Winter Desert Gamble

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.