ML249386341

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

This was the highlight of the day for me, hands down!! I was strolling down the highway without a care in the world, when some weird instinct told me to look down... I cursed out loud!! There, standing in what is usually considered the Plains Wanderer's trademark upright pose, was a Buttonquail right in the middle of the road!! For a good five seconds, we both stood frozen, staring at each other; I could tell right away that this plain, pretty little fine built creature was the male, with the gorgeous dovelike proportions of his kind... but then he scurried off, neck thrust out, vanishing into a thicket just as I pressed the button!! I was too thrilled at the views I'd had to care... but what kind of Buttonquail was he?? I was just wondering that when I heard it, a sharp rustle in the long, dead grass right opposite the male... his mate!! It had to be his mate!! I stalked forward, as close as I dared... nothing. And then, suddenly, out from under my feet whirred a perfect female Red-Backed Buttonquail!! The ashy black flanks and wings... the brilliant brick red back... it was one of those remarkable moments where I immediately knew what it was, without a shadow of a doubt!! What's more, even if the photo is truly appalling, I was lucky enough to get a record shot as she pitched back down into the grass; the darkness of the blur is at least a little bit diagnostic, I suppose! What a magical moment; it's still one of my all time favourite "one's that got away"!!

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P510

ISO

100

Focal length

4.3 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/3.0

Shutter speed

1/200 sec

Dimensions

4608 pixels x 3456 pixels

Original file size

6.53 MB