Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Bobwhite/Wild Bird

Hiding bobwhite (Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus)

Until last Thursday, I hadn't heard or seen a bobwhite in years. Bobwhites are endangered in Ontario due to loss of suitable habitat and cold winters.  Ontario bird books claim bobwhites are now found only in extreme southwestern parts of the province.

So imagine how happy I was when my husband and I saw a male and female on the edge of a field in south-central Ontario. I tried to sneak up on them to get a good photo - and then they disappeared into the brush. Hmmmm.

Peek-a-boo!

Meanwhile, my husband stayed behind,  hiding behind a trash container. Imagine his surprise when he looked down to see who else was hiding!

Yep,  a male bobwhite, crouched down and very still. My husband beckoned me back.

Blinking

The bobwhite was so still I wasn't sure it was alive. Then it blinked.

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

46 comments:

Andy said...

Excellent photos Camera Girl. It's sad to learn that there is another creature close to extinction.

Revrunner said...

Maybe if I close my eyes no one will see me. Yep, I know that trick.

DeniseinVA said...

Exciting to find the unexpected. A beautiful bird and love all the detail in its feathers. Great photos!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh what a beautiful bird I can honestly say I have never seen one. Lucky you. Great shots. B

Darla said...

I'll bet you and your husband were pretty excited. Maybe the birds are making a come back. One can only hope.

Darla

Birdman said...

What coloring. Almost looks fake.

Halcyon said...

What a cutie! Love how she's all puffed up. :)
Glad you had a special find.

Lisa Gordon said...

My goodness, he is just adorable!

MadSnapper said...

this is in my top favorites of your bird pics.. they are amazing.

Janet said...

Beautiful capture! These birds used to be plentiful here, and I still see and hear them occasionally.

TexWisGirl said...

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME shots! haven't seen one of these since i left wisconsin almost 30 yrs ago!

Judy said...

Amazing shot as usual. When I lived in Illinois many years ago, I could hear them calling and on rare occasions I saw one.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

What a great find. I haven't seen quail here for some time. Of course i don't go looking for them either.

Lowell said...

There's no bird that can hide from you! I wouldn't have known a bobwhite if I saw one but you've changed that! Such perseverance, too!

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

Well done. Great photos. I've never seen one before. Here they are California Quail which we have in abundance. The babies are so cute, puff balls on two sticks.

DeniseinVA said...

I came back to thank you for leaving such a sweet comment. Thank you so much :)
Denise
An English Girl Rambles

Jill said...

They are so chubby and sweet looking. Love the close ups!

Phil Slade said...

Cracking shots Camera Girl. I'll bet those bobwhites are really difficult to spot with their camouflage.

Karen said...

Wow EG, terrific find. I haven't seen one since I was child. Terrific shots!

RedPat said...

I've never seen one but hope I would recognize one after seeing these great pics!

Rose said...

Wonderful! I see them every now and then at the strip pits...never this close though.

(Have you read the book: That Quail, Robert?)

Susan Anderson said...

What a great sighting. I would love to hear their famous chirp. Bobwhite, bobwhite.

So far, I've only heard it in books...

=)

Findlay Wilde said...

You must have been so excited to see these birds. I really hope their numbers increase. From Findlay

Anonymous said...

Wonderful spot, fantastic captures!

Unknown said...

Beautiful close ups!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Nette Cecilia said...

Nice shot ,Nette

FAB said...

Whow ... I guess you couldn't get much closer. Nice find.

Hootin Anni said...

Behind the wheel...I would have missed it completely, I'm sure. You have an talent...not only in sighting the birds, but your photography!

Jenny said...

I love their call!

I can't believe you actually saw these to photograph!

What good eyes you have!

And how well you know to beautifully capture what you see!

eileeninmd said...

Very cool sighting, great shots of the Bobwhite!

Pat Tillett said...

I don't think I've seen one in person. Very nice find and great photos also.

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

I can imagine your excitement at this sighting. I had a male cross my yard and go down by the lake. I didn't know what it was until I heard his "Bob White" call. I was amazed. He clearly was out of his range and was in search of a female. Once he left (this was ten years ago) I never saw another. What a treat. Thank you for reminding me ... I enjoyed your pictures ...

Andrea @ From The Sol

Jack said...

The bird is well fed and robust.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

These are awesome shots! I just realized something...I haven't heard the "bob white" in a long time. Maybe I haven't been in the right place or, most likely, our cats have something to do with the fact they haven't been around in a while. :)

Randy said...

Chubby little thing.

Stephanie said...

Beautiful markings on this bird!

Neil said...

Beautiful bird.

Larry said...

Gorgeous shots of the Bobwhites CG! I would love to see one of these in the wild.

Cezar and Léia said...

Love that second portrait, this bird is adorable!
Léia

Carole M. said...

how lovely! They remind me some of a quail

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos of beautiful birds.

NatureFootstep said...

such a stunning bird. I understand why you were happy to see it. :)

The Furry Gnome said...

I've never seen such great pictures of a bobwhite!

Kerri Farley said...

What a a wonderful find!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic shots of this beautiful bird!

Anonymous said...

How lucky to notice them! These are amazing captures!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.