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Thank you for subscribing to the <daily> Santa Barbara County Rare Bird Alert. The report below shows observations of rare birds in Santa Barbara County. View or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35915 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.
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Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 15, 2025 12:01 by Mark Holmgren
- Goleta Beach County Park (including east end of Goleta Slough), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.829812&<ll...>,-119.829812 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273624263 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "First winter bird. Western Gull and Calif. Gull on the right. The bird suddenly appeared after I had been looking at this flock for quite a few minutes. Then a group of 4 adults walked through the flock. Neither Wim Van Dam nor I could refind the bird. Smallish bill, half hood, eye arcs above and below eye. Brown wing and fairly deep gray mantle."
Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2025 13:28 by David Blue
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6572856&<ll...>,-119.6572856 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273660918 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "This Empidonax flycatcher was first found today by Mark Holmgren and immediately raised questions about the species identification. A strong consensus is forming that it is an Alder Flycatcher.
We viewed and photographed this bird from 1:28 PM to 2:05 PM with Dave Compton, Adrian O'Loghlen, Pam Viale, and Eunice Schroeder.
The thin eyering suggests a Traill's Flycatcher, either a Willow or an Alder Flycatcher. Using the excellent ID information in the “Field Guide to North American Flycatchers, Empidonax and Pewees,” by Cin-Ty Lee combined with the exceptional illustrations by Andrew Birch we determined that the characteristics shown in our photos favoring Alder Flycatcher over Willow Flycatcher include: more rounded head shape, shorter bill, more distinct eyering, whiter wingbars, stronger wing panel contrast, and strong upper/underpart contrast.
Unfortunately, this bird was silent."
Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2025 13:28 by Linda Blue
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6572856&<ll...>,-119.6572856 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273672940 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "This Empidonax flycatcher was first found today by Mark Holmgren and immediately raised questions about the species identification. A strong consensus is forming that it is an Alder Flycatcher.
We viewed and photographed this bird from 1:28 PM to 2:05 PM with Dave Compton, Adrian O'Loghlen, Pam Viale, and Eunice Schroeder.
The thin eyering suggests a Traill's Flycatcher, either a Willow or an Alder Flycatcher. Using the excellent ID information in the “Field Guide to North American Flycatchers, Empidonax and Pewees,” by Cin-Ty Lee combined with the exceptional illustrations by Andrew Birch we determined that the characteristics shown in our photos favoring Alder Flycatcher over Willow Flycatcher include: more rounded head shape, shorter bill, more distinct eyering, whiter wingbars, stronger wing panel contrast, and strong upper/underpart contrast.
Unfortunately, this bird was silent."
Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2025 13:00 by Pamela Viale
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.662526&<ll...>,-119.662526 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273647629 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Small flycatcher with olive back and creamy white underparts and white throat. Bicolored bill with orange lower bill. Eye ring present but not strongly marked. Yellow color on flanks. White or pale yellow wingbars. Final identification not 100%, many others looking at flycatcher details."
Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2025 13:00 by Adrian O'Loghlen
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.662526&<ll...>,-119.662526 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273648252 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Small flycatcher with olive back and creamy white underparts and white throat. Bicolored bill with orange lower bill. Eye ring present but not strongly marked. Yellow color on flanks. White or pale yellow wingbars. Final identification not 100%, many others looking at flycatcher details."
Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2025 12:30 by Lynn Scarlett
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6572856&<ll...>,-119.6572856 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273632401 - Media: 8 Photos
- Comments: "see photos--alder? willow? Seen along with 4 others in reeds along edge of Andree Clark refuge lake. Small, noticeable light wing bars, bill seemed larger than least flycatcher and bird did not have as noticeable an eye ring as a least; primaries suggestive of alder. Awaiting determination by others."
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2025 17:32 by Ryan Seppala
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6572856&<ll...>,-119.6572856 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273652726 - Comments: "Heard and eventually observed near these coordinates: (34.4212746, -119.6569987). Inhabited the dense willow riparian zone at the corner of the refuge. Spent most of its time near the water but went as high as ~25 ft. Call a loud metallic “chink.” Chunky warbler with a milky white throat and breast with fine streaking on the former and bold streaking on the latter. Tail is short and well tapered. Upperparts are predominantly brown, with pale auriculars, dark eyestripe, and a white supercilium that remains consistent in width from front to back. Legs and lower mandible appeared orange in direct sunlight. Photos soon."
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 15, 2025 10:50 by Lynn Scarlett
- Bacara Resort And Spa, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.9162972&<ll...>,-119.9162972 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273596106 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "In brush seen off bridge, continuing as reported by Sophie, brown back, light, distinct eyebrow, also chatting with chit immediately confirmed by Merlin"
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