In Search of Identification

With packing and getting ready for my next short-term move, I almost didn’t notice the movement in my son’s back yard. As I passed the back door on my way to the kitchen sink I saw a bunch of fat looking black things way out at the fence line. My vision is limited so I stared really hard to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me.

Then they moved. Like small rubber balls they moved as one unit. I called my son to look and see if he could make out what I was looking at. They appeared to be birds but my gracious, they were so fat, could they even fly?

We both got out our camera’s and I went for the zoom. The more you zoom out the more steady the camera needs to be held. I held my breath and clicked away. He’s what we saw.

I have never seen anything like these fat little dumplings and at one time I lived in California for over 20 years. It’s a large state and I visited a great deal of it but these little lumps were something new. I was in awe.

After I downloaded the pictures to my laptop so I could see them better I noticed the funny little topknot on their heads. They were scratching at a pile of weeds I raked into piles earlier like chickens. The ground was dry and hard. What could they find there? Doves eat tiny rocks but these were not doves. So off to Google I went.

Look hard way in the back. Those fat little butterballs are California Quail; I think. That’s what they appear to be from my research. I noticed that one stood guard while the rest worked at finding whatever they were looking for in all that dirt. What a treat on my last night in California. Glad they were happy with it. I was happy with their visit and so lucky to have seen this beautiful creatures.

I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.
~Henry David Thoreau

From my heart to yours,
Marlene