Date: 8/25/25 10:01 pm From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- Stilt Sandpiper (5 reports)
- Black Tern (6 reports)
- Neotropic Cormorant (3 reports)
- Least Bittern (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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Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (2)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 19:45 by Gregory Smith
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269582029 - Comments: "Smallish medium shorebird (smaller than a Lesser Yellowlegs) with a stout, slightly drooping bill. Longish, yellow-green legs. Grayish head with some brown highlights, whitish superciliary and dark lore. Whitish breast and belly with dark spotting on the upper breast. Classic shorebird scalloping on the the coverts, tertials and primaries. Did not get good looks at the vent."
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (2)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 16:21 by Kevin Zimmer
- Villa Creek--Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9688341&<ll...>,-120.9688341 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269582132 - Comments: "Two juveniles, first reported by Reef Comer 1-2 hours earlier. When we first saw the birds, they were foraging in the kelp wrack on the beach near the creek mouth. They then flew back to the lagoon, where they foraged along the shoreline, and continually walked toward us, approaching to within 3-4 meters before flying. Photos to follow."
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (2)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 16:21 by Gary Rosenberg
- Villa Creek--Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9688341&<ll...>,-120.9688341 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269583496 - Comments: "Two juveniles, first reported by Reef Comer 1-2 hours earlier. When we first saw the birds, they were foraging in the kelp wrack on the beach near the creek mouth. They then flew back to the lagoon, where they foraged along the shoreline, and continually walked toward us, approaching to within 3-4 meters before flying. Photos to follow."
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 10:41 by Bob McCay
- Villa Creek--Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9688341&<ll...>,-120.9688341 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269550745 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Juvenile plumage, long greenish legs, long heavy bill slightly curved. Feeding close to shore at the first part of the lagoon near the beach."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 07:33 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/S269515661 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Juvenile. Much smaller than a common tern. Larger than a least tern. First seen at 10:20-ish am from north side of lake near boat dock as it flew east to west across lake, often along the north side, sometimes staying between boat dock and reed island, diving and foraging, often low, sometimes five or so feet from the water; always distant from me.
I first noticed a dark grey tern flying low over the lake. It was much smaller than nearby common terns, which were also foraging, and sometimes the bird trailed after them. The bird had grey upper wings, with blackish patches on its carpals, and also a dark grey mantle/back that formed a black partial ring around the upper back and down onto the sides of its neck. It had a medium-length black bill, black gradated helmet, white nape, forehead, chin and underside, and grey rump and grey tail. Its underwings were grey (appearing white in one over-exposed pic), with dark primaries. The bird had a very lope-ish sort of flight, though it could be really quick at times, and sometimes because of its dark coloration and size, was sometimes lost amid the dark, shadowy water and reeds, or even the sometimes bright reflections on the water.
Last seen (had to leave) from homeowner yard near creek mouth at 10:58 a.m. flying, circling 60-70 up over east lake. Often loosely associated with common tern flock, I'd by this time seen it in the east lake area, flying west over the lake, and sometimes circling low over the waters just east of the reed island. Hard to say where the best vantage point might be. My best photo was from an open area just east of the boat ramp on the north side of the lake. South lake views were always extremely distant. This is the first report of this species at this location, and first recorded "inland" in SLO County since August 2020. photos"
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 07:33 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/S269515661 - Media: 17 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing juvenile first discovered by K.Z. on August 22, 2025. It hadn't been seen since its initial discovery. Seen at creek mouth next to a much larger double-crested cormorant. I'm assuming that this is the same bird. I'm not seeing any differences in glancing at K.Z.'s photos, though the moderator may want to study them for any particular face, wing or tail differences, if possible. The bird was often preening or spreading its wings, and one time pooped. Other than being a noticeably small cormorant compared to those nearby, especially the one next to it, its bill was short and less hooked than nearby cormorants, its tail proportionately longer than a double-crested, and it had a distinct rounded head. There was no yellow patch in the supraloral area, which appeared brownish and feathered. photos and short, blurry poo-vid.
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 24, 2025 08:38 by Gabriel Rudy
- Lila Keiser Park/Morro Creek, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.856743&<ll...>,-120.856743 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269549618 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing bird (Tom Edell 06.09.25) - Viewed from up creek perched in its usual location on creek side branch of sycamore tree on the north side of the creek about 400 feet up stream from creek mouth pedestrian bridge. The bird showed mostly dark plumage except for white mottling on breast that is becoming darker overall. The lower mandible was 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. New tail feathers appeared dark brown and feet were black."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 24, 2025 08:38 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Lila Keiser Park/Morro Creek, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.856743&<ll...>,-120.856743 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269379797 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing bird (Tom Edell 06.09.25) - Viewed from up creek perched in its usual location on creek side branch of sycamore tree on the north side of the creek about 400 feet up stream from creek mouth pedestrian bridge. The bird showed mostly dark plumage except for white mottling on breast that is becoming darker overall. The lower mandible was 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. New tail feathers appeared dark brown and feet were black."
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 12:21 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/S269584258 - Comments: "Heard only; 1 call during our time at this spot, coming from deep inside the reeds immediately to the east of where we were standing. This was the same spot where I photographed one flying to on Saturday."
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