Black vulture
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October 8.
Cloudy morning.
Floral Park Dr.
A minute by car from home.
The arm of a street light.
Two black vultures.
Got home.
Grabbed camera bag.
Put on telephoto lens.
Drove right back.
Vultures still there.
Took pictures.
This is one.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Another amazing photo!
mary mageau
October 27, 2012 at 6:54 AM
These large birds are impressive, aren’t they?
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 7:07 AM
You’ve perfectly framed this one in a couple of ways. I could feel the sense of “Will he still be there? Will I make it in time?” in your words. What an interesting departure from your usual description.
And that photo! My goodness. I’ve never felt a sense of connection to a vulture, but look at that expression, the look in his eye, the set of his beak. He’s clearly having some thoughts of his own. It’s a wonderful capture. I rather like the fellow!
shoreacres
October 27, 2012 at 7:58 AM
Yes, it’s a change from my usual descriptions: thought I’d try something more casual, more staccato, more action-y, less wordy.
If I can connect you to a vulture, then I’ve done my bit for nature. The telephoto lens makes it seem that I was a lot closer to the bird than I actually was. Even though it was well above me and therefore (to my mind, at least) safe, it eyed me with some wariness. Eventually first one of the two vultures, and soon the other, flew off. Then I did, too.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 8:30 AM
Man, that is one beautiful bird!!! Great shot.
oneowner
October 27, 2012 at 8:16 AM
Ah, beauty in the eye of the beholder, as they say. I wonder what all the light-colored flecks on the feathers were from.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 8:35 AM
Wow, Steve! Great shot of ugly-beautiful – very powerful.
composerinthegarden
October 27, 2012 at 9:09 AM
I like your description: ugly-beautiful.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 9:16 AM
Can one of the art students sculpt this bird for you?
kackymuse
October 27, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Anyone who wants to sculpt it has my blessing.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 10:33 AM
I love the term Composerinthegarden used – ugly-beautiful. That bird has a street tough quality. Aren’t you lucky to have that capture – and we are lucky you shared it. Thanks.
Dawn
October 27, 2012 at 10:04 AM
You’re welcome. This was the second time I’d seen two vultures on a light pole in that place (though I can’t be sure it was exactly the same pole). The first time was earlier this year, and I took pictures then, too, but never got around to posting any. I take a lot more photographs than I can show here, but this second incident prompted me to post something.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 10:37 AM
You’ve described its look in your reply to Shoreacres as “wary,” and that was exactly my impression when I first viewed it. I am certain, that considering its eating habits, you are glad you were using the telephoto lens. Surely it reeks in close proximity!
A great shot of an icky subject! ~Lynda
pixilated2
October 27, 2012 at 10:08 AM
To “ugly-beautiful” we now add “icky.” You may well be right that the telephoto lens kept me from getting my sense of smell offended. I would have risked getting closer, smell or no smell, but there was no way to.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Very observant.
Everything else can wait.
Timing was everything.
Super photo.
dhphotosite
October 27, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Black vultures, two:
That’s all I could find.
It’s good of you
To answer in kind.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Oh So Cool – thanks for sharing!
cravesadventure
October 27, 2012 at 3:02 PM
You’re surely welcome.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 4:40 PM
Aw, the wondrous Vulture. Despised by most but they are really amazing birds!
The Jagged Man
October 27, 2012 at 8:24 PM
I’m impressed when I see these large birds flap their wings and fly away. Somehow I don’t expect anything so heavy to be able to fly.
Steve Schwartzman
October 27, 2012 at 8:33 PM
I feel the same way. Man can they fly!
The Jagged Man
October 28, 2012 at 12:21 AM
Magnificent bird, great pose, I wonder what it was eyeing up.
Finn Holding
October 31, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Me.
Steve Schwartzman
October 31, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Particularly remarkable, given you had to go get your camera and come back. Great shot!
Susan Scheid
November 1, 2012 at 7:55 PM
It was considerate of the vultures to wait for me to get back, and then to hang around long enough for me to take a bunch of pictures, wasn’t it? But in the end they got wary of me and flew away, first one, then the other.
Steve Schwartzman
November 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM
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January 1, 2014 at 6:23 AM
A great story, Steve … unlike the ones where you run to get the camera or change lenses or discover you’re battery is running on empty.The vultures actually waited for you! So accommodating. 🙂
Sally
February 21, 2017 at 11:26 AM
Yes, this was one success to offset the inevitable failures.
Steve Schwartzman
February 22, 2017 at 5:47 PM