The Committee

Turkey Vulture -- Pinnacles National Park, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1/1250s, f/5, ISO: 125

I've seen vultures gathering on this dead tree near the visitor's center a few times.  Once there was even a condor on the tree with them.  That was the best look I've ever had at a wild condor.

Turkey vultures aren't the prettiest of birds.  They aren't graceful fliers.  They don't seem to be particularly smart or clever.  They're all right by me, though.

Hangin' Out

Turkey Vulture -- Pinnacles National Park, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1/2000s, f/5.6, ISO: 250

Pongo and I went camping at Pinnacles last light.  We woke up to over a dozen vultures circling over the campground.  I didn't spot any condors in the mix.  Around there, condors can often been seen mixed in with the turkey vultures.  The vultures are better at spotting dead stuff than the condors.  The bigger birds use the vultures as advance scouts.

It was a nice night.  Pongo called it quits early, right after dinner.  About an hour later he flopped out of the car completely freaked out.  I guess he fell asleep then woke up not knowing where he was.  Poor guy.  He was fine after he got his bearings.  He's wound so tight.

Fly Me to the Moon

Turkey Vulture -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland, CA

It's the end of the year.  I hope it was a good one for you, and here's looking forward to 2015!