Northern harrier.
[T]he Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America…. He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on. —Benjamin Franklin
Many of us have heard how Ben Franklin, in a letter to his daughter in 1784, ruminated about whether the wild turkey or the bald eagle was the fittingest bird to grace the Great Seal of the young United States of America. Few of us have likely heard how the whole discussion stemmed from the fact that the image of an eagle used in the insignia of a society of Revolutionary War veterans looked more like a turkey than a nobel bird of prey. Regardless, I can’t help but wonder whether the choice of a grain-loving fowl might’ve gotten us into fewer wars over the years. Probably not.
Three oaks.
But I’m lucky enough to live in a place where, on any given day of the year, I might encounter either of these handsome species within a stone’s throw of my door. Today it was the turkey.
Not near my door this day, but not far. My first encounter was along the lower wooded trail at Beech Hill. Jack and I had hiked the hill—which afforded me nice views of a harrier, among other birds—and were descending. Jack noticed them first. I noticed Jack noticing something off down the wooded slope and stopped. About a half-dozen turkeys were hurrying away from our approach, dodging behind trees, until one of them took wing. Then they all did. They flew into the high branches of some hardwoods, maybe 40 feet up. Despite their gawky reputation, in fact wild turkeys fly pretty gracefully. Once at I surprised a large flock at the summit of the hill and watched, startled, as they all flew high and straight toward the tops of the trees down the hill at least a hundred yards away. Illogically, I thought they were cormorants at first, they flew so straight and swiftly.
With today’s turkeys still perched in the trees somewhere, we began to move again. I had hopes of photos. I even managed to spot one on a bare branch and raised my camera, but at that moment, it took flight and rose high above the canopy and wheeled away and to the left of us. A couple others that I hadn’t seen followed. Impressive.
Then, on our way home, driving along South Street near Route 1, I noticed an enormous tom running toward the road in front of us. As the turkey entered the roadway, I braked—and this one, too, took off, sailing safely above the hood of my pickup.
Coincidentally, today an expert birder friend reported having seen turkeys swimming for the first time ever. Three of them, beneath a quarter-mile bridge. They were heading for an island.
Turkeys might be vain & silly, but they’re also multitalented.
Tonight, woodcocks have been active. Mars is still high. Earlier, I noticed Jupiter has overshot Venus and is now setting first. Soon we’ll have the sliver of a moon hanging around their general vicinity.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. American crow
2. American robin
3. Northern harrier
4. Herring gull
5. Black-capped chickadee
6. Wild turkey
Elsewhere
7. Pileated woodpecker
8. Tufted titmouse
9. House finch
10. House sparrow
11. Song sparrow
12. Northern cardinal
13. Rock pigeon
14. Common grackle
15. Turkey vulture
16. Mallard
17. Mourning dove
18. American woodcock
Tags: American crow, American robin, American woodcock, black-capped chickadee, common grackle, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mallard, mourning dove, northern harrier, rock pigeon, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, wild turkey
