Moonrise

I have not said much about the turkeys which have been hanging around the house this summer. There have been several hens with ( I thought) about five little ones, and each day they wander through the field and spend some time by the house. The hen makes the softest little cooing sounds and the babies peep back at her. It’s pretty cute, and they come quite close to house. It’s one reason I couldn’t bring myself to mow the lawn again, since they clearly have paths worn through the long grasses.

Well yesterday I was on the porch looking at the turkeys poking around on the driveway when a large bird came out of nowhere and swooped down for one of the chicks. The adults turkeys cackled, flew at it, and after some beating of wings the bird flew off. It wasn’t an eagle, but must have been the largest hawk I’ve seen around here. I actually saw it again a little while later when it perched on a low branch by the edge of the field. Not long enough to get a good ID though - maybe a goshawk or gyrfalcon. I’m familiar with the hawks we see here more commonly, and this was someone new.

Well. That was small beer compared to the ruckus I heard this evening. I looked up just in time to see a bobcat pouncing out of the long grass and catching one of the chicks. All the others flew off in panic (and there were more than I had realized!). The hens initially tried to chase her off but quickly thought better of it. I could just see the bobcat's short tail poking out of the grass, slowly swaying back and forth. Then she came out onto the lawn with a chick in her mouth and slowly walked off in to the woods, with the poor turkeys watching her go. It was harsh, but I have to say she was a beautiful animal.

I don’t know where she stashed the chick, but she came back just a few minutes later and we had excellent looks through the binoculars as she searched around for more chicks that might not have gotten away. After a bit she walked all around the house just inside the tree line, and then I lost sight of her. But I get the feeling she’s not done with those chicks yet. Nor is that hawk. 

So no, I’m not going to mow the lawn again for a little while yet.

But I did go down to the shore to watch the moonrise, and though it isn't easy to capture with my phone I came away with this photo.