---------------------------------------------
Thank you for subscribing to the <daily> San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert. The report below shows observations of rare birds in San Luis Obispo County. View or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN36231 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.
eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 29, 2025 12:55 by Kaaren Perry
- Morro Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8624411&<ll...>,-120.8624411 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S255391460 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Medium sized, mottled brown cormorant continues along Morro Creek. Bird seen perched on the sycamore snag where it is frequently seen and photographed. It remained on the perch, preening and stretching during my brief visit."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 28, 2025 11:15 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Morro Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8624411&<ll...>,-120.8624411 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S255214989 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird (Tom Edell 6.9.25) observed flying in soaking wet from up creek to it's favorite perch in a sycamore tree on north side of creek about 100 yards east of creek mouth pedestrian bridge. Head, neck, lores and body mostly dark brown except for white breast mottling. Lower mandible pale yellow towards tip and darker yellow at the rear of a sharply angled gular patch (differentiated from rounded gular patch of Double-crested Cormorant). Upper mandible pale gray. Long tail with black feet and legs. Bird preened and and dried its wings during entire visit."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 27, 2025 09:10 by Petra Clayton
- Morro Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8624411&<ll...>,-120.8624411 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S254727736 - Media: 12 Photos
- Comments: "Second year bird continuing since 6/9/25 (Tom Edell)
When we arrived the bird was perched on a rock in the creek, about 50 yards up-creek from the pedestrian bridge. With outstretched wings it preened for a while and then took to the air. It circled over the creek a couple of times before landing on the sycamore tree further up-creek, where it was joined by a Great Egret.
Dark head, neck and back; a lighter mottled breast and belly; tattered tail feathers; orange gular patch with a pale border forming a V at the gape; dark supraloral area (no yellow supraloral patch as with a Double-crested Cormorant); blue eyes; yellow hooked bill with darkish culmen on the upper mandible.
In flight the neck appeared to have a kink, similar to a Double-crested Cormorant.
Click on the image below for a Flickr video, showing "wing-spread" and preening:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/54617960707/in/dateposted-public/" title="Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum), Morro Bay, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54617960707_f7f8ea5773_z.jpg" alt="Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum), Morro Bay, CA" /></a>
**Birds of the Word**
Self-Maintenance: "Much time is spent out of water in self-maintenance, as time spent in water feeding is relatively short since Neotropic Cormorant is an efficient fisher. When plumage becomes water-soaked, which reduces buoyancy, much time is needed to dry and preen. During flight and/or upon reaching a suitable perch, a bird shakes itself free of most water; then, begins to sun using a "wing-spread" posture typical of all cormorants. This posture is maintained for long periods until feathers dry. Then plumage is preened with bill, using oil from uropygial gland.""
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) (1)
- Reported Jun 29, 2025 08:30 by Tom Edell
- Harmony Headlands State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.0018122&<ll...>,-121.0018122 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S255328731 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "This male was about 0.35 mile from the parking lot. I found it on the right side of the trail where there is some skeletons of brush from a past fire. It was quietly sitting in a burned shrub but soon flew over the road and disappeared. I never saw it again and never heard it vocalize. Photos show brown flight feathers which suggest it is a second-year bird, perhaps the same one present here in late May. In addition to the blue plumage, the bird had black lores and a silver colored bill. Photo"
***********
You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/
![https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54617960707_f7f8ea5773_z.jpg"](https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54617960707_f7f8ea5773_z.jpg"){kind=link}