Wondrous Spring Morning

[Pinelander]

For those of you that were hanging out here last fall, you may recall the photo essays that went along with my deer hunting escapades. Well, here we go again... spring is in full glory here in Illinois and I'd like to share some thoughts and pictures of my "WILD ILLINOIS"! (I just love watching that Marty Stouffer guy)

I ventured out this morning at 5 am to listen-up for gobblers (my season opens next Thursday). Located at least 4 toms going-off at daylight in two different areas.

Remember last fall when I mentioned seeing a few turkeys in a flock (or was it a herd) that looked rather grayish mottled? Sure enough... I spotted one and it's a gobbler! Apparently a mixed-breed result from breeding with domestics out running loose? Ya know how the Merriams and Rio Grandes have the white band on their fan compared to the darker buff of the Eastern toms? Picture this, a Rio Grande fan, but opposite coloring - the band is dark-colored and the rest of fan is near white!

I didn't get very good photos as they were at least 300 yards across the field - the mutant and also a fine Eastern specimen that definitely was the dominant bird, although they were together and both were strutting-up a storm.

Stay tuned... attempting to crop the photos (forgot digital zoom was not activated).

[Pinelander]

Here they are... contrasting Eastern Wild turkeys doing their thing.

[Pinelander]

This was kind of neat... had no idea I caught these Mallards doing a "fly-by".

[Pinelander]

It was a busy morning -
this whitetail was interested in the turkey photo op session and just had to butt in for awhile....

[Pinelander]

It was a VERY busy morning, camera got a work out...

This whitetail is walking across one of the many bridges that have been constructed by our buck-toothed friends...

[Pinelander]

Stopped to nibble on something...

[Pinelander]

Heard something over yonder....

[Pinelander]

We all change our minds every now and again....

[Pinelander]

Remember this pic of beaver dam near the bridge we constructed?

This is what it looked like last September...

[Pinelander]

And this is what it looks like today...

It's now turning into an earthern dam, only way to get it out of there is with a backhoe or dynamite.

[Pinelander]

I heard two different pairs of Sandhills this morning. They have been moving through this area for the last month or so. Their spring migration brings them from Georgia/Florida headed northward to Michigan/Canada for yearly nesting.

Some of the area folks believe that the Sandhill does not nest here in our area, but I've had my doubts about this, as I've seen them here in N. Illinois as late as early June. This might indicate that we may indeed have a few breeding pairs that stay here all summer. I've not confirmed this, but will try to verify as the summer progresses.

This pair was circling at a very high altitude this morning... maybe looking for a place to rest awhile?

[Pinelander]

There were two birds, but could only take photo of one... as they usually don't fly real close together like geese and ducks. Their vocalization is very unique.

Additonal information about the Sandhill Crane...
http://birds.cornell.edu/BOW/sancra/

[Pinelander]

Sometimes, ya just stumble on things when least expected...

[Phil]

Piney..... FANTASTIC photographs , any objections if I lift one for wallpaper?

Keep 'em coming :)

[swampy]

Very cool pics Thanks

[James Wrenn]

Very cool Piney! You were busy with the camera.
You know I hunt so real nice places sometimes but never seem to take time to get pictures.This year I am going to change all that and make a point of doing it before they are gone.Thanks for the inspiration to do that.

[tuffshot]

Keep up the good work Dave. I will be working alot of hours the next couple of weeks and will not get out for any nature exposure so your pictures will have to do.. :highfive:

Keep them coming :cheers:

[jeffw]

Very nice, thanks for sharing those with us!! :thankyou:

[Pinelander]

One more day... then I'm off to see if "white feathers" tom has survived the neighboring turkey gunhunters. All my gear is ready to go, along with recurve and arrows tuned with some big Phantom 4-bladers.

Awfully cold the last two mornings preceded by unseasonably cold weather during the last week. Weather is breaking though... will be in the 70's come Thursday. Some serious turkey huntin' in the mornings and maybe stumble on a cache of morrels later in the day, but we need RAIN!!

Put the turkeys to bed tomorrow night... then it's 6 full days of hunt, mushroom search, eat, sleep... then all over again. I'm pumped!!

:help: ... I've gone over the edge, wife has made it official...

not only is temporary "divorce" in effect during November rut, but now during spring turkey as well. Although, I think a short reprieve is allowed for mushroom hunting. LOL

[Pinelander]

I'm sorry Phil... forgot to answer your question.

Of course you can, any and all pics I post here are public domain.

[Pinelander]

I think we have a pair that have completed their migration and are staying here for the summer....

[Pinelander]

THey are rust-colored in the spring/summer and more a muted-gray in fall/winter...

[Pinelander]

Soon after take-off....

[Esquire]

Great stuff, Piney. Thank you for sharing them. Do you mind if I add one of my own? The entire family and I took to the woods last weekend. Here's what we saw:

[Pinelander]

Very nice, Mike... I've noticed this last week that deer seem to be very active later in the morning and earlier in the evening. Guess they know they're not being hunted.

Waking up with the turkeys this morning... watched 2 long beards roost in trees near my blind last night, gotta leave extra early...