I have heard tales of strange flying birds seen throughout the world, but I had never paid them much attention. I thought that all big "thunderbird" sightings were in Mexico or other areas like that. I never thought I would see something like it in my life (I honestly never believed in it.) However, last year (March - April 2009) I became a believer.
I was driving home from my fiance's parents' house on highway 601 in South Carolina, toward Bamberg. It was a cool crisp morning (around 9 - 10 a.m.); the dew was just beginning to evaporate and the sun was reflecting off the smooth surfaces of the wet vegetation. I was driving past farmland, recently plowed, and unplowed, overgrown fields appeared on each side of the highway.
The day was very clear and sunny with no clouds, so I could see quite a distance away from the road. I remember just having this strange feeling come over me, a sort of calm, happy feeling. When I looked to my right and through the treeline over a plowed field, I noticed a very large bird flying just on the other side of the top of the large pine trees. The bird had very long tail feathers and the wingspan must have been 12 to 15 feet wide, as its entire body was as large as the tops of the trees themselves.
It flew about 300 yards away from me, and was flying at about 30 to 40 feet in the air. I could see it rather clearly, it had white and blue feathers and a short pointed beak. It also had some sort of plume on its head that was like a "combed back" feather sort of look.
I did not hear anything at all, as I was driving in the car (the radio was not on either), but there was a sort of "silence" feeling coming off off it, and I could tell that even if I was outside I would not hear it. Once it got to the thicker portion of woods, I did not see it anymore.
Now, fast forward to around a month ago. I was driving toward town in Denmark, South Carolina. It was dusk and the sun was almost set, yet there was still an ambient light all around. I was in my car with my lights on and I was just about to pass a mechanic shop on my left when I saw another large bird.
This one was much smaller, yet had the same white markings and had at least an 8-foot wingspan. It flew out of the trees to my right and landed on a barren pecan tree on my left. As I was driving, I did not see it in the tree; it sort of melded into the tree with some sort of camouflage or something.
I passed the tree, glanced back, and saw nothing. I never once was frightened nor did I even feel stressed or agitated. Rather, I did feel calm and comforted. I did not believe in this sort of sighting; however, I am a true believer now. I actually find myself hoping I will see it again.
