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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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Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) (1)
- Reported Jan 20, 2026 12:49 by Mark Hays
- Estero Bluffs SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9437799&<ll...>,-120.9437799 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295409517 - Comments: "Lone bird. Out in the largest curved cove. On a rock off the shoreline. Lighter in color than the black turn stones. And it had the characteristic “horse collar” from the neck and around the breast."
Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) (4)
- Reported Jan 18, 2026 07:45 by Janna Gaston
- Piedras Blancas Motel, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.2883166&<ll...>,-121.2883166 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295383884 - Media: 1 Video, 3 Photos
- Comments: "Two pair of small black & white alcids sitting on the water. Obvious pair bond and strong mate fidelity as individuals were swimming very close to each other in each pair. Dark caps, white faces, tiny bill, and upturned stubby tail."
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 18, 2026 11:01 by Andrew Sensenig
- Estero Bay pelagic--nearshore waters (SLO Co.), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9427955&<ll...>,-120.9427955 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295366254 - Comments: "Medium size alcid with rounded head and pointed dark bill. Dark above including wings which had a messy white patch in the wing coverts and with white underparts. Photos were taken."
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 18, 2026 11:01 by Ian Deas
- Estero Bay pelagic--nearshore waters (SLO Co.), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9427955&<ll...>,-120.9427955 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295336880 - Comments: "Medium size alcid with rounded head and pointed dark bill. Dark above including wings which had a messy white patch in the wing coverts and with white underparts. Photos were taken."
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 16, 2026 10:25 by George Phelps
- Estero Bay pelagic--nearshore waters (SLO Co.), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9427955&<ll...>,-120.9427955 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295372080 - Comments: "Curtis Marantz details: On our return toward port, I spotted this bird sitting on the water a short distance off the north end of the sandspit. We then circled the boat in an attempt to get better views, but the bird kept diving and traveling an extended distance underwater before resurfacing, which made it difficult to follow, and we soon lost track of it. I never saw this bird fly, but I did once see it raise up and flap its wings, showing the wing pattern from behind. Overall, my views were reasonable, but not exceptional and I managed to get a few mediocre photos along with several really bad ones.
This was a small to medium-sized alcid that stood out as both somewhat smaller than the murres that we had been seeing and different in shape from both the murres and auklets, but also noticeably larger than a murrelet. The bill was relatively slim and of medium length as it tapered from a base of medium depth to a pointed tip along a culmen that was weakly decurved. The forehead was moderately steep and the crown was rather strongly rounded, giving the head a dome-shaped appearance that was unlike that of either a murrelet or a murre. The head also appeared larger overall. The neck was relatively short, yet longer, and seemingly slimmer than that of a murrelet. The body saw higher on the water than that of a murrelet. I was unable to discern the structure of the closed wings, but when the bird flapped, they appeared to be of medium length, with broad bases, and rounded to weakly pointed tips. I cannot recall seeing the tail, and I never saw the belly, legs, or feet.
This was a rather boldly marked bird, with the head and upperparts mostly blackish, but the throat was white, and I think the foreneck was as well. I was less sure about the back and sides of the neck, but I thought they were probably dark like the head and back. I could see at least some white in the closed wing, but when the bird flapped, it exposed a relatively large panel of white across the secondary coverts on the upperwing, and one that had a conspicuous band of black through the middle, but I thought the reimages were dark. I also think the flanks were whitish, but I did not see them overly well, and could be wrong about this.
The bill was black and the eyes were sufficiently dark that they did not appear to contrast with the blackish plumage of the head. As noted above, I never saw the legs or feet."
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) (1)
- Reported Jan 20, 2026 07:20 by Andrew Fleming
- Morro Rock, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8670566&<ll...>,-120.8670566 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295348580 - Comments: "Continuing bird seen by many this weekend. Floating and diving in the harbor outflow around here (35.3691135, -120.8633963). Medium-small alcid with small pointy beak. Mottled black and white plumage."
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 19, 2026 09:09 by Morro Bay Bird Festival
- Morro Rock, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8670566&<ll...>,-120.8670566 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295336900 - Comments: "Previously reported bird, medium sized dark bird with white mottling on back white belly and no distinct markings on the face. Bird was feeding in the channel near buoy 6. Pictures taken."
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 19, 2026 09:09 by Pam Hickerson
- Morro Rock, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8670566&<ll...>,-120.8670566 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295352925 - Comments: "Previously reported bird, medium sized dark bird with white mottling on back white belly and no distinct markings on the face. Bird was feeding in the channel near buoy 6. Pictures taken."
Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 16, 2026 08:54 by Ira Blitz
- Morro Rock, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8670566&<ll...>,-120.8670566 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295378192 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Individual appearing unwell and low energy swimming at mouth of bay. Sides appeared dirty (oiled), but chin and face naturally blackly feathered, bill translucent orange. Seemed not to use left leg much for swimming, but others reported it diving for baitfish. Reportedly captured an hour later for rehab at local center."
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 16, 2026 07:27 by George Phelps
- Estero Bay pelagic--nearshore waters (SLO Co.), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9427955&<ll...>,-120.9427955 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295372140 - Comments: "Curtis Marantz details: My understanding was that this bird was initially spotted from the stern by Edell, after which we were able to get reasonable views of it on the water in good light before we continued on our way. Complicating matters to a degree was that this bird would dive and come up some distance away, but we never saw it take flight or even to flap its wings. I studied this bird only briefly, but managed to get a few reasonable photos, and even my views in the field were more than sufficient to identify the bird with confidence.
This was a relatively large grebe that seemed larger than a Rhinoceros Auklet, yet it was noticeably smaller than a nearby Western Gull that was sitting on the water. It was also a rather slim bird with a dagger-like bill that tapered from a base of medium depth to a pointed tip along a culmen that was straight to subtly decurved. The forehead was sloping and the crown had a somewhat flattened appearance back to a sharp junction with the nape, from which the back of the neck extended almost straight downward to the back. I further thought this bird’s head was larger overall than that of an Aechmophorus grebe, and also that the medium-length neck was stouter throughout its length than those of either an Aechmophorus or an Eared Grebe. The body was elongate and sitting low on the water, but I was too far away to see the structure of the closed wings or if the bird had a tail, and I never saw the belly, legs or feet.
My views were likewise sufficient only to see the overall patterns. But not the finer details of the plumage. The forehead and crown were sooty to dull blackish, and contrasting with lighter gray and whitish in the auriculars and the side of the neck immediately behind, but I cannot now recall if the white hooked upward behind the auriculars. I further think the throat was whitish, but the front and sides of the neck were a dull, reddish-brown in color, and the body appeared to be rather dark. I cannot recall if the flanks were paler than the back or even if I ever saw the undertail coverts. I noted quite clearly that the bill was mostly yellow in color, though I thought the culmen was dark. The eyes were probably dark, but I doubt I could be sure about their precise coloration, and as noted above, I never saw the legs or feet. Photos to be added."
California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) (3)
- Reported Jan 19, 2026 12:16 by Katie Rice
- 5165–5483 San Simeon Creek Rd, Cambria US-CA 35.63354, -121.05152, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.05152&<ll...>,-121.05152 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295279701 - Comments: "With Morrow Bay Bird Festival. Three adults soaring with turkey vultures. Great opportunity to compare size and upper wing coverts and underwing patches. Red head very bright."
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (1)
- Reported Jan 20, 2026 10:39 by Todd Easterla
- Piedras Blancas Light Station, Ragged Point US-CA 35.63909, -121.19633, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.19633&<ll...>,-121.19633 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295378886 - Comments: "Right away as I arrived within a few minutes, the bird started giving ratchet calls from a large Coffee Berry Bush. I could see it in a coffee, berry, bush, moving around could see it was all dark gray at times and could discern a black cap and a quick view of the chestnut under tail covers.. could not get any photos."
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 19, 2026 13:26 by Morro Bay Bird Festival
- San Simeon Point, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1946398&<ll...>,-121.1946398 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295367894 - Comments: "Bird seen in the coffee berry bush near the trail. Smaller than mocking bird but similar build. Overall gray except dark cap and rufous undertail coverts. Seen twice moving around in the bush."
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 19, 2026 13:26 by Lou McGonagill
- San Simeon Point, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1946398&<ll...>,-121.1946398 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295354444 - Comments: "Bird seen in the coffee berry bush near the trail. Smaller than mocking bird but similar build. Overall gray except dark cap and rufous undertail coverts. Seen twice moving around in the bush."
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 19, 2026 13:26 by Scott Terrill
- San Simeon Point, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1946398&<ll...>,-121.1946398 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295282789 - Comments: "Bird seen in the coffee berry bush near the trail. Smaller than mocking bird but similar build. Overall gray except dark cap and rufous undertail coverts. Seen twice moving around in the bush."
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 19, 2026 13:26 by Linda Terrill
- San Simeon Point, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1946398&<ll...>,-121.1946398 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295282824 - Comments: "Bird seen in the coffee berry bush near the trail. Smaller than mocking bird but similar build. Overall gray except dark cap and rufous undertail coverts. Seen twice moving around in the bush."
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 20, 2026 09:46 by Tom Edell
- Morro Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8624411&<ll...>,-120.8624411 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295404765 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing oriole seen everyday since initially found by Todd Easterla on Jan 17. Bob McCay and I first noticed a tiny oriole in a patch of bulrushes on the south side of the creek. It looked very small and looked all yellow. A took a few photos before it dropped into the bulrushes and then flew across the creek where it was seen briefly before we lost it. We alerted another observer that managed to see the bird as well. My photo shows an all yellow and green oriole with two white wingbars and white edged secondaries. The crown, nape, and back appear green and the face is yellow below and behind the eye. The bill has an obvious downward curve and the eye appears dark. Photo"
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