Fall and Winter 2015 Around the Flathead
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:43 pm
I figured I would start another thread for pictures around the Flathead.
I carry one or both of my cameras with me at all times 'cause you just never know...
These geese were feeding in a stubble field this morning. They were close to the road when I first approached. I knew they wouldn't remain close.
These are true "wild Canada geese", migrants who are just passing through.
In my experience these geese are far more wary of people than "resident" Canada geese who are used to people being around....and who don't hunt them.
They began moving away from me as soon as Squeeze came to a stop.
You can see here that virtually every head is up and looking my way.
Undisturbed, while most heads are down feeding, there will always, always be some heads up looking and listening for threats.
Sneaking up on a flock of Canada geese in an open field is virtually impossible. Way too many eyes and ears pointed in every direction.
I love the sound of geese "honking" on a crispy morning
You can hear them on a 4 minute video here
Here are some turkey hens that were just off the road. I didn't see the chicks, juveniles that were trailing behind them until a few minutes later. The mix of woodland and farm fields is ideal habitat for wild turkeys. And turkeys are doing quite well in Flathead County. The hens kept "peering" at me Turkeys like the geese have exceptional eyesight. Turkeys see a wide range of colors and even into the near ultraviolet spectrum. Turkeys can see the slightest movement from threats or potential threats, more than 50 yards away. And a wild turkey's hearing is legendary. In the spring, a "Tom" can zero in on a hen's yelp from 1/2 mile away in some cases.
Turkeys around here are seldom hunted and not nearly as wary as the ones I knew in Virginia where they are hard hunted. Getting this close to wild turkeys in Virginia is rare in my experience.
In the fall hens and female juveniles will gather in large flocks like the flock in the last picture. Those turkeys were directly across the road from the ones pictured below. LOTS of wild turkeys between Kalispell and Whitefish. Mature male turkeys "gobblers", and juvenile males, "jakes" also band together during the fall and winter. During spring breeding season the "jakes" best find a place to go because the gobblers will literally "kick their ass" if they try to get around the hens. Mature gobblers have some nasty "spurs" on their lower legs to kick with too. Hens like those pictured have no spurs.
later
pete
I carry one or both of my cameras with me at all times 'cause you just never know...
These geese were feeding in a stubble field this morning. They were close to the road when I first approached. I knew they wouldn't remain close.
These are true "wild Canada geese", migrants who are just passing through.
In my experience these geese are far more wary of people than "resident" Canada geese who are used to people being around....and who don't hunt them.
They began moving away from me as soon as Squeeze came to a stop.
You can see here that virtually every head is up and looking my way.
Undisturbed, while most heads are down feeding, there will always, always be some heads up looking and listening for threats.
Sneaking up on a flock of Canada geese in an open field is virtually impossible. Way too many eyes and ears pointed in every direction.
I love the sound of geese "honking" on a crispy morning
You can hear them on a 4 minute video here
Here are some turkey hens that were just off the road. I didn't see the chicks, juveniles that were trailing behind them until a few minutes later. The mix of woodland and farm fields is ideal habitat for wild turkeys. And turkeys are doing quite well in Flathead County. The hens kept "peering" at me Turkeys like the geese have exceptional eyesight. Turkeys see a wide range of colors and even into the near ultraviolet spectrum. Turkeys can see the slightest movement from threats or potential threats, more than 50 yards away. And a wild turkey's hearing is legendary. In the spring, a "Tom" can zero in on a hen's yelp from 1/2 mile away in some cases.
Turkeys around here are seldom hunted and not nearly as wary as the ones I knew in Virginia where they are hard hunted. Getting this close to wild turkeys in Virginia is rare in my experience.
In the fall hens and female juveniles will gather in large flocks like the flock in the last picture. Those turkeys were directly across the road from the ones pictured below. LOTS of wild turkeys between Kalispell and Whitefish. Mature male turkeys "gobblers", and juvenile males, "jakes" also band together during the fall and winter. During spring breeding season the "jakes" best find a place to go because the gobblers will literally "kick their ass" if they try to get around the hens. Mature gobblers have some nasty "spurs" on their lower legs to kick with too. Hens like those pictured have no spurs.
later
pete