I lured some ducks to the same spot that evening with bread bits. They sniffed the egg, but weren't interested in it.
I don't know if the buzzards had brought the egg there or not, but it was still out there in the open the next morning.
Snuck up on these busy buzzards recently in East Texas. They soon flew when they heard the camera click, so I don't know if they were going to try to crack that duck egg or what.
I lured some ducks to the same spot that evening with bread bits. They sniffed the egg, but weren't interested in it.
I don't know if the buzzards had brought the egg there or not, but it was still out there in the open the next morning.
Maybe they were guarding their baby.... 
If so, that's the worst nest I ever saw
It looked just like the duck eggs that David brings me, but then, who knows what a buzzard egg should look like!
Buzzard's have a nest in the trees not on the shore......Not unless they are the rare Turtlebuzzards or Aligatorbuzzards...Which, judging bt rhe photo they could not be......
They are rare to Texas, as rare as a Native Texan!!!!!
Just kidding of course.............
Awww You 'native' Texans always forget your Forefathers' origins, but I'm still stuck with mine ;-)
Larry came across a buzzie nest in Central Texas once - on a ledge of a craggy hillside. Said it was a stinking, carcassewn nightmare. Yuck.
I don't think he believed me about those two hanging out at the water's edge until I loaded the pics on the screen. He was prob thinking I had seen big ol crows or sumthin. I'm guessing they were looking for stinky dead washed-up fish - charming fellas that they are.
Think where we would be if there were no buzzards (and other scavengers) to clean up the road kill and trash that we humans manage to throw out, about and all around.
They may be ugly, but they do serve a purpose. That's also the line I tell myself every morning when I first wake up and look in the mirror.
Gail, I'd recognize your bird passion any day
Wish you could have seen what was in the garden this Saturday. Some mystery birds were making a call that we had never heard in the garden before. With field glasses and bird books, we ID-ed them as Great Crested Flycatchers. They were sooo beautiful. There were four! One was eating something big, maybe a grasshopper, hurray! But they may only be passing thru, since we are outside of - but on the cusp of - their normal breeding range. The Latin for Birdman Terry is Myiarchus crinitus
I'm fascinated to think they might take up summer residence here! If so, maybe they will pose for my camera some time ;-)
rats -- I thought I'd keep you guessing for at least a day.
During the last 7 days or so, there has been great conversation (texbirds site) regarding the fall migration. It seems it has begun - rather early -- this year. Any plants showing signs of an early fall? I realize this all sounds a little odd as we top the high 90s this week but there have been several early sightings of birds going back through. The Great Crested would be among them.
Great to get the report Gail. I meant to have a look at that site on our links page. Wonder if the early migra is hinting of an early fall/winter to come.
Plants in my garden seem to be on sched right now, altho some spring bloomers and early summer ones sure got off to a tardy start earlier this year.
We have so enjoyed this summer - a normal summer -for the first time in 3 or 4 yrs. It actually feels cooler after 6 pm this year! The pool water stays below 90* and feels wonderful again. I know this current humidity is yucky, but I can bear it better than months of no clouds, no breeze and scorching 100 plus temps. That was down right painful to endure. Some days it just hurt to breathe in it. I'm loving this more comfortable summer, but would still welcome an early winter, if that's what the birds are hinting at.
we spoke too soon and jinxed ourselves. Yesterday, and from what I hear, the rest of the week will be unbearable. ugh. Even the pool water by my place has gotten too warm for evening dips. Better to sit under the AC inside.
Love the meadowlarks! They are one of the few birds I can spot without my glasses on! And the buzzards, of course.
Well, I'm still comfy as long as I am neck deep in 86* water!
Speaking of necks... Aren't those E. Texas buzzies nicer looking than the scraggly-necked kind we see around here. Theses look like the same kind MK has in W. Virginia.
I haven't looked into it, but David sure knew a lot about the diff kinds.
These appear to me to be black vultures which we do have here but the turkey vultures are more frequently seen in Texas. Especially too close to the edge of the highway --they are not the most clever of birds.
Thank you Gail for clearing something up for me. I thought they looked more like vultures than buzzards. Our buzzards are more hawklike and much smaller.
buzzards is a popular word in Texas -- especially when we turn it into 4 syllables. :o) much more fun to say than vul-ture
Nowwww they tell me ;-) and I wanna hear you pronounce all those syllables.
Our buzzards (also known as turkey buzzards here) have been here this summer in force. They seem to be much blacker than Maggie's duck guarding birds.
They may be ugly birds when on the ground eating something ucky, but they sure are graceful floating on the wind currents over the fields.
Here's that other big bird I promised to post, ages ago. I crept behind it as it saundered around in a grove, trying to get a full pic of it. Some of the pics showed only the head, some only the tail. I think this is out of focus, but at least he's all in one piece. 
Nicola and Jeffrey had taken us to one of the Queens open gardens - Savill, a parkland garden. The spring scenes were awsome.
What kind of bird is that Maggie? You're not teasing me with a bird statue are you? Remember the hedgehog of TX - I thought it was a statue too. You can tell I haven't been far in my travels.
Oops, its that pheasant I was yaking about earlier. He is as pretty as a picture, but really was real
I have a cousin who specializes in Henry VIII foods. Glad he wasn't there that day ;-)
Good picture Maggie, sadly we generally see pheasants flattened at the side of the road.
Sounds like mighty fine roadkill vittles to me. Now I know how my cousin stocks his pantry. Had wild hare one Christmas and blood puddin - the most tasty dish I've ever had. Say what you will about English foods (david ) but ol Henry had some very fine eattins - or my cous has greatly improved some old dishes. (okay, he was a 4 star chef in younger days - and this side is a more recent hobby)
It is a shame the poor pic doesn't capture the plumage colors. They are magnificent.
Actually, I have seen a phesant before - when visiting relatives in Kansas, but it was soooo long ago. There are lots of dirt/gravel roads where we were and mama and babies were crossing.
That's neat. I've never seen one over here. I couldn't stop following it - couldn't get enough of looking at those beautiful colors.
My buzzards were posing for me on this foggy morn. 
They'll be heading to warmer climates soon. We're expecting the next week to be fall like temps - in the low 60's with the night time temps bringing frosts.
And Terry says birds only behave for my camera. Could that get any better?!?! Wonderful catch MK.
I'm glad you don't like to target practice ;-)
You're still the bird whisperer Maggie. I had to sneak up on those guys, and as soon as I was spotted they were off.
Sadly I have been seeing lots of pheasants by the side of the road this season then in my Country Life magazine I saw this cartoon. 
Awww Poor things.
The squirrels always have a high body count on the roads at this time of year too - and in spring, due to their biannual mating seasons.
In the squirrels' case, I always imagine its the males that go rushing across the road whether or not a is car coming during the mating seasons. Now how do I sum up that reasoning tactfully?
;-)
One of our sad road kills up here are the deer, especially when you know there is a fawn out there alone. 
Love the TV (turkey vultures) picture. This weekend at a birding hotspot there were 74,000 in one steady hour-long stream! Isn't that amazing! They are definitely migrating through, along with all the hawks headed south and the yellow warblers are just about finished passing through here. A few stragglers.
I had been hearing the warblers in the garden recently ago, but hadn't had the privilage of seeing them
Gail,,, you must keep us updated on what's going on up there around the Metroplex - it would be wonderful to regularly hear about your birding on the forum - our very own bird spotter reports. We should start a new thread for them. can we can we canwe???
That's alot of birds Gail! Who did the counting?
I had the same funny thought MK
So... how do they come up those numbers Gail?
Actually it's scientific approach of per square inch within site and how many seconds/minutes the stream of birds continue overhead. You laugh, I know! But seriously, there are hawk watches throughout the world and every day from August to November (and even in the spring) someone sits at location and counts the numbers and species. The closest places to Metroplex area are Hazel Bazemore and Smith Point. If you enjoy birds, you should try to at least go to one of these places during your lifetime. Guests are always welcome! It's amazing to see the kettles of birds. I'm going to link you to a great site for anyone that is interested in more info and pictures of kettles! The numbers for each migration season are posted. Yes, they can be unbelievable. Enjoy!
http://www.ccbirding.com/thw/
OOPs! Forgot about Hornsby Bend outside of Austin. And I just got back from there not a month past! Age-himers getting me again!
http://www.hornsbybend.org/
I visited Gail's posted link and while the bird counting still leaves me confused, I loved the "The Basic Rules of Hawk Counting Etiquette" Thanks Gail.
Who wants to count these? 
The picture was taken with the zoom from about 300 yards down the mountain. They roost in these trees everynight, then come out to the fence posts to stretch and dry their wings in the mornings.