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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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Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) (1)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 13:34 by Kevin Zimmer
- San Simeon Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1875784&<ll...>,-121.1875784 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285517090 - Media: 7 Photos
- Comments: "One female, only loosely associated with the main flock of Surf Scoters, remained very distant, and, frustratingly, in between occasional dives, seemed to always be swimming away at an angle, only occasionally turning enough to show off the different head shape (more rounded crown and more scooped bill profile). What was visible for much of the time, was the blackish 'cap' and nape, which were sharply delineated from the very whitish face, throat and sides of the neck, quite different from the many female Surf Scoters in the general vicinity. A few very poor, highly cropped photos to be attached."
Merlin (Black) (Falco columbarius suckleyi) (1)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 13:18 by Reef Comer
- Carrizo Plain NM--Soda Lake Rd. at Simler Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8577928&<ll...>,-119.8577928 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285626740 - Comments: "*Rare. Male. Straightforward extremely dark Merlin, obvious even with the naked eye. Extremely dark slate-colored Merlin with evenly blobby dark and white-streaked breast and tummy, extremely faint malar streak and supercilium, completely unbanded tail. Seen well at close range twice when we drove by perched on a dead tumbleweed right by the road but then flew off towards the visitor center when we approached slowly for photos."
Merlin (Black) (Falco columbarius suckleyi) (1)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 13:18 by Herb Elliott
- Carrizo Plain NM--Soda Lake Rd. at Simler Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8577928&<ll...>,-119.8577928 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285594283 - Comments: "*Rare. Male. Straightforward extremely dark Merlin, obvious even with the naked eye. Extremely dark slate-colored Merlin with evenly blobby dark and white-streaked breast and tummy, extremely faint malar streak and supercilium, completely unbanded tail. Seen well at close range twice when we drove by perched on a dead tumbleweed right by the road but then flew off towards the visitor center when we approached slowly for photos."
Horned Lark (Western rufous Group) (Eremophila alpestris [strigata Group]) (225)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 11:18 by Reef Comer
- 18044–18400 Soda Lake Rd, Santa Margarita US-CA 35.16358, -119.82559, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.825592&<ll...>,-119.825592 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285626707 - Comments: "*Expected. Actia/ammophila/intergrade birds, 30-40 rubea, and 1-2 dark earth brown PNW birds (merrilli?). KH might have a few bad digis of the PNW bird(s).
One: Lark, Horned (Western pale Group)*Regular in winter in small numbers..? Slim pale HOLA with no buffy coloration. (K.H.)"
Horned Lark (Western rufous Group) (Eremophila alpestris [strigata Group]) (225)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 11:18 by Herb Elliott
- 18044–18400 Soda Lake Rd, Santa Margarita US-CA 35.16358, -119.82559, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.825592&<ll...>,-119.825592 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285593827 - Comments: "*Expected. Actia/ammophila/intergrade birds, 30-40 rubea, and 1-2 dark earth brown PNW birds (merrilli?). KH might have a few bad digis of the PNW bird(s)."
Horned Lark (Western pale Group) (Eremophila alpestris [occidentalis Group]) (1)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 11:18 by Herb Elliott
- 18044–18400 Soda Lake Rd, Santa Margarita US-CA 35.16358, -119.82559, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.825592&<ll...>,-119.825592 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285593827 - Comments: "*Regular in winter in small numbers (K.H.)
Slim pale HOLA with no buffy coloration. (K.H.)"
Horned Lark (Western rufous Group) (Eremophila alpestris [strigata Group]) (75)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 07:18 by Herb Elliott
- Branch Mountain Road, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0229753&<ll...>,-120.0229753 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285587358 - Comments: "*Expected local actia/ammophila/intergrade residents + at least 6 rubea. Brighter HOLAs with buffy napes and wing coverts contrasting with warm brown backs (local residents) and rosy HOLAs with Buffy back not contrasting with nape and slightly larger (rubea)."
Horned Lark (Western pale Group) (Eremophila alpestris [occidentalis Group]) (2)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 07:18 by Herb Elliott
- Branch Mountain Road, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0229753&<ll...>,-120.0229753 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285587358 - Comments: "*Northern breeders expected in very small numbers out here as per my understanding (KH).
Very pale male HOLAs lacking any rufous color whatsoever, slightly smaller than surrounding expected types. (KH has pics)."
Horned Lark (Western rufous Group) (Eremophila alpestris [strigata Group]) (75)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 07:18 by Reef Comer
- Branch Mountain Road, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0229753&<ll...>,-120.0229753 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285626472 - Comments: "*Expected local actia/ammophila/intergrade residents + at least 6 rubea. Brighter HOLAs with buffy napes and wing coverts contrasting with warm brown backs (local residents) and rosy HOLAs with Buffy back not contrasting with nape and slightly larger (rubea).
Two Horned Lark (Western Pale Group)
*Northern breeders expected in very small numbers out here as per my understanding..? Very pale male HOLAs lacking any rufous color whatsoever, slightly smaller than surrounding expected types. KH has some pics."
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored/cismontanus) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis/cismontanus) (1)
- Reported Nov 22, 2025 09:01 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/S285668279 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing. Saw on ground west of gazebo then in tree. Some brown in its slate plumage. Especially noticeable at certain angles, which made its flanks sometimes appear more brown than grey and vice versa. Managed one photo"
Savannah Sparrow (Large-billed) (Passerculus sandwichensis rostratus/atratus) (1)
- Reported Nov 22, 2025 10:00 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Morro Bay SP--Marina/Boardwalk Trail, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8418006&<ll...>,-120.8418006 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285700876 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "We found the bird frequentring Coyote Bush near bend in the boardwalk where this species has been known to occur (35.34413, -120.8389). This bird was stocky and larger than other nearby Savannah Sparrows and was mostly brown above with brown crown, lores and eye-line, only a hint of a pale supercilium which lacked any yellow we could see and had a large, stout bill with convex culmen, brown auriculars, weak malar stripe and white moustachial stripe. This bird had a white throat and was white below with blurry brown streaking on breast, sides and flanks."
Savannah Sparrow (Large-billed) (Passerculus sandwichensis rostratus/atratus) (1)
- Reported Nov 22, 2025 09:42 by Luke Jensen
- Morro Bay SP--Marina/Boardwalk Trail, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8418006&<ll...>,-120.8418006 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285656910 - Comments: "Seen in usual spot in left area of the boardwalk which other savanahs on point. Thick, large bill with no yellow on supercillium."
Red-winged Blackbird (California Bicolored) (Agelaius phoeniceus californicus/mailliardorum) (2)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 14:48 by Reef Comer
- Hwy 58 at Tule Elk Lane Pond (no internal access), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0775409&<ll...>,-120.0775409 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285626810 - Comments: "*Rare? Have often wondered if a few show up here with other blackbirds during the winter sometimes wandering from Bitterwater and the county line, so cool to actually see 2 males in with the flock! 2 adult males seen simultaneously both foraging and in flight. RWBLs with bright crimson red lesser coverts which were somewhat deeper red than surrounding RWs, median coverts black, and bill more like surrounding Trics compared to the RWs. Saw and heard one singing typical raspy BIRWBL song that has more of a Tric quality, very unlike our locals. Seen well at fairly close range but then mixed deep into the flock and flew with a part of the flock further back behind some houses when we tried for pics."
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) (Agelaius phoeniceus [phoeniceus Group]) (12)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 14:48 by Herb Elliott
- Hwy 58 at Tule Elk Lane Pond (no internal access), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0775409&<ll...>,-120.0775409 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285594779 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "*Expected. 10m, 2f. Males with red lesser and yellow median coverts and females pale and contrasty with pale-streaked back, paler bellies, more contrasty overall and with rusty tinge."
Red-winged Blackbird (California Bicolored) (Agelaius phoeniceus californicus/mailliardorum) (2)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 14:48 by Herb Elliott
- Hwy 58 at Tule Elk Lane Pond (no internal access), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0775409&<ll...>,-120.0775409 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285594779 - Comments: "*Rare? Have often wondered if a few show up here with other blackbirds during the winter sometimes wandering from Bitterwater and the county line, so cool to actually see 2 males in with the flock! 2 adult males seen simultaneously both foraging and in flight. RWBLs with bright crimson red lesser coverts which were somewhat deeper red than surrounding RWs, median coverts black, and bill more like surrounding Trics compared to the RWs. Saw and heard one singing typical raspy BIRWBL song that has more of a Tric quality, very unlike our locals. Seen well at fairly close range but then mixed deep into the flock and flew with a part of the flock further back behind some houses when we tried for pics."
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) (Agelaius phoeniceus [phoeniceus Group]) (12)
- Reported Nov 21, 2025 14:48 by Reef Comer
- Hwy 58 at Tule Elk Lane Pond (no internal access), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0775409&<ll...>,-120.0775409 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285626810 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "*Expected. 10m, 2f. Males with red lesser and yellow median coverts and females pale and contrasty with pale-streaked back, paler bellies, more contrasty overall and with rusty tinge."
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 22, 2025 09:01 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/S285668279 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing well-documented orange-and-green rarity. I think this is my fifth sighting or so. Saw it in a couple spots within the gazebo area today. On ground on east side of gazebo—maybe twenty feet away—foraging with juncos. Then in a tree west of gazebo. A couple not-very-good photos."
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