About a month ago I was asked to play lead guitar with a couple of friends along Route 80 at Emlenton, Pennsylvania. My two friends are Donnie Clark and Ted Duncan. I accepted and, as always, I enjoy seeing the Allegheny River at what might be called a normal flow.
Unfortunately, Donnie who has had cancer issues for quite some time now took a turn for the worse very recently and is on hospice. (Update: Donnie Clark passed away October 22, 2025) Sad news. His voice that day was not the singer he used to be. I sensed something was amiss. This evening, October 20, I heard of another great friend suffering with a serious issue of kidney cancer. His name is Kip Feroce. He makes exceptional box calls for turkey hunting. More sad news!
It is a long story. I had bad service with my phone, and I was disgusted. I decided to cancel but the customer service was terrible, and I could not obtain a “real” person to explain the issue and to cancel. I had elected to have my monthly bill removed via card. Anyway, my only recourse was to cancel the card and have another one issued to me. Moving forward with this long story, I needed more purchase on my blog site for I was at 12.9 GB. out of 13 GB. So, until I obtained a new card, I was hesitant to place lots of photos for the site. Other problems came to be for the credit card company personnel overlooked adding the new card until a phone call was made.
Hoping you enjoy a few pics from the last month or so.
Bear was out early March.
Bald Eagle nest
Immature Bald EagleFoggy Steep HillsideSong SparrowOverlooking the Allegheny River
Dogwood Blossom(The Dogwwod blossoms are early this year as is the leaf out of the trees.)
The season is upon me. I walked through the dim grays of the first morning in a state of wonderment. I wondered if I was going to become sick as last year’s season. I wondered if I would hear or see any gobbles this morning. I wondered what the poor people are doing today. ha-ha
I set up along a field’s edge to listen for roosting birds. I didn’t need long to wait. I heard gobblers at 5:45 to my left. Another across the field in the woods sounded off. This could be an interesting morning.
I made a move to close the distance on the birds on my left. I called and was immediately answered. I glanced at my watch and the time was 6:00. I looked up and two gobblers entered into the field at about forty yards, maybe less. I couldn’t see their beards for the field grasses were high. The two stopped in the field gobbling and strutting. I continued working with them and they approached a little. I mindfully said just ten more yards…
As what often happens with turkey hunting, the birds began t leave the area. they would still gobble. They were doing what they are programed to do…gobble and strut and have the hens come to them. I couldn’t move so they tired of the game.
Hepatica
Later I began a call and listen approach while searching for Morel mushrooms. I fortunately found a lunch for the next day.
Morel Mushroom
I later stimulated the gobbler across the road now, but unfortunately, I had to walk away for a commitment at the Armstrong County Historical Society Museum.
Interestingly, I saw a Bobwhite Quail this day. I suspect someone nearby maybe raises them.
May 5, 2024
I hoped to hear the gobblers this second morning with a little better strategy. I heard nothing as the rain began pre-dawn. I became wet but stayed out most of the morning by walking ad calling hoping to stir up an anxious gobbler. Nothing!
I found a baby porcupine and was lucky to obtain a few photos. Also, I saw a Barred Owl.
Baby Porcupine
May 7, 2024
I was disappointed to not hear any turkeys on the third day. I went to a secondary place at around 9:30 and could not get a reply to my calling. I did find a Box Turtle.
Squawroot
May 8, 2024
The gobbling began at 5:30 across the road and upslope. I moved fast and managed to get behind the birds at their level. The birds circled me on a flat. I couldn’t see them, but they were close. In time they seemed to be leaving until I changed calls. That brought them back towards me. I quickly realized two large trees between us might be a problem.
The lead gobbler stepped out followed by a strutter. The lead bird began putting and I messed up and missed. I am not sure what all may have happened. I did have bifocal glasses on, and it was still dark in the woods. Whatever, I missed. In all my years of hunting turkeys this would be only the second time I have missed a spring gobbler. I was disappointed!
I left to go farther south and as I called at the summit two gobblers answered me. Surprisingly, each time I called they replied and moved. The two gobblers were on the opposite hill. they angled downslope, crossed a gulley with a stream and came up the hill I was on. I was ready until a hen appeared and went to the birds. They answered my calls some but not as enthusiastically. Oh well!
I crossed down the hill and up the other side. I saw a gobbler way off walking along a fence line. I was almost to the top of this hill when I heard a distant gobbler twice. However, they saw my approach.
Later I went into the woods and received an answer across a hollow. I played with those two gobblers until 11:50. Quitting time is noon. the birds kept walking along the hill, and I followed. I believe they were with a hen, and she was leading them away. I got back to the jeep at 12:45, warm and tired.
Turkey Egg
May 9, 2024
I heard the first gobbles at 5:25 A.M. The bird talked with three or four gobbles. Unfortunately, he was deep in posted property. I crossed the road and went up the hill following the borders. I tried to get a reply, but he was, no doubt, on the next hill. I hoped he might hear and come. I left and went to a site south trying for a repeat of yesterday morning’s event. I heard a gobbler far off inside property I didn’t have access with. he gobbled maybe six times.
I crossed the deep hollow and up the next hill hoping here to have a repeat performance. I did have a reply around 10:15 and began moving in. It didn’t take long to realize hen(s) were involved again. She, apparently, kept walking away from her competitor. (Me). They eventually crossed a road, and the time was 11: 15. I began the mile long trek to the jeep.
Deer were everywhere this day. Most have their red summer hair, but not all of them do. I would see a raccoon and rabbit too.
Lucky me, for I managed to get out for a few hours to fish for trout. Reality is I needed some time along the streams. Catching anything would be a bonus. Sunday afternoon, April 28, found me heading for Pine Creek. I told Laurie I hope there would not be a lot of fishermen. There were more than I wanted to compete with.
I parked and walked slowly through a sea of Skunk cabbage hoping to find solitude. I did for a little time until fishermen started showing up. I elected to explore and quit fishing.
Dwarf Ginseng
I fished about an hour. I could see a nice Palamino trout under a rock, but I couldn’t lure the beauty to my rig. I walked around taking photos and went to Cowanshannock and a lot of cars were viewed.
The following day after I ran some errands and had a haircut I went to Patterson Run. A much more enjoyable time for me. No fishermen! I caught some beautiful Rainbow Trout. Of course, I practice catch and release, so the beauties were all released.
One of the Rainbow Trout.
To get to the water I had to walk downhill through the woods to the stream. The woods along the trail I walked was colored a beautiful springtime vivid green. I would see a deer, Canada Geese and their goslings, and a snake of an unknown species. I caught a glimpse as it completed the hiding under an old stump. I spotted the snake briefly because I head it moving in the dry leaves.
I took my mother to lower Ford City, Pennsylvania for her semiannual checkup. For ninety-four years of age the medical doctor expressed how well she is doing physically. Dementia issues are sneaking into her thoughts sometimes leading to saying things or seeing things. Oh well, over all it is not yet causing a lot of problems.
During her appointment time I made a short walk along the Allegheny River. I hoped to see a bald eagle flying through for a photo op.
Red-Tailed Hawk Nest
We stopped for breakfast before heading back to her home. I changed my pants to an anti-tick pair and made a short jaunt near the homestead. I hoped with finding some morels. The first sighting of interest was a shadow of a flying bird across the forest floor. I looked up and saw a Red-tailed Hawk landing in a tree close by. I knew by the bird’s actions a nest had to be nearby. I quickly spotted the nest as the hawk flew about screeching at me.
A short distance later I saw a ribcage of a deer followed by a nice rack among the vegetation. I couldn’t help wondering just what may have occurred leading to the deer’s demise…Bad shot, injury from a vehicle… It is doubtful if I could ever know.
The next sighting of interest was a Red Fox. Too quick for focusing but still a joy to see. As I glanced around for a possible den I walked upon a shed.
The walk was short for mowing needed to be completed for some rain is being forecasted.
October 24, and I headed off to Cowanshannock Creek to fish and take some photos of this beautiful waterway. This area of the stream, although beautiful, can be treacherous for the water is fast and deep in many places. To add to the potential of falling, the shorelines of the creek are covered with rocks of various sizes and moss. Older legs need to be extremely careful. I remembered while moving along how there was a time, I would welcome the challenge even jumping from one rock to another. Older wisdom prevented such actions today.
A beautiful Brown trout.
One bank along the stream became steep and rocky with thick vegetation. I needed to cross to avoid the steepness and struggled finding an area I felt secure with crossing. A large log offered a chance, but I would need to straddle and work across on my butt. This log was wet and bark less and standing or walking across it would NOT HAVE WORKED!
I spent the morning in the area until the temperatures began climbing too much for how I was dressed.
Recently, I happened upon an interesting site at the house. I noticed a Monarch Butterfly chrysalis. I do not often see such an interesting, so I took a few photos and vowed to observe the chrysalis daily. I, jokingly, stated I was to be a father.
The Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis.
I would soon see the indistinct black lines of the future wings inside of this cocoon. A few days later, upon observing I noticed the adult Monarch Butterfly on a leaf drying in preparation for flight. Another day and the butterfly had moved on in flight.
The life cycle of this gorgeous butterfly is one on unbelief. The female lays eggs on a bottom of a leaf, often Milkweed for that is their food source. The number of eggs is between one hundred and three hundred eggs. They will hatch in about four days eating their egg cases.
This larva stage will grow over ten to fourteen days shedding their shells five times. Each of the five molts known as an instar. This caterpillar is ribbed with yellow, white and black stripes.
Once the growth cycle reaches peak the caterpillar will go into a pupa stage. The caterpillar is now in the chrysalis stage. (See photo.) Here the caterpillar will form into the adult butterfly. As stated, I would soon notice the black veins of the wings during this cycle.
The males have a dark spot on each hind wing on one of the darkened veins. The females lack these spots. The late forming Monarchs will migrate to Mexico and California depending on where their early life began. This butterfly would be heading for Mexico. The following February or March they will migrate back ready to rep.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 