I have to say, this has been quite a week! Started with a trip down to the St. Louis area for the boy’s agility show. Raven was a rockstar qualifying 8 out of 10 runs placing in all if I remember correctly. Ruger, well, as they say…at least he’s cute. He did qualify on one of his runs – he’s young and still getting used to the big ring stress. Went for a run the day after and blew my May training goal of an 18 mile day out of the water with a 22 miler (the cooler temps were greatly appreciated). Then, as if that wasn’t enough, had a fun outing with the Intrigued staff – except the lawyers, they are still on double secret probation thanks to their previously mentioned copier stunt. Word has it Brad might cover that event, so I’ll leave those details for him. Retirement life is certainly good!
For today’s feature I am adding a new entry in the “in a Tree” series.
Hit the jump to see more high branch topknot glory and for the bonus content!
For those that have not been long-time followers, I like to feature intriguing birds in a tree – more specifically, species you do not generally expect to find hanging out on branches. Previously I’ve featured Turkeys in a Tree (link here) and Greater Roadrunners in a Tree (link here) as well as a few other oddities. Even Brad got into the action with his hilarious Groundhog in a Tree post (link here). Today’s Quail in a Tree, or QiaT, happens to be a very first for me.
Sure, I’ve seen a lot of Gambel’s Quails in my lifetime and before this, every single one of those encounters consisted of me trying to get shots of them while they ran like maniacs through the desert scrub. As a runner, I definitely admire the speed they can achieve with those spindly legs. Pretty sure it a kinesiology counterbalance advantage gained from their goofy looking feathered topknot. I had designed my own version to test out during one of my ultras last year. Linda saw me trying it on the day before the race and gave me a “HARD NO”, so my theory remains untested.
Probably for the best as I had missed a very important feature when I was researching the design. Little did I know they could SPLIT their topknot, clearly giving them a 20 to 30% increase in short burst velocity – the Quail’s version of nitro canisters. The first ultra of the season is fast approaching (50K CMAR – link here), so I need to get going on version 2.0 of my topknot. Hmmm, might even add lights to it so I can see it during the night miles. Word to the wise, Bri, DO NOT show Linda before race launch this time.
This particular specimen was hanging out at Henderson Bird Viewing Center during our Las Vegas trip in March. In particular, it was found on the THIRD visit to the center. I was stunned that we had not located a single one on the previous visits – normally a sure thing based on all the previous year’s we had visited there. Clearly I was looking too close to the ground the entire time. This plump fella was pecking at one of the buds on the tree as we were heading out having finally tinned the Crissal Thrasher (link here). As Otara Millionaires Club (OMC) so eloquently stated “How bizarre, how bizarre”. Good luck getting that earworm out of your head “is that a Chevy ’69?” hehehe.
Not sure Linda appreciated the delay in getting out of the hot desert sun, but I had to get a picture to add to my oddity collection. While I was focused on the specimen in the tree, Linda pointed out one of the speed demons on the ground. Got a quick snap before it effortlessly sliced through some ground tangle. Success, I now have the perfect reference to analyze for the proper topknot placement – on the way back to the hotel I was busy trying to use my arm to mimic the proper placement and curve translation to my head. Linda noticed – “YOU ARE NOT WEARING THAT DURING A RACE!!” I wonder if most successful inventors are single…
As I didn’t have a lot of variety in this QiaT series, decided I would give you some bonus content to round out the post. Another sure thing at Henderson is the Verdin, in my humble opinion, the absolute cutest of the desert songbirds.
Their bright yellow head compliments their light grey wash across their breast and then transitions to the darker greys it you move down the back and into the wings. My favorite part is the adorable chestnut shoulder patch on the wing bend. You can just see a touch of it in these few shots – more prevalent if you are head on. They are year round birds in the lower southwest, but if you want to cut down on the hunt, they are always abundant in the trees surrounding the Henderson ponds. I never get tired of seeing them.
This is one of the few birds that build nests for roosting. According to Cornell, these roosting nests help them stay warm in the cold desert months. Simply look for their spherical nests constructed from thorny branches/twigs and you should be set for a nice tinning – assuming you can get a clear shot at them. The sneaky devils are master black belts in keeping obstacles between them and long glass.
Will leave it there for today’s post. We are actually packing to head out for another dog show over Memorial Day weekend. Hey… I just had an idea.. what if I put a topknot on Ruger…not that he needs additional speed, but it might keep him focused…”Linda, I have an idea….” , “NO!”, “But I haven’t even told you wha..” “I know..answer still NO!”. I have this constant nagging feeling I will never reach my full glory…just saying.
Wildlife Intrigued 
Lovely bird photos. Congrats to Raven for not misbehavin’ and making the quals. What can one say about your youngin. A 22 miler. Impressive. Makes my joints hurt to read about it. We have quail in sandy, sagebrush areas up the road, and they are common on the sandy mesa areas. I never see them on the flood plain or bosque.
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Thank you Tim! Raven just rocked it again this weekend qualifying 9 for 10. Ruger..well he kept the crowd in stitches. I have to admit, there is a fair amount of stress put on the body on these runs, but that magnet on the back of the truck…worth it ha. Good to know you have Quail out there – I will need a lot of field product research for my running topnotch idea – admittedly, that basically means sitting in a lawn chair drinking beer watching them run their asses off.
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Congrats to Raven. Do they have a best clown of show award for the likes of Ruger? If he’s a comedian, that is worth a lot.
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We wish!!! It is kind of funny to see the looks of awe from the other handlers when he does decide to get get it in gear and absolutely smokes the course. He will be awesome when he becomes consistent and stops trying to greet all the ring stewards and taunt the other dogs from the top of the ‘A’ frame. We are not rushing him, he has big paws to fill and technically still a puppy when it comes to the show ring circuit. We shall see.
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I get the feeling he will get his act together.
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We appreciate your confidence!
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Excellent shots. I love the head feather.
I wish I could run.
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Aren’t those uber-cute!! I have to admit, I didn’t know those topnotches could split like that until I saw this series of shots in the digital darkroom. I took up running pretty late my life (~34) thanks to a pretty horrific injury resulting from one of my martial art’s black belt tests (eventually needed surgery) – needed something to fill the torture.. I mean gap and Linda told me about a race in her hometown that had a massive afterparty…the rest is history as they say.
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When I was 11/12, I hit a growth spurt. My thighs would ache and my maternal grandmother would put heating pads on them for the pain. I also began to have multiple knee dislocations, for no reason…mostly the left knee. I wasn’t particularly athletic but, wound up needing surgery on the left knee at 15. I had a second surgery @ 25. The right knee fared a bit better but, is troubling me, now. We tall girls sometimes have knees weakening and bending inward.
All of the above prevented me from being a runner…that and the fact that, even though I am tall, I am hardly “gazelle-like.” I am slim, now but, was heavier as a teen, which made me more “cinder block-like.” Aerodynamic…I ain’t.
I think I told you I was in martial arts, too?
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Yikes, those sound like some painful knees. Linda was close to 5’11 when we went out (shorter now ha) – they grow tall in those Iowa corn fields ha. She complains about aches and pains these days, but luckily her knees appear to have weathered those growth spurt years far better than her heart valve did. Can’t imagine having to deal with those knee surgeries in those prime years. I remember you mentioning your time in the dojo – I am sure that didn’t help the knee situation out at all, although that tall frame can be a definite advantage in the heavy kicking disciplines – my instructor was fairly tall and he caught me with a side kick when I went for a punch and blasted me back into the next century ending up bent around the corner of a wall – found out many years later it broke my bottom rib in two places (end part now points into my kidney and was causing internal bleeding from a weekend of hard snowboarding falls in Colorado). Ahhh, the good ol’ days ha. Thanks for sharing Vic!
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Good lord! Broke a rib. Yikes.
My knees got stronger with eight, nine years of yoga. Yogi teachers are a rare thing, now.
Always glad to share…HA.
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Eh, it is just one of the weak ribs ha. I have a standard set of stretches that include a few from the yoga realm, but none of the fancy ones. Stretching is a necessary evil for my hobbies even though I absolutely HATE doing them, but my hips keep unbalancing and if I do those stretches/exercises it is less painful when I have to go to the Chiro. There is a toll to pay for playing hard that’s for sure.
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I hear ya…
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I enjoyed seeing your photos of two more of your southwestern birds, and think each is quite adorable in it his or her own way.
If your own topknot design for your upcoming race will make you significantly faster, maybe you can patent it and sell it to other runners. 😊
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“If”, Hmmm, you seem to have some doubts there Tanja … I already have our marketing dept working on the sell and the legal department is busy researching the patent process (who am I kidding they just use Chat GPT these days). Admittedly, I am having a bit of trouble figuring out how to keep it in place during the run …what to do, what to do ha.
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Nice bird photos. I’d be careful sporting a topknot; anything that could throw off your balance could result in another box fan incident. Though the “knot” could be useful, during certain ultra-events, to drag catatonic participants so they can be propped up by the nearest tree. Best of luck to the pups this weekend.
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Well, this is a ying yang comment – I definitely do not want to crack my head on another box fan, but having a “handle”when I go down is a great idea and one I fully support. You left out the “take a funny picture” step once they get you propped up on the tree. As I am finally getting to these comments, I can say Raven rocked it once again..and Ruger… is still cute.
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Wonderful !
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Thank you and appreciate you dropping by!
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Your quail shots look like paintings. 👏
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Thank you for the kind words Luisella! As a tease, there will be more Quail shots coming in a future post…assuming I can get them processed in time. Appreciate you dropping in.
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I think the top knot is sprung for protection to protect the beak in case it trips at high speed, not that YOU would ever need one for that kind of event…… would you? 🤔😉
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Well, that is ANOTHER reason to get this running topknot perfected … to protect my own large beak on the ridiculous amount of times I’ve propelled myself at ridiculous speeds straight into the ground. The thought of smashing into a fluffy bunch of feathers sounds a whole lot less painful than the Pigpen dust storm I usually create. Don’t get me wrong…I highly encourage others picking up the ultra bug hahahaha. Thanks for dropping in B., appreciate it.
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Fun images. Critters are always surprising.
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Guess that’s what make them so fun to experience and photograph. Amazed the number of times I still get surprised in the field – even with critters I’ve been watching for years…some of those surprises are more like scared the pants off me, but you get the point ha. Thanks for dropping in Jerry and joining the conversation.
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I’ve only encountered Gambel’s Quail and Verdin once, in New Mexico. You’re right about the quick Quail! I got lucky and found a puddle of water they kept returning to.
If you’re not a Quail, a topknot is probably knot a good idea.
(Most inventors were likely successful because they WERE married. “Benjamin, hurry up and invent electricity, we need toast!”)
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Those Quail can drive a photographer nuts – I like the idea of just watching a specific spot and letting them come to me – would be a whole lot easier on my arms, that’s for sure. Made me laugh at your pun and especially the last comment. My early prototype tests are not going that well, so you may be right on the topknot – I was moving probably faster that I usually do (a good thing), but then I completely miscalculated an overhead branch and performed a spectacular Wile E. Coyote stunt where the body goes like 3 feet further than the head. Clearly need some circuitry like those safety vehicles that check the height of overpasses for large loads on the highways…hey, if I do that, I can probably add another safety feature and have it call someone when I do go horizontal…wheels are turning. I completely agree with the married assertion…as we are on wells, you would be impressed how many times I was able to fix water issues at 6am when something would go wrong while Linda was getting ready for work! Some people get hangry… Linda gets wangry…and nobody, I mean nobody wants that. Thanks for dropping in Wally, appreciate it.
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I have never seen a quail perched in a tree and so I particularly appreciated this. The verdin is very sweet. Thanks for sharing.
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Glad you enjoyed Linda – such and odd sight when we happened to notice it and thought it would be fun to share. The Verdin is definitely a sweet bird, although outside of Vegas we have always had issues with trying to find them – thankfully, there are plenty to enjoy at Henderson if you ever have the chance to visit. Appreciate you dropping in and reading about our Vegas finds.
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I’m behind on my comments – been out among the gators with visiting family. This post was fun reading, two birds, and one iaT. You got great colors in your quail, excellent photos!
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No worries, I am so far behind now I dread every time I look at the count in my inbox. Birding will probably take a backseat here in a bit as I need to have my rig sent in for repairs – hoping that will allow me to get caught up. Hope there were plenty of Gators to introduce to your family. Probably should have changed my angle a bit on those Quail shots to cut down on some of the background, but all in all, pretty happy with how those turned out – as a bit of foreshadowing, there will be another set of Quail shots coming in the not so distant future thanks to another encounter while out in Vegas. Always good to hear from you Sam!
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