Belated thanks (I'm still figuring things out on this new site; bear with me) to Dana O'Sullivan of Long Reach, who confirmed that my recent sighting of a wild turkey was not a mirage.

In addition to commenting on my previous post, she also sent me email with photos of this seemingly out-of-place critter seen lurking on the shores of Jackson Pond. If I do this right, you should find her pictures attached to this post.

She saw the bird the same day I did and, unlike me, was prepared to document the sighting.

She and her husband belong to the Howard County Bird Club, and she urged me to make notes on the avian life I spot in my travels on the bicycle.

"Before you know it, you'll be hooked on this fun, lifelong hobby," she said.

It's a good thought, but with my other extra-curriculars in mind, I shudder to think what would happen if I were to take up yet another hobby.

I will, though, make some mental notes if I ever spot anything else unusual, and will report it here.