Date: 8/24/25 8:26 pm From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- King Eider (3 reports)
- Neotropic Cormorant (16 reports)
- Least Bittern (2 reports)
- Cedar Waxwing (1 report)
- Mourning Warbler (1 report)
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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.
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King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1)
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 10:35 by Elena Oey
- Pasadena Park Beach, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8440733&<ll...>,-120.8440733 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269105963 - Comments: "Continuing female North of oyster farms. Alone diving and twice fluttered wings and raised up. Fog rolled preventing photos and lost the bird. Large brown duck with unique shape. Too far out to see much plumage detail."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1)
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 10:35 by Daniel Farrar
- Pasadena Park Beach, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8440733&<ll...>,-120.8440733 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269105961 - Comments: "Continuing female North of oyster farms. Alone diving and twice fluttered wings and raised up. Fog rolled preventing photos and lost the bird. Large brown duck with unique shape. Too far out to see much plumage detail."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 07:53 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Pasadena Park Beach, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8440733&<ll...>,-120.8440733 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269112038 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird (Brian O'Kelly & Alexander Yan - 8.17.25) - Female showed lighter, buff brown head, white upper eye arc that faded as it curved onto neck, heavy, sloped, all black bill with base that bisected cheek creating appearance of a "smile." This sea duck was darker buff brown on breast with slightly darker brown patterned back. When the bird extended it wings to flap several times, the wings appeared almost transparent due to current molt stage. Observed swimming into the oyster farm from the west and later observed loafing on the south side of the nearest oyster farm rigging towards the east end before swimming to the north towards the harbor."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1)
- Reported Aug 22, 2025 08:15 by Kevin Zimmer
- 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/S269135380 - Media: 12 Photos
- Comments: "A juvenile bird, which stood out immediately from among the many nearby Double-crested Cormorants, by virtue of its small overall size, more slender build, proportionately longer tail, more rounded profile to the head, and more slender bill, with a less pronounced hook at the tip. The orange-yellow gular pouch was narrower and acutely pointed at the rear, and was narrowly bordered by white feathering. The supraloral region was feathered and dark brown, lacking any obvious bare patch of yellow-orange skin. Irides were green. This appeared to me to be a different individual from the one that has been hanging out at Morro Creek mouth in Morro Bay since June 9. The tail of this bird was in much better shape than the tail of the Morro Creek bird was (at least the last time I saw it). The cormorant remained at this site for the entirety of the time I was there, and I was able to point it out to the other observers as they filtered in. It was still there when I left, and about 10 minutes later, I saw a text to the WhatsApp group, that the Morro Creek bird was present at its usual spot, which seemed to confirm that my bird represented a 2nd individual. This would make it only the 2nd individual ever recorded in San Luis Obispo County."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1)
- Reported Aug 24, 2025 07:31 by Tom Edell
- 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/S269306556 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "This bird flew in and perched in the sycamore for a while, but later flew down to the creek where it captured at least one fish. It then flew around and back to its favored perch in the sycamore. (Photos)"
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 24, 2025 06:06 by The Spotting Twohees
- 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/S269312615 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing. Flew from creek mouth by the footbridge at 6:33 am. Was going to land in its usual perch but got chased away by a Coopers Hawk that landed in its spot."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 11:17 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/S269181874 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing bird (Tom Edell 06.09.25) - 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 with faint outline in corner. Upper mandible pale gray. Long, new tail feathers have molted in and feet and legs were black. Observed repeatedly perching in sycamore tree up-creek from bridge between flights to the creek where it successfully captured fish on multiple trips. The bird vocalized with short croaking calls on two occasions during our visit."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 11:16 by Tom Edell
- 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/S269074490 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "continuing immature. It was perched in the usual sycamore tree when I arrived and was tolerant of everyone across the creek from it. Twice while I was here it flew down into the creek, foraged for a short time, flew up creek, and then returned down creek to perch in the sycamore. Not certain, but it appears to have dropped all of its ragged tail feathers; it has tail feathers of various lengths. Otherwise, it had a small yellow-orange gular pouch and bill, but no yellow in the lores. The gular patch ended in an acute angle. The lower edge seems less outlined with white than on previous visits. (photos)"
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 10:50 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/S269103920 - Media: 13 Photos
- Comments: "Second year bird continuing since 6/9/25 (Tom Edell) with ten day absence from this location (8/12/25 to 8/22/25).
When we arrived it was perched in the sycamore tree, about 100 yards up-creek from the pedestrian bridge. It flew off towards the pedestrian bridge twice to feed further down in the creek, catching some small fish. Each time it returned to the sycamore tree and preened. It did not seem to be disturbed by the two loud siren testings and a crowd of more than twenty birders below is perch. --- Dark head, neck and back; the tail feathers seemed less ragged and the outer tail feathers were shorter than the center tail feathers; orange gular patch with a pale border forming a V at the gape; dark supraloral area; blue eyes; black legs."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 08:12 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/S269119311 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Second year bird continuing since 6/9/25 (Tom Edell) with ten day absence from this location (8/12/25 to 8/22/25)
Flying in to the sycamore tree, about 100 yards up-creek from the pedestrian bridge and then preening. --- Dark head, neck and back; new feathers in the center of the tail; orange gular patch with a pale border forming a V at the gape; dark supraloral area; blue eyes."
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 22, 2025 08:15 by Kevin Zimmer
- 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/S269135380 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "At least 2 present, only 1 of which was seen. I heard 2 calling from widely separated areas, off and on for about an hour, but always buried in the reeds. Eventually, Jack spotted an adult male, perched at the edge of the reeds, about 3 feet above the water. I was just getting on the bird with my camera, when it launched into flight, and flew across the water, towards us, and disappeared into the reeds. Tiny heron (smaller than Green Heron), with bright yellow legs and bill; dark back and remiges, with contrasting buff upper wing-coverts; and whitish breast streaked with buff. Unfortunately, I had my camera settings adjusted for a perched bird in the shade, but it flew out into the bright sunlight just as I was starting to photograph, so my photos are very marginal, due to overexposure and slow shutter speed. Right after this bird flew toward us and disappeared into the nearer reed bed to our right, the second bird vocalized again from the same area well off to the left, where I had been hearing it from off and on."
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) (1)
- Reported Aug 24, 2025 06:37 by Matt Morrison
- 5320 Maleza Ave, Atascadero US-CA 35.49003, -120.65142, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.65142&<ll...>,-120.65142 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269218629 - Comments: "This bird was feeding on berries in our hedgerow. It is odd there was only one and this early in the year. They usually show up in early fall every 2-3 years in a group of 15-20."
Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) (1)
- Reported Aug 23, 2025 08:58 by Herb Elliott
- 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/S269087874 - Comments: "I had just left the parking lot after chatting with Chis and KH, when KH texted me that he and Chris had a Mourning Warbler. I returned within a few minutes and we heard the bird’s ‘chip’ call several times ~ 10:58. Chris, KH., and I moved farther into the willows, but didn’t relocate the bird."
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