Saturday, June 18, 2022.
Took off early in the morning, just at 6:00 a.m., on the bicycle, headed out to Feather River College, about a mile and a half from my house. I was out there in January of this year, but pickings were sparse. Today was markedly better.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
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On the bicycle path leading out to the college, I spied these three cuties all in the same spot. This seemed to be a good portent for the day.
As soon as I arrived at the college campus, I spotted a Wild Turkey hen. Although I was quite a ways off, I guess maybe I made her nervous, because she took off and flew up on the roof.
About the same time I had spotted that hen, I had also seen a tom. But now I couldn’t see it anymore. So I walked over toward the side of the building, and there it was, with another hen. I guess they didn’t know school was out for the summer because it almost looked like they were trying to get in.
I took a couple of photos of the campus, just to let you get the feel of how wooded the setting is. (By the way, this is where I earned both an A.A. and an A.S.) With all these trees, I was thinking today might be rich for birding, perchance other wildlife as well.
From where I was standing when I took the lower photo, the road goes up a very short way to the water tanks that serve the campus. I know there’s usually some water flowing around (these old wood tanks leak out a bit), so maybe this would be a good spot.
And yes, there sure were a lot of birds. That is, I could hear them all around me but they were remaining invisible for the most part. Gray Squirrels in abundance, on the other hand.
I walked on down a trail that loops back around to the campus parking lot, pausing often to catch any photo opportunity that might arise. Not a great deal of luck there, but for the second time this year I saw another Western Tanager. For all of about twenty seconds, and this was the best I could manage; in and out of the foliage, very briefly, and then gone.
Making my way back down the hill, a Western Wood Pewee was all the more I could spot. Well, maybe better luck another day, another place and time. Sigh.
So I hopped on my bicycle, figuring I would stop by Dellinger’s Pond for a look-see, but before I got more than a hundred yards something caught my eye in the shrubbery alongside the road. Another Wild Turkey hen, but oh there was more. Wild Turkey chicks! By the time I got my bicycle stopped and myself into a photo vantage spot, all but one chick had disappeared. Maybe this chick is a tom, because it was pretty bold to remain out in the open. Whatever, my good fortune for certain.
A couple of those from the tiled composition, for a better view:
I have to correct myself. By golly, I did get a shot of two chicks:
So (hee hee), now ya know why this Bucket’s a real turkey, baby. Turkey. Baby. Baby Turkey. Get it?
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Baby, I’m not kidding, this sure turned out to be kid’s day. Over at Dellinger’s, more little ones:
Out in the reeds, could be the same one as above, but in fact there were two.
The kids are all right.
Now It’s Your Turn.
What things have you noted happening in your area or travels? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.
Thank you.