Date: 3/30/25 8:46 am From: David Zittin via groups.io <dzittin...> Subject: [southbaybirds] FOS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Hi Birders,
We saw 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in plain sight at Rancho San Antonio yesterday afternoon.
Two were on the bike path that parallels the service road. Another was in the giant poison oak bush
at the top of the Hill Top Trail, north of the water tank, about 75 yards.
In general, it was pretty birdy. There was a lot of feeding activity. We saw a California Thrasher working
the base of a poison oak tangle, lots of crowned sparrows, Spotted Towhees, raptors and more. The highlight for us was a majestic battle
between a White-tailed Kite and a Red-tailed Hawk. The hawk gave a wonderful display of its outstretched talons during the encounter.
The kite flew well above the hawk and dove at high speed towards it. The hawk eventually gave up and descended into a nearby oak tree.
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
