The Most Turkeys
Wagner Rd to Tuff Shed Parking, April 11
When I finish my walk at Crouse Run, Ed meets me and we drive to Wagner Road and Tuff Shed parking. It’s evening, and the sun will set soon. Along the way, I see one turkey.
Ed parks his car and I pick him and we see another turkey. We start our walk, and see three more turkeys! A little farther down the road, we see nine turkeys!!! It’s a super turkey evening!!!! 1
“Turkeys look like pilgrims,” Ed posits. “Dark suits. Always walking somewhere.”
“Almost like they are on a . . . pilgrimage,” I suggest.
Ed nods.
We pass the beehive and there’s an overpowering odor of something rotting. It’s extremely unpleasant. I assume it’s a dead animal, but I’m not quite sure where it is.
It’s mostly bird quiet so Ed decides to try and find the “top tree.” It’s whatever tree he thinks is the best tree, based on his parameters.
I think there might a hawk nest in this tree.
There’s a guy driving a lawnmower on the road. It’s inexplicable, but it’s also noisy.
We finish the walk and cross a little stream.
“I’m always disappointed when we cross a stream and there are no waterbirds,” Ed says.
“Yeah,” I agree.
Then, I kid you not, two ducks and a Great Blue Heron fly overhead in the darkening sky.
And that was the end of our walk.
RCT - Wagner to 910, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, US
Apr 11, 2026 6:43 PM - 7:37 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.353 kilometer(s)
22 species
Mallard 2
Wild Turkey 13
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 5
Carolina Chickadee 3
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 9
American Robin 10
White-throated Sparrow 5
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Northern Cardinal 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S320360140
Why didn’t I take any turkey photos? I don’t know. I was in the moment, I guess.
Very satisfying!