Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Northern Bobwhite


Northern Bobwhite, adult male, TX in April

I was on a ranch in Raymondsville TX looking for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl when a small covey of Bobwhites dropped into the feeder. In NJ (where I've seen precisely one) the birds are skittish but they were obviously not feeling threatened and used to the human activity in this area. They weren't totally tame, and sped up as they walked past me. I ended up lying on the grass shooting the quail hand-held with the 1D Mark III as they wandered past me or fed on grain. This is always a little more exciting in a region that has fire ants, but I got away with it this time.