Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Bird watching

Some days are better than others.

As you may know, I leave a 'wild place' behind the pine trees near the golf course.

I only mow once or twice back there each summer.  The grass gets long and other things take hold.  I find lots of golf balls back there, especially since I added that additional length of snow fence.

There are lots of wild flowers and grasses.  Lots of fireflies and hoppers.  Oh my yes, lots of little green hoppers.

I watched a PBS program called "My Life as a Turkey" and remember it whenever I walk back there.  In the show the turkeys just loved to walk through grass and feast on hoppers.  I always think, as I straighten the fence, collect balls, pick up sticks, etc. that turkeys would like this place.

And guess what.

They do!  At least one did.

I was drinking morning tea around 8 a.m. and gazed out toward the pine trees.  Saw something.  Something ... different.  It didn't move and I didn't have a good view.

I stepped out onto the deck and lo and behold, a big wild gobbler out there just behind the pine trees in the deep grass.  And it was grazing on hoppers.  It slowly walked back and forth, catching bugs left and right.

I settled in watched him for a good 30 minutes.  It not only ate hoppers, but pulled seed heads off the spirea and some of the more mature grasses.

Where did he come from?  Who knows.  Did he walk in?  Fly?

Eventually a mower came in the golf course and the bird leisurely came out from behind the pines and entered the ring bed.  He walked along the far edge, pulling at dried milkweed, investigated the asters and then headed further up the hill.

There is a clump of long grass (probably perennial rye) right at the tip of the ring bed and he grazed on that for a good 10 minutes, stripping all the seeds.

Then he headed back south, exited the ring bed toward the house, and meandered along the side of the property.  At the front of the lawn he pecked at one of the burning bush a bit, then crossed the road, heading toward the very-well manicured neighboring lawns and the also well-mown monastery beyond.  Don't think he'll find much forage there, I'm thinking.

Well, watching that big bird was a very well-spent hour.  Luckily the zoom on the camera did a pretty good job of capturing some of the action.

He had breakfast.  I had breakfast. And now we're both off to the rest of our day.  Can't speak for him, but I'm having the chimney cleaned today.  Winter's not that far off.  Gotta get crackin' !

12 comments:

  1. He certainly had his pick of things to eat. He may have had a cricket or two will in there eating. It was an unusual thing and you were there for the right time and place to get in on all that it takes to feed a wild turkey.

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    1. It was just a delight to watch him enjoying his foraging. I've seen wild turkeys further out from town in the farm area, but never seen one at either of my homes. It made me feel good that he found so much to eat. Hope he comes back.

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  2. Usually about February, we are so sick of seeing turkey outside our window. We get MOBS of them, numbering over 100. I think I know now where to ship them........
    LOL!

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    1. LOL. I don't think I'll have to worry about turkey overload around here. But if you DO ship some this way, make sure they are dressed and the giblets are in those little bags. ;-D

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  3. That is so exciting! :) ...and a fun way to spend a nice leisurely breakfast. I love to see wildlife in my yard as long as it's the kind that doesn't destroy everything it comes in contact with. I wouldn't mind a turkey if it ate lots of grasshoppers....it seems that it is a big year for them around here....haven't seen this many grasshoppers in quite a while.
    love the pics.

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    1. I'm with you: friendly, non-threatening, bug & weed-seed eating fauna that amuse, entertain and delight. And same here, more hoppers than I've seen in a long time. Glad I had pics to share. :-D

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  4. Hi sweetie, sorry I have been AWOL for so long ... been a strange kind of year.

    Interesting visitor and less damaging than the walking-venison :) Great set of pictures.

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    1. Hey lady. Hope you are feeling more yourself and looking forward to Adventures in Herbie. Yeah, wild turkey WAY more better best than the 4-footed locusts. Take care.

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  5. That is the reason I don't clean up the flower beds until spring! You will be surprised at what draws birds attention. I don't think we have every had them come into the yard but we do see dozens in the fields.

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    1. I've not seen it since. But it was a pleasure watching it while it was here. There's not much 'open/wild/overgrown' spaces around here for them to graze and it makes me feel good that I leave 'messy' areas on purpose. Ever, um, harvest any of your wild birds?

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  6. What fun! I am watching our granddaughter, who is now 3 months old, 4 days a week. I am glad she likes to be outside, that is, when it is not too sunny. I am learning to sit and watch the activities of whatever insects or birds we can see. It's a learning experience, because normally, if I'm outside, I am working on the plants or weeding. How cool to get to watch a turkey!

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    1. It's IS amazing what you can see when you just take the time to sit and watch. Sometimes we get so busy we miss some very interesting stuff. I'm learning to sit still more than I used to. It's a learning curve for active folks. *heh*

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