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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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King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Feb 28, 2026 07:49 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/S304758670 - Comments: "Distant large and husky duck on oyster farm floating dock. Too distant to see any detail other than size and shape. For what its worth, I've seen and identified this duck from this location in the past and then confirmed the ID from Baywood Park."
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Feb 27, 2026 17:35 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/S304823421 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Large gull that flew by at close range. I got a few quick and poorly composed photos in low light. When it flew by, I noticed dark bill and boundary between white face and grayish neck. Upon reviewing photos more closely and consulting reference texts, I noticed gray wash on neck and sides, white crescents around eye, and black on outer tail."
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) (3) CONFIRMED
- Reported Feb 27, 2026 17:40 by Petra Clayton
- Morro Bay SP--Natural History Museum, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8437825&<ll...>,-120.8437825 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S304449758 - Media: 1 Video, 15 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing species on the bay since 2/21/26 (Ron Beck).
Better views than earlier this afternoon, but still at a distance on the mudflat at the edge of the channel. --- White face, front neck and breast; black cap and mantle; long black wings giving them a sort of boat shape, when viewed from the side in a resting position; bicolored bill. --- When observed in flight as they were skimming the water in fading sunlight: White underwings with black wingtips; black upperwings with a white trailing edge; white tail with a tapered black center; lower mandible longer than upper mandible.
Click on the image below for a Flickr video, which includes views of the skimmers in flight:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/55120316741/in/dateposted-public/" title="Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger), Morro Bay, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/55120316741_0fc413b061_z.jpg" alt="Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger), Morro Bay, CA" /></a>"
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) (3) CONFIRMED
- Reported Feb 27, 2026 15:25 by Petra Clayton
- Morro Bay SP--Natural History Museum, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8437825&<ll...>,-120.8437825 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S304441075 - Media: 1 Video, 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing species on the bay since 2/21/26 (Ron Beck).
Initially two individuals were viewed through a scope at distance on the mudflat at the edge of the channel. Later three individuals came into view. --- White face, front neck and breast; black cap and mantle; long black wings giving them a sort of boat shape, when viewed from the side in a resting position. Could not make out the bill shape and color."
Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Feb 28, 2026 08:50 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/S304658421 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing. Short visit to forage for seeds and a quick drink at the fountain. As typical, loosely associating with WCSP and GCSP. First reported Dec. 12, 2025."
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