The Turkey Trot

What you see in the photo at left is the resident flock of wild turkeys. We see them around here on occasion; this would be their morning commute through a neighbor's yard one day early last month.

Now, what you don't see in the bottom photo is the turkey I attempted to photograph very early this morning as it fled through the yard and into the woods.

Standing there in my flannel pajamas, stocking feet soaked with the morning dew, I tried in vain to snap a clear picture before the turkey was out of range. All this while the school bus pulled up next door, the dog walkers passed by bemused, and a carpool idled a few driveways down. But I was undeterred and kept snapping away. Ultimately I was unsuccessful, or so I thought ...

As I came back in the house I was greeted by shouts of "Good job, Mama!"

"I didn't get the shot," I bemoaned, putting the camera away. But my dear husband informed me ~ "You may not have gotten a picture, but you scared off the cat that was after the turkey!"

Unbeknownst to me, the turkey was being stalked by a cat ~ and that would be Sassy, otherwise known as The Mountain Lion ~ the very same cat I spend half my day chasing away from our squirrels and birds. Apparently my presence halted her chase and the turkey was able to make his getaway.

I may not take the best photos, but I'm an ace wildlife defender ... It's nice to be good at something. :)