Twilight: Turkey Eclipse

Had plenty of company this past week. First Barbara was up from Monterey for a visit. She left and the next shift to baby sit me was Gene & Joann Bertsch. Yeah! They were in Northern California for a wedding that took place in the vicinity of the Avenue of the Giants. It was there over the weekend their young cousin married his long time sweetie. Happily for me, Gene & Jo decided to visit me.

I took them for a nice & frankly, just for the heck of it drive through the nearby Old Folsom. We didn't opt to do any shopping there, but we did enjoy the beautiful old homes.

 On the quiet & shady back street of Old Folsom there were a couple of very old autos parked. The red one here has a nice picnic basket in a special carrying place behind the spare wheel - see it? That must have been the equalent of a fancy cup holder back in 'ought o' two'.

This equally red, not quite so shiny car looks like it was just a work horse. It's obviously out to pasture now though, and I'm sure it enjoys all the TLC the roadster in the picture above gets.






Now you know no visit from my San Diego buddies happens without us going out on  'Deer Hunt' in Sunrise on the American River Parkway.

This doe (photo by Joann) seemed a tad moth eaten. Wonder what unwanted adventures she's survived?

She was the first deer we spotted for the evening

After watching the doe for a bit, it was approaching sunrise so we drove to the far end of the park. We were in hope of having a look at 'our' turkey roosting tree, where I've brought many friends to see the spectacle of full grown turkey cocks flying up into the trees for the night. But this time we were all three of us gobsmacked! The huge Turkey Roost Oak Tree was GONE! Eventually I noticed what was left of it, as you can see below.

What happened to the Turkey Roost Oak Tree? Storm? It looks like it just fell down. Weak root system or ?

Totally bummed by the lost of this beautiful tree that was obviously important to wildlife, we decided to drive back down the road and look for a second roosting tree we spotted last May when Gene & Joann were last up this way. We squabbled and fussed over which tree was the correct tree, when suddenly, as the sun dropped lower in the sky, we got a BIG hint.

There was a turkey parade - young Toms, crossing the park road

Climbing up the hillside

The five of them, gathering at the base of their new roosting tree

All snug and safe for the night

If ever there was a parade to enjoy, that is one without floats or bands, this was it! The Toms marched up that hill, then before our eyes, they shot skyward and up into the gigantic oak tree. 

OK,here's the bed count - One... two...

Three, four and five! Can you see 'em all?

We figure that's nature for you. One oak tree down, but there is another in wait to host and keep safe the wild turkeys for the night. Tough luck coyotes!