Tweeters,

I have a Northern Bobwhite in my backyard, calling even as I write this.



I stepped outside on this foggy morning about 10 mins ago and heard a call
that I couldn't recognize - I don't know what that was, even now. But after
I heard that call, I heard a NOBO call from across the road (48th Ave s).
Thinking I was mistaken, I heard the call a couple of more times, and then
heard at least one other NOBO call from a bit farther away.



I ran inside, grabbed my bins and my Ft Lewis birds tape. I played the NOBO
call and got a response. (The bird was vocalizing "Poor Bob White," rather
than the "Bob White" on the tape.) I played the tape once more, and saw a
quail fly from across the road to an area near a mound on our property on
the south side of the house. (At that moment, I couldn't be sure that what I
saw wasn't a California Quail flying.) I then saw the top of the bird, with
distinctive white markings, in a small madrona tree. It jumped/flew down and
disappeared, but continued calling. Thinking if the bird saw me it would
spook, I ducked around the corner of the house, out of view. I then saw it
scamper out from behind a boulder into the lawn, where it stood several
seconds. I got a good view of the bird, which then apparently spotted me and
hauled butt for one of the blackberry patches to the southeast of the house.
It's still sounding off.



Have Northern Bobwhite's been released in the area? I don't know, but for me
this is definitely far-freaking out, especially since I've been looking for
NOBOs for the past week at Ft Lewis.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com