Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2018

Overcast, low clouds. Can't remember temperature, but probably low 30's F.

Steiner 7x50 Rallye binoculars

Have seen this bird in NJ on many visits.
Easy to identify.

mixed urban-industrial area with local meat processing company next door.

Birds were flying together circling low over trees, mostly flapping wings because of lack of thermal activity. Seemed like they had picked up scent but were moving around trying to locate source. They remained in the area for approx. 20 minutes.

I'm a salesman at Almartin Volvo, and I first saw them flying low over pines behind Executive Drive while I was sitting in a new car with a customer. This area has turkey vultures during the typical length of their breeding season up here but I could tell immediately with naked eye that these were not turkey vultures and not crows or ravens.
Once I was finished with my delivery I was able to go out to my car and get a better look with binoculars. I already knew these were black vultures from the size and shape, broad wings with very distinct finger tips, very short tail, and slight dihedral during the short glides. But the birds had to flap wings almost constantly since there was no thermal activity. I took the cell phone pictures while walking out to the car because I wasn't sure how long they'd stay in sight, as they were circling away to the north of the field.

large dark birds, bigger than crows or ravens, similar in size to turkey vultures which are common to this area, but broader wings and distinct finger tips. I didn't see the typical white patches but these birds were almost constantly flapping their wings to stay aloft, and the lighting was poor.

small but indistinct at this range

unobserved at this range

black

black

black

black

very short and wide, black

Turkey Vulture, Crow, Raven