Hi, Tweets

I'm a little late - was hoping for huge September numbers like last year but the vultures control those numbers so it wasn't to be: next month!! October already looks great. So, for September, numbers really started building up on the traditional date of the 28th but no really outstanding numbers yet.

E-bird is, of course, looking like everywhere is covered with turkey vultures but most of the sightings are of 1-2 birds. They are a healthy population still. September starts with one bird seen from a B.C. ferry and a bit later another single is seen crossing (maybe) the Salish Sea. Most reports are from tweeters in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia with several from e-bird.

01 -- One from the Tsawwassan-Duke Point Ferry, B.C.

05 -- One turkey vulture at Migration Corner, eastern Clark County.

06 -- One at Migration Corner, eastern Clark County.

08 -- Five turkey vultures in Skagit county today: 2 separate individuals flying over Anacortes; 3 others on a road kill on Best Road between La Conner and Mt Vernon - 2 on the ground (along with a raven) and 1 in the air.

09 -- Five at Woodland Bottoms, Cowlitz County.

10 -- Two turkey vultures at Upper Larch Mountain Lookout, eastern Clark County.

11 -- One TV within tree tops and house-tops at Bay View, Skagit County; 15 at Alberni Valley circled high and headed south, China Creek Marina, BC; 9 seen at Uclulet, B.C.

12 -- Two west of Mount Vernon, at about 10:30 am, then about 30 min. later, same area, one TV was circling.

13 -- Twenty turkey vultures at Fisherman's Bend R.A., Marion County, Oregon; one over the Salish Sea, Nanaimo.

15 -- One at Hayton Preserve on Fir Island, Skagit County.

16 -- Five at Woodland Bottoms, Cowlitz County.

20 -- one turkey vulture near Costco in Mount Vernon; five at Orondo River Park, Douglas County; 22 at Woodland Bottoms, Cowlitz County.

21 -- Two at Tokeland, Pacific County.

22 -- A huge group near Camas, I lost count at 50 (could have been up to 100) came in at sunset and stayed in the roost area for the night. One was chased by a hawk that shrieked and flew off when the vulture he was chasing swooped in with the group in the trees. The majority left in morning; 27 at Woodland Bottoms, Cowlitz County.

24 -- Two at Bonney Butte in Oregon along with a variety of other raptors; at Larch Mountain's Migration Corner, 5 turkey vultures.

25 -- "scouts" being seen over Sequim; one TV, Anacortes, Sea Farer Park at 4:50.

26 -- Two turkey vultures at MP57, on I-5 by Castle Rock at approximately 1400; 25 at Witty's Lagoon Reg.Park, B.C.; One at Migration Corner, eastern Clark County.

27 -- 125 at Larch Mountain, Cowlitz County.

28 -- One turkey vulture at the West 90 and 2 seen from I-5 just north of Everett; 267 turkey vulturesw at Larch Mountain; one at the trailhead; 15 at Lyle Conservation Area, Clallam County; 11 at Rotary Park, Ellensburg, Kittitas County; 25 in a big kettle at Both (?) Road Interurban Trail, Fife; one at Migration Corner, eastern Clark County.

29 -- Killingsworth Street, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon (how funny - I grew up near this street - never looked up, I guess!); 86 at Woodland Bottoms, Cowlitz County; 5 at Rhododendron Park, Kenmore, King County.

As always, thanks for the great reports. October should be an interesting month, vulturewise.

Cheers, Diann