Blue Heron and Turkey Vultures

The Great Blue Herons have prospered this summer (see heron series below). On my way to breakfast in Egremont earlier this week, two young heron hunted Smiley's Pond together. Today, this young heron stood unmoving in its beaver pond when I stopped the car and took its picture.
The third hay mowing is underway, lush meadows fostered by much rain. A new style of mower very quickly mows the fields, followed by a variety of machines that may chop it for silage or roll it into big rolls for transport to the nearby farm. No more bales in our area.
Of course, fast mowers also reap a grisly harvest of frogs, mice, and other little critters, who become snacks for crows and turkey vultures who have learned that mowing means food. Within hours a mowed field can sport crows, ravens, and a dozen or so vultures intent on cleaning up the shredded bits tossed about by the speeding mower. Glutted, this vulture rested in a nearby dead tree undisturbed by my passing car.