Good read. On that first bird...when he walked away that second time and you know that there is a creek there that is a perfect time to move. I often find that birds that are in their strut zone and don't want come in need to be crowded. It's a tough call. I give him plenty of time but I'm impatient so when he goes off I close the gap.

Sounds like you've learned a lot. Something to keep in mind is that a gobbling bird that is coming in and goes quiet is doing one of three things....strutting on in, is just "there" not really doing anything, or he saw something he didn't like.