Turkeys (non-political)

These two toms were showing off for two apparently unimpressed hens,

 

Yard Birds

Spotted in our neighbors' front yard. 

Handsome critters who seem right at home.

Maybe they're being fed regularly --- I'll have to ask.

From My Window

Yesterday it snowed almost all day. The sun cane out briefly and much of the snow melted but by nightfall it was still snowing.

I saw this turkey from an upstairs window... I think he was looking for spring...

So am I.

 

Impressionistic Turkeys

The turkeys are back -- about fourteen of them. I saw them promenading down the road and hurried out to the porch to get a picture. As soon as they saw me, they picked up the pace and were soon out of sight.

A bit later, I'd forgotten all about them when Willa set up a frantic barking from the dining room window.

"Monsters at the bird feeder! Danger! Velociraptors! DANGER!"

I ran for the camera again. The poor turkeys were panicked at all the barking and between the rain and the dim light and my hurry, the pictures came out very odd indeed.  But I thought that first one had a real impressionistic feel to it as well as a nice composition of straight and curving lines.
 

The Chipmunk and the Turkeys

 The chipmunk has a problem.

Five big turkeys are monopolizing the ground beneath the bird feeder, gobbling up all that wonderful sunflower seed the smaller birds have dropped.

What's a chipmunk to do?

He makes several runs at the feeder, each time turning and running back.

He checks them out from the vantage point of a big rock...

I dunno -- those guys are HUGE.

No matter -- he's going to try a death or glory charge.

Do the big birds see him?

Almost . . . almost . . .

Uh oh! He's been spotted and he is so outa there!

Turkey Two-Step Thursday

Two wild tom turkeys practice their moves without a turkey lady in sight.

The dropped wings and the fanned tail feathers are gorgeous but for me . . .

I'd have to say that the blue faces are the perfect finishing touch.

( Click pics to biggify and get the full effect of these guys' courting finery.)

Sometimes a Great Gobble...

The sound of gobbling caught my attention yesterday morning and I looked out the bedroom window to see two big boys strutting their stuff,

We counted over thirty turkeys in all and I was far more fascinated by the gobblers than were the rest of the flock.

The two big boys stayed side by side much of the time and wheeled and advanced on the ladies with a slow and stately step.

It was like some ancient ceremonial dance, involving large fans.  I snapped and snapped, wishing I were closer.

Then some of the flock noticed me and took wing. Amazing to see how well these big birds fly!

The courting gobblers were not to be deterred. They just herded their harem away from me and continued with their dance.

 

TeenTurkeys . . . and a Winner!

 June 26th -- the two turkey hens and their mingled brood of around 14 poults visit our feeder. 

Since then I've been enjoying watching them grow and they've gotten pretty used to my darting out onto the deck to take their picture.

 

They've been almost daily visitors  -- this was yesterday evening. You can see that they are nearly the size of their mamas -- the two  on the far right. 

There seem to be only 9 poults left -- but that's a pretty good survival rate, considering how many predators are on the mountain.

Handsome birds with elegant plumage -- and there's one pale one.  Almost all the turkey flocks we've seen on the mountain in the past include one or two near-white birds.

But here I am nattering on about turkeys when what I need to do is to announce the winner of the drawing for KILLER RECIPES -- which if you didn't win, you could always order HERE,

Remember, all  proceeds  to the American Cancer Society!  

And the winner is . . .

l

(Drumroll) Debra Eisert!!! And then I drew again and that second winner is NCmountainwoman!!!

I'll put those cookbooks in the mail this week -- but first I need addresses. You winners, please email me at

vicki_laneYOUKNOW WHAT TO PUT HEREmtnareaDOTnet