Larry A. Smail's Blog

Scarlet Tanager

  Frost on the pipes this morning made for a potentially treacherous stream crossing. I shuffled along very carefully. Bob drove around to the other side of the hill. He is smarter than I. (rarely)

I set up to listen and was disappointed that this would be the third morning a gobbler wasn’t heard on the roost. The morning was clear, followed by some cloud cover and opening back up for some sunshine around 8:30. I circled around to see Bob. He said he had heard one solitary gobble across the field. I told him I would, probably, be going to another area after circling the hill, calling and listening. While we were discussing options I noticed a red fox with some food dangling from its mouth. I didn’t get a photo. Bob had to leave early today due to a committment.

Beautiful Pennsylvania!

  I followed through with my plan and began the long trek to my destination. I sat down and began taking photos of warblers when around 9:30 I believed I heard a distant, muffled gobble. Later I did confirm, but the windy conditions made direction and distance very difficult to determine. When did the winds start?

I played around with this turkey for about 1 1/2 hours before his silence seemed permanent. He only gobbled about 10 times in all. I am not sure what had happened. I have theories! 

Green Heron

   I chased out another turkey while heading back to my vehicle. I had seen a lot of deer today and a few squirrels too. Upon returning home, I had my springer, Suzie out and was surprised to see a green heron along my backyard creek.

My girl!