This morning at 0655, I drove past St. Isadore's R.C. Elementary School in
Riverhead. The crossing guard was not yet at his post, therefore, I was
probably going to fast for a school zone - hence, I didn't notice anything out
of the ordinary. At about 0740, on my return home, as I approached the same
school zone, the school guard's presence was quite evident, causing me to get
down to the posted 20 MPH ! While waving to, and "crawling" past, the guard,
behind him I saw 3 large, black "masses" on top of the school's wide chimney.
When 1 of the "masses" raised it's head, I was dumbfounded...it was red !
Jumping out of the car with binocs and camera at the ready, I proceeded to get
a few shots before they lifted off in a S/E direction. Although I didn't see
any smoke or heat vapors, I wondered if the birds' choice of the chimney for
resting/roosting was because of the heat of it's flue products, or just due to
it's being bathed in sunlight. The school's location is about a 1/2 mile west
of where I had the T.V. sightings on 3/26 & 3/28.
On 3/29 I received an email from Patrick Santinello, in which he described
seeing Turkey Vultures flying over the Merritt's Pond vicinity in Riverhead all
through this past winter. This is exactly the same location of 2 of the 3
sightings I had on 3/26 & 3/28. It sure makes one wonder if the east end of
Suffolk Co. will be the chosen area for the second record of breeding by this
species on L.I.
Cheers, Bob
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