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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)
- Reported Aug 22, 2025 09:10 by Petra Clayton
- Laguna Lake, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6903817&<ll...>,-120.6903817 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S268865725 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Already spotted by Kevin Zimmer when we arrived. - First-ever eBird report of this species at this eBird hotspot.
Noticeably smaller than nearby Double-crested Cormorants.
Dark head, neck and back; orange gular patch, which was fluttering a lot in an effort to stay cool; a pale border formed a V at the gape; dark supraloral area; blue eyes; dark legs; seemed to favor the left leg. Mostly preening on the mud flat in the company of Double-crested Cormorants, White Pelicans, a Spotted Sandpiper, to name a few.
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (2)
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 07:37 by Nick & Jane
- Laguna Lake, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6903817&<ll...>,-120.6903817 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269044201 - Comments: "Of course, after hours on south lake hoping for bitterns or the rare cormorant, soon as I walked in to the north lake paved loop clearing by the tree to scope the lake, a bittern called from the shoreline reeds in front of me on my right: “Kyaakakakakak!” Immediately, came an exact response from reeds in front of me to my left. No recording."
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1)
- Reported Aug 22, 2025 09:10 by Petra Clayton
- Laguna Lake, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6903817&<ll...>,-120.6903817 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S268865725 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Observed and heard from the empty lot at the Prefumo Creek mouth, possibly two as the vocalization came from a more western section of the reeds. - It was briefly perched across from us at the edge of the reeds on the north side of the lake, before flying towards us to the reeds on the south side.
Overall appeared to be smaller and lighter in color than a juvenile Green Heron. Viewed from the front the underparts from neck to belly with were light buff-colored with some stripes; reddish-brown face and shoulder; dark crow; yellow legs. - In flight the coverts were buffy and the remiges dark.
Click on the image below for a Flickr video:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/54738834304/in/dateposted-public/" title="Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), Laguna Lake, San Luis Obispo, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54738834304_7d28e01d69_z.jpg" alt="Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), Laguna Lake, San Luis Obispo, CA" /></a>"
Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) (1)
- Reported Aug 22, 2025 15:45 by Tom Edell
- South T-Pier (35.369, -120.856), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8559085&<ll...>,-120.8559085 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269074576 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "One seen from the South T-Pier reported earlier by Jay Carroll. When I arrived Jay pointed out the egret which was actively foraging, including hooding its wings, along the edge of the bay. It continued to move into the bay while in view. It looked like the previously reported bird at Villa Creek and last at Santa Rosa Creek. Overall a long-legged and long-necked bluish-gray bird with dark legs and a long stout dark bill. It was too distant to seen any markings on the bill, the eye color, or fine plumage detail. (Photo)"
Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) (1)
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 10:17 by Chris Henry
- 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/S269047355 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Insane, as we watched the MacGillivray’s Warbler forage down the creek and out of sight. We then saw what at first glance we thought was another Macky but once we got our bins on it we realized what we had found. “Holy shit I think that’s a Mourning” “Fuck” We then watched it forage a few feet above the creek in the largest bush of fennel. KH managed to get identifiable pics. Over the next hour over 15 people showed up without any views, however we did hear it at 10:58 and just before I left around 11:45. Wow! Hanging around here (35.376443, -120.860232)"
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