The desert is called a desert because typically when looking for critters it can seem pretty deserted! This is so true in the winter. There are thankfully some exceptions and we’re at one of those right now. The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is this man-made oasis that has the most amazing collection of birds in the winter. A water reclamation facility, it was turned into a birding paradise attracting some incredibly photographable birds. I’m so far up to 43 species in four days! One of the reclusive birds is the Gamble’s Quail. They are all over the Preserve, you see them dart from bush to bush, and you hear them in their hiding place chuckling as you go by, but actual glass time is rare. This male “guard” picked this perfect perch after we’d been standing in place for a while photographing a Verdin. Not sure if it knew we were there, didn’t care we were there, but there it stood as its brood ran across the area moving from the safety of one shrub to another. It would look over its shoulder every so often to make sure we weren’t moving otherwise seemingly giving us to never mind. Once all the females were moved, he hopped down and followed them. It was a great moment making the whole Adventure just so sweet. We all felt we had won the winter desert gamble.

Months and months have passed since the ewe band has been with the ram band for any long period. It’s late fall, early winter, and the snows have signaled the time to make their down slope migration to “warmer” and less snow-covered grasses. As they come down, the topography and biology bring the sexes together and that’s signal time to start strutting their stuff. In late October, the rams closely follow the ewes, as in, noses up the butt close as they try to determine if any are receptive to their advances yet. The Rams at the same time size up their perceived competition. This involves many things including pushing down on the backs and flanks of a possible competition, kicking, and at times, light head butting. You will often as they have checked out all the ewes, huddling up like a football team. When in the huddle, they move very little, lifting or lowering their heads which means they’re rubbing those curls into their possible competition. When finished, they wander off feeding until they run into either the ewes again or other rams and begin the process all over again. At least what it appears to us, nothing much accomplished but with sex on their minds, they ignore us as long as we are good guests in their home. But I my doubt that with all this time, much gets truly accomplished by this meeting of the minds.