Phoenix - Turkey Vulture

With a wingspan rivaling the bald eagle, this soaring vulture can stay aloft for hours without flapping its wings. They use their amazing sense of smell to find carrion to feed on – Turkey Vultures can detect pieces of raw meat from kilometers away.

We have confused these common birds for young bald eagles in the past, often seen around Sooke, and as we watched the flying display, six more congregated in the sky above the arena.

There were many other flying displays that session, a barn owl that was silent as it flew over our heads, a Golden Eagle and an amazingly fast Peregrine Falcon. It was a spectacular visit, and we will be going back there again.