Turkey Vulture Near Whitevale: April 2021

In my grandfather’s 1985 Birds of Ontario, he says this about Turkey Vultures: In most parts of Ontario it is a rare sight to see these big, red-headed vultures soaring aloft with scarcely a wingbeat, tilting from side to side.

In my childhood, you had to go to Rattlesnake Point near Milton to see a Turkey Vulture. These days they have become almost common except in winter. I see them regularly as I drive up the Don Valley Parkway.

Today I had a look at some country roads in western Pickering near Whitevale:

Turkey Vultures appeared several times:

Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture

Last spring I was able to get close to one:

Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture

Other flyers:

Bee
Bee
Mallard (male)
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal (male)
Brown-headed Cowbirds
American Goldfinch (male)
American Goldfinch (female)
American Goldfinch (male)
American Goldfinch (male)
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

Some botany:

White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Apple (Malus)
European Pussy Willow (Salix caprea)
European Pussy Willow (Salix caprea)
Willow (Salix)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

MAILBOX

SPEAKING OF WARBLERS…… from The Guardian.

NATURE POETRY

                              

                                 Beloved Regan, 
Thy sister’s naught. O Regan, she hath tied 
Sharp-tooth’d unkindness, like a vulture, here! 
[Lays his hand on his heart.] (King Lear) – Shakespeare

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Turkey Vulture Near Whitevale: April 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    I was going to comment first on the Turkey Vultures, but that reaction got “upstaged” by the remarkable picture of a Reed Warbler feeding a Cuckoo! Seeing is believing, all right–as in the case of the Turkey Vultures, which I am used to seeing in the sky “without” their heads. Seeing their heads this clearly sure brings home the fact that they are indeed vultures, as people tend to think they look. Whew! Great seeing the various birds, and the botany “coming along” as time passes. Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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