One more Turkey Photo

Since it is so close to Thanksgiving and my work is slow today, I just had to post one more Turkey photo. I counted 12 Turkeys yesterday morning when I opened the gate to Heron Haven. Kind of makes you wonder what they will eat on Thursday...hmmm.

Turkey for Thanksgiving ??? '

So Elmer Fudd is walking through Heron Haven to get Thanksgiving dinner. After hours of searching he finally finds this bird. Elmer says "At last, you waskely Tukey I have you in my sites!!!!" The Turkey pleads, "No, no, please don't shoot me, I only have one leg!! " Elmer says " I don't care, I have searched for hours and your the first Turkey I have found. Say your prayers." Then suddenly the Turkey looked up into to sky (see photo) and exclaimed "Look up in the sky, it's a Eagle the symbol of your country!" Elmer in his excitement looks up into the sky, dropping his gun so he can shield his eyes from the sun with his hands and yells "Where, where, I don't see anything!" By the time Elmer looks back for the Turkey....it had hopped away. Looks like Elmer Fudd is having "Thanksgiving meatloaf" this year.

Actually, the Turkey was starring at me as I took photos and then I heard the call of a Hawk flying overhead and the Turkey looked up. I also looked at the other photos I took of this bird and it has two legs in all of them, I don't know where the other leg is in this picture.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!!

Bugs

Ok, this photo I took on the patio table on the deck at home. I was cleaning up leaves and saw this Cicada on the ground. I figured it was dead, to my surprise it moved when I tried to pick it up. I laid it on the patio table and got the camera.

First time I had ever seen one of these guys was while I was under a car changing oil. I looked over to the side and saw a cicada beside me. I jumped, tried to sit up to get out from under the car, and hit my head on the car hard enough to see stars (and cicada's).

I did spend some time at Heron Haven today, saw a Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher, Mallards, Gadwalls, Cardinals, Goldfinches, Juncos, and Sparrows. I have not seen a Green Heron for a week or so. The Beaver is busy at work out by the end of the boardwalk. Two trees down and counting. I have had to clean out the weir as the beaver tried to plug it up. My son and I had to break up three dams the beaver had made in the creek where the water runs from the wetland into the Papio. Now it is trying to plug the pipe that goes into the Papio. Updates to come.

Warblers

I got this photo of a Nashville Warbler on Oct 18 09 at Heron Haven. When I walked out into the woods it was like there had been a bird explosion. If you have ever been there you know what the traffic noise is like from Maple Rd. This day the birds were singing so much I could not hear the traffic. It was awsome!!!!! The Warblers are migrating thru on the way south and stopped to drink the sap running down this tree.

I also saw Lincoln's Sparrows, White-Throated Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatches,...etc, etc It was a great day for birding.

Great Blue Heron

I spent from 7:30 to 10:00 at Heron Haven this morning. This Great Blue Heron flew into the top of a tree close by. As I was photographing the Heron, I looked down at the water and over 30 Mallards had shown up, then as I was photographing the Mallards I heard a loud close bird call behind me. When I turned around I was five feet from a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. It was so close my lens could not focus that close. There were several little birds this morning. Goldfinches, White-throated Sparrows, House Sparrows, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese and what ever I have forgotten. It was a fun visit.

Turkey, turkey everywhere!

At Heron Haven this morning, (10-11-09) I had to wait for the turkeys to clear the path so I could continue on my walk. There were 8 in all. This is the closest I have been to one. I have seen them before but they always ran away before.

I found out that the Raccoon from the earlier post had to be put down as it had too many health issues. I think this was a better solution to the problem than letting it suffer and die in the woods. At least we tried to save it.

Green Heron @ Heon Haven

On 9-22-09 I walked out to the blind at Heron Haven and a Green Heron was sitting on the logs right in front of the blind. It did not seem to care that I was so close. It only looked at me for a minute then it went on hunting for food. It picked up bugs from on the Duck Weed and then jumped up onto a branch where it could be in the sunshine. That is when I got this photo. Green Herons have been at the wetland all summer. I have seen as many as four at a time. We think they nest here. Note from earlier post, I have tried to checkup on the fate of the raccoon but I have not heard back from Wildlife Rescue. Please be patient as I am sure they are very busy.