california gnatcatcher

One of my first California Gnatcatchers (lifer #411), a male seen in the coastal sage scrub at the Ocean Trails Ecological Preserve adjacent to the Trump National Golf Course in Ranchos Palos Verdes.

After some helpful discussion in the bird ID Q&A forum, I'm uploading this as a juvenile California gnatcatcher. Several people agreed with my initial ID of a Say's pheobe due to the identical colouration, but based on the dimensions of the bird the gnatcatcher seems more likely

Not an easy bird to photograph, because of its localized distribution and generally skulking habits, but this one posed briefly for me.

Adult male Polioptila californica at Lake Murray, San Diego, CA, 04-11-06, 20D 400/f5.6L. http://www.picturetrail.com/marysan

this little male knows its spring in san diego, probably already nesting in the sage scrub at lake murray. this species is on the endangered list because of loss of habitat to developement.

Adult male breeding Polioptila californica, an endangered species, at Lake Murray, San Diego, CA, 04-02-05.

Adult female breeding Polioptila californica posing nicely for me atop prickly pair cactus at Lake Murray, San Diego, CA, July 2, 2004, CP 5700 1.5X.

Polioptila californica on Prickly Pear Cactus at Lake Murray, San Diego, CA, 11-25-03, CP 5700. www.picturetrail.com/marysan

Polioptila californica at Lake Murray, San Diego, CA, 03-26-03, Nikon CP 4300 2X. I know I'm repeating myself, but I keep trying to get a better picture of this elusive little bird.