[Maine-birds] Turkey Vultures and UFOs

A couple of turkey vultures were flying over my yard this afternoon, not too high but well above the tree tops. I put binoculars on them and saw 3 or 4 other things that looked like leaves flipping and turning in the light breeze, but they never came down. Instead, they drifted away gradually, flashing dark and light sides, staying at about the same altitude. All I could think of was large butterfly; the impression was something like a common ringlet gives when bounding along.

I know it's too early for pretty much any migratory butterfly to be moving north, but I'm not coming up with any good alternatives. Some I've rejected:

Swallows coming out of the mud where they have overwintered look like leaves for a while before they "fill out."

Turkey vultures pluck select feathers, fly to great heights, and release them as part of a mating display. Before dropping the feathers, they treat them with a special oil from their antigravity glands.

The CIA is experimenting with flat, tumbling drones.

The Easter bunny is experimenting with new delivery methods.

Anything I'm overlooking?

Scott

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