talking turkey

It's been a busy few days around here, and I haven't been out as much as I'd like, but I've had a gallinaceous visitor the past several days. Yes, a male wild turkey has been stopping by at least once a day, sometimes more often, to scratch under my bird feeders and pick up any good leftovers, or bugs that are in among the shells (I feed black oil sunflower seed). He's quite handsome, and his feathers are beautiful. I haven't seen him display, and I wonder if he's a young turk (ha, ha) with no lady friends to keep him busy. Anyway, I enjoy having him around. Ben Franklin advocated for the wild turkey to be our national bird, instead of the bald eagle. Eagles are better fathers, but turkeys are more socially responsible. Also, while the eagles are very impressive to look at, the turkeys, in my opinion, are more beautiful - they have an incredible variety of colors on their feathers, many of which have a wonderful iridescence. This turkey is shy and hasn't let me get any photos yet, but I'll keep trying - meanwhile, here is a photo of one that visited a couple of years ago.
I didn't see the mallards yesterday, but they stopped by today, and swam right under our little bridge while I watched them. Then they toddled off in the wetland. So beautiful.