May 3: Vulture flying

To soar, vultures ride thermals, circling on warm air currents rising from the earth. Early in the day before the ground has had a chance to warm up, especially on a bleak, chilly day like today, these large raptors often have to flap hard to keep aloft. I watched one vulture slowly flying over the ridge of Mount Battie this morning, an ungainly activity for this most graceful of soaring birds.
 
On this cold morning
vulture labors, wings flapping,
to gain altitude.