---------------------------------------------
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.
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1)
- Reported Jan 31, 2026 07:55 by Ronald Beck
- 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/S297288002 - Comments: "Continuing rarity, found on the same large floating dock, of the southern most oyster farm, as reported by Tom Edell yesterday. A very long distance view from the boardwalk. Today I had a better angle of view, better lighting, lack of mist, and no heat shimmer. Large warm-brown duck, with sloped forehead."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 30, 2026 08:46 by Tom Edell
- 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/S297081868 - Comments: "Distant bird (0.7 mile) identified by size, shape, and location. Appeared as a large brown duck with a rounded crown that sloped down to the bill tip. It was on a large dock/float at the southern most oyster farm. This is the third time I've seen this bird from the boardwalk, the other two I confirmed the species by driving to Pasadena Ave where I scoped the bird. This time I declined to drive there for further confirmation. This is apparently an adult female. It first found swimming out of the old Chorro Creek channel, then at the same oyster farm in August 2025. At that time the primaries and tertials were reduced to shafts (https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/640736642). It was found again at the oyster farm in October 2025 and at that time had newly replaced primaries and tertials (https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/643185485). It disappeared again but was found in the surf off the Morro Bay Sandspit in mid-December 2025 (https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/646941835), but was not seen there again. I reappeared in the Chorro Creek channel on January 17 and 19, 2026 (https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/649322325) and has since returned to the oyster farm (https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/649616420) though when it is not there it is probably foraging."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1)
- Reported Jan 31, 2026 10:16 by Ann McDowell
- Pasadena Park Beach, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8440733&<ll...>,-120.8440733 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S297289778 - Comments: "Seen through Yasmin’s scope in water swimming near dock. Did a bit of carpet bagging, stopped by to have a look in Pasadena Park, and Yasmin was set up with scope and had bird in focus. Was able to get a quick look."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1)
- Reported Jan 31, 2026 09:54 by Yamina Pressler
- Pasadena Park Beach, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8440733&<ll...>,-120.8440733 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S297286842 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing female, brown duck spotted sitting on the dock of the oyster farm. I spent quite some time looking for her in the waters around the oyster farm, only to eventually spot her sitting up on the dock exactly where others had photographed her a few days ago. She wandered around a bit and then flushed up when a gull landed on the dock. I relocated her in the water and tracked her with the scope for some time. She meandered around the oyster farm buoys, diving periodically, and eventually hopped up on another platform to preen. I was able to observe her steep, sloped forehead and dark bill. Low res photos through scope."
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 30, 2026 10:25 by Mike Bush
- 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/S297084097 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Medium-sized gull seen perched tightly among shorebirds, only seen from the back with looks at the side of the head. Mantle soft gray, wingtip extensions black. The front of the head mostly white with dark smudging at nape and around the eye."
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 30, 2026 08:46 by Tom Edell
- 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/S297081868 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "First winter bird on the mudflat that was seen from the most NW bench along the Morro Bay SP boardwalk. The same bird has been seen several times along the Morro Bay Sandspit and once nearshore during a Morro Bay Bird Festival half-day pelagic boat trip. This bird has been well documented with photos (https://media.ebird.org/catalog?sort=upload_date_desc&searchField=species®ionCode=US-CA-079&taxonCode=laugul&beginYear=2026&endYear=2026)"
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) (20) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 29, 2026 15:03 by Jeanne Miller
- The Lakes--Private Property, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.67129&<ll...>,-120.67129 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S297227845 - Media: 7 Photos
- Comments: "Rufous crown, pale face with line through the eye. Photos.
Two birders with me independently counted by ones as I was taking photos. When I was complete w/photos, I stepped back to join them, and the birds all flew from the deciduous tree to another tree. Seeing all the birds at once allowed each of us to feel comfortable with the count."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1)
- Reported Jan 31, 2026 07:55 by Nick & Jane
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S297286984 - Comments: "Continuing female. This pale-throated black-and-white plumaged warbler with a black spotted white undertail was a difficult find today. After searching all over the eastern park area, I briefly saw her in a sycamore near the playground, then a little pine. Then after searching and searching, found her in an oak nuthatching her way up thick branches next to the creek. We think she may have flown back to the sycamores. This is Nick’s fourth sighting this year of this continuing celeb. Probably poor photos—she was deep in tangles of branches."
***********
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/
