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<\/p>\nIn yesterday’s post I mentioned that I’d seen an unusually large grouping of Turkey Vultures two days ago in Box Elder County but that I had difficulties photographing them well, so I may or may not end up posting any of them. In their comments, several readers mentioned that they’d like to see some of the photos anyway, suggesting that “Mr. Nitpicker” was once again being too picky.<\/p>\n
So here are some of them, for what they’re worth.<\/p>\n
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This photo illustrates some of the problems I was having. There were about 40 vultures in half a dozen groups that were perched right next to the road (on both sides) within less than a hundred yards of each other. Between fence lines and vegetation, including clumps of sunflowers, I rarely got an unobstructed look at any of them while they were perched. I was also having difficulties getting sharp shots of them, for reasons I still haven’t figured out.<\/p>\n
There were no animal carcasses nearby to attract such a large number of vultures so, given the time of year, I believe they were migrating. Or about to.<\/p>\n
But individuals in each group were constantly taking off and flying low around their perched companions so…<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/turkey-vulture-7028-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"turkey-vulture-7028-ron-dudley\\"")
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getting flight shots of them was relatively easy. This is a juvenile.<\/p>\n
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And this is an adult. It was nice to have them coming in so close but as you know, plain blue sky backgrounds don’t excite me much.<\/p>\n
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Some of them on both sides of the road would assume this classic vulture pose but they were never in an ideal setting.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/turkey-vulture-6614-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"turkey-vulture-6614-ron-dudley\\"")
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My best opportunity for photos I liked was to try to get pre-landing shots as one of them flew in to join some of the other vultures on the ground. Shots like this were about as close as I came but each time the opportunity only lasted for a couple of seconds because as they got close to the other vultures on the ground…<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/turkey-vulture-6617-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"turkey-vulture-6617-ron-dudley\\"")
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there was always vegetation (usually sunflowers) or other vultures in front of the bird I’d been following. This photo was taken in a burst three frames after the previous one.<\/p>\n
So there you have it – a mostly mediocre collection of vulture photos but they document what for me was a special occasion. I’d never before been this close to such a large number of Turkey Vultures for so long (an hour and 13 minutes). It was an experience I won’t soon forget, especially on such a perfectly beautiful morning in a remote location with no one else around.<\/p>\n
Now I just have to figure out why most of my 682 vulture photos were too soft to use. Photos I took of other birds that morning that should have been sharp, were sharp.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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More Turkey Vultures up close than I’ve ever experienced before. (6 photos)<\/p>\n