Wild Turkey standing at attention – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I’m always glad to see and photograph Wild Turkeys and most of the time I see them more than I can photograph them because they are often too far away but some days it does work out that I can have them in my viewfinder and click the shutter release.
Wary Wild Turkey – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday was one of those days when I not only spotted them but had them in my viewfinder too up in the mountains as they quietly foraged in a clearing in the woods.
An over the shoulder look from a Wild Turkey – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
While most of the turkeys fed it seemed that for a bit at least one of the large birds was keeping a wary eye out for any dangers that might appear.
Woodland Wild Turkey – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
At times the turkey were almost too close for my normal bird photography set up which is my 500mm lens and the 1.4x TC attached so I clipped a few feet on some of my photos of these birds.
Wild Turkey in front of a gnarly juniper – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I couldn’t tell what the turkeys were eating while they foraged but it might have been forbs or grasses because this photo showed grasses in the turkey’s bill.
Wild Turkey close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 800, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I only had a few minutes with these Wild Turkeys but they actually made my day a bit brighter just by having them in my viewfinder.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Wild Turkey photos plus facts and information about this species.
They are such striking birds!
I live in the suburbs of SW CT, an area with high rates of Lyme Disease. I love seeing turkeys foraging here as they eat ticks. Had a hen with 4 chicks in my neighborhood this Summer. So glad to have them!
Wonderful series of pics Mia. Thanks.
Great reflection of light in the eye. That’s hard to achieve in my experience.
Thanks for the photos. They are really nice. I am lucky to see wild Turkeys almost every day, as they are all around the county side and travel thru the city. Several groups have been spotted down town on main street. What fun. They come thru the yards on my street once in a while. I don’t have a good camera but fun to have pictures of them. Now we will be having one on our tables soon. Not the wild ones.
I just finished a wonderful book by Joe Hutto about a seaon in the flatwoods of Florida. Lgrvi. , n he spent with two batches of incubated, imprinted wild turkeys(beautifully illustrated with graphite drawings and color photos)…I love the way the book is in journal formay…easy to read in short sessions. Your photos are great!!!
I really enjoy seeing Turkeys. They have so many colors in their feathers!