California Quail

I have seen these little birds every time i have visited California but they are very shy and they soon run off into scrub even if you are at distance, Commonly seen on roads in the hills i decided to try and get a shot of these smart little birds and a male in particular, Driving in the hills i came across a few groups which soon run off and didn't come back but after about 20 Min's a male came back onto the road for a split second and did this again and again until i managed a shot at which he stopped and seemed intrigued by the noise of the shutter and slowly came closer and closer until i got the shot i was after

Canon 1D3 500F4+1.4X 1/100@F11 ISO400

Nice image Dave, your persistence paid off - he's a handsome chap

Nice feather detail Dave.........nice looking bird

nice image dave, those breast feathers are crying out for a macro shot. there's a challenge for you :)

mark

Very nice image Dave. Slightly big in the frame but still very appealing. I would probably have made it this size too, so maybe a bit hypercritical . Shows lots of detail and a great looking bird

Nice one Dave. Its a great looking subject.

Major.

Gorgeous plumage Dave, and a fine pose with great detail captured

Alan

Hi Dave

A cracking bird which you have captured very well!

David

Fine looking bird and a fine shot. Full marks for your patience

Good-looking bird! Reminds me of one of those regimental berets! Amazing colours these birds have on their breast. Great pose, but looks like he's wandering uphill to me...

Thanks for the comments guys, I do have various shots of him but most have a white line on the road present, The road is actually going uphill, I had a bubble level on the hotshoe so its the road as opposed to my error

Cracking looking bird, and an image well worth waiting for.

Mark