More Signs of Spring

 The pear trees have already started to bloom - seems early.

 The turkeys have started into their Spring mating ritual.  The males "strut their stuff" to show off for the hens.  In the foreground is a jake - an immature male.  You can tell because the fan is longer in the center.

 A mature gobbler has a continuous fan like this one.

 Lots of strutting going on already.

The gobblers have this "beard" that grows out of their chest.  Jakes beards are a bout 2" or 3" long.

A mature gobbler beard can be more than 10" long.  They also tend to grow longer spurs on the back of their ankles as they get older.

 The clover plots are greening up nicely.

 Some of them have a few wild onions.

 The bluebirds are attacking.

 Another mousse this week - incredible.

 I put the body out on the stump (under my elbow in this photo).  Last week's body disappeared without a photo of who took it.  I think this camera is getting flakey.

 I put a new decal on the gas tank.  That's mostly to remind me not to do something stupid.

 There are lots of weeds up already in the plot where I'm planning to plant the prairie seed.  So, I'm giving it a spray of Roundup.

 I already sprayed some grass control on some of the clover plots.

 Starting early on the minerals for the bucks.  My theory is to be sure that they are not in mineral deficit before the antler growing season starts.

 I usually use the WINA 30-06 but this is what was available at Cabelas.

 I have 4 mineral sites on the property.

 Peek-a-boo.  Gobbler on the left of the frame.

 Much more coyote activity than I've seen in awhile.

 One back there.

 Two in this photo.

 I was surprised to see that this young buck still had antlers on March 16.  Usually all dropped by now.

This deer showed up in several photos.  It appears to be a bare spot in her hair above her armpit.

I'm not sure what might cause that - injury? mange?

Same one.

This guy is a regular at this camera.

 He likes to come show off his pedicles.

 Conflict posture.

The one on the left took a nap in front of this camera for several hours.

 Many turkey shots this week.

 Lots of fans.

 Little jake beard.

 Wonder what spooked them?

Driving to Lexington Sunday evening.

Early Spring Signs

We had a relatively nice Saturday afternoon so I was able to get a few chores done.

 I randomly threw these daffodil bulbs around by the pond some years ago but I'm always pleasantly surprised when they show up each spring.

I've been learning a little bit about salamanders from this blog Blue Jay Barrens. I think that I'm seeing some thru the muddy water in one of the ponds.

 I'm pretty sure that these were bugs - not tadpoles.

 Sunday wasn't as nice - fog and rain.

 So I did computer work and watched the feeder thru the window.

I got my pumpkin seed order in.

 We were once again greeted by this.  How many can there be?

 I placed the body out in front of this trailcam again.  The bodies have been disappearing without evidence of who took them.

 Finally, an image of the culprit.  Not who I expected.

 Joan has been sewing away on her quilt projects.

 On to the next one.

 Soft ground leaves some nice footprints.

 Other evidence abounds - poop of the week.

Last week touring photos with D,D,G & G.

 Looks like the gobblers are warming up for the season.

 Nice looking beard.

 The coyotes are showing up on camera again.

 And the other varmints are more active too.

This guy looks large bodied to me.

 Curious.

 I booked a New Mexico elk hunt for the fall.  This is the outfitter Red Rock Outfitters

 Pedicles apparent.