Over-sized Visitor

 

Sitting in the kitchen and on the phone trying to make an appointment, it was a surprise to look up to find this rather large bird strutting along the top of the decking rail.

 

This is an American Black Vulture - by no means an attractive bird!

These birds are known to fly with or to follow Turkey Vultures - the even uglier red-headed vultures of similar size.  They follow them as the Turkey Vulture has a better sense of smell and hence ability to find carcasses such as roadkill.  When this bird flew away a Turkey Vulture was there too, but I don't know what had attracted them to the decking in the first place.

 

When it was about to fly it started to open its wings and crouched very low.  Then the wings were up and he was taking off..