california quail

Male

Next trip to California I plan to visit a new park near Sea Ranch. I gather there's a good chance of seeing Mountain Quail there. Meanwhile, I'm happy to see more California Quail |=)|

Actually, this one was quiet, neither clucking nor calling even though it was on guard duty for a flock of a dozen females and chicks. His calm allowed us to get close enough - one step at a time, of course - for a croppable shot at last.

at the Sea Ranch community gardens. Not sure what species the bunny is - maybe Jackrabbit (hare)? But the quail are definitely Californians, and that orange blur is a California Poppy.

Haven't had time to get the camera out so here's one from last month.

Species introduced in Chile at the end of the 19th century

Just another...

No matter how many times I've imaged this bird I still an struck by their beauty. Is it any wonder that it is the California state bird.

These males were both keeping watch for the nearby eagles that were hunting on the lake.

An introduced species .

The chicks are especially cute when newborn - little blobs of down that seem to be rolling more than walking as they scurry to keep up with their parents. These chicks were a bit bigger than that already.

The quail were moving towards me just as I parked my car. I tried to find a spot where they'd be passing through a patch of sun, but they were very quick to run for shade. Usually whole flocks of them will be almost invisible foraging in tall grass or under shrubs, but you'll see one standing...

Next stop on my way northwards was Spring Lake Park in my childhood home town of Santa Rosa. This is a park my Dad had lobbied his bosses for. He worked for the county water agency and flood control department and their original plan for Spring Lake was just a water storage facility without...

The quail come to this particular area of our neighbor's garden every year to preen and maintain their feathers. I've read this helps to absorb excess oil and keeps the feathers from becoming greasy or matted. It's entertaining to watch them dig the holes and then scrunch down and rub the...

This male was keeping watch while the female hunted for food.

He is chasing her and calling her to stop.

Thanks to the hawks, the quail have been staying pretty close to the heavy brush but once in while they come for out for the seed.

He has had a super lot of little ones this year.

is my research field. Or was. I'm supposedly retired now. But I'm still working on a few final books. One of them challenges the established theories of surveillance studies by contrasting them with birdwatching :D So maybe I'll get a chance to use this shot of a bird doing surveillance ;) But...

... from that day, at least ;) I may have one from the next day as well.

This guy was so patient that I tried several angles. here he is against the sky.

There were loads of California quail out at Pt. Reyes - flock after flock, and always with one perched on guard duty on a fence post. The guard birds were very steadfast, giving me time to try different light settings, angles, backgrounds.