Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area we constantly had Quail in our yard. Over time they disappeared from the area. We were delighted when we moved to the Sierra Foothills and discovered that this lovely bird, which is the State Bird of California, resides in our area!
Quail – My other favorite bird
They are here all year and it is really amazing watching them navigating in the snow. They actually appear to be “skiing” over the surface. In the spring it is a joy to see the little tiny babies following along behind the Mom. And in the summer, their feeding patterns take them to the same areas at the same time each day. Knowing this fact, I cannot tell you how many times I have tried to photograph these birds! They spook easily so even in the stealth mode I have scared them off! 😦
Quail at Point Reyes National Seashore – Photo by William H. Majoros
What is your favorite bird? If you have photos of them on your site, please leave a comment with a link!
Life in the Foothills 
Nice photos. Their ‘chicks’ are really something to see, and if lucky, photograph.