Many of the wild animals we so enjoy failed to show this summer, but in their absence deer returned, temporarily. For the past few years we’d only caught sight of the group down in the field. Rarely, one came near the house and we had never seen bucks up here.
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Although I was concealed behind a wall, this handsome buck was very aware of being watched.
Magnificent creature.
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It was such a joy to have a trio of fawns frolicking under the apple trees.
At least this year they bore fruit.
Maybe that was what brought the deer back, although apple trees are laden everywhere this year.
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Catching sight of wildlife is a matter of being at the right window at the right moment.
A few mornings ago we got up from breakfast just in time to see that the flock of young turkeys had finally ventured up the hill to us. I grabbed a quick snap as they disappeared into the woods.
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We haven’t seen the flock since, but our visiting duo usually turn up at least once a day and it pleases me to know that they feel safe enough to take a rest here occasionally.
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Our most frequent visitors are female.
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But to confuse us, occasionally the above two show up – juvenile males, just beginning to grow their snood. And attitude.
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Eventually they will look like this.
A male turkey reaches maturity in 7 to 10 months, so perhaps those young lads will put on a display for us next Spring. We were far more impressed, I think, than the lady turkeys!
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But we can’t take it for granted the the turkeys will show up at all. After enjoying their visits the first two years we were here, we saw none until their return last year.
We asked ourselves what changed, but although we could think of nothing, so many factors affect wildlife that are not obvious to us.
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Just a few nights ago, I was delighted to see two skunks on the patio, – an adult and baby and I’ve also seen at least one other individual. Rabies took many of these poor creatures recently, so it was good to see them.
Let us hope they will remain safe.
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Butterflies have been very scarce, in part because the milkweed we had by the house died last year of some awful blight. There is no shortage in the lower field, but there were very few butterflies even down there.
At one time we had a healthy crop of milkweed just outside the front door and for weeks I kept track of Monarch caterpillars and chrysalises. Seeing a butterfly emerge and eventually take flight felt like a real privilege. Watching that frail creature fly off was quite emotional. I so much wanted to protect it.
We could easily grow a new crop of milkweed near the house, but I discovered that they attract lots of flies and without it this year, we have had far fewer in the house. A relief!
Perhaps we could grow some milkweed in Grant’s abandoned vegetable plot.
A thought for next year.
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