California Quail

Gallery: AvianPosted December 7, 2011290 views13 comments

D300
500mm
Subject dist: 7.9m
1/3200 sec, f/5
Mode: Manual
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO: 800
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off
Hand-held, as always

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 7, 2011 at 10:31 AM

Nice profile; good detail around the eye.

That could be my back yard!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on December 7, 2011 at 11:14 AM

Good color on the quail and I like the red eye -- the green to the right of the bird distracts me a bit just because its the only green in the picture -- those are gorgeous birds and captured the bird well

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 7, 2011 at 11:49 AM

Wonderful close up of this quail, they have some really interesting color patterns, much like Rich these quail are all over in the desert behind our place but getting a good picture of one is another thing. This looks more like a California Quail than a Gambel's Quail.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on December 7, 2011 at 12:07 PM

Very nice shot of this handsome bird. I like the soft light. the pose and the BG.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on December 7, 2011 at 1:04 PM

Sandy, nice work getting this out in the open & with a clean background. 500mm lens hand held? You must get your workout when you photograph wildlife!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on December 7, 2011 at 3:49 PM

Sandy, I have never been able to get close to one of these fellows. The low POV and the low f / stop really make the quail stand out. Great job.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 7, 2011 at 6:11 PM

A very nice image of this species Sandy. I like the habitat and nice sharpness of the head area.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 7, 2011 at 10:10 PM

Jim is right! This is a California quail - the scaled belly gives him away -
However, I'm 99% certain from the exif date that this was taken in Arizona, and Sibley's doesn;t show these in AZ.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 7, 2011 at 11:44 PM

Great angle, Sandy, and a nice crisp image.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on December 8, 2011 at 8:58 AM

Hi Sandy,
Nice capture of a very elusive species. It does seem to lack some contrast IMO.
I think this may be a cross between a Scaled and a Gambles if it were shot in Arizona. The scaling on the breast just doesn't look correct to me for a California although it's hard to tell from this angle. Do you remember where in Arizona it was taken?
I always enjoy your work.
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on December 8, 2011 at 1:18 PM

Such handsome birds and you have captured him so well.,pleasing smooth background and low angle all make this a beautiful capture of the species.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments

Comment posted by Andrea Marzorati on December 9, 2011 at 6:07 AM

A very good image of a lovely bird.

Registered on December 1, 2005, 86 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 10, 2011 at 4:05 PM

Wonderful colors and composition Sandy.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments