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If only they were eagles... · 03:39 PM

I came upon these turkey vultures this morning alongside the road - very photogenic (if they weren't so ugly)...

#1 The basking tree...

#2

#3 Preening...

#4 Catching some rays...

#5

#6

All shot with the Tamron SP 400mm F4, on a tripod f/7.1, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400 (last is f/9 & 1/500)

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 05-09-2009, 05:29 PM

Josh, there is no denying that it's an ugly bird but these are really nice captures in any case. Thanks for posting them because we will never see them in our area.

OrenMc · 05-09-2009, 05:45 PM

I agree, they are really nice captures. Great work.

fwcetus · 05-09-2009, 06:37 PM

> If only they were eagles...

1. Vultures are truly beautiful birds.

2. When in flight they ~ARE~ eagles . . .

stevebrot · 05-09-2009, 07:21 PM

I looks like that one on the left on #2 is sizing you up!

Great pictures...

Steve

heliphoto · 05-09-2009, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

Josh, there is no denying that it's an ugly bird but these are really nice captures in any case. Thanks for posting them because we will never see them in our area.

Thanks Heinrich - I'm surprised there are none where you live - they're ubiquitous around here.

Originally posted by OrenMc

I agree, they are really nice captures. Great work.

Thanks Oren - had fun with the big lens along the highway. Lotsa people staring...

Originally posted by fwcetus

> If only they were eagles...

1. Vultures are truly beautiful birds.

2. When in flight they ~ARE~ eagles . . .

Well Fred, I do love to watch them fly (nice shots), but I still hold that they're ugly - I don't like that punk rock piercing through the bridge of their nose...

Originally posted by stevebrot

I looks like that one on the left on #2 is sizing you up!

Great pictures...

Steve

Indeed Steve - it's not the first time I've caught the eye of one of theses guys...

Yeah - that photos a bit overprocessed leading to that halo around the bird - I'll go work on that right now... EDIT: uploading the replacement right now so you shouldn't see the halo now... nevermind

...

Jimbo · 05-10-2009, 12:00 AM

Great series Josh. JIM

roentarre · 05-10-2009, 05:22 AM

Looks very zen with your first image in deed!

**Sailor** · 05-10-2009, 06:19 AM

Hey, Josh - beautiful photos of ugly birds.

Jer

daacon · 05-10-2009, 06:24 AM

Great shots Josh - ugly or not a very unique looking bird.

Studio20 · 05-10-2009, 06:25 AM

great series very ugly birds

**Scottnorwo** · 05-10-2009, 06:43 AM

Great shots. While an ugly bird they serve a purpose, just as long we don't have to see them

**Rense** · 05-10-2009, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by daacon

Great shots Josh - ugly or not a very unique looking bird.

You should *never ever* say such a thing to a lady: "What a unique looking dress you have!"

Josh, those photos are realy good, I like them very much! I find it very difficult to get such nice blue sky behind this kind of subjects....

heliphoto · 05-10-2009, 04:31 PM

Originally posted by Jimbo

Great series Josh. JIM

Thanks Jim.

Originally posted by roentarre

Looks very zen with your first image in deed!

Thanks James - Seeing them all in that tree convinced me to turn around and get the big lens out.

Originally posted by Sailor

Hey, Josh - beautiful photos of ugly birds.

Jer

Thanks Jer.

Originally posted by daacon

Great shots Josh - ugly or not a very unique looking bird.

Thank you Dave. Unique

.

Originally posted by Studio20

great series very ugly birds

Thank you S20, glad you liked 'em.

Originally posted by Scottnorwo

Great shots. While an ugly bird they serve a purpose, just as long we don't have to see them

Ah but I seem to take so many shots of 'em, you'd better avoid my posts if you don't want to see 'em

.

Originally posted by Rense

You should *never ever* say such a thing to a lady: "What a unique looking dress you have!"

Josh, those photos are realy good, I like them very much! I find it very difficult to get such nice blue sky behind this kind of subjects....

Thanks Rense, I think the early hour (0800 local) helped with the blue skies, and also, one of the first things I noticed about this lens is the beautiful way it handles blue sky - it's really remarkable and I can't explain why it would be different than my other lenses, but it is.

**Marc Langille** · 05-10-2009, 04:44 PM

Great series Josh! Beautiful plumage like an eagle, but ugly (all business) heads...

For those not aware: this is a very common behavior of red/black vultures first thing in the morning and a great chance to take advantage of it. Evidently thermoregulation & drying is the reason for this behavior in vultures.

Regards,
Marc

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05-09-2009, 05:29 PM	#2
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Josh, there is no denying that it's an ugly bird but these are really nice captures in any case. Thanks for posting them because we will never see them in our area.

05-09-2009, 05:45 PM	#3
OrenMc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,901	I agree, they are really nice captures. Great work.

05-09-2009, 06:37 PM	#4
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	When in flight they ~ARE~ eagles . . . > If only they were eagles... 1. Vultures are truly beautiful birds. 2. When in flight they ~ARE~ eagles . . .

05-09-2009, 07:21 PM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I looks like that one on the left on #2 is sizing you up! Great pictures... Steve

05-09-2009, 08:27 PM	#6
heliphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Region 5 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,539 Original Poster	Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann Josh, there is no denying that it's an ugly bird but these are really nice captures in any case. Thanks for posting them because we will never see them in our area. Thanks Heinrich - I'm surprised there are none where you live - they're ubiquitous around here. Originally posted by OrenMc I agree, they are really nice captures. Great work. Thanks Oren - had fun with the big lens along the highway. Lotsa people staring... Originally posted by fwcetus > If only they were eagles... 1. Vultures are truly beautiful birds. 2. When in flight they ~ARE~ eagles . . . Well Fred, I do love to watch them fly (nice shots), but I still hold that they're ugly - I don't like that punk rock piercing through the bridge of their nose... Originally posted by stevebrot I looks like that one on the left on #2 is sizing you up! Great pictures... Steve Indeed Steve - it's not the first time I've caught the eye of one of theses guys... Yeah - that photos a bit overprocessed leading to that halo around the bird - I'll go work on that right now... EDIT: uploading the replacement right now so you shouldn't see the halo now... nevermind ... Last edited by heliphoto; 05-09-2009 at 09:04 PM.

05-10-2009, 12:00 AM	#7
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	Great series Josh. JIM

05-10-2009, 05:22 AM	#8
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Looks very zen with your first image in deed!

05-10-2009, 06:19 AM	#9
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	Hey, Josh - beautiful photos of ugly birds. Jer

05-10-2009, 06:24 AM	#10
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Great shots Josh - ugly or not a very unique looking bird.

05-10-2009, 06:25 AM	#11
Studio20 Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slatersville, RI Posts: 88	great series very ugly birds

05-10-2009, 06:43 AM	#12
Scottnorwo Millionth Poster! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stafford, New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,086	Great shots. While an ugly bird they serve a purpose, just as long we don't have to see them

05-10-2009, 12:47 PM	#13
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Originally posted by daacon Great shots Josh - ugly or not a very unique looking bird. You should never ever say such a thing to a lady: "What a unique looking dress you have!" Josh, those photos are realy good, I like them very much! I find it very difficult to get such nice blue sky behind this kind of subjects....

05-10-2009, 04:31 PM	#14
heliphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Region 5 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,539 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jimbo Great series Josh. JIM Thanks Jim. Originally posted by roentarre Looks very zen with your first image in deed! Thanks James - Seeing them all in that tree convinced me to turn around and get the big lens out. Originally posted by Sailor Hey, Josh - beautiful photos of ugly birds. Jer Thanks Jer. Originally posted by daacon Great shots Josh - ugly or not a very unique looking bird. Thank you Dave. Unique . Originally posted by Studio20 great series very ugly birds Thank you S20, glad you liked 'em. Originally posted by Scottnorwo Great shots. While an ugly bird they serve a purpose, just as long we don't have to see them Ah but I seem to take so many shots of 'em, you'd better avoid my posts if you don't want to see 'em . Originally posted by Rense You should never ever say such a thing to a lady: "What a unique looking dress you have!" Josh, those photos are realy good, I like them very much! I find it very difficult to get such nice blue sky behind this kind of subjects.... Thanks Rense, I think the early hour (0800 local) helped with the blue skies, and also, one of the first things I noticed about this lens is the beautiful way it handles blue sky - it's really remarkable and I can't explain why it would be different than my other lenses, but it is.

05-10-2009, 04:44 PM	#15
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710	Great series Josh! Beautiful plumage like an eagle, but ugly (all business) heads... For those not aware: this is a very common behavior of red/black vultures first thing in the morning and a great chance to take advantage of it. Evidently thermoregulation & drying is the reason for this behavior in vultures. Regards, Marc