Hide-and-seek

Walking my neighborhood is always a treasure hunting experience — if I’m mindful and look carefully, there’s much to find. This time of year the warblers are migrating through and the trees and vines are alive with small flitting birds. Here are just a few from this week.

I watched this Townsend’s warbler for about 10 minutes as it dodged in and out and among the pine needles. It looked like a youngster playing hide-and-seek (never hiding very well). It took a while of watching to get the final shot I wanted.

This Lucy’s warbler is not normally here. It’s a small warbler and more common in drier desert regions to our east. It’s been hard to spot. We all know where it hangs out, but don’t often see it no matter how patient we are. Who knows why it’s here, but it’s a treat.

This yellow-rumped warbler is a visitor like the Townsend’s warbler, but it’s larger and appears everywhere right now. I probably have more photos of yellow-rumped warblers than any others. This one seems to be hiding, but that’s unusual. They’re usually flipping off and onto branches making a twipping-like sound. They’re easy to seek.