true “vulture party”!
© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66421597 - Black Vulture; Clarke County, Georgia. January 14, 2018.
Just after 5 PM the vultures begin leaving the snags one by one in varying intervals. After sitting silent in the setting sun for quite some time, it would then enter in the mind of one vulture, “my turn”, and it would lift off and sail away eastward. As they passed nearly directly over my head, I had plenty of opportunity to practice panning for flight shots.
Just past 5:00 PM the treetops are still glowing orange in the setting sun, but all else has fallen into cool blue shadow. At 5:17 PM the last Black Vulture lifted off, and two minutes later the last Turkey Vulture took to the sky. Sunset is at 5:47 PM, my backyard fire is dying down and approximately 70 blackbirds fly high in the sky overhead from east to west, heading to their homes as I head into mine.
© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66425137 - Vulture roost; Clarke County, Georgia. January 15, 2018.
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
Observaciones
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
ID FOR BIRD ON THE LEFT. ©williamwisephoto.com Every fall a mixed gathering of Turkey and Black Vultures descends upon our neighborhood, roosting in the snags in the greenspace, and stays through the first part of winter.
- Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
MIXED, BUT PRIMARILY TURKEY VULTURES - ©williamwisephoto.com Every fall a mixed gathering of Turkey and Black Vultures descends upon our neighborhood, roosting in the snags in the greenspace, and stays through the first part of winter.
- Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
©williamwisephoto.com - Every fall a mixed gathering of Turkey and Black Vultures descends upon our neighborhood, roosting in the snags in the greenspace, and stays through the first part of winter.
- Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Gallinazo de Cabeza Negra (Coragyps atratus)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
©williamwisephoto.com Every fall a mixed gathering of Turkey and Black Vultures descends upon our neighborhood, roosting in the snags in the greenspace, and stays through the first part of winter.
- Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Gallinazo de Cabeza Negra (Coragyps atratus)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
©williamwisephoto.com Every fall a mixed gathering of Turkey and Black Vultures descends upon our neighborhood, roosting in the snags in the greenspace, and stays through the first part of winter.
- Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
©williamwisephoto.com Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Gallinazo de Cabeza Negra (Coragyps atratus)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
©williamwisephoto.com
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
©williamwisephoto.com Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Sunny with a high near 44°
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: 2% waning crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Gallinazo de Cabeza Negra (Coragyps atratus)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
MIXED GROUP, 2 BLACK VULTURES IN CENTER SURROUNDED BY MOSTLY TURKEY VULTURES.
©williamwisephoto.com Clarke County, Georgia.
- Sunny, high near 44 degrees
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: waning crescent, 2% illumination
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
~ William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
©williamwisephoto.com Clarke County, Georgia.
- Sunny, high near 44 degrees
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: waning crescent, 2% illumination
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
~ William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Fotos / Sonidos
Qué
Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)Observ.
williamwisephotoDescripción
©williamwisephoto.com
Clarke County, Georgia.
- Sunny, high near 44 degrees
- Sunrise 7:38 AM, Sunset 5:47 PM
- Day length: 10 hours, 8 minutes
- Moon: waning crescent, 2% illumination
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/vulture-party
~ William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Comentarios
"Our crazy bird loving neighbor is in our yard again" - exactly how I feel every time I'm trying to take a picture for INat
@captainmantis37 After a few years, the neighbors get used to it! lol We need shirts that say "Don't mind me, I'm iNatting"
I actually got INaturalist shirts for Christmas that I hope will prompt the question "What's that?" and then I'll be able to tell them about INat
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