Not a photo post!

Well, I mean this post does have photos, but it is in the bonus category!!
I have yet to take my pictures for today, but had this to share from yesterday.

Yesterday morning I was headed out to my Thursday class.
I had 4 minutes to make a 6 minute drive.
I was late!
My route has a place where 2 roads form an L, so it is a two way stop intersection rather than just being a curve. It is a bit asinine right now, but I think someday it will be a 3 way stop and they are building in a stopping habit for us.

Anyway, yesterday morning to my left just before this intersection I couldn't help but notice a large gathering of buzzards. If I had to guess I would venture to say there were at least 12 hanging about.
It is pretty creepy to see a large group of buzzards gathered, going about their business.
Ewwwww, their business!!!!
They are sizable birds, and so distinct in their movements and overall appearance.

I was frustrated that I was running late and missed the opportunity to snap off a few shots of these guys.

However, on my way home, oh about 5 hours later I had a chance to stop!!!
I pulled my van over off of the road and sat calmly in my seat adjusting my settings before getting out.
Uh-huh, see I am learning.
I remembered our gum chewing hawk friend was not easily disturbed, but these guys appeared to be more skittish.
I think it was the group setting!
I have a feeling they aren't very nice to each other.
The 6 remaining birds were loosely gathered around the...
uhhhh, they were gathered around the...
clearing throat and swallowing....
they were gathered around the armadillo, well what was left of the armadillo!
Ewwwww, why can't I run across bunnies eating clover or something???

I crept slowly over desperately hoping they wouldn't suddenly amass together to attack me thinking of me as their next meal.

Here lately I have been laying right on the ground or floor to get "on the level" shots of my chosen subjects. Can I just tell you, that didn't even cross my mind. I just did the bend your knees and pretend you are still young and able to do this squat type move.
Luckily I was a bit uphill from them.

Here was my first shot!

Can you just believe it??? In focus and everything!!!


Then I swiveled and got this guy!


Oh, man...let me tell you they walk soooo creepy! They do that stooped over neck scrunched buzzard/vulture sort of bird of prey thing!!!

Wait a minute...are they a bird of prey? They prey upon the squashed, does that count?
Oh, it matters not, we are here to look at 'em that's all.



You really must click on this next image and look at it up close.
Those feathers are magnificent!!!!





This is my favorite shot of the bunch. This fellow it seems hasn't yet had his go at the feast, so he is watching from a distance waiting for his turn.

Ewwww!
Fuzzy bunnies, fuzzy bunnies!!!

I want you to know that it took courage for me to:
1. pull my van over and get out
2. carry my huge lens camera in a very busy place, I am still kinda shy and nervous about it.
3. take pictures of huge buzzards eating dead things
4.squat down on these creaky joints...who knows if I was gonna be able to stand up without falling over...then the buzzards really would have circled in for the....oh boy....never mind.
5. not be paranoid about all of the passing cars and what they might think of me with my big lens taking pictures of buzzards eating dead things.

I think you get the picture.
I was calm though, and focused...well most of the time.
There was suddenly a rather large surge of traffic coming around this corner which caused the birds to be in movement a bit more,which caused me to work harder to stay focused.

Then you know what happened??
A guy honked.
Not a little, hey way to go taking pictures of dead things horn tap, but an all out blast.
It sent the birds flapping in haste to escape.
I looked up quickly thinking maybe it was a friend of mine and I would see them waving and grinning, but no... it was just some mean man who didn't even have the guts to look me in the eye after ruining my shot.
Seriously!!!
It was just rude!!!

The birds started hopping around full of nervousness and before I knew it...

were all up flying in the sky!

There was no way I could change all of my settings in time to capture the birds in flight!
Arrrgggghhhhh!

Creepy birds, creepy horn blasting fellow!
By the way...I did a little research after typing out this whole blog and found that this bird is a black vulture, not a buzzard.
You may now go back through the entire post and mentally insert the word vulture everywhere the word buzzard is typed as a substitute, should you feel the need to do that, cause I am not gonna retype it for you, though the amount of time it took me to write this run on sentence would probably have been enough to change all of my wrong words!!!

Here is wishing you a most excellent buzzard Friday.
Oh look there is one more for ya!

I will be back later today with my photo assignment!