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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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Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) (1)
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 17:15 by Reef Comer
- 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/S269763446 - Comments: "Continuing juvenile from this morning. Medium- sized Tringa with dark brown upperside with fine white spotting, dark breast, vivid white eyering, straight bill, white underside, and greenish legs. Bobbed occasionally, but not nearly as often as nearby SPSA."
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 13:56 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/S269752742 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "One found earlier in the day was still present when I arrived. It foraged along the shoreline of a mid creek gravel island and in the water. Overall brown above and whit below with pale spots on the wings and back, bold white spectacles, a darkish bill and yellow-green legs (photos)"
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 12:03 by Nick & Jane
- 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/S269722813 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing juvenile shorebird found by K.Z. Birders were watching it forage in creek just east of bridge. Immediately noted its chunky but slender size—similar to a juvenile willet or lesser yellowlegs—its dark, white-speckled back, dark streaking on upper chest (otherwise white underside) and white eyering. Medium-long bill, slightly curved, dark-tipped, and more yellow-green toward base. Brown head, white lores—part of its spectacles—and white chin. Yellow-green legs. Foraging in creek the short time I was there. Didn’t hear it make any sounds as it slightly bobbed. Photo"
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 11:37 by Mark Mushkat
- 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/S269707813 - Comments: "Spotted by K Zimmer this morning. Apparently a juvenile, grayish green long legs, spotted upper wings, white eye spectacles, dark shoulders into neck. White belly, bill dark and about length of its head. Foraging next to SPSA for a great comparison of size, plumage, behavior. Slight teetering front and rear."
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 08:35 by Kaaren Perry
- Turri Road, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7948498&<ll...>,-120.7948498 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269733682 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Reported last evening. Medium sized shorebird walking along the waters edge, water often up to belly, pecking for food from the surface. Dark brown pale fringed upper parts , white belly, supercilium, bill long slender drooping near tip, long yellow legs.
No attempt to record other species present."
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 12:19 by Nick & Jane
- 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/S269725776 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing juvenile pair found by other birders. Possibly same pair from Villa Creek (just a guess). Both birds were seen foraging in eastern pond (pond before channel if driving eastward: (35.3346619, -120.8196504)). The birds stuck relatively close to each other, sometimes drifting apart, always coming back to each other, often bumping one other as if to say, “I’m here.” Both continuously foraged in the shallows, submerging their bills and sometimes entire heads similar to dowitchers plunging, and then probed like some sandpipers.
Each had long, droopy bills, yellow legs, bright white superciliums on mostly grey-brown scaly and streaky backs and chests and white underside plumage. One bird was slightly plumper and had a bit more rufous in its primaries. One had a darker crown. Both had heavily brown streaked chests and a buffy wash on undersides that were otherwise white. Lots of buff in the chest streaks and more buff wash into various back and facial feathers. The flanks were more spotted than streaky. The scaling was rather plain but lovely and somewhat uniform in some parts, and contrasted between dark scales and white feather edges. Heads and necks were finely streaked. The birds kept to themselves though a few times phalaropes got close.
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 10:33 by Jay Carroll
- 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/S269706320 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Two were reported at this location earlier, but only one was observed actively feeding in the open; a relatively long-legged wader with long slightly decurved bill, scalloped appearance to upperparts, white belly, smudgy streaking on breast, white supercilium, and dark lores; photos."
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 07:33 by Tom Edell
- 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/S269752770 - Media: 7 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing juvenile found here yesterday. Mid-sized sandpiper (smaller than Greater Yellowlegs and larger than Red-necked Phalarope) with longish yellow-green legs and a longish bill with a droop. Bird had a scaly back and wings, a white rump, dark line through the eye and a pale supercilium. (Photos)"
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 07:33 by Mike Bush
- 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/S269755253 - Media: 7 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing juvenile found here yesterday. Mid-sized sandpiper (smaller than Greater Yellowlegs and larger than Red-necked Phalarope) with longish yellow-green legs and a longish bill with a droop. Bird had a scaly back and wings, a white rump, dark line through the eye and a pale supercilium. (Photos)"
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 16:18 by Herb Elliott
- 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/S269584890 - Media: 10 Photos, 1 Audio
- Comments: "The first bird was reported earlier today by Bob McCay, mid afternoon Reef Comer reported the second bird.
Both juvenile birds were foraging and moving together. They looked similar to yellowlegs with shorter, down-curved bills and were feeding like dowitchers, probing with sewing-machine motion."
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 15:21 by Tom Edell
- 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/S269572487 - Media: 1 Video, 4 Photos
- Comments: "Two juveniles were at the creek mouth where they actively foraged together. Both were larger than adjacent Least Sandpipers and Red-necked Phalaropes. One seemed to have slightly brighter buff tertial edges and scapulars and the other had more fine streaks along the flanks and in the undertail coverts. Both had a dark line through the eye and a pale supercilium with streaked crowns and streaked buffy breasts. The dark bills were somewhat long, had a slight droop, and were slightly bulbous at the tip. There is a brief view of the white underwing coverts in the attached video.( Photos)"
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (2)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 15:10 by Reef Comer
- 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/S269591879 - Comments: "Following up on a report of one here from this morning, and was shocked to find 2!! Closely associating with each other. Both juveniles with scaly, dark patterning to upperside. Heavy set, slightly droopy bill, long greenish-yellow legs, and distinctive forward leaning feeding posture with face practically in water all noted. Bright white rump seen in flight. Gave a couple low, somewhat muffly flight calls. Later joined by T Edell and Herb. Very obliging birds. Have been hoping for one of these all summer!"
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 08:03 by Tom Edell
- 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/S269752748 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Small tern first seen flying (smaller than Common Tern) and then landed on what looked like some sort of grass emerging from the lake. The bird was first seen flying back and forth across the lake before landing about 0.18 mile away. It was white below, with a pale forehead, and was pale around the dark eye. The dark rear crown thinned as it continued down the nape and had an extension that extended down behind the eye. There was a gray spur at the shoulder. At distance it appeared to have an all dark bill. The leg color was not determined. Photo"
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1)
- Reported Aug 26, 2025 07:17 by Andrew Fleming
- 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/S269668039 - Comments: "Continuing Juvenile. Seen across the lake from the Prefumo Creek lot. I was able to watch it for a few minutes flying back and forth over the northwest part of the lake before it headed east out of sight. Small dark tern mostly flying with slower loping wingbeats, but sometime diving low and showing off some aerobatics. Dark grey-brown wings and back with white underbelly and neck. Black bill."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 12:50 by Reef Comer
- 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/S269587191 - Comments: "Continuing juvenile. Seen at quite a distance, flying around west end of lake, but eventually came a little closer. Very small tern with dark gray wings, brownish back, whitish underside, black ‘helmet’ extending to eye, and buoyant flight. Always a treat to see at the coast!"
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1)
- Reported Aug 24, 2025 09:50 by Petra Clayton
- 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/S269333835 - Media: 8 Photos
- Comments: "Second year bird continuing since 6/9/25 (Tom Edell) with ten day absence from Morro Creek (8/12/25 to 8/22/25).
First-ever eBird report of this species at this eBird hotspot earlier tody (Steve Tillmann/Gabe Rudy). All other eBird reports were from the Morro Creek mouth eBird hotspot.
Observed on its favorite perch on the sycamore, about 100 yards up-creek from the pedestrian bridge, in the company of an American Crow and a Snowy Egret.
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.
Click on the image below for a Flickr video:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/54746979381/in/dateposted-public/" title="Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum), Morro Bay, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54746979381_309ebe54e4_z.jpg" alt="Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum), Morro Bay, CA" /></a>"
Flying down from the sycamore tree, about 100 yards up-creek from the pedestrian bridge into the creek, where it was feeding and catching at least one fish. Then it walked to a mud flat and briefly interacting with a Mallard there before returning to the creek and eventually flying off, heading north. --- 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.
Click on the image below for a Flickr video, showing the Neotropic Cormorant feeding in the creek and walking on a mudflat, interacting with a Mallard:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/54745694729/in/dateposted-public/" title="Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum), Morro Bay, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54745694729_9072542f39_z.jpg" alt="Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum), Morro Bay, CA" /></a>"
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 12:21 by Eric Wier
- 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/S269658210 - 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."
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) (1)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 07:48 by Herb Elliott
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269584903 - Comments: "*Rare but regular. A complete shock! One bird flew from across the lake into willows here: (35.108772, -120.626970) before flying off. Small drab brown spizella with pale lores, finely streaked crown with very little or no central median crown stripe, uniform brown underparts, drab and not contrasty like CCSP. Appeared to be partially molting some feathers on face. Giving high pitched flight calls. Unfortunately flew off before we could get any pics."
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (2)
- Reported Aug 25, 2025 07:48 by Herb Elliott
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S269584903 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "*Rare but regular. One continuing molting male near the Maintenance rd here (35.111206, -120.626215) plus new male near amphitheater here (35.110161, -120.628587). Small bright warblers with yellow breast, blue upperparts, greenish backs, orange spot in center of breast, white eye arcs, both singing distinctive buzzy song, etc. Pics."
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