Young Turkey Vulture

Hard to see 'cause the bastard wouldn't let me get very close, but closer than I've ever directly been to a wild Turkey Vulture. Saw the massive bird fly over our pond and panicked until we realized what it was (we have chickens and hawks are bad news). It was really close and swooping down, we're not sure what it smelled, but I followed it when it flew near the ground, and then followed it out into the road where it landed on a branch about 10 feet up, and about 12 feet from me. Tried to get closer and it went down the road. Beautiful animal though, even with its naked head and the fact that it pees on itself to clean, its big and beautiful.

All (c)