Air surfing

From their hangout atop the local cell tower, both black and turkey vultures cruised the updrafts that lift from the Ouachita woodlands below. This morning, they were air surfing right outside the deck, swooping so close you could almost grab a feather.

LOOKING DOWN — Black vulture scouts for lunch.

SEARCHING — Something must have smelled inviting, since a troupe of vultures was circling and swooping over the south valley around noon today.  The group was infiltrated briefly by a kestrel flying east. 

THREE — A trio of vultures silhouetted against the sky.

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird …

A red-tailed hawk enjoys the updrafts from the Ouachita valley below.

Red tail hawk cruises.

Hawk wheels for a turn into the south wind.