Preening Gray Catbird

Near the beginning of our hike on the Dark Hollow Rose River Loop, as we were switch-backing down to the Dark Hollow Falls, a couple of Gray Catbirds were flitting about in the bushes next to the trail. As we came around one of the switchbacks, one of the pair stopped in a nice, sunny spot and decided it was a great place and time for a bit of preening. I stopped and watched, happy at the chance for some photographs of a bird that was not flying away. My favorite is the third photograph below, where the bird looks like it is in the middle of some type of Japanese traditional dance.