Bandit of the Pines

Keitha and Daniela and I had a great time today, birding from the Santa Cruz River to the upper end of the Madera Canyon Road. No earth-shattering rarities, but lots of birds and lots of excellent looks.

The high point for me came at the Madera Picnic Area. We’d been a little disappointed on our walk on the Proctor loop, where the closest thing we came to a ‘flock’ was a couple of Bridled Titmice. But as soon as we got out of the car at the picnic area, things started happening: Hutton’s Vireos, three (!) Townsend’s Warblers, a couple of Painted Redstarts, and the usual components of a titmouse-focused flock. And then a glimpse of movement in an oak tree. It was a beautiful adult male Olive Warbler, and it gave us some of the best looks I’d ever had of that weird and wonderful pseudo-warbler as it foraged low in the trees just a few feet from our admiring eyes, its bandit’s mask beautifully set off against the burnt orange of its hood. Sure beats the usual hike up into the pines to see the bird!