King of the Castle

The California quail that I blipped more than three months ago is still around. Now, however, he has two hens. They are very shy and I hardly ever see them, but I hear them scratching under the hedge, or catch glimpses of them on the lawn. In the last few days the male has become more bold, as though he is claiming territory. Here he is atop the water tank, which is built on the edge of the bank. On this side he is 7 metres up, but on the other side he is 11 metres up, giving him command of a lot of countryside. I’m sure you could have heard him a long way off. Wouldn’t it be grand if they nested here and I got to see their delightful chicks.