Picture of a giant bird seen in the pines

[Joe1999]

I was driving along one day last winter, taking pictures and such, and I was surprized when I saw the size of this bird. I was driving so I couldn't get a good shot of it. Couldn't even get a second shot before it flew away, so this is all I have. When it opened its wings to fly, it nearly spanned the width of the road. Anyone have any idea what this could be?

Seen within 5 miles of the Quaker Bridge. Not sure what road I was on at the time.

Its right in the middle of the road a ways up...

 

[BEHR655]

It was probably a turkey vulture. Nice capture.

 

[Teegate]

I would have to agree with Steve. And that was a quick capture. You must have had that camera in your hand while driving


Guy

 

[woodjin]

I've seen turkey vultures with wing spans that nearly fill the road. I'm sure that is what you have there.

 

[dragoncjo]

Took me a couple times to realize it was a bird with its wings open. Does look like a vulture, was there any dead animals on the trail?

 

[Joe1999]

I would have to agree with Steve. And that was a quick capture. You must have had that camera in your hand while driving


Guy

Yeah, think I might have, or it was on the passenger seat next to me. I usually take pictures while im out there, so I usually have it close by.

Took me a couple times to realize it was a bird with its wings open. Does look like a vulture, was there any dead animals on the trail?

Might have been. Dont remember. I think there were 2 birds if I can remember right, but only got one in the picture. Well at least I know now what it is and am not wondering. Hope I see another one of those one day.

Also saw a rattlesnake last year. Or, a snake it a rattle-ing tail. Dont know if it was a actual rattlesnake or not cuz im not sure if they live in the pines. Was in the middle of the road as I was driving. I stopped. I tried to hide in the bushes off the road. Cant remember if I got a picture of it or not, but used the camcorder mode on my camera and you can hear it rattleing. That and the bird are probably the two wierdest animal species Ive seen out there. -Would like to see a bear one day.

 

[dragoncjo]

If you have the video of it I'd love to see it. Many snakes rattle there tell when provoked. Black ratsnakes can sound just like rattlers. What did it look like, and yes rattlesnake are in the pines, just rare.

 

[Joe1999]

If you have the video of it I'd love to see it. Many snakes rattle there tell when provoked. Black ratsnakes can sound just like rattlers. What did it look like, and yes rattlesnake are in the pines, just rare.

Well maybe it was just a ratsnake. I dont know. You cant see him in the video, but heres a link to it. Its only like 18 seconds long.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OQLQ3KSD

 

[Badfish740]

Am I the only one who sees a strong resemblence to a certain member of the Leeds family?

 

[mike242424]

When zoomed in it does appear to be bigger then a turkey buzzard. Its prob. just an illusion though

 

[NJSnakeMan]

it's the jersey devil, arhhh run!

 

[Joe1999]

it's the jersey devil, arhhh run!

lol, looks like it could be

 

[whippoorbill]

Looks like Count Birdula to me. Good thing it headed in the OTHER direction.

 

[KCB]

Could be the photo but that bird appears to have a head that is much larger that any turkey vulture I have seen. In fact the whole bird is larger that any vultureI have ever seen.

 

[Joe1999]

Could be the photo but that bird appears to have a head that is much larger that any turkey vulture I have seen. In fact the whole bird is larger that any vultureI have ever seen.

What other birds are out there that are that big? Must of had a 4 foot wingspan. We got eagles out there I think. But I dont think it was a eagle.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Vultures have a 4 foot wingspan. They're enormous.

 

[KCB]

What other birds are out there that are that big? Must of had a 4 foot wingspan. We got eagles out there I think. But I dont think it was a eagle.

Looks like more than a 4ft. span from the photo. Vultures are huge but that doesn't look like a vulture FROM WHAT I CAN SEE IN THE PIC. Did you see the face? They have no feathers on the head/face and are quite ugly. I have never seen them in the winter either. To answer your question, I don't know of any other birds that big that live around here so that's probably what it is. The picture is just unclear I guess. It's an interesting photo, thanks for posting.

 

[woodjin]

Vultures wing spans can get to nearly 7 feet! I would say vulture based on 1)likely hood, they are extremely common 2) they are black. The head could be hanging too low to see, or it could be a black heading vulture. I have seen them around but they are generally a little bit smaller.

Jeff

 

[dragoncjo]

If you look closely it is a vulture with its back to the car, with it wings spread over something. Black vultures which are slightly smaller, but still big are occasional winter residents in nj. Also turkey vultures when young still have black heads, they are huge birds. Also they are incredibly common in the pines during all seasons of the year.

 

[MarkBNJ]

We saw a nesting Turkey Vulture (I always called them Turkey Buzzards) yesterday, on the road east of Martha Furnace. He (or she) didn't like us passing beneath his (or her) tree, and unfurled his (or her) wings before flapping off. Absolutely enormous, and easily as large as the bird in that image.