A. E. Crookes Park
Mississauga, ON
18 September 2014
Driving by this location, I glanced out of the car window and noticed two Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura on the beach, so I turned into the parking lot and walked down to observe. The birds were feeding on a large dead carp in the same location where I had observed an American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus feeding on identical carrion a few months earlier. Whether carp have some kind of proclivity to beach themselves in this area I have no idea but it seems curious that the same event would repeat itself in the same location. One of the birds flew off almost immediately but the second bird remained to feed.
I did not have a camera with me, but a young man named David Mew was taking pictures there and he very kindly agreed to email me a few shots. The following pictures are his work, not mine.
By the time I left there were five Turkey Vultures circling in the air and I had no doubt that the fish would be demolished in short order.
Superb shots,love the second shot.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
Photos extraordinaires : ))
ReplyDeleteQuel bel appétit !
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, made by another David.
It's a really big carp.
I wish you a very nice weekend.
Wonderful photos of this bird.
ReplyDeleteBest regards, Synnöve
Dinner time!
ReplyDeleteYou must have quite frustrated not to have your camera with you!
ReplyDeleteLuckily, another David was around!
The size of the carp is impressive, could there be large enough aquatic predators to menace such a large fish, I wonder?...
Congratulations for your observation!
Heaps of hugs from... down here! :)
I don't think they have many predators, Noushka. They are not native to the Great Lakes ecosystem. They originate in Asia and have been released in ships' ballast water. They are a cause for great concern and many efforts are being made to eradicate them or at least prevent their spread.
DeletePhotos are beautiful. I really like visit your blog. I feel like travelling. Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteTurkey Vulture, they are brilliant. I love them.
ReplyDeleteCool captures of the Turkey Vulture.. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see and what a beautiful moment the last photo.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Tinie
Your blog is so interesting place to visit. Beautiful photos. Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed by the size of that Carp, David. Would have fed a whole family of humans - but not in that condition! Well done to 'other David' for the images.
ReplyDeleteEspecially the middle picture with the flying turkey I find beautiful to see. Very nicely done! It is not your picture, but that does not matter;-)
ReplyDelete