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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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Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 15:45 by Pam Cahn
- 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/S275666756 - Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "The bird was heard and recorded. It was also seen briefly. Pam heard it while standing close to the road. We then walked around a bend to get a look into the reeds, using the scope. A small, skulking, bittern type bird appeared close to the water’s edge very briefly and the yellow eye was visible. The yellow brownish wash on the back/side was visible as it disappeared back into the reeds. Recording has screech series call starting 48 seconds in, which matches the sound and spectrogram for LEBI on Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds online. Apologies for inability to edit audio prior to LEBI. Located at 35°15'51.5"N 120°41'09.0"W. Unable to relocate it or hear it again."
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 15:45 by Barbara Webster
- 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/S275666755 - Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "The bird was heard and recorded. It was also seen briefly. Pam heard it while standing close to the road. We then walked around a bend to get a look into the reeds, using the scope. A small, skulking, bittern type bird appeared close to the water’s edge briefly and the yellow eye was visible. The yellow brownish wash on the back/side was visible as it disappeared back into the reeds. Pam will be adding the recording. Here are the coordinates for where the bird was. 35°15'51.5"N 120°41'09.0"W Unable to relocate it or hear it again."
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2025 17:55 by logan kahle
- 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/S275488803 - Comments: "Continuing rarity. On far (west) shore of lake then flew to roost site around 6:50 on w shore willows. I could see blue bill w black tip, greenish lores, dingy legs w no contrasting yellow feet. Dont know of a way to see this bird close"
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) (1)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 10:40 by Reef Comer
- San Simeon SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1235286&<ll...>,-121.1235286 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275661573 - Comments: "Seen circling at a considerable height and distance towards the E end of park, but eventually came a bit closer. Short, broad, pale tipped wings (above and below), as well as very short, square tail and wings held flat unmistakable. Dark gray head apparent even from a distance. Good chance this is the same bird from August, but can’t say for sure. Got distracted by the broad-wing’s and couldn’t refind."
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) (2)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 10:40 by Reef Comer
- San Simeon SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1235286&<ll...>,-121.1235286 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275661573 - Comments: "Never would have seen these birds if we hadn’t been looking at the vulture, as they were both very high up and drifting steadily south. Small, fairly compact buteos with short tail, straight leading edge on wing, more rounded secondaries, dark-tipped primaries, mostly white underside, and some dark streaking around neck and on breast. Tails on both weakly banded, so likely juvenile birds. Big numbers going through the Bay Area right now, so keep an eye up!"
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2025 17:55 by logan kahle
- 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/S275488803 - Comments: "Rare locally and late. Picked up northbound at around 6:20 over the south end of the lake. Immediately apparent was the brown back and small size relative to adjacent imm tree swallow. It have relatively narrow short wings just reaching tailtip, and very distibctive underpart pattern: bright white underparts and throat punctuated by bold complete thick brown breastband with spur that extended in the middle down the body a little ways. The breastband contrasted sharply with the white throat and the white throat wrapped around the auriculars. I was not able to make out different shades of back color due to lighting. Silent"
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 17:35 by Leisyka Parrott
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275668987 - Comments: "Continuing rarity. Black and white warbler working down the trunk like a nuthatch in the medium-sized bottlebrush trees. (35.2676621, -120.6595423). Disappeared quickly and not refound."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 17:35 by Russ Namitz
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275668986 - Comments: "Continuing rarity. Black and white warbler working down the trunk like a nuthatch in the medium-sized bottlebrush trees. (35.2676621, -120.6595423). Disappeared quickly and not refound."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 25, 2025 13:46 by Barbara Webster
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275481104 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing. Black and white striped head, streaked back, pale throat, some black spots under tail, working over tree trunks like a nuthatch."
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2025 12:48 by Reef Comer
- Pecho Road Willows, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.85271&<ll...>,-120.85271 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275493743 - Comments: "HY bird briefly seen in large mixed flock in second small clearing. Only viewed from below, but combination of small size, compact body, sharp, bicolored bill, white eye arcs, yellow throat and breast strongly contrasting with white belly and undertail coverts, all distinctive. Tried to refind, but no luck."
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (2)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 10:21 by Nick & Jane
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275653430 - Comments: "Foy for me. Appeared to be multiples. Both were seen foraging high in pines around campsites 16-17. Once the sun popped out around noon I returned to this area hoping warblers would be more active, which they were. Took quite a while to ID these birds. Most notable were the triangular grey-brown cheek patches and black-and-grey striped backs. Also, white undertails, yellowy throats and chests, dark streaks on flanks, double-white wingbars, and a black outer-tail swoosh that distinguishes this species when observing from below. Two other birders helped in observations. Photos"
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) (1)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 09:45 by Petra Clayton
- Del Mar Park--Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8586752&<ll...>,-120.8586752 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275635825 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing presumably hatch-year male since 9/23/2025 (Reef Comer).
Lime-green crown and back; gray face; white eye ring; two yellow wing bars; pale underparts; couldn't quite make out any chestnut color on the flanks. - Actively foraging in willows near the bridge."
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) (1)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 10:21 by Nick & Jane
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275653430 - Comments: "Possibly continuing from yesterday evening when one was found at the creek mouth. In pines at campsites 16 and 17. I first heard this bird chipping, so came to the area and saw a small drab warbler with yellow undertail coverts bobbing its tail. The bird was sometimes flying out of a pine to shrubs, but preferred to forage up in pine. I waved a birder over pointed out the bird. I didnt recognize the birder. I later brought two other birders to the area to observe the warbler. The bird was very brown-streaky on its chest, had a red-brown crown and dark eyeline. Photos"
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2025 07:46 by logan kahle
- Arroyo del Osos, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.290039&<ll...>,-121.290039 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275487865 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "!!! Sick!! Initially got my attention naked eye as a warbler flashing white in the tail and actively tail-pumping. When i liften my bins i was thrilled to see it wasa prairie warbler! It had an ashy gray hood, bold white eye arcs, white wingbars, greenish back, yellow from throat to entacs, blackish streaks on flanks. Photod. Popped up after about 5 minutes then took 15 minutes before i could get photos (would keep popping up for 5 seconds or so then vanishing)"
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2025 14:54 by logan kahle
- 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/S275491511 - Comments: "Calling high “eek” notably higher than bhgr. Grosbeak w bold broad streaks across breast and pink bill. Got some dark photos that hopefully can be lightened up to show some of these features"
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) (1)
- Reported Sep 26, 2025 12:30 by Fritzi Cole
- Los Osos Backyard, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8561584&<ll...>,-120.8561584 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275668741 - Comments: "Eating at bird feeder among white-crowned sparrows and house finches. Initially spent seconds at feeder then stayed longer and appeared more frequently. Returned in evening after initially being at feeder around noon."
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