Monday, December 26, 2011

Just Before Winter

1. WITU-kab Wild Turkeys on Norwich Ave in Colchester, CT 12-12-11

Just before winter I was on my way into Colchester when this flock of wild turkeys flew across the road in front of me and landed in the farm field on the right-hand side of the road. I quickly pulled over, rolled down my window and snapped off a few shots.

2. cows-kab The cows in the pasture were not as impressed as I was and kept right on grazing! During my week-long stay there to help my Mom with her great-grandkids and with her chemo treatments I managed to squeeze in a few hours of nature and bird watching for myself.

3. Lake Hayward-kab One afternoon I bought a subway sandwich and drove down to the Lake Hayward boat launch hoping to see some birds. This shallow and boggy end of the lake was lightly frozen over with no birds in sight.

4. Beaver work-kab In the surrounding woods I found evidence of beaver activity. It was not here when I visited earlier this summer. I wondered when they showed up and where they had gone as I did not see a new dam or a beaver lodge anywhere around.

5. Tree-kab I love the soft light coming through the trees at the top of the boat launch area.

6. Lake-kab As I drove around the lake looking for birds, I did finally spot some mallards, and hooded and common mergansers in the still open waters. With such vibrant blue waters it looks more like spring than the last days before winter.

7. Geese-kabThe next day I took my nephew to the Colchester Recreation Complex to play on the playground. It is right across the street from a golf course where some Canada Geese were happily feeding along with some muskrats in the shallow pond.

8. golfer-kabThe geese were not disturbed by the golfer and the golfer did not seem to mind the geese! He was probably just glad there was no snow on the ground!

9. sunset As the late autumn sun sunk lower in the sky I was able to snap off a few photos just before a Winter Twilight. I did find a few birds here and I want to come back and follow this trail around the park. Perhaps I will find more birds here next time!

I hope you enjoyed this little visit to…

Our World Tuesday!

…please come back again!

9 comments:

  1. Hi Katie...you don't want to ever hit one of those turkey with your car..lol those fella's can do alot of damage!!
    I love the shot's of the golfers and the geese ...just to funny for words!!
    Great world Tuesday
    Grace

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  2. You certainly make the best of your world wherever you are. Hope your mom is feeling better, chemo is so very draining - it just sucks out all your energy. Nice that you live near enough to help out.

    So nice to see all those Thanksgiving and Christmas survivors all lined up, they do look nice and plump.

    In all these shots it is really the light that is the subject matter, even the gentle light around the grazing cows.

    Hope you had a great Christmas with family.

    Hugs . . . Arija

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  3. Kathie I so respect that during a very busy schedule helping others you find niches of nature for yourself.
    The golfer and geese is a kick.

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  4. Hi Kathie, a great series of photos and scenery. The turkeys are a wonderful sight. I hope you and your family had a great Christmas and I wish you all the best in 2012. Happy New Year!

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  5. I can tell you are having a great time discovering all the birding places in your new home :-) I love doing what you did...getting a sandwich and going somewhere to park and eat it while watching birds.

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  6. Got to love those Canada Geese. They sure know how to find nice winter getaways. I get them in the summer of course. - Margy

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  7. Kathie: Sending you warm Christmas
    greetings and know that I hold your dear mother in my prayers. The warm comfort of family helps a lot when one is fighting cancer as does prayer.
    I loved your Christmas post of those puffed up birds..I seldom see these here in my woods.
    Yes I will be leaving for Arizona
    1st week in Jan. for our winter hiatus in Scottsdale!
    love and light Anna

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  8. Nice rafter of turkeys you have lined up there and nice scenery as well!

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  9. Hi Kathie

    I loved the shots of the turkeys, it is a bird I have never seen in the wild so I am very jealous.

    Guy

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.