Subject: [Tweeters] Turkey Vulture Bonanza
Date: Oct 6 22:30:10 2011
From: Hans-Joachim Feddern - thefedderns at gmail.com


Diann, Tweeters,

Wow, this was another one of the fantastic moments in birding! Carole and I
were birding at* Hans*ville/Point-No-Point this afternoon with not
particular highlights, only the expected species. While scoping the water to
the north from the beach across the parking lot, I happened to look west
towards Foulweather Bluff and noticed a very large group of what I thought
were crows harassing a raptor. Much to my surprise, when I looked through my
binoculars, it turned out to be the largest kettle of *Turkey Vultures* I
have ever encountered in my many years of birding! Well. I have never been
to Panama....
The lowest were barely above the tree line, flapping to gain height. I
attempted to count them while kettling, but found that was impossible with
that swirling mass of birds. I waited until small groups of 20 to 30,
disengaged themselves from the top of the kettle and started gliding south
(to be pronounced with a Canadian accent - after all these were Canadian
Vultures). Only then was I able to count them. I came up with an astounding
142 -*ONEHUNDREDANDFORTYTWO*- birds! Yes dear Watson, the Turkey vultures
are on the move indeed!

Good Birding!

--
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
thefedderns at gmail.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20111006/e649a216/attachment.htm