Nikki Sue Nikon get a buzz!

[fstopMike]

So the other day when Nikki Sue and i went out looking for Queen Anne's Lace, we went just past the landfill near where I work. On the other side of the road from the QAL is a swampy area at the edge of the landfill. A landfill offers copious amounts of food for scavenger species so we were not terribly surprised when we saw plenty of these!:




Fortunately for Nikki Sue and me, they had had a morning full of fresh pickings from the landfill as the bulldozers spread out the day's garbage donations. Otherwise, I think we would have been on the menu as they eyed us creepily! This is just a small representation as there must have been 50 chilling out after a nice lunch.





Even though they are not the most majestic of birds, they offer a certain beauty when in flight.








I am happy to say we did not wind up as buzzard fodder and are alive and well to post another day! Sorry to say no lesson on this one...they're buzzards! who cares!

[Chewys Dad]

Those are Wonderful shots of very Ugly, Disgusting, and Graceful Creatures, (when they are flying) Great Job and Thanks for sharing these
Michael.

[lindyannajones]

Thank you SOOOO much Alfred Hitchcock! I saw The Birds in 1963 and I'm still creeped out when I see more than 4 or 5 large birds gathered in groups and leering, with that haunted, hungry stare! Your last photo, however, is quite beautiful. In the original on your flickr photostream, you can see the light falling through the tips of his wings. That is just lovely! What an amazing photo. Nikki "you go, girl!" And in the words of Flannery O'Connor: "Be properly scared and go on doing what you have to do but take the necessary precautions".

[pjflan7]

Well somebody's got to feed them! I bet they were looking at you....when was the last time they had a heated meal?

[toyvlle]

Those are some great shots. We have them here, but you really only see them hovering over roadkill, the nasty things. Your last shot is really great, what a wingspan on that guy. Thanks for sharing.

[mstark70]

That must be an impressive and yet kind of creepy sight to see so many of them in one place. I would be awestruck! Your photos have captured them very well. I agree that wingspan looks impressive indeed!

[beachcomber]

Well done Mike, you and Nikki Sue once again raise the profile of the humble buzzard and what others may see as horrible, you describe as having a certain beauty when in flight That said, I wouldn't want to be alone with fifty hungry ones.

beach

[mechanic1300]

Another first class subject and mini story. We don't have these in Australia so it is good to see something as different as this. May not seem interesting to you guys who see them all the time. Same as kangaroos I guess

[teedlepeep]

Vultures need love too !! Great set of shots. The one of the bird in flight is really quite stunning. You captured him well

[audrey-g]

well done for the shots. you must be a courageous man to go venturing around those birds! i got the shivers only by looking at them!!