Look who dropped by The Holler today, M n M’s, Mother Nature’s Maids!
They keep things clean around here,
but don’t like me coming near.
They open their wings to seem imposing,
while Holler trash they are busy disposing!
Good birds, they keep the sunflower field tidy.
Yep, we have sunflowers in December!
The birds & the bees love em.
I couldn’t just leave you with photos of vultures could I?
Cheers to you from The Holler Housekeepers and some December sun~
I’ve never seen their wings like that before, Didn’t even know there were white feathers under them 🙂 Now, your beautiful sunflowers? sigh! I miss summer already 😀
Their wings are beautiful aren’t they and so big. These are large, kite-like birds. Wish I could give you some sunflowers my friend~ 🌻🌻
Truly beautiful ^.^
<3
Reblogged this on GrannyMoon's Morning Feast.
Ahhh, I am so happy vultures have their advocates. They are such important creatures~
They have such a rugged beauty about them!
I am so glad you see their beauty. They are indispensible, impressive birds that keep our planet clean! <3
I saw the notification in my mailbox, and I cheered. “Yeah…Cindy just posted pictures of chocolates,” and off I went to see what delicious treats you would torture us with…and then those eyes in the first picture looked at me like it was saying, “Really…more chocolate?”
Oh well, thanks for bursting my bubble. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Cracking up……I’m sorry! I know they are not conventionally beautiful but they are a beautiful part of the ecosystem. Now I am thinking of chocolate too!!! 😉 😉
Good! 🙂
<3
The birds in the flight…absolutely stunning, Cindy! You are an amazing photographer… <3
I am so lucky to have such wonderful blogging friends. Thank you & hugs too~ 🌻
Always welcome… 🙂
<3
Wow! I’ve never seen one up close like in your photos! I’ve seen buzzards or maybe they were vultures circling high in the sky. Your photos of these big birds are wonderful! 😉
Ahhh, I am so happy and surprised. I thought a lot of people would be repelled. I’m not. They are fascinating birds and your comments make me happy I posted. Thank you!
Great little photo story. Thank you, Cindy.
Thank you & cheers too~
The vultures’ featherless heads help them from getting infected with harmful bacteria as they feed on animal carcasses; but, it looks kind of ugly to us humans.
Yes and those amazing clear olfactory channels are left unobstructed for their incredible dectecting purposes. We get groups of 20 or more at times at The Holler.
M N M don’t clean homes, do they? I could use some help. Just sayin’.
Tee hee hee! They just would always be pilfering from your trash, but if that doesn’t bother you, I’ll ask!
If they take the ants from the trash as well, they’re most welcome.
Seem imposing? They are imposing.
Yes they are. I’ve heard they have some unpleasant habits towards people who annoy them. I take pains not to be too annoying!
Had me going there for a sec with the title expecting to see pics og choc M&Ms, Cindy, but these lovelies will suffice 🙂 <3
Yes, I thought 5 photos might be sufficient! After all, you weren’t expecting this!! 😉 😉
So right 🙂
Sunflowers in December. Wow! 🙂
I know, it’s pretty cool huh! 🌻🌻
Extraordinary visitors.
Wonderful.
Cheers,
Frank
I so love the people who appreciate vultures. Thank you!
They get a bad press, don’t they? Extraordinary to have them inhabiting your own locale.
Good capture and share, Cindy.
Cheers,
Frank
We have our share of vultures here in Florida. I call them nature’s garbage men. Just think how awful tithe world would smell without their assistance.
Exactly!! It is actually often a relief when they arrive. I wonder if their immune systems are being studied. I’ll have to google……
I use them to clean up the fish that sometimes die in the ponds. Just toss them over the fence and within a couple of days, in come the vultures. Drives my little dogs nuts to see those big birds perched in the trees. Great Pictures and I think they are Turkey Vultures with the red heads.
They are indeed turkey vultures. It doesn’t take them a couple of days at The Holler. I’ve had numerous occasions to watch them. They arrive amazingly quickly here, but wait forever, to make sure the intended is actually deceased, and then they have a decorous pecking order, on who dines first, not the the melee’s I saw in Africa. Their immune systems must be simply incredible. Their nicitating membranes are unusual too. They deploy them so constantly around a kill, that I often have photos of these blind looking vultures hopping around. They are so well designed and serve such an important ecological function. I would hate to think what The Holler would be like without them.
These are nice looking Turkeys. 🙂
You have a good heart Ranu! <3 🌻
Thank you Cindy, and you do too. All the best to you, dear Cindy, you made my day, thank you so much! 🙂
Are those Turkey Vultures? They’ve been all I’ve seen of these carrion cleaners of late (on the mainland US). Aloha, Cindy! Keep ’em coming! 🙂
They are indeed turkey vultures. Even the ravens mind their p&q’s around them!
Reblogged this on Still Another Photoblog.
So thoughtful of you! I am glad you appreciate the unfairly maligned vultures. Thank you~
They’re really rather pretty, aren’t they? The wings are amazing. And your sunflowers, wow, in December. Enjoy!
I figured we all needed some sunflowers after the somber and serious vultures. Their wings are gorgeous and they are impressive fliers due to the long wingspan.
The last time I saw a Turkey Vulture was when we were on Safari in Khajuraho and there had been a kill by the tigers. They were all quite happy.
Leslie
Oh I would love to be there! I saw them quite happy in Africa too!!!
They like the big game, Cindy.
Leslie
Yes, they certainly do!
Vultures do great cleaning jobs! These are magnificent captures, Cindy! I have never seen Vultures this close.
Most people wouldn’t want too……..laughing! 😉
I grew up with turkey vultures circling overhead, Cindy. These guys are charmers in comparison to the black buzzards of the Everglades that can tear up a camp looking for food faster than a bear. You will often see the vultures up in trees early in the morning with their wings spread along the American and Sacramento Rivers. They are letting their wings dry prior to taking flight. Great photos as always, and nice sunflowers. 🙂 –Curt
I always read they open their wings to cool down on hot days, and to dry as all birds do, but these guys were opening their wings with one purpose in mind, to look big and scare me off. I have heard they will disgorge things on you if you get too close! Those Florida ones sound awesome, tearing up a camp like a bear! Wow! I would love to see that~
Turkey vultures spread their wings out is an incredible sight. At that same raptor rehabilitation center I volunteered at, a resident turkey vulture who would spread her wings out just like that – to warn us to stay away like you said (letting us know when bad/good times to clean her aviary might be!) or, after she’d bathed, to help herself get maximum exposure to the sun to dry off (as Curt Mekemson said above). And, in this way, turkey vultures and sunflowers have something in common don’t they? 😛
Oh, you brilliant one, they catch the sun. I would never have thought of this! What a great title to this post . <3
Good contrast, thank you for bringing us back from the pets of the Grim Reaper. Those birds can soar so well, catch a draft and seem to merely relax far above.
Since we live on a mountain, they do this at eye level frequently, and you are exactly right, it seems like they are practically sleeping up here in the drafts, like a kite with no effort. Amazing! Quite perceptive of you too~
I would not like to smell what they were interested in…
Oscar
Everything I read says they wait for the smell. Not at The Holler. I wonder if that’s because there are so few people here and they are less cautious. They move in asap, long before you or I could smell decomposition. I am sure they get the olfactory particles though. They always wait a long time by the corpse though to make sure it is dead which I am sure is a good idea. It is my fault entirely that we are having this conversation! Sorry! 😉 😉
I think they are waiting for Bubba to show up with the BBQ sauce.
Oscar
I love the vultures! And the sunflowers are not bad either 🙂
Alison
Laughing! I love you! <3
<3
Sunflowers in December. That looks like September! Beautiful vultures 🙂
I feel like telling the sunflowers, “Don’t you guys realize it was 35F here last night!!! They must horde the sunshine in their cells~ 🌻
Very cool indeed!
Mille grazie!
Interesting how you capture the vulture’s ‘nose’. That’s the only think I saw from the many photos you have.
Yes, it is striking isn’t it. Two toned and white at the end~ 🌻
you are amazing
Visa versa 2UX2! 🌻
As usual Cindy, Awesome images, Thanx for sharing, season Greetings <3 🙂
Back to you my friend X2! <3 🌻
Wow! Just what I needed during the cold wet damp days of Dec. Love your blog!
I’ll take your damp and trade you some SoCal sun! 🌻
I feel that I have always be a part of the Holler!! Hugs and love coming your way…
And flying back to you. You are are part of The Holler. We are connected which makes me a lucky person~ 🌻🌻
Hugs!!!
Hello and good weekend to you, who come to visit me every day. Your company enchants me and makes me smile. We are like longtime friends …
We are, friends from different sides of the sea and it is lovely!
You have some interesting visitors there, Cindy. And great shots!
Thanks much & cheers to you!
Sunflowers and vultures ~ nice balance, Cindy; and gorgeous photos, as always 🙂 ❤
I felt guilty depositing photos of vultures without some sort of counterbalancing and there were the sunflowers looking at me! 🌻
Oh, thank you for sharing your December sun and those stunning sunflowers…seems long since I saw any! Stunning photos and the birds are quite remarkable and definitely imposing! Have a lovely sunny weekend! 😀
Visa versa 2UX2 Annika! 🌻
Two very surprising sights for me. Vultures and sunflowers in December. Wow!
The dark and the light, even in the dead of winter. Hope you have a wonderful weekend Nadia~ 🌻
Beautiful sunflowers. We had a pet lovebird who loved sunflower seeds. I’d never seen a vulture with its wings spread out before. Thanks for the lovely pictures, Cindy. 🙂 — Suzanne
I should have posted another wing shot, two vultures had their wings open slightly over lapping each other. Their wings are impressive multiplied~
Lovely photos. Did you coin the name for the vultures?
Yes, while driving!
You should patent it 🙂
It would be great if I ran a housekeeping company. “MnM’s! We clean your messes!” Augmented with a vulture logo with Mother Nature’s Maids below. Laughing…….
So calming and nature wonder Cindy
Ahh, so glad! Thank you~ 🌻
🙂
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Beautiful shots Cindy – nature is stunning and love how you capture it 🙂
I love you thoughtful words, thank you! 🌻
🙂
I watched an old western movie last night & I think they played ‘old turkey buzzard’ 25 times !
Hilarious!!!
These pictures do justice to both the magnificence of the vulture – they are my watchers every day! They do what I do, clean up messes others leave behind lol! The sun flower pictures are amazing too Cindy! They are natures “stop signs” to stop for a moment and appreciate where you are in the moment. Much love and light to you!
I love both your descriptors which are perfectly apt, and I love how you fit yourself into the pictures as just another nature’s child, which of course we all are~ <3
Westerners call them buzzards, but they are turkey vultures. I’ve seen them sunning with their wings cupped many times. In flight, they are amazing. They’re great to include in fiction, because it helps set certain moods.
They certainly do. They spread their wings for three reason, to cool down, dry off and to intimidate. If they don’t like you, they will barf on you. Penguins do this too. Brids are little living dinos!
Awesome photos!
Mille grazie~ 🌻
Fantastic photos, as always, Cindy. Great to see the vultures up so close, they’re usually so far away. I appreciated your emphasis on the importance of this bird, and chuckled at the end with your parting question and the sunflower field.
I felt like I needed to give some kind of counterbalance since vultures are not everyone’s idea of interesting. I am really gratified that people recognize both their importance and their amazing design. Bloggers are smart people.
I know many people consider vultures ugly, but I find them magnificent. Our own version here, the turkey vulture, has a feathered head and is super handsome. Wonderful photos.
Yay!! I am so glad you see this! They are such exquisite fliers. We live on a mountain and I love to watch them kite by in the wind drafts. Someone said they wouldn’t want to smell what the vultures were eating, but they have such good eyesight, they prefer to eat fresh prey whenever possible, which is how it works at The Holler. I know something has died when they cluster, and they clean it up immediately here which is invaluable. Plus they are amazingly well designed for what they do. 🌻
Como siempre, tus fotos me generan la alegría de vivir la Naturaleza. Precioso post. Un abrazo, amiga <3
Eres una luz en mi vida. Abrazos y besos mi amiga~ 🌻🌻
I’m guessing “Shoo” would not work. :\
That might generate an annoyed response which is to be avoided at all costs since it involves vultures and errrrr….barfing!
Ewww … it just gets worse. There is an alien kind of majesty to them though. I just would not like one to sit next to me.
You are hilarious and you just made me laugh! We agree. We will not sit next to vultures, it might annoy them.
Wow, amazing!!! Great shots especially sunflower field!!!!
Thank you Rexlin. It is a sunny, happy sight in December~ 🌻
The vultures are quite beautiful to me. Sunflowers in December? How divine! Lovely photos.
Lovely you! I love the special souls who see the beauty in a vulture~ 🌻
I see beauty in everything as do you. Even spiders are beautiful and amazing artists. I am looking forward to your next post! <3 🙂
Excellent photos. You must have one of those cameras that can capture details from afar. To be honest I would not want to get too near those birds because they might think of me as Lunch or Dinner!! LOL!!
Also when I first saw the title I was thinking about my brother Stephen’s favorite candy M&Ms!! LOL!! 🙂 😀
Mille grazie. It is sort of an unfortunate association, now M&M’s will forever be connected with vultures for me! Laughing….. 😉
Your ‘maids’ are photogenic, Cindy 🙂 And the sunflowers are simply gorgeous!
Hugs to you Tiny & lots of 🌻🌻🌻!
A face only a mother could love – ha! Nice to balance with pix of sunny sunflower faces, too. 🙂
I thought of that exact phrase too! 🌻
The only M’nM’s we have here are the candies! Love this post! xo
Thank you Resa. No vultures up your way? I would think there would be…….
I see no vultures.
I never have in Toronto.
I’ve seen a falcon!!!
Wow! I’m surprised. I need to visit Toronto!
Yes, you do! 😀
Then I could see you!
Beautiful post. Love the title. Beautiful words and cute photos. Thanks for sharing them Cindy.
I love that you think vultures are cute!
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/ef/d7/3a/efd73adec04980b32907ddf96b050c54.jpg
yes, they are cute from a photo but scary in real life… 🙂
Understood~
i mean in person…. 🙂
They really aren’t scary in real life either. They just want to be left alone to do their job.
I find them scary , like some animals in the zoo..they look so great in photos but once you see them for real, it’s scary…..well i guess , they are no different from humans…. 🙂
I infringed on their space and they were respectful towards me albeit they didn’t want me there and I didn’t get close enough to scare them. Wild animals respond well to respect and distance, and you are right, people do too. No one wants their space or rights infringed on, bird, beast or human.
I couldn’t agree more. Nothing beats respect and kindness. Thank you Cindy, your photos and post made me smile today.
And you did me as well my friend~
Thanks. Have a lovely weekend.
<3
Reblogged this on penpowersong.
Gratitude for you and for your thoughtfulness! 🌻
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Mother Nature knows her stuff; she employs only the best.
She does and I wish everyone would respect her for it! 🌻
Gee, Cindy, I knew one day I’d check over here and find your lovely Owls gone, but replaced with Vultures? Yikes!! I suppose they’re necessary creatures, but they’re just not as impressive as my beloved Owls! And thanks for the sunflowers — ours are long gone!
I thought vultures would be a hard sell! Laughing……Cheers to you Debbie~🌻
Nice pictures although I must say your chickens look a bit dangerous. 😀
Our chickens do grow quite large out here in the west. You should hear them squawk!
https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/business-commerce-morale-chicken-talk-communication-complaints-aton4115_low.jpg
So would I if I were being chased by Colonel Sanders. 😀
Laughing……
Hey Cindy– it’s incredible that your photos seem to be so distinct and close up to those amazing vultures! –and love the sunflowers. When we lived in southern Spain the hills were covered with them April through June! glorious! hugs!
Yes, I remember the huge fields of sunflowers in Spain and France. Gorgeous. Sunflower fields make a beautiful sight, brightening up landscape wherever they are. Hugs back to you my friend~🌻
The turkey vultures (I think that is what they are?) are magnificent birds, and great housekeepers. The sunflowers are gorgeous!
Ah, thanks much Lavinia. I am very pleased on behalf of the deserving vultures! <3
Wow! Beautiful shots as usual Cindy! I am jealous of you having sunflowers in December as we have snow on the ground today 🙂
I especially love the shot of the birds with their wings open!
Cindy, years ago I saw these giant birds with red heads in high treetops in Connecticut. Since I had no idea what they were, I called the tribal natural resources director and she said they were vultures. I cannot forget how scary they looked – a whole flock of them.
Yes, that is them. They do cluster in trees when they think food may be available soon and they are quite distinctive so you definitely would remember them the first time you see them!
Wspaniałe zdjęcia Cindy
Serdecznie pozdrawiam i życzę miłego tygodnia.
Cenione! Dziękuję i mają wspaniały tydzień przyjacielu Marko~
I want to walk along the sunflower field ~ I love the bright yellow petals!! (OH and M&Ms are yummy chocolates here so at first when I saw the blog title I thought it would be pictures of them.. hehe!) <3
I know, it was misleading, but hopefully humorous, that’s why I had to give you lots of sunflowers to brighten your day like you brighten mine~ 🌻🌻🌻
Have a very nice day Cindy
Kisses
Visa versa 2UX2! 🌻
I know Mother Nature loves all her children, but the vulture sure is a homely fellow, isn’t he? I saw my first one last year in Florida and was shocked by his ugliness. Poor dear. The sunflowers are gorgeous. In December? Amazing.
December sunflowers and hungry vultures, the ying and ying of the world, and ourselves~ 🌻
So true, Cindy.
<3
What a gorgeous place to live and what beautiful photos!
What a kind heart you have Lyn. Cheers to you my friend~ 🌻
cheers
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings; Myriad Musings and commented:
Cindy shared some beautiful photos of vultures and sunflowers…lovely to have sunflowers in December! Magnificent.
😎
They brighten up the cloudy days just like you do my friend! 🌻🌻
Black and gold. Superpower contrasts but really love your vultures.
Thank you. I love people who love the harder to love vultures!
They have such an important role. There are three kinds near us, black, griffon and sometimes Egyptian vultures.
My one and only sunflower is long gone and its seeds are now under the snow, Cuz. Just had a bit of winter pass through here, and another blast is on its way for this weekend. Are those Turkey Vultures? As to your previous question, I’d have to answer that in a less public forum. Hugs….. 🙂
Understand and yes they are turkey vultures. Put some logs on that fire and stay warm cuz~ 🌻
M n Ms HuH? I prefer those little creature picker uppers that clean the sidewalks, back walks, and around my cat food dishes….i call them possums; Patty’O, Harry’O, and Blossom Opossum. Gotz me plenty of their clan. AND i have pansies in December so Nah Nah Cindy. ~~dru~~
Laughing….. I like both you panseys and your possums, so there!! 🌻🌻
I remember at one time quite disliking vultures but as I grew older I came to appreciate them and the job they do…great photos 🙂
I hear you, they are a little difficult to warm up to!!! 😉
they’re quite beautiful in their own way and they do a tremendous service for humans and “Mother Nature.” 🙂
They are true beauties in flight though. They soar with such grace & elegance!
Yes they do 🙂
Fantastic shots, Cindy, I wish that I could fly like that. 🙂
I would too, but I wouldn’t want to reincarnate as a vulture, their food puts me off!
http://www.supercoloring.com/sites/default/files/styles/coloring_thumbnail/public/cif/2010/07/flying-buzzard-coloring-page.jpg
😅
More cool birds, Cindy! They really do take their job seriously. 🙂 Love your sunflowers, too.
Yes, there is a gravitas about them, as if they wish to get the job done in private. Interesting, I hadn’t thought of this until you mentioned it~
I was at a Mansfield, Ohio bird sanctuary and enjoyed the vultures there. I loved your take on them, Cindy: “Nature’s Maids!” 😀
They really are a most polite bird! 🐦
Yes, they are rather calm and sometimes while soaring, graceful. You captured their positive attributes and unique beauty. xo
And you appreciated them! <3
Wonderful photos, yes even the Vultures, of course the Sun flowers are gorgeous.
I want to thank you for stopping by my blog and hope you enjoyed your visit. :o)
Thank you! I do enjoy your writing and your blog.
Gorgeous.
I love a person who sees the beauty in a vulture. They are beautiful and important too!