---------------------------------------------
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.
eBird encourages safe, responsible birding. Some reports may be from private property. Respect access restrictions and follow the rules wherever you bird. For more information, visit the eBird and Merlin Community Guidelines: https://ebird.org/community-guidelines. Stay connected to the global birding community with eBird Updates: https://mailchi.mp/cornell/ebird-updates-sign-up-page.
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 05, 2025 09:52 by Bob McCay
- Whale Rock Reservoir, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8708239&<ll...>,-120.8708239 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S277492002 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Small duck, black back, white beneath. Black head with large white patch on the back of it. Head appeared to be tucked back. Distance was too far for for a decent photo but I’ve uploaded what I have. Scope view was better. Found on the Cottontail Creek arm between the upper turnout and the rocky outcrops on the other side of the lake."
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 02, 2025 12:50 by Petra Clayton
- Tidelands Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8514118&<ll...>,-120.8514118 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S276928310 - Media: 8 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing two juveniles, both on shore, one right by the public boat ramp, the other a bit east of the boat ramp.
Presumably the ones we observed at this location in the morning of 9/6/25 and again on 9/7/25, 9/8/25, 9/12/25 and 9/18/25. Three were observed on 9/25/25 and 9/26/25.
One juvenile was first present here on 9/4/25 and could have been the same individual reported on 9/3/25 at the Morro Bay SP Marina.
Both have a dark, stout bill with yellow feathers at the base of the lower mandible; small white triangular spots on the covert feathers.
Click on the image below for a Flickr video, showing one of them eating a crab:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/54835668693/in/dateposted-public/" title="Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) juvenile, Morro Bay, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54835668693_4c995734ba_z.jpg" alt="Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) juvenile, Morro Bay, CA" /></a>"
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) (1)
- Reported Oct 05, 2025 08:18 by Ann McDowell
- 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/S277533007 - Comments: "Recurring species. Regularly occurring in this spot. Has bright yellow breast all the way up to the white neck band. Contrasts with Cassin’s Kingbird nearby that had grey neck and upper breast, with more washed out yellow belly."
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) (1)
- Reported Oct 04, 2025 08:10 by Robert Dahmen
- 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/S277481056 - Comments: "Kingbird with proportional large bill and yellow covering belly to collarbone area. Non vocal. Fly catching off cypress on south end of peninsula over lake. Bad photos available."
Swainson's Thrush (Olive-backed) (Catharus ustulatus [swainsoni Group]) (1)
- Reported Oct 02, 2025 07:00 by Kevin Zimmer
- KJZ yard, Garcia Rd, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7064838&<ll...>,-120.7064838 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S276929968 - Media: 13 Photos
- Comments: "This individual, which visited the fountain of our pond to bathe and drink in the late afternoon, was definitely NOT of the expected breeding/migrant russet-backed, nominate subspecies. It was uniformly 'cold' olive-brown above, and much more boldly, and extensively dark-spotted across the chest than any nominate birds. I waited to post this while seeking outside opinion as to whether the ID of this bird could be further narrowed among the Olive-backed group to either ssp incanus (which breeds in interior Alaska), or the more widespread, eastern ssp swainsoni. Consensus seems to be that field separation of subspecies within the Olive-backed group is tenuous, but that ssp incanus tends to show a slightly rustier tail, which this bird definitely showed in some light. Accordingly, I am labeling this bird as a Swainson's Thrush (Olive-backed), Catharus ustulatus [swainsoni Group], tentatively but not positively assignable to ssp incanus. We've had these Olive-backed Swainson's Thrushes show up in our yard in fall on a couple of other occasions in recent years. I have to wonder how regular these are as fall migrants/vagrants to our area. Given their skulking nature, they could be easily overlooked among the expected nominate birds. Photos to follow."
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 03, 2025 10:45 by Terri Osborn
- 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/S277586636 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird found by Jacqueline Knowlton on 10/2/2025. Seen, briefly, along the border of the lawn and the willows just west of the pedestrian bridge over the creek. The Bobolink had brown streaking on the back and wings, brown streaking on the crown with a thin yellow midline, yellow supercilium and face with a dark eye line behind the eye, pinkish conical bill with a dark tip, creamy yellow chin, chest and belly with fine dark streaking on the sides and light gray legs. It was seen by many other birders."
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) (1)
- Reported Oct 02, 2025 11:30 by Petra Clayton
- Garden St, Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8502207&<ll...>,-120.8502207 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S276925885 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing since 9/29/25 (Jim Royer).
Preening on a wire above private residence with feeders.
Appeared smaller, more dainty than a Hooded Oriole; yellow underparts; short tail; white wingbars; short, pointy bill, less decurved than that of the Hooded Oriole; no vocalization."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 04, 2025 08:50 by Doug Drynan
- Meadow Park, San Luis Obispo US-CA 35.26783, -120.66265, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.66265&<ll...>,-120.66265 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S277519945 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "distinctive looking black and white warbler forging on the trunk of an alder tree like a nut hatch. assume it's one of the continuing birds that have regularly been seen here since September. pics."
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 05, 2025 10:00 by Doug Drynan
- 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/S277526457 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "got brief views of a small warbler in a mixed species flock. appears to be an immature male. Bright orange-yellow throat and upper breast, white belly and undertail coverts. grayish head (that also took on a greenish hue in certain light) and back. Two short white wing bars. Short tail. small bi-colored bill with lower mandible being yellow. White eye arcs above and below eye. I couldn't find another Ebird post of the species at this hotspot this fall. But I remember Reef reporting a HY male he observed here September 25. so I assume this may be the same bird?"
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 05, 2025 14:45 by Terri Osborn
- Santa Rosa Creek Trail--Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1005139&<ll...>,-121.1005139 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S277564052 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Seen in the canopy of a tall tree at the start of the trail at the west entrance. It was very active and busy flitting along the branches but staying hidden in the foliage for the most part. The warbler had a dark gray back and crown, dark gray wings with white double wing bars, dark triangular shaped cheek patch, yellow supercilium, chin and chest, white belly with small dark streaks on the flanks, and white undertail coverts outlined in black along the outer edge of the tail. I did manage a few poor photos for ID. Thanks to the Pair of Wing-Nuts who found the Blackburnian Warbler earlier today."
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (1)
- Reported Oct 05, 2025 12:12 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Santa Rosa Creek Trail--Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1005139&<ll...>,-121.1005139 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S277560578 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Female/immature bird observed loosely associating with a small mixed flock of chickadees and bushtits while foraging in oak canopy about 100 yards east of pipe-gate near west entrance. This bird appeared olive green on the crown with a bright yellow supercilium, yellow lower eye-arcs, dark lores and eye-line, gray auriculars and nape, bright yellow throat and upper breast and was white from belly to undertail with blurry black streaks extending from breast to flanks. The back was grayish black with faint pale braces and two pair of bright, white wing-bars delineated by a dark panel. The center tail rectrices were dark and the outer rectrices were white."
***********
You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/
![https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54835668693_4c995734ba_z.jpg"](https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54835668693_4c995734ba_z.jpg"){kind=link}