Tag: Turkey Vulture

Tuesday (13-February-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey.

The Turkey Vultures keep getting closer. There were nearly 40 in my neighbor’s yard and trees before I went out to take some pictures.

Two Turkey Vultures in the Late Afternoon Sun. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (ISO 280, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Two Turkey Vultures in the Late Afternoon Sun. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (ISO 280, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in the Late Afternoon Sun. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (ISO 280, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in the Late Afternoon Sun. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (ISO 280, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (02-February-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey — Turkey Vulture.

Several Turkey Vultures have been spending the night at the house next door. I do not want them roosting on my solar panels. Most of the birds flew off when I went out to take pictures, but this one stayed put and kept eyeing me.

Turkey Vulture in a pine tree on a windy winter day. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in a pine tree on a windy winter day. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in a pine tree on a windy winter day. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/680 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in a pine tree on a windy winter day. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/680 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in a pine tree on a windy winter day. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in a pine tree on a windy winter day. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (31-January-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey — Turkey Vultures.

When looking out my kitchen window, I noticed an ominous shadow on my neighbor’s house. It was a bird, a big bird with big shoulders and a pointed beak. The Turkey Vultures that have been roosting on a house down the block are getting closer…

Turkey Vulture Shadow. Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/850 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture Shadow. Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/850 sec). (David J Mathre)



Individual images from the slide-show can be viewed here.

One might wonder why the Turkey Vultures are all near the chimney vent. Is it because it is warm, or do they smell something. Why are they not out looking for a road-kill deer when the sun is still out?

Saturday (30-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 10: Big Cypress National Preserve.

I was told that the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve was only partially opened. I still tried it, and it turned out to be open all the way around. There was one section near the southern end that had some water on the road, but not all the way across.  The first thing I came across was a Turkey Vulture blocking the road. There were alligators, more birds,  and butterflies along the road. And not many other vehicles, which was good since most of the time it is a dirt road. When I got back to Clyde Butcher’s place, there was a Copperhead snake and some Spiders and Webs. Later on I found five Baby (or maybe year old) Alligators sunning themselves on the side of the pond. “Moma” was in the middle of the pond keeping watch. I went back to the start of the Loop Road for sunset.

Turkey Vulture blocking the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture blocking the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)