What’s Up? – Not so bad…
Not so bad…
Last week was very peculiar, weather wise. Very cold and icy at early mornings, then temperature rises to mid 60º’s, and gets sunny. Can’t complain about that!. One day I was working in my backyard after postponing several times because of the wether conditions. That’s when I do the trimming of the shrubs, also pruning of long branches for some trees using the hedge trimmer mostly and a saw.
While I was doing all the mentioned above, one of my neighbors was walking her dog, she called me from across the road and asked me: – What kind of bird is on top of that tree? She pointed at the tallest tree we have in this area, (Over two hundred years old Oak by the creek). I just saw a large bird right on top but couldn’t be precise and I said, must be a hawk of some kind, because the hawks always perch there and watch the whole area looking for preys. She accepted my guess answer and went home.
I continued working with the trimming, etc. Over one hour later I looked up the tree again and the bird was there yet. I went in the house and said to Lucy, – Somebody is watching me work! She got curious and came out to the patio, I pointed up the tree. She said what is that?
I don’t really know but if that bird is still there when I finish my work, then I’ll bring my camera to shoot some pictures and find out what bird it is…
An hour later, when I was finished…the darned bird sat still there! I brought my camera and shot some pictures, that’s when I found out it was a Black Vulture!
My regular birds are enjoying the good breaks on the weather, it makes quite a difference in the daily lives of everyone.
Photo Gallery
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
It’s interesting that I noticed greater numbers of black vultures perched in various places this past weekend: not only in trees, but on cell towers, windmills, and such. I wonder if there’s something about the season that leads them to perch in more open places: more sunshine, perhaps.
All depends in certain factors. If it’s winter and the weather temperature is low, they can’t use the warm air streams to soar and glide, they’d have to use their own wing power to sustain their flight spiraling high above. Also, the black vulture eats carrion that rots much faster in warm weather thus emit putrid smell to the air being sensed by their super olfactory noses. Thanks Linda-. 🙂
Could the mocking bird take a bath?! 🙂
I think he just wanted to drink water. Thanks Indira.
What a wonderful picture you took of that vulture.
Thank you Susan. 🙂
It sounds like it is not a usual occurrence. Do you get vultures often HJ?
It’s the first Black Vulture I’ve this close in my area.Years ago I saw a Turkey Vulture in my backyard. Not usual sights. 🙂
It is good when birds are polite enough to wait until you are ready to shoot them.
I can’t get them any better! 🙂
oooh, how lucky you are to have a black vulture in your back yard!! We don’t get them in Calif. or most of the west, so what a treat to see him here. Looks like the perfect perch, HJ. I enjoyed all the photos too, thanks so much my friend.
As the title of the post reads…”Not so bad…” isn’t it? Thank you Jet. 🙂
The Vulture is another bird we do not have down under, the crows and various raptors do most of our carrion clean up here.
Keep in mind that carrion eaters are of great importance for the ecology of the environment mainly in the wilderness. Thanks for sharing Ashley. 🙂
La natura non finisce mai di stupirci con le sue straordinarie immagini
Buon martedì e un sorriso,silvia
Hai ragione Silvia! La natura è straordinaria e meravigliosa. Ecco il mio sorriso … 🙂
What a great shot of the vulture! I agree with Tom – it’s good when the birds wait for you to get your camera!
The vulture was very entertained watching me work, that’s why! 🙂
Hehe! Of course it was! I should have realised that! 🙂