I've been trying to get some decent shots of these interesting birds and finally had a little success today. These were taken in the El Corte Madera Creek Open Space Preserve in the Santa Cruz mountains. It has been a challenge to find these guys, let alone in a place were there is sufficient light for a truly novice photographer (and birder) such as myself. The books suggest that they are generally found in the highest densities in old growth forests, but El Corte Madera -- like most of that part of the mountains -- was heavily logged and my understanding is that virtually everything is second or third growth forest. The behavior is really unique.
