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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) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 12, 2025 08:20 by Nick & Jane
- 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/S288313613 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Imm/female type. Maybe two. One flew in while I was examining a distant scoter flock (see long-tailed duck for where) the bird landed amid the flock and swam alongside them. Pale cheek, dark cap, thin bill. Very distant photos"
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 12, 2025 09:10 by marlin harms
- 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/S288301232 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Mostly solitary, swimming and diving near the mouth of the marina. Briefly, after its direction was changed by some paddlers, it was in the company of some Bufflehead. I was trying to figure its age and, with my limited experience, I am thinking maybe immature male because of a couple long, gray scapulars and somewhat colored bill (see photos)."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 10, 2025 10:14 by Sandy Hamilton
- 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/S288290125 - Comments: "Just as I was figuring out what the species was, another birder arrived with a scope having heard about the report from earlier in the morning. I was relieved because my iPhone pics weren’t going to cut it. White face with mottled dark cheek patch and crown, pink & black bill, diving frequently."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 12, 2025 08:20 by Nick & Jane
- 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/S288313613 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Adult male—winter plumage. Smaller than scoters. Long black tail. White head with large brown cheek and neck patch, and lighter brown on side of face. Small, bi-colored bill. White breast and underside. Sides appeared to have grey and brown markings. In large scoter flock of forty or so birds moving amid anchored boats. I was scoping with nikon p950 from the end of port san luis pier toward the boats out past the end of cal poly pier. Very distant photos"
Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 12, 2025 09:53 by Jay Carroll
- Bluff Trail--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8948396&<ll...>,-120.8948396 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288306159 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing; observed on rocky shoreline from a viewpoint about 100m downcoast from Spooners Cove overlook; plain gray shorebird with straight medium-length bill, yellow legs; stationary but occasionally pumped tail; photos."
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 12, 2025 08:20 by Nick & Jane
- 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/S288313613 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing first-winter bird. Took forever to find this bird a second time. Initially seen amid boats (see long-tailed duck area description). Then a few hours later I saw the bird, still distant, but farther out to sea amid a large mixed flock that was spread out over a large area. Like the other rare birds, this was off the left end of the pier, looking out toward the farthest boats and to the right of them. This greyish bird had a thick yellow bill, a pale ear patch, a grebey upright posture, and kind of a blocky head as seen in other photos birders have posted of this bird. Very distant photos"
Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 12, 2025 00:14 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/S288326947 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "First appeared with a single Golden-crown to our yard. Made a brief stop at the water feature before moving out to our lawn to feed. It remained for quite a few minutes allowing time for photos."Large sparrow with pink bill and long tail. Immatures have buffy-brown heads and a white throat outlined by dark "mustache" stripes and the streaky beginnings of a bib." BOW quote that best describes plumage seen and photographed today. The bird made one short repeat visit while perched on an overhead wire. Despite continuing vigilance it was not seen again before dark."
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Dec 11, 2025 11:05 by Kevin Zimmer
- 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/S288339192 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "This is a different individual from the one that I found in this exact spot on November 11. That one was a female (or, a young male with female plumage), whereas this bird is entirely bright red, and thus, would appear to be a fully adult male."
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