The Showstopper
June 7th, 2016
On May 18th, I headed out to Mud Lake before sunrise, and rediscovered how incredible the trail can be when you're the first person to hit it! Early morning surprises included: A Great Egret fishing next to a muskrat lodge where a Canada Goose was sitting on eggs (surprisingly, the goose didn't seem to mind.) A raccoon about ten feet up a tree trunk, grabbing at the stump of a branch so he could lean out to peer curiously at me. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl in his hole with his eyes still wide open.
In the pine woods, a group of recently fledged teenage ravens was hopping from tree to tree and making an unholy racket as only teenage ravens can do. Then I was surprised to hear a strange sound that actually rivalled theirs for volume: a sort of rich cackling that resounded through the forest. At first I thought it was one of them playing with his voice, and even once I realized I was hearing a Wild Turkey gobbling, I thought it might actually be one of the ravens imitating a turkey. (I've caught a raven imitating a goose before, so it didn't seem too much of a stretch!)
But then I spotted him, a wild tom turkey, up in a tree by the water. After a good look and listen I walked on. When I came back through later, the sun was up, my camera was out, and he was on the trail putting on a show.
He was fearless. He strutted up and down the path, fanning his tail and ruffling his feathers. He made clear that he considered the trail his display court, and that while he didn't particularly object to me watching, if I happened to be standing in his way...well, one of us was going to have to either back up or go around, and it wasn't going to be him.
He actually seemed to gauge his tail-fans so that the morning sun caught them perfectly. Tail closed, he stepped into a shaft of sunlight, and suddenly...
1680x1050 wallpaper
Pictured below with the female in front. This is not the first time a Wild Turkey has shown up at Mud Lake, but it is, as far as I know, the first time one has found a mate there.
In other news, newborn goslings. It was a frigid morning; good thing they had their parents to keep them warm.
June 7th, 2016
On May 18th, I headed out to Mud Lake before sunrise, and rediscovered how incredible the trail can be when you're the first person to hit it! Early morning surprises included: A Great Egret fishing next to a muskrat lodge where a Canada Goose was sitting on eggs (surprisingly, the goose didn't seem to mind.) A raccoon about ten feet up a tree trunk, grabbing at the stump of a branch so he could lean out to peer curiously at me. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl in his hole with his eyes still wide open.
In the pine woods, a group of recently fledged teenage ravens was hopping from tree to tree and making an unholy racket as only teenage ravens can do. Then I was surprised to hear a strange sound that actually rivalled theirs for volume: a sort of rich cackling that resounded through the forest. At first I thought it was one of them playing with his voice, and even once I realized I was hearing a Wild Turkey gobbling, I thought it might actually be one of the ravens imitating a turkey. (I've caught a raven imitating a goose before, so it didn't seem too much of a stretch!)
But then I spotted him, a wild tom turkey, up in a tree by the water. After a good look and listen I walked on. When I came back through later, the sun was up, my camera was out, and he was on the trail putting on a show.
He was fearless. He strutted up and down the path, fanning his tail and ruffling his feathers. He made clear that he considered the trail his display court, and that while he didn't particularly object to me watching, if I happened to be standing in his way...well, one of us was going to have to either back up or go around, and it wasn't going to be him.
He actually seemed to gauge his tail-fans so that the morning sun caught them perfectly. Tail closed, he stepped into a shaft of sunlight, and suddenly...
1680x1050 wallpaper
Pictured below with the female in front. This is not the first time a Wild Turkey has shown up at Mud Lake, but it is, as far as I know, the first time one has found a mate there.
In other news, newborn goslings. It was a frigid morning; good thing they had their parents to keep them warm.
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Mike
June 7th, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Nice shots!
Your gosling in #4 looks a bit like a baby diva.