Wild Turkey hen foraging in autumn grasses – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday morning on the way to the West Desert I said “Maybe there will be some Wild Turkeys to photograph” and I found them! I was trying to take images of a few White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos when I spotted the turkeys moving towards me while they were foraging. I started taking photos of the small flock within a second of seeing and pointing them out.
First fall Wild Turkey hen up close – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
What I didn’t expect was how close the turkeys would come to the “mobile blind” and that I’d soon be taking close up images of them with my 1.4x teleconverter removed. If I had left the teleconverter on all I would have been able to photograph is their heads. I like that I was able to include the ground and their feet in some of the photos.
Those are some strong looking feet!
First fall Wild Turkey close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
The small flock of Wild Turkeys included some hens and some hatch year birds enjoying their first fall. I could tell that some of the first fall turkeys were hens because I could not see any spurs on their legs. Usually by now the young males that are called “jakes” have formed their own flocks. Young female turkeys are called “jennys”, I don’t know how either of those names came to be.
Close up of a first fall Wild Turkey hen – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
The turkeys ignored the vehicle I was sitting in and went about the business of finding food. They didn’t seem to be bothered at all by two cameras firing away.
Foraging Wild Turkey portrait – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
Most of the time they kept their heads close to the ground while they searched for something to eat. I kept my eyes on them through my viewfinder and tried to take photos of them as they lifted their heads slightly while they shuffled around in the dry, dusty earth.
Wild Turkey portrait in fall – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
There were a few times when the Wild Turkeys stood upright and looked right at me as I photographed them and I took full advantage of the opportunity to take portraits of the large birds.
Wild Turkey close up in autumn – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
The turkeys were not the only birds or animals I photographed yesterday. I was so thrilled though to have the Wild Turkeys as close as they were to me that I wanted to share some of the images here today.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Wild Turkey photos plus facts and information about this species.
Beautiful studies. Love how you captured the Turkey’s eye…and the detail in the feathers is exquisite. Thanks Mia.
Outstanding detail!
What a treat – for you and for us.
So happy you were able to spend time with these Wild Turkeys. I sure miss my trips to the retreat center that has the couple of flocks that hang out on-property. Maybe by spring, it will be safe to travel again.
I have seen a lot of turkeys, ringneck pheasants and grouse this year. Maybe the dry weather is better for ground nesting birds? The turkeys are such beautiful birds, most people have no idea how iridescent the feathers are.
I knew the name Jake but not Jenny. Maybe because I grew up with farmers that had turkey’s. When we were 12-14 years old we use to use a term for the strutting, show off teen boys: “He is such a Jake.”
Our Wild Turkeys are so skittish this time of year due to the fall turkey hunt that getting closeup photos are almost nonexistent. You got some wonderful shots yesterday.