One of the extraordinary things that happened last March, along with advent-lockdown, was the appearance of this red-legged partridge on top of the old privy roof. Well! Never had this kind of thing happened in the garden before. In my experience partridges are rather covert birds. You’re lucky to have a fleeting glimpse if you happen to startle one along a farm-field hedgerow. This one, however, stood in full view for ages. Not only that, it began to further advertise its presence with some very loud and rasping calls. It was all rather thrilling. Who knew that partridge plumage was so very magnificent. I certainly didn’t.
Bird Weekly: Lisa calls for brown feathered varieties
Tish Farrell 
Great photos, Tish! It’s so beautiful, isn’t it? 🙂 🙂
All those lovely shades.
Your photos look like paintings. How thrilling to have that happen!!! I’d love to see one of these birds that only live in my fairytales. 🙂
Happy to provide vicarious sighting 🙂
Vicarious is right! Your partridge looks a little like our Northern Bobwhite or Quail. Not sure if saw the Bird Weekly from last November but here is a link if you want to see our Northern Bobwhite. https://oureyesopen.blog/2020/11/20/bird-weekly-photo-challenge-hunted-or-consumed-by-humans/
I can see the similarity. Also very like our UK native grey partridge (the red-legged apparently originated in mainland Europe) https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/grey-partridge/
Yes very similar, but more so to the red-legged because of the stripe across the eye. I so enjoy this challenge to learn about birds I didn’t even know existed. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a partridge (other than on a plate – sorry!) The feathers are beautiful!
They are so stunning, aren’t they.
wow what a stunning photograph – you were so lucky. I have seen them whilst walking in Portugal and got the odd shot then, but nothing as splendid as this
It posed so very nicely.
Hope you thanked him!
I did!
What a beauty!
It is tip-top, isn’t it. The feathers so glossy.
;-D Tip-top!
do you have any ideas as to why he was not so covert ?
and whew – the clarity of the photos was a treat to see the art and color of this bird
Well I did wonder if he was calling for a mate. As to clarity I was v. lucky with the light that day. It was a very crisp morning which seems to help.
so many things lined up for a great photo shoot
He is a handsome chap. Love the detail you captured.
V. handsome. Was lucky he stayed so long.
Well now, if one were as handsome as this bird, one would certainly want to break cover and show off!
That seemed to be his thinking, Karen. A real show-off.
Me again – just a little note to say that today’s (camels) link hasn’t worked
Hi Becky. It got posted before I was ready. I’ve just reposted it 🙂
Yay 🙌
What a handsome bird, have you got a pear tree?
Ha! Maybe we’d get a revisit if we got one, Gilly 🙂
Lovely photos Tish; the first in particular is wonderfully mysterious.
I can only credit the early morning light. It was perfect.
What a beautiful bird. I have always thought they were the same as a pheasant — on looking up both, I find that they are related but quite different. I don’t believe we ever see partridges in California! Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos!
My pleasure!