Relative Something

We are rapidly discovering all the wildlife that the previous owners wrote about in an email exchange in which they welcomed us to the property. They seem to have named many of the creatures: Stubby, the squirrel with no tail;  Sir Rodney, the cardinal, that, in the spring, returns to attack his reflection in the sunroom window for 4-5 months (or 6-7); Bucky, the 2012 deer, that camped out by the sunroom door and then hung out, in and around the yard all summer. Also listed was the sound of coyotes that gave the place a rugged feel; turkeys and their babies that would come right up to the house to check things out; and an owl that was heard, but not seen.

This morning, when I first peered out the window in the low morning light, I spotted our first turkey. He was up in the tree, right next to the house. Then I noticed another one in the next tree over, and another, and another. Counted about 7 of them. Cyndie said to get a picture, but in the low morning light, it would just turn out to be a dark dot in a tangle of branches.

The eye perceives much more than my camera could replicate, in this instance.

I wandered off the get the camera, anyway, just to be ready, in case the dawn of morning light would produce a scene my equipment could adequately capture. I returned just in time to see the first turkey leave its perch, spreading wings to glide precariously back to earth. That seemed to be the signal to all the others, which included about 3 or 4 more that I hadn’t yet noticed, and they all dropped to the ground. No picture opportunity there. I moved to other windows in search of a vantage point that might work, but they just blended into the background, and wouldn’t stand out at all in an image.

Later, Cyndie spotted the whole flock out in the open, down the hill from our house. I wasn’t dressed yet, but slid into pants and slippers, preparing, shirtless, to step out on the deck in the frozen morning air in hopes of getting the shot. The flock seemed to notice the click of the door lock. Turning the latch was enough to get them all moving briskly down the trail, into the woods.

No picture this morning. But I expect to catch them, eventually. I believe they will give me many other opportunities.

There have been multiple sightings, and exclamations of, “There’s Stubby!” He is rather noticeable, with that missing squirrel tail.

That cardinal is a downright nuisance, banging, repeatedly, against the sunroom window. We did some research, and it says the behavior (not uncommon) is supposed to end in the spring when there is no drive to fend off other male suitors that may be competition for him. I described his behavior to the folks at the day-job and the comment arose that he may have banged his head one too many times, and doesn’t know what season it is any more.

We definitely heard the coyotes, as I shared in a previous post; have seen two young deer lolling about the place, multiple times; and even think we saw the owl flying in the trees one morning.

We have also repeatedly made sighting of a pileated woodpecker, many blue jays, and a fair number of common small birds.

I don’t think the mice we are dealing with can be classified as wildlife. They seem quite domesticated, and really at home in our dwelling. We will likely be adding a cat, to keep the mice company. I’m not sure how all the birds will feel about our addition of a cat, but I’m guessing it will be an indoor cat, if we are going to keep it safe from birds of prey and coyotes in the woods around us.

We are still keeping an eye out for barn cats, which would be welcome, but haven’t seen any signs, since our first visit to look at the property, when a little kitten appeared for a brief moment.

We are thoroughly enjoying our introduction to all the wildlife here at Wintervale. It is my hope to gain skills in the art of capturing them in photographs, in order to share a few glances for you here.

Otherwise, it’s all still-life and impressionist close-ups, for now!