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A Morning Ride

May 26, 2012   Maine, Maine Outdoors, Nature, Outdoors, Turkey hunting, Wildlife in Maine

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In truth, we were turkey hunting but since they’re just starting to come out of hiding again, we didn’t do a lot of hunting. We rode, stopped to call, moved to a new location, stopped to call, rinse, lather, repeat. They are out and about out this way again. I saw four toms/jakes yesterday while riding in Taylor’s truck at 50 mph, no gun, no shells, no camo, no calls (that’s what we get for going to Bangor). We found tracks today, probably from two turkeys together recently and one alone a day or two ago.

A fisher walked along the edge of the road before exiting stage right into the trees a few miles from the house.

We saw a timberdoodle (aka American woodcock) in the road. I was able to take a few pictures for the first time ever. They aren’t good pics because we were so far away, but I’m including them anyway. Woodcocks have an impressive beak. If size matters, they absolutely win. Note how tall he’s standing.

American woodcock

American Woodcock, photo by Robin Follette

American Woodcock

Notice his posture now? He’s crouched, ready to burst into flight. These little birds have the ability to fly straight up into the air. They’ve caused me to screech by bursting out of the grass a few feet in front of me many times.

American woodcock, photo by Robin Follette

American Woodcock

We stopped on a bridge crossing Baskehegan Stream to watch a Hooded Merganser with six ducklings on her back. They were too far away for a good pictures. It took a minute to figure out what we were watching. Beaver? The shape was moving toward a lodge but it didn’t move right.  Muskrat? Too wide across its back, not a muskrat. I knew it was a merganser when she dove, leaving the little ones bobbing on the water. They were quick to get back to her when she surfaced a few feet away.

A second fisher is lucky it’s not road pizza. I saw a flash of something dark in the road before we dipped down then quickly crested a hill. If I hadn’t seen it and told Steve to slow we’d have run it over. It was lying in the road. It darted out of the way at the last second. I have no idea what it was doing in the road.

The afternoon, the red-tailed hawk is back, watching the Silkie chickens. Ava is with them, keeping them safe.

 

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