I’m a little bit of a naturalist at heart (luckily I proofread this post because initially I typed naturist and that is a very different thing) and one of the major delights about living in a different continent is seeing new animals in the wild for the first time.
Whether it is a raccoon or a bear, I am going to be excited about seeing it and then possibly scared. In fact I will possibly be dead because I am useless at identifying animals that might do me harm; like the time I tried to get a closeup of an impressively large snake I didn’t realise was a rattlesnake.
This weekend I was hanging out in the beautiful Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge (I don’t make a habit of hanging out in cemeteries I promise but this is a famous one) when I saw a turkey in the wild for the first time. I knew that they could be found in the wild here but I was slightly dubious of tales of turkeys in peoples back gardens. If they were to be found everywhere, why hadn’t I ever seen one? They are pretty big birds and I’m not that short sighted that I wouldn’t notice one if I came across it.
I didn’t only see one turkey I saw loads of the awkward things. The locals were possibly amused at the Brit chasing them round trying to get a good photograph that didn’t have a gravestone in the background but I managed to get a few shots. Turkeys are strange animals up close, kind of like a pheasant fancied a bit of a change and decided to mate with an ostrich with a turkey being the result. It is entirely possible that I will never get a job presenting a wildlife programme.
In addition to the turkeys I also saw a group of turtles hanging out at the side of a pond. We don’t have turtles in the British Isles either so they are still a novelty to me and I paused to get some shots. They were pretty sizable and I was able to get pretty close to them without spooking them and get some decent photos. It was nice that they weren’t shy and able to come out of their shells. Sorry, I’ll get my coat.
How was your weekend?
Old England to New England 
Puntastic! 😀
I can’t resist!
Well done! Animals are so hard to photograph, I also have problems taking pictures of people so all my photos are of buildings and landscapes like I live in some post apocalyptic future where I’m the only one around!
Thanks! I prefer shooting landscapes and buildings because they don’t move like animals but if it takes me 15 shots to get a good animal one I’m happy. 🙂
Great pictures!
I always think of a turkey as a really ugly peacock. Just remember, the males sometimes travel in packs and are aggressive. Like football hooligans.
Thanks! I didn’t realise they were aggressive, maybe I shouldn’t have got so close haha.
Awesome article, I laughed a lot 😀
As a bird photographer, I understand your trouble very well, but getting a good, sharp photograph of a beautiful bird is a fantastic feeling, in my opinion 🙂
I’m glad you liked the post! I wish I could photograph birds as nicely as you do. I just checked out your latest post and it reminded me of all the species I miss (like the Robin and Blue Tit). 🙂
Thanks for your kind words. Have you seen the American robin? It’s not the same as the European one, but it’s quite cool too 😀
Yeah I see them all the time, they are a lot bigger!
Yes, they are more like blackbirds despite their name. In French we call them both “merle”, whereas the Robin is “rouge-gorge” (red throat) 🙂
Love it! Cemeteries are great places to spot wildlife. Our local cemetery is brimming with rabbits, squirrels and numerous species of birds, with the odd fox or two. Btw I posted a link to your blog on https://amanpan.com/ on her Tuesday Chatter page. Here’s a link to mine: http://wp.me/p6UDky-T (Pears but no more Parsnips!).
Thanks for sharing! Her blog is one of my favourites. I must be honest I don’t share your dislike of parsnips they are one of my favourite vegetables haha. Swedes on the other hand…
Oh no! Someone else who’s gone over to the Dark Side – and I was beginning to like you …😉😂
Ugh, Tom…the puns……oh my. Still…..who wants to present a nature show anyway? Love your humour in this post!
Haha sorry about the puns! I really can’t resist but I’m working on it!
Thanks for always making me laugh, I love your posts! While I read your posts, the voice in my head becomes British. Even that makes me giggle.
Haha! Thanks, I’m really glad you enjoy the posts! 🙂
Great photos! I love your posts.
Thank you! More to come soon. 🙂