Small (Quail) Joys

why sometimes we get what we wish for when we least expect it

I saw a brown quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) today. Two, to be precise.

I was sitting on a balcony, overlooking scrubby sand dunes, and lo and behold, a small movement in the distance. A little bird, wandering on the path ahead.

What is that? I think to myself, peering closer.
Good golly, why are my binoculars always downstairs? I think to myself as I start to feel my pulse quicken, my breathing becoming erratic.
I think it’s a quail, a quail!

(Check out how cute quail sounds can be in this video - don’t think it’s brown quail in the video, but something similar)

After a mad rush downstairs and back up the flight of (endless) stairs, I am able to identify that, yes, that is a pair of beautiful, delightful little brown quail. They go about their business for a time and then disappear into the safety of the scrub.

I sigh, content and happy. For although I have seen these delightful little creatures before here, I have not for the life of me been able to identify what type of quail they were. Quail are small-ish, plump, mostly flightless birds that are quite secretive. Generally, they like to hide in the undergrowth where large predators (or large, excitable bird-watchers with drool dribbling down their chin) cannot reach them.

I’ve seen them before here, but I spent so many hours vexing over identification and in the end, was not able to confidently identify them. So, it’s a boon that this time, I was better prepared. I’d done research. I’ve done a lot more bird identification and now know key areas to register in my head before they’re gone. And, I took the time to dash and grab my binoculars.

All this to say, I think there’s a metaphor in there somewhere. Sometimes, we don’t get something straight away. Sometimes, we can spend a lot of time on something, and still remain uncertain. And sometimes, after a period of time, we are presented with an opportunity to return, revisit and review. And we get it. Just like that.

Have you had something like that happen to you? Where something has finally ‘clicked’ a long time later seemingly out of the blue? Let me know in the comments.

Sigh. Today is a good day.

A new bird day. Wishing you a new bird day, whatever your ‘bird’ is!