This bird lept into the air, again and again, from the top of this valley oak on the ridge north of Trail 15, not far from Road F. It was apparently hunting insects. There are many images of this bird in an adjacent collection, to help with ID.

The black phoebe is usually found near water -- this was not very near. Still, Phil Leighton remembers: "My memory of the flycatcher we saw catching flies is that it was a Black Phoebe" And later, "Yes, you are correct about the Black Phoebe and water, though we do see them from time to time on the grasslands transect. They may be attracted to water in the nearby residential area. A Say's Phoebe would typically be more likely in a dry area, and we do occasionally see a Say's, but they are less common at JR than the Black. We have even seen both Say's and Black on the same walk, though that is very unusual. And, yes, a lot of birds are identified by sound." So be it.