Wild Turkey

After two straight days in a motel room (snow and record-breaking cold weather kept me inside), I was finally able to get out yesterday to look for the Bighorn Sheep. During my 2-mile hike back into the canyon, I ran across a large group of turkey that were foraging along the snowy landscape of the canyon. Here are a few of my favorite images:

Wild Turkey foraging in the snow

Wild Turkey foraging in the snow

Wild Turkey foraging in the snow

Wild Turkey foraging in the snow

And yes, I did find bighorn sheep, one herd of about 25-30 (one larger ram, several juvenile rams and ewes and this year’s lambs) and a bit further in the canyon, a group of 8-10 rams chasing a ewe through the snowy landscape. And yes, I finally witnessed my first, in-person viewing of the big rams head-butting to establish dominance for breeding rights with the ewes. I managed to capture some images of this spectacle, but am not totally pleased with the results. As so often happens, action occurs behind a rock, behind heavy foliage, or behind other sheep. So I’m hoping for some more opportunities before I leave to return home. But today is another indoor work day … another Arctic front is pushing through and temperatures are again plummeting (low teens and dropping), with winds steadily increasing (wind chills below zero). But tomorrow looks like another hike into the canyon to find my friends!

Photographic Equipment Used:

  • Canon 5D Mark 3 body
  • Canon EF 100mm-400mm, f/4.5-f/5.6 IS lens + Canon 1.4x TC (shot at 560mm)
  • Handheld, with IS “On”
  • ISO 400
  • Aperture f/8
  • Shutter 1/320 sec. to 1/500 sec.

 

 

Posted in Bird Photography, Nature Photography, Travel Photography
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