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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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Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 11, 2025 11:28 by Jay Carroll
- 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/S288194658 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing (M. Harms 12/10/25); black and white sea duck with dark-tipped orangish-pink bill, and smudgy gray crown and auriculars; observed it diving underwater in repeated foraging bouts; photos."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Dec 10, 2025 14:00 by Petra Clayton
- San Simeon Creek Mouth/Beach, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1267052&<ll...>,-121.1267052 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288093311 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Female or immature male, continuing since 12/1/2025 (Reef Comer).
Round head; white face and neck; dark crown stripe continuing to nape; dark cheek patch that extended to the chin; bluish bill with dark nail. --- Constantly diving under the Highway One bridge while foraging.
Click on the image below for a Flickr video, showing the Long-tailed Duck constantly diving while foraging. Included are Bufflehead, Eared Grebe, American Coot and Common Goldeneye:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/54977462600/in/dateposted-public/" title="Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), San Simeon, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54977462600_2719a5c115_z.jpg" alt="Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), San Simeon, CA" /></a>"
Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) (1)
- Reported Dec 11, 2025 14:47 by Alexander Yan
- Port San Luis, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7562256&<ll...>,-120.7562256 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288191708 - Comments: "Seen with KZ!!!!! LIFE BIRD (after last one was not confirmed). Small alcid with scoters far out in the harbor. Black cap and body with white neck, and cocked tail. Very small, fortunate for calm seas allowing good viewing!"
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 11, 2025 08:31 by Ann Stockert
- Port San Luis, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7562256&<ll...>,-120.7562256 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288205498 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing…originally reported by Tom Edell on 12/10. Needed/used a scope to confirm ID. Larger than Eared or Horned Grebe with a longer dull brownish neck and yellowish bill angled downward. Distant poor photo."
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 11, 2025 10:45 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/S288206109 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing juvenile. Today a single one was resting on the small Monterey Cypress by the last boat ramp.
We have been observing this species since early September. We observed one juvenile 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. We observed three juveniles on 9/25/25 and 9/26/25. On 10/2/25 we observed two juveniles. On 10/7/25 and 10/8/25 we observed a single juvenile here. On 10/13/25 and 10/14/25 we again observed two individuals. On 10/23/25 we saw just a single one. On 10/24/25 and 10/29/25 we saw two. On 11/8/25, 11/12/25, 11/14/25, 11/16/25 and 11/26/25 again only a single one.
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.
Today's juveniles had 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 clip:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/54977898472/in/dateposted-public/" title="Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) juvenile, Morro Bay, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54977898472_752bd618a2_z.jpg" alt="Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) juvenile, Morro Bay, CA" /></a>"
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) (1)
- Reported Dec 11, 2025 15:45 by Kaaren Perry
- Morro Bay yard, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.844846&<ll...>,-120.844846 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288201398 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Small sized oriole, for a second I had considered a Yellow Warbler. Short straight bill, short tail helped to confirm the id as to OROR. Female type plumage. Brief visit to water feature in our yard before being flushed by Hermit Thrush. Through the window and fogged by late afternoon sun glare I was still able to get 3 photos which helped lead to my id."
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 11, 2025 12:40 by Jay Carroll
- Morro Bay SP--Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8387738&<ll...>,-120.8387738 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288193157 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing (K. Zimmer 11/3/25) in bottlebrush and oaks at Ranger residence; short-tailed warbler with white utc, greenish-yellow upperparts, and dark eyeline; vocalized occasional sweet chip notes; photos."
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