Yesterday after swimming on Poppy Mnt, we were driving slowly down the steep rutted gravel road when I noticed a wild turkey hen ahead by the road.

She hadn't flown away, so I looked carefully and saw movement in the grass. The hen called and chicks answered but they wouldn't cross. I saw another hen creeping through the brush and knew that they would stay in the grass until they were around the bend, then cross. So we put the car in neutral and rolled silently down around the corner and waited.

Sure enough, soon three hens and their poults went scurrying across as fast as they could

6-27-09, Poppy Mnt, wild turkey hen and poult, 3:16 p.m.

Thursday, since it was happening on his side of the car, I asked DB to take a photo of a Red-tailed Hawk being pursued by Grackles

6-25-09, Poppy Mnt, Red-tailed Hawk, 12:32 p.m.

I took a pic of the Red-winged Blackbird nest at the pay lake where I swim, as well, what I could see of it. I had DB hang onto my arm as I teetered on shore

6-25-09, Poppy Mnt pay lake, 1:09 p.m.

Still further down the mountain we saw this doe peeking above the grass

6-27-09, Poppy Mnt, 3:32 p.m.

As we passed the Poppy Mnt sign on the last hill

we glimpsed a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers swooping off the power lines after insects, like flycatchers

Last time I checked the Cuddeback cam pics, I found these

6-27-09, raccoons, 2:19 a.m.

6-27-09, female Wood Duck, 11:34 a.m.
{{gwi:1369867}}From 3-21-09, Poppy

Rabbit has lost his winter coat, and usually has his own personal Brown-headed Cowbird walking next to him when tethered a ways from the house. I couldn't get it in the photo, tho
{{gwi:1369870}}From 3-21-09, Poppy

These days, I use Jasper, the rescue Jack Russell (behind), and Fergie, the Feist Terrier, to keep squirrels off the bird bath and railing