Nature & Wildlife Thread

[addy1]

Watching on the ptz, got it zoomed in. Can't see the deer, but we can see the vultures, they have little spitting matches. Must not like to share the same part of the meal.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Went in the woods today on an attempt to find deer antlers. Didn't find any but saw a lot of other stuff. I heard a sound up in one of the pine trees, saw a large shadow on the ground, looked up and saw a Great Horned Owl fly away. Later I saw two Wood Ducks in a pond. The Western Chorus frogs were going nuts, too.
I also found these feathers.

Not sure what they're from. Maybe a wood duck or some other duck but I really have no clue. There were a lot of feathers so I'm guessing whatever it was didn't survive. I took a few home because I've never seen anything like them before.

& of course, here's a couple more shots along the trail.

 

[tbendl]

I love the bright green on the stump. And I have no idea what those feathers are from but they sure are beautiful.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I've had one cross my yard two other times over the past two years (I think the same one) but this was the first time I ever saw a Turkey sleeping in my yard! It was sleeping right at the back edge of the property. It woke up by the time I took the photo. I actually just glanced back and it was back again.

Fairly sure it's the same turkey that I saw tracks from in winter 2013, same turkey that chased me in 2013, & same turkey I saw eating at neighbor's bird feeders last year. It would be great to someday see a population of them, but I think there is at least two around here.

Note: all the junk in the background is in neighbors yards.

 

[j.w]

That is one big turkey!

 

[addy1]

They are huge, we see big ones out in the field, almost think they are deer when I spot them, but way to dark lol

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Last night before it got dark I was moving/removing some plants by the pond, I peaked my head up over the fence and the Turkey was back again, this time in the neighbors driveway about 20 ft away. Didn't expect to see a bird that big!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I went for a quick hike between storms today. Went only about a mile. The second I got home it downpoured.

 

[tbendl]

Your moniker sure does fit you JB

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Your moniker sure does fit you JB

Helps that I live next to a wooded park, so even on busy days I can still usually get in a quick walk.

 

[tbendl]

I think it's awesome. Love all the pictures. It makes me jealous that I don't live near woods like that.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I think it's awesome. Love all the pictures. It makes me jealous that I don't live near woods like that.

I'll never take it for granted, that is for sure!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Quick walk in the woods this morning. Parts of the trail were very flooded from the recent storms and I hardly made it through the water without it getting in my boots.

It's a nice warm sunny day though, so I had to wade through.

The vernal streams are now flowing as much as they'll flow until they dry up in the next two months. Its a shame they do dry up.

I saw a few Blue-winged Teals back in the pond that the woods surrounds. I also saw some sort of Grebe but it dove and never came back up in sight.

 

[j.w]

I wanna get some ducks like those for my pond. Fake ones tho not real.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I was in the woods today and heard a gobble. I followed the sound and found the source. This is the male turkey (Female was in my yard last week).