The Discovery

Last year at the cottage saw several close encounters with Turkey Vultures, beginning in June...

...and again in July:

By early September the fall colours in the Kawarthas were already impressive, so off I went at dawn one morning:

   

But it was while exploring a new area along a winding road that I made a discovery:

A Turkey Vulture roost!

A cast of Turkey Vultures.

A committee of Turkey Vultures.

A meal of Turkey Vultures.

A wake of Turkey Vultures. 

I wasn't sure how spooked these gregarious goofs would be by my presence but I soon learned it wasn't an issue as they continued with their fascinating morning routine:

Scratching:

Mouth stretches:

Balancing:

More mouth stretches:

Preening:

More scratching:

Warming up:

More preening:

Fluffernuttering:

More preening:

More mouth stretches:

Balancing, before heading out to cruise for dead stuff:

Making room for more dead stuff teehee:

Drying wings by facing the morning sun:

Watching one's neighbour...

...and then deciding to distance oneself from one's neighbour:

Checking out new visitors to the roost:

And so it began, my love affair with these characters, to be continued...