Non-bird ID needed

[OBie]

Almost attached this one as well in the bid ID thread. Any ideas? Surely a very common species. They were literally guarding the woods at Huntington Beach. Reminded me of the Harry Potter book with spiders in the woods.

We were watching one of them along the side of the road when a huge beetle flew into it's net. I took some shots of the spider injecting it and wrapping it, but I was so excited I forgot to even think about DOF, so only small bits are sharp. Live and learn.

[paulnj]

That a kind of orb weaver spider(female) and the male is the small one behind her.

[OBie]

Oh - I thought that the smaller ones were kids There were usually several smaller ones in each web.