On a cloudy morning this past week, I was having a cup of coffee when I heard some commotion outside. At first, I couldn’t identify where the noise was coming from, but when I opened the front drapery, there were eight turkeys up next to the house having a bit of a squabble.
They were clucking and squeaking, rushing at each other, flapping wings and puffing up. They separated apart, then the largest two began to compete with each other for the dominant position in the flock with a display of tail feather fans and puffed up chests, dragging their fanned out wings on the ground.
They began to strut their stuff, and I love watching them do this.
The one on the left here seems to be older and more battle scarred. The other one had a perfect tail fan, not a feather damaged. They strutted to the left.
Then turned and strutted back to the right, all the while turning to show off their best sides.
Next it was over to the driveway, still puffed up and showing off.
They pushed a couple of other males around a bit, while the female in the foreground here ignored them.
Gracie came by for a sandwich a bit later.
The bluebirds seem to be house hunting for a warm spot to roost over night. I hope they will stay here through the winter.
All that house hunting makes a bird hungry, so it is out to eat at the local diner.
Twilight settled in one evening, and I was so awed by the colors in the western sky, gorgeous purple and red. The stark branches of leafless trees make interesting shapes in the waning light.
Then, we had a bit of snow! It has been more than 2 years since we had any snow at all. The crazy thing is, it came the morning after I did an interview with a writer for USA Today, who found my blog post from 2020 on my memory of a white Christmas. Read it on my post Christmas Memories and Traditions. It is hard to see here, but the streaky white blobs are snowflakes falling.
Two wild turkey hens were scratching around for seeds and acorns while it lightly snowed. Nothing stuck to the ground, but it was fun to watch it come down.
The bluebird found something to take back to the house. He slipped inside and didn’t come back out until the snow stopped.
The next day, a purple finch came to the feeder. This is the first one I’ve seen here. It has the dark patches on its molar area and coming off the eye towards the body. There is a light streak on top of the eye. These markings distinguish it from a house finch.
A few minutes later, and a female appeared at the feeder. Oh, how wonderful, maybe they will decide to stick around, too.
This week will be relaxed and easy. Monday and Tuesday will be sewing time, as I think I finally have a plan for the next Quilt of Valor I need to complete. I need to do some final shopping on Tuesday, then Wednesday will be prep cooking for Thanksgiving Day, my favorite day of the year. Then it is football, and food, and chatting with friends on the big day, followed by old movies and putting up the tree. It should be a great week. I’ll have a special post on Tuesday, and I hope you’ll take a bit of time out of your busy prep and planning to visit that day. Have a great week! What are your plans this week?
From My Carolina Home 
What a fun show of turkeys strutting! The farmer’s almanac says as November 21 goes, so goes the winter. We had snow and blustery winds. From Nov13-Nov 20 I spent hours upon hours relocating a sister from SC back to WV with the help of another local sister. “I’m tired, boss.” Still unpacking her and organizing (she’s 80), and hope to get a shot of Christmas spirit soon.
Happy Thankagiving, Carole.
Don’t you just love having the wild life come for visits?.. Years ago we raised pasture turkeys and watching the new baby turkeys “strut” is just amazing. They just know what to do and do it well.
My upcoming week sounds a lot like yours only instead of sewing I’ll be taking Mom to P/T Mon & Wed and the dentist on Tuesday. There will of course be sewing in between but it’ll be limited. Thursday will be a day of phone calls with family and TV viewing of football and the big parade! I believe the dog show is sometime in there also.
I’ve had a couple of bluebirds coming around lately too. Hadn’t seen them since Spring/early Summer. Here’s a questions for you: Should I clean out the birdhouses now before it gets really cold or do I wait until Spring?
We clean our birdhouse out when we are sure the little ones have fledged, usually in September. So, go ahead and do it. I think they are more likely to use it again if the old nest is gone, plus you don’t want it to attract bugs.
Thank you! I’ll do it today as it’s supposed to be in the low 60s.
How lovely that you got to watch the snow without it sticking around. Kids are off school all week so I will have them home while I prep the house for hosting Thanksgiving. We are blessed that my husband’s company gives us a large turkey every year. I think this year it is 23lbs. His VP also sent his group a pie as well from a local company so we have the bird and dessert all covered. Hopefully I can also sneak in some sewing as well.
What a grand display the turkeys provided. I’m sure they were happy they weren’t going to be someone’s Thanksgiving feast. I have spent the week with doctor visits and am nursing a tooth extraction (which went well, thank the Lord). I may be eating ground turkey this Thursday, depending how things go. LOL. Have a mile high pile of sewing projects to get to. Why do I do this to myself? Slow and steady and I’m sure I’ll win the race. Have a lovely Thanksgiving. Your plans sound joyous.
Your turkey story reminds me of ours, they do cackle so loud and it is fun to see them strut their stuff! I am finishing kiting up a few projects for winter sewing, making pies etc this week.
Carole, I love seeing your wonderful photos of the turkeys strutting and especially when they fan their feathers! Great photos today. Your week sounds just about perfect!
Loved seeing the turkeys strutting. Your pictures are always so wonderful. Keep clicking. Have a wonderful holiday!
I really enjoyed all the turkey photos and commentary! I lived in both New Hampshire and South Dakota, so I had the huge pleasure of turkey visits also. I used to love it when the males would do their special behaviors. I hope you have a lovely holiday.
Love the strutting turkeys with their feathers fanned out! I’m glad Gracie is still stopping by for sandwiches. Great bird captures as always, and snow wow! I’m not a big fan of winter so fingers crossed it will be mild in my area. Your Thanksgiving week sounds wonderful, I hope you can relax and enjoy every moment! Happy Thanksgiving Carole~
Jenna
Your strutting tom turkey photos caught my attention! What theatrics!
Your picture of the bluebird perching on the bird house is a classic! My neighbor enlisted us to help increase the bluebird population here as it is our state bird and their numbers were dwindling. She feeds them meal worms all winter. We’ve got 2 occupied houses right now. They are a beautiful bird and it’s peaceful watching them.
Grateful to you for sharing! Happy Thanksgiving!
Jo Anne
You had a turkey convention at your house! How fun and and interesting to be able to watch like that – I enjoyed your photos. Love seeing the birds, too. Hope the bluebirds decide to stay! I don’t have a lot of plans this week except to be ready for our son’s visit and all the meals. Happy Thanksgiving, Carole!
I need to remember to take my turkey out to thaw in the refrigerator I had forgotten how fast Thursday is coming up now! Pie will be made on Wednesday – love seeing your wild turkeys we had some about 25 or so that would visit the back yard daily in the fall for a couple years then they just disappeared and I haven’t seen them since that must be over 18 years to so now as I remember the grandchildren were tiny at the time and now in their early 20’s
The purple finch is a unique sight. I’m hopeful that the pair will stay a while. I can only imagine the birds’ joy when they see your feeder filled. It’s a fun way to attract birds. I’ve often thought about placing a feeder outside my kitchen window, where my cats can enjoy the show from their climbing tree. They get so animated when a squirrel comes into their view. And those turkeys, what a show they put on for you!
What a pleasant way to share the morning with a few turkeys, and be entertained in the midst of nature. A perfect way to begin the morning, and carry a smile through the day.
Happy Thanksgiving, Carole. Have fun with all those lovely birds and animal life!
What a way to start your day, Turkeys, Squirrel, beautiful birds and snow! Have a very happy Thanksgiving.
Mary :))
I’ve only seen a turkey in full fan once but it is such an impressive sight. Lucky you! And wonderful sightings all around. I hope you’re having a lovely, relaxing Sunday!
Love love love your blog. Feels like a personal version of a Disney Special! All the animals seem to agree! Love all the news and photos, especially the birds!!!!! Thanks so much.
We had some turkeys in the yard yesterday and they were jumping around like rabbits! It was so funny. Then they heard someone walking their dog and they took off over the house to hide across the river.
The Panthers put up a good fight against the Chiefs Sunday!
Those toms put on a great show! Your Thanksgiving week sounds lovely! Today (Monday) I did an adult lesson and did a YA recording, than had 5 master classes (instead of a week of lessons.) Tomorrow make up lessons online for a family who recently moved away, a visit from the piano technician for a tuning and some work on the 1908 grand, then a haircut. Wednesday will be sewing and Thursday and Friday prep for dinner on Saturday with my sis and her husband who are coming from MN if the whether holds. It will be a fun week!