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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 Mar 25, 2026 10:00 by Roger Hammer
- Villa Creek--Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9688341&<ll...>,-120.9688341 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S313104381 - Comments: "20 yards away and afforded good view for 10 min until swam further away from shore into the dense fog. No ability to see anything once past 50 yards out. Distinctive compared to nearby SUSC. Smaller, rounder head and bill with yellow base, not as bulbous knobby as SUSC or even adult BLSC but no white on bill, just some black on the sides and tip. No white on back of head either. body color not black but dark brown."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 24, 2026 12:15 by Petra Clayton
- San Simeon Creek Mouth/Beach, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1267052&<ll...>,-121.1267052 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S312884596 - Media: 1 Video, 18 Photos
- Comments: "Female continuing since 12/1/2025 (Reef Comer). Not reported at this location from 1/1/26 to 2/5/26.
Round head; white face and neck; dark crown stripe continuing to nape; dark cheek patch that extends from the nape to the chin; bluish bill with dark nail; short bluish legs, that match the bill color.
Today observed for the first time out of the water. She was standing on shore at the southern creek bank, west of the Highway One bridge, where she was preening for an extended length of time before briefly taking a short flight into the creek. She continued preening there and then returned to shore to resume preening. When she walked a bit with her short legs it seemed awkward. Later she was observed diving in the creek as she was foraging.
Click on the image below for a Flickr video:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack-petra-clayton/55169166313/in/dateposted-public/" title="Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), San Simeon, CA"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/55169166313_9d7569dbf6_z.jpg" alt="Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), San Simeon, CA" /></a>"
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) (7) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 25, 2026 09:47 by Phillip Stosberg
- Carrizo Plain NM--Soda Lake Boardwalk, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.9035556&<ll...>,-119.9035556 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S313057402 - Comments: "Exact count of this iconic and unmistakable shorebird. Dark backs, very long and skinny legs, and needle-like bill (impossible to misidentify). Photos."
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/
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