---------------------------------------------
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.
Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal (hybrid) (Spatula discors x cyanoptera) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 18, 2026 09:15 by Tom Edell
- Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8422726&<ll...>,-120.8422726 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S310399648 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Male, probable adult given a bird looking like this one has been present in winter since Dec 2022 and possibly since Feb 2018"
Big, chocolate brown lump on the southernmost oyster platform, occasionally lifting its head as it preened, providing reassuring evidence I wasn't taking pictures of a pile of ropes. Super far away and I broke my lens yesterday so unfortunately all my photos are blurry, but the general impression of a duck instead of any other brown seabird (re: pelican) is there. In terms of narrowing it down from other female ducks; it seemed to be more uniformly brown and darker brown than other ducks. Additionally, the chest/neck area was lighter than the rest of the body, whereas I'd expect a pintail to show a marked contrast between lighter head and darker body, even at this great distance. If it was a fem scaup, at some point the white of the face would've been visible while she preened.
Given that this bird seems to like the platform, I feel good about the idea that she would be there over another bird, but if anyone has seen other brown ducks on the platform, I guess it's possible I got double unlucky."
Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica) (1)
- Reported Mar 18, 2026 12:06 by Alexander Yan
- North Point Natural Area--Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8717568&<ll...>,-120.8717568 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S310403674 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Just to get the word out, welcome any criticism and education. If real, continuing from CBC??? Phone scope (x45) pics attached. Seen with other loons offshore. Steep forehead, slightly smaller than COLO, and strong white flanks visible while swimming. Posture was different from RTLOs nearby, didn’t do the stereotypical Arctic loon head posture but it mostly just swam lazily with others. In scope I can see a grey nape, white scaling on the back, and do not recall any neck strap."
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 18, 2026 15:01 by Michael Mulroy
- CA-46, Paso Robles US-CA 35.66092, -120.45121, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.451213&<ll...>,-120.451213 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S310475044 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Returning adult to nest tree. Grayish-brown head and bib, whitish belly, primaries reached tail tip, tail with narrow bands and not red. Viewed with scope. Distant photo included."
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 18, 2026 15:01 by Will Knowlton
- CA-46, Paso Robles US-CA 35.66092, -120.45121, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.451213&<ll...>,-120.451213 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S310474591 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Returning adult to nest tree. Grayish-brown head and bib, whitish belly, primaries reached tail tip, tail with narrow bands and not red. Viewed with scope. Distant photo included."
Merlin (Prairie) (Falco columbarius richardsonii) (1)
- Reported Mar 16, 2026 08:26 by Lou McGonagill
- Carrizo Plain NM (use specific hotspots when available), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.810539&<ll...>,-119.810539 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S310414500 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Fem/imm at start of 7 Mile Rd. Slightly on the darker side for prairie, but field marks otherwise consistent."
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/
