Northern Bobwhite Quail

[ellyssian]

This morning I was awoken by a loud bird call I hadn't heard before.

I ignored it.

Deb came in and woke me up so I could get a picture of this bird sitting on the edge of our deck:



I started snapping pictures through the screen in the bedroom, just in case we spooked the bird. Turns out we didn't have to worry. I did the same through the screen door, then slid the door open and stuck the lens out, then stepped out on the deck, and she didn't move until I was almost within touching distance...

She slipped off the edge of the deck, kind of like a duck going into a pond. I peeked over the edge, and she had gone under the deck.

When I went back upstairs to download the photos, I noticed she was back out from under the deck, so I went out the front door and circled around to get a few other shots.

Had a momentary surprise as she walked into a clump of ferns and, almost at the same time, walked out the other side... so there may be more than one... she did look smaller, but then when I got closer to check, she pouffed back out, so I really couldn't tell, and I didn't see more than one at a time.

Comments

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

~~~ WOW! will you have to stay off the deck till you learn if there's a nest there?

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I don't think they'd get much chance to make a nest... Tika likes to go under there...

[westlinwind.livejournal.com]

Wow. I haven't heard the call of a bobwhite since I was a little girl living near the marshes in Delaware. My father used to imitate their whistle at night and they'd call back to him.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I've never run into one before - I was pretty surprised by the volume.

[purdypiedad.livejournal.com]

You get some of the best wildlife photos. Awesome.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

just a thought

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

I agree ... you have quite a catalogue ... wonder if there could perhaps be (notice how tentative I am) some sort of publishing thing -- like a nature magazine Audubon or Nat'l Geographic mags?

Re: just a thought

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I'd be open to that if someone wanted to publish them, but, really, my photos aren't *that* good.

I'm taking a lot so I can improve on my abilities, and I get lucky once in a while, but I need a lot more experience to come up with more consistent results.

A tripod/monopod and a macro lens wouldn't hurt... =)

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Cuteness!
I still haven't seen a California quail since we moved here.