Turkey Attack

Ok so I am sure a lot of you have seen video or heard of people getting attacked by wild Turkeys mainly due to them getting to close to the bird for some reason. Well yesterday I was hiking at the Rancocas Nature Center and I became one of the attacked. Here is the story.

I went for a hike to get back in shape since I have been out of commission due to a hernia surgery. While walking the yellow trail in the park I saw a wild turkey in the distance but it was going away from me and up a hill. I was worried that when I got to that spot it would come at me but by the time I got there is was no where to be seen. Finishing along the blue trail heading down to the visitor center and parking lot the trail breaks into a Y intersection. I decided to take the right trail to loop around a field heading to the parking lot. Thats when it got bad.

I didn't see the turkey laying in the tall grass and when I made the turn onto the trail I heard a weird sound then it came busting out of the grass at me on a full speed run with wings open. Not expecting that (yet not panicking) I screamed at it which stopped it for a second while I tried to back away. It charged me again and I threw my arms up and charged it a few steps, which made it back off and try to circle around me. I picked up a branch and threw it which did not hit it (wasn't trying to hurt it) but made it run off farther to give me more space. I hurried down the trail but the moment I turned my back it charged again, so I repeated what I did before. This time it backed off and circled me at a decent distance and I just stood there watching it. I guess it was tired of me so it went back to where I ran into it.

So if you see a wild turkey keep your distance the WILL attack they can be very aggressive. I didn't do anything to aggravate it, but it sure wanted to attack me. This is the first time I have EVER ran into a problem with wildlife while on a hike. That five minute fight just goes to show you NEVER know what you can run into while out in the woods. Always be on the look out and be prepared.

Picture of the turkey after the fight and it was going back to the spot I ran into it.

Crazy Turkey

Crazy Turkey


Nikon D5200 Time-Lapse Test Decision

I just got my Nikon D5200 back from a friend that was borrowing it. I decided to take it out and shoot some time-lapse to see what the quality was like. I am trying to decide if I want to make this my time-lapse work horse to keep the shutter actuations down on my D800.

Take a look and let me know what you think. Thumbs Up to keep going with the D5200 or Thumbs Down to go with the D800. If you want to see a time-lapse from the D800 to compare let me know in the comments below.

Nikon D5200: Amazon - Rent

Nikon D800 : Amazon - Rent

Rancocas Nature Center TL Vblog

On my latest trip to the Rancocas Nature Center I decided to do some time-lapse with my Nikon D800 and GoPro Hero3. I made this quick video and added in the time-lapse that I did to it. They both came out "ok". I feel they could have been better if I was able to get there at a different time of the day and had more time to set up.

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Shot with:

GoPro Hero 3 White Edition: Amazon

Nikon D800: Amazon - Rent

Rancocas Nature Center (3 of 3)

Ok, so if you have a hate for spiders and spider webs turn back now. Its not really all that bad but if you have a real fear of the eight legged creatures it might be to much. These shots were from the trail that the "Zombie Nature Trail" sign was on.

Not sure what this is (not a spider for sure) I thinks its some kind of dragonfly. I had to crop the pic to get closer. If you know please leave a comment.

Out of ALL those webs (some I didn't add here) this was the only spider I saw.

Rancocas Nature Center (2 of 3)

Cute Turtle on log

Awesome sign I found. Only one of its kind I have seen in the park so far.

Some chairs where an old house USE to be. It was torn down some time this year. I saw the house earlier this yeah and wanted to check it out, but I was to late.

Rancocas Nature Center (1 of 3)

So today I went to the Rancocas Nature Center instead of the Delaware Water Gap due to getting up late, and the chance of rain (which we got some but not a lot of). I have been here many times and sometimes I see tons of wildlife and other times none at all. Today was a so so day. I saw a turtle, six deer, a few birds, a cool sign, tons of big spider webs, and some chairs (will be in tomorrows story).

Shelter in the Woods

Fungus

Cool Fungus Close Up

Cool Fungus