Blue-gray Will Brighten Your Day!

Eve wrote and asked if I wanted to check out the new Harbaugh Seaside Trails at San Elijo this morning. I didn't think there would be much to see there today but it was going to be great just to go birding with one of the best spotters in our area, Eve "Eagle Eye" Martin!  We looked around the Harbaugh trails for awhile. It was really quiet with only a few grebes in the distance. We decided to go over to the Rios Ave Pole Trail to see if there were more bird subjects to photograph there. As we walked behind the pump house, we heard a very familiar call. He sounds much like our California Gnatcatcher. It was the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher fluttering around the area. We were delighted to watch him go from bush to bush looking for insects and giving us quite the show. Here are some photos of this beautiful delicate gnatcatcher as he poses and follows us on our walk. 

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea measures 4.5 inches long with a wingspan of 6 inches.

Notice the white tail feathers fanning out to the side. 

Looking for insects.

A look at his tail.

He is constantly on the move.

Fluttering from branch to branch.

A nice top view of his tail fanned out.

He holds his tail in many different angles.

Straight out.

Slightly raised.

And raised in a sassy display.

He is in constant search of food.

Hopping and fluttering on the plants.

Looking up under the leafs for bugs.

A close-up.

Raised tail.

He spots a bug.

Looking up to check for danger.

A nice pose.

A cutie.

A few more close shots.

Such a show-off.

What a wonderful subject this Blue-grey Gnatcatcher has been... he really has brightened my day!

Saying good by to the gnatcatcher, we walked past the salt flats and found this guy swimming and diving. Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator  measures 23 inches long with a wingspan of 30 inches. This is an adult male in full breeding plumage.

Wow, he is really a beauty. He swims north and I decide to follow for a few more shots. Eve has an appointment and has to head for home.

He is a little shy and keeps swimming north along the pole trail.

But I am not able to get any closer as he soon flies off heading to the north side of the lagoon. Being a diving duck, he has to run on water to get airborne.

Here we get a look at his wing markings.

This bird of prey may be the reason for the merganser leaving in a hurry. A young Northern Harrier flies by.

Halfway back to my truck and I spot this cute little male Anna's Hummingbird.

Anna's Hummingbird , Calypte anna measures 4 inches long with a wingspan of 5.25 inches. They are the most common hummingbirds in the Pacific Coast.

The males are already performing their courtship flights. A straight flight up with a steep dive ending with a shark "tewk" sound near the bottom of their display flight.

In the shallows of the extreme south end of the San Elijo Lagoon, a Great Egret gets a nice size fish for breakfast.

Down the hatch.

Looking for more. It's been another great birding day and now it's time for me to head for home.

Have a wonderful week everyone!