Turkey vulture.
We called them “buzzards” back in Texas—turkey vultures, black vultures—and would watch them wheeling around in thermals rising from the little hill country canyons. When I first moved to maine 30-something years ago, turkey vultures had just began to make it as far north as the 44th parallel. Nowadays, they arrive in March (or earlier) and stay for most of the year. Lots of ’em. And a couple years ago, I even saw a black vulture at the summit of Beech Hill.
Today it was a regular ol’ turkey vulture. Not many people care for vultures, I suspect. But they surely serve a purpose, and they’re big and handsome—from a distance. Kind of smelly up close, though, from what I understand.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee*
2. American crow*
3. Turkey vulture*
4. Northern flicker (v)
Elsewhere
5. Mourning dove
6. Tufted titmouse (v)
7. House finch
8. Northern cardinal
9. Herring gull
10. Rock pigeon
11. American robin
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, rock pigeon, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture
