Backyard Buzzards from my rear deck

Harv

About 4 weeks ago, I was out on our deck for about 5 minutes filling feeders before I noticed these Turkey Vultures perched in a tree at the rear of our property. I estimate the distance was about 80 - 90 feet. After checking my pulse to make certain they were not here for me, I went in and grabbed my gear while hoping they would stick around.

I quickly mounted the 400 5.6 to my 1D MkIIn and grabbed some record shots. When it appeared they might hang around a while longer, I went back in and set up the 300 2.8 + 2xTC on the tripod and came back out. Cropping probably averaged about 50%.









Thanks for looking. As always, C&C is welcomed.

Maestro

Nice shots of a bird for which it is difficult to expose because of the dark feathers. You did a good job!

emmalou

Lol about checking your pulse.when they fly by my acreage, I tell the chickens to "look alive"!:D
What great photos Harv! They fly overhead all day...but I have yet to see one land.and I have lived here 17 years!

Look at the face on that bird.wonderful.

Harv

Maestro wrote:

Nice shots of a bird for which it is difficult to expose because of the dark feathers. You did a good job!

Thanks a lot, Stephen.

Harv

emmalou wrote:

Lol about checking your pulse.when they fly by my acreage, I tell the chickens to "look alive"!:D
What great photos Harv! They fly overhead all day...but I have yet to see one land.and I have lived here 17 years!

Look at the face on that bird.wonderful.

Thanks very much. I have lived here for almost 6 years now and it's the first time I've seen them in the area.

Ric Grupe

I don't see any hood or sickle....so you were safe!

Terrific.

Dee

Great Shots
When we used to work in Fremont there were two trees the vultures would "roost" in. We called them the vulture trees! I didn't have a good telephoto at the time.

I love the detail in the feathers, you make these birds "almost" look pretty.

Harv

Ric Grupe wrote:

I don't see any hood or sickle....so you were safe!

Terrific.

Thanks, Ric. I guess it wasn't my time yet.

Harv

Dee wrote:

When we used to work in Fremont there were two trees the vultures would "roost" in. We called them the vulture trees! I didn't have a good telephoto at the time.

I love the detail in the feathers, you make these birds "almost" look pretty.

Thanks for the kind words, Dee. Much appreciated.

~Jan~

VERY nice captures!! However, I think that bird is pretty ugly. He probably thinks I'm ugly too (since I'm alive), but still.

Harv

~Jan~ wrote:

VERY nice captures!! However, I think that bird is pretty ugly. He probably thinks I'm ugly too (since I'm alive), but still.

Thanks, Jan. Actually, there were 2 birds there. Likely they each thought the other was gorgeous.

Image Maker

I agree that you made an ugly bird look good! If it weren't for that head . . .
Deb

Radley

Well captured Harv. Perfect exposure and that isn't easy with these guys (at least for me).

Harv

Image Maker wrote:

I agree that you made an ugly bird look good! If it weren't for that head . . .
Deb

Thanks very much, Deb. I agree... this bird would look a lot better if we could transplant the head of an eagle.

Harv

Radley wrote:

Well captured Harv. Perfect exposure and that isn't easy with these guys (at least for me).

Thanks, Claude. If I remember correctly, I simply metered off the surrounding foliage and tweaked it a bit in PP.

windoze

wow - those are amazing! and to me its just as amazing that they were in your backyard! well done!!!!!!!


thanx for sharing these!

troy

Dick on Aruba

Impressive.

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

Harv

windoze wrote:

wow - those are amazing! and to me its just as amazing that they were in your backyard! well done!!!!!!!


thanx for sharing these!

troy

Thanks very much, Troy. I found their presence amazing as well which is why I checked my pulse.

dbaker1221

teriffic shots!

Harv

dbaker1221 wrote:

teriffic shots!

Thanks a lot, Dave.