Hello Tweeters,

We got our photographs back this evening,and every photo shows the black
line on the upper sides of crown that this bird shows, where as a female
would be much lighter blue-gray in overall color with less distinctive
blue-gray than a male. This particular bird shows the black area just behind
the eye with a fairly distinctive deep blue-gray back(extending to the
rump)and crown and full white eye ring,then black bill,and very pale
underaparts. The wings are also fairly blue-gray in color,but not in tone as
in the back and crown. The long tail in flight and when the bird "flits"
around has an entirely white edging along the outer tail with a completely
white undertail. The main distinguishing feature in seperating sexes of
adult Blue-gray Gnatcatchers is the amount of deep blue-gray on the
upperparts and the black area(above the eye)extending from the base of the
bill to behind the eye. Females are far less distinctive and grayer in color
and tone and during our visits to the exact location ONLY one bird was
observed at one time in the range from the lone tall Ponderosa pine tree
south to the fenceline,just east of the Hardy Canyon Rd.,but this bird did
move around very much and at times people may have thought that there were
actually two birds. If so, a documented photograph should be obtained in
proving that there are actually two birds,despite that the male was actively
preparing a nest on several occasions during our visit on the 26th and
27th,but according to Larry and Jacque Goodhew this behavior was not
observed during their visit on the 28th. The bird was actively singing and
calling on presumed territory during each observation and also observed
chasing/scolding other songbirds including Western Blubird,Eastern
Kingbird,Warbling Vireo,Bullock's Oriole,and Chipping Sparrow among others
noted by other observers. The male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher seemed very
aggressive and attentive to persuing and chasing many other birds away from
it's territory,but this behavior was only observed on the 25th and partially
on the 26th,until it seemed to selecting a nestsite and partial
nest-building,which was also photographed for documentation. Documentation
of a second bird is much needed,if indeed there is a second bird due to the
speculation from others of a possible sighting that occured.

Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net