Turkey Vultures are migrants that come here to breed from mid-March to mid-September, having wintered well to our south.
For years, I only saw them soaring as they scanned the ground for carrion to eat. Certainly, they did find carrion, but I never found them when they were on the ground eating it. In fact, it was years before I even saw some alight in a tree.
But, that all changed this morning.
This morning, I again saw a Turkey Vulture soaring.
But, for the first time, I saw a Turkey Vulture on the ground.
From there, it approached the carcass, of what I assume had been a deer.
And set to eating it, a first for me.
Great shots. They are nature’s clean up crew. They were as common as pigeons when I lived in California, but it’s a treat to see them occasionally here.