Gobbling Season Winds Down

While we had a severe winter this year, it did break early and spring seemed to arrive earlier than usual.  As a result the turkey mating season began early, at least in my area, and is now winding down.  It was common to hear several gobblers each morning just a short time ago, but now gobbling is very sporadic and one can easily spend a morning outdoors without hearing any gobbling at all. 

Alert Mature Gobbler Pauses As He Moves Through Woodlands

It was common to see the birds strutting and courting only a week or so ago, but now it is rare.  They are more likely to be seen feeding or moving about.  If they do strut or gobble, it seems that the action does not last long, before they lose interest and return to feeding.

Camera Critters: A Variety

I have been somewhat hesitant to post any material recently as it seems that deer and turkeys are all that I an able to photograph at present, but that is mostly because I am concentrating on photographing the spring turkey gobbling season.

I did finally get a chance to photograph some other species this morning.  Most of the deer left the meadow before sunrise this morning, but I lingered until well after sun-up and the first visitor was a fox squirrel.

Fox Squirrel

Lat

Next I noticed a Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding from a nearby natural bird feeder.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Later a young whitetail buck came by on his way from feeding in the meadows, to a shady spot in the nearby mountain where he will spend the mid-part of the day.

Young Whitetail Buck

For more Camera Critters photos, click Here!