we saw them twice
their winged magnificence and
yellow-hooked beaks
circling high in autumn sky
en route to a winter home
~
Photo credit: bones64 posted on Pixabay
Bird migration is the theme of this week’s Haikai challenge. Not being a bird expert, I can only guess that the vultures I saw lately were on their way south, but it seems to be an explanation for their recent appearance. Turkey vultures are listed as birds on the move in Ontario at this time of year.
©️2018 Ontheland
Ontheland 
Nicely done, Janice. I don’t know if they migrate around here or not. They seem to be in this part of S. Jersey all the time. A nearby town used to have a turkey vulture festival. I always think they look so graceful when they’re flying–though they’re not so beautiful close up. 🙂
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The contrast between in flight profile and up close is amusing (I’ve seen the pictures…I haven’t actually seen one up close) It’s hard to know who is coming or going in the bird world….I haven’t noticed these birds around here before. The last time I knew I was seeing turkey vultures in flight was when I was out on a lake.
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Janice, your poem is just wonderful and a tribute to these birds with their magnificent wings.
The picture is beautiful too.
Miriam
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Thank you Miriam. The photo wasn’t taken by me but does approximate what I saw…there were two of them flying relatively low so I could just detect the hook of their beaks.
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Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #6: Janice’s latest #tanka for my current #haikai challenge!
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Thank you Frank 🙂
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My pleasure, Janice! Thank you for sharing!
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Fabulous! 😎🥀
Foraging flock
Worms in their beak
Eye shifting shadows from above
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Eye shifting shadows for sure… especially for potential prey!
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Oops! I just remembered they are vultures. I double checked: they don’t do their own killing (not these ones anyway)…they prefer freshly dead meat….they also eat berries apparently…anyways I think if I was a small bird or animal below I would feel nervous with those big wings overhead.
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No worries. The scenes are still Superb. 😎🥀
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They do make a lovely silhouette against the sky. (K)
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