Springtime Strut
April 13th, 2015
Spring has finally sprung (for real this time?) and birds are coming back to Ottawa in numbers. I went out to Shirley's Bay after sunset on Saturday searching for woodcocks. When I spotted Gillian Mastromatteo out of her car at the side of the road, I knew something interesting must be afoot! I pulled over, and sure enough as soon as I stepped out of the car I heard that telltale buzzy "peent!"--the same one I heard in the Algonquin tract three days prior.
As is typical for woodcocks, we couldn't find him. Though he sounded like he was just off the road, and there was still plenty of light in the sky, we stood there for some fifteen minutes poring over every inch of the scenery without success. But then he took off, and there was no missing him! We both watched as he flew a wide circle high in the sky above us, wings twittering. ("He looks like a big hummingbird!" Gillian said. "He looks like a big bat!" I said.) Then he descended steeply back into the brush whence he came. Having seen his descent, we were quickly able to spot him on the ground, and watch him "peent" around for another five minutes before his next flight.
The skydance, they say, stokes the interest of female woodcocks, and eventually, one will land in the brush next to the peenting male and he'll court her, bowing and strutting. I've never yet seen that for myself.
The subject of strutting birds leads me to my latest springtime excitement, my first-ever sighting of a male Wild Turkey in full display. Michael's keen eyes are to thank for this one. We were driving down Sixth Line when he saw something big in the farmer's field--either livestock or Wild Turkeys, he figured. It was turkeys, and the lone tom was strutting around in front of the hens, fanning his tail. He was resplendent. Compared to the bland-looking turkeys I'm used to seeing (hens and nonbreeding males), I couldn't believe how colorful he was. Electric blue face, cherry red wattles, and all-over iridescent.
After a long hiatus from nature photography, I now have a new camera (Nikon D3200.) I think it's about time to start breaking it in.
April 13th, 2015
Spring has finally sprung (for real this time?) and birds are coming back to Ottawa in numbers. I went out to Shirley's Bay after sunset on Saturday searching for woodcocks. When I spotted Gillian Mastromatteo out of her car at the side of the road, I knew something interesting must be afoot! I pulled over, and sure enough as soon as I stepped out of the car I heard that telltale buzzy "peent!"--the same one I heard in the Algonquin tract three days prior.
As is typical for woodcocks, we couldn't find him. Though he sounded like he was just off the road, and there was still plenty of light in the sky, we stood there for some fifteen minutes poring over every inch of the scenery without success. But then he took off, and there was no missing him! We both watched as he flew a wide circle high in the sky above us, wings twittering. ("He looks like a big hummingbird!" Gillian said. "He looks like a big bat!" I said.) Then he descended steeply back into the brush whence he came. Having seen his descent, we were quickly able to spot him on the ground, and watch him "peent" around for another five minutes before his next flight.
The skydance, they say, stokes the interest of female woodcocks, and eventually, one will land in the brush next to the peenting male and he'll court her, bowing and strutting. I've never yet seen that for myself.
The subject of strutting birds leads me to my latest springtime excitement, my first-ever sighting of a male Wild Turkey in full display. Michael's keen eyes are to thank for this one. We were driving down Sixth Line when he saw something big in the farmer's field--either livestock or Wild Turkeys, he figured. It was turkeys, and the lone tom was strutting around in front of the hens, fanning his tail. He was resplendent. Compared to the bland-looking turkeys I'm used to seeing (hens and nonbreeding males), I couldn't believe how colorful he was. Electric blue face, cherry red wattles, and all-over iridescent.
After a long hiatus from nature photography, I now have a new camera (Nikon D3200.) I think it's about time to start breaking it in.
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Mustang Sallie
April 13th, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Yea! Bring on the photos!
Michael
April 15th, 2015 at 8:22 am
Yay spring! I think we have one last cold bit still to come, if the usual pattern holds.
Gillian
April 18th, 2015 at 11:14 am
That was an awesome experience, Suzanne! I referred to the woodcock's bat/hummingbird-like appearance in my blog too!
I've been seeing turkeys displaying, too. It's a really cool sight. The male at Hurdman was displaying right in front of me yesterday!
Good luck with your new camera!
Suzanne
April 18th, 2015 at 11:26 am
Thanks Gillian! Man, I have to get out to the Rideau this spring. Living within walking distance of Hurdman is one of the things I miss most after moving to Kanata.