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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 Mar 29, 2026 10:02 by Andrea Williams
- Morro Bay Estuary (use more specific location(s) when possible), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8501072&<ll...>,-120.8501072 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314870315 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing female - Large sea duck with sturdy build was nearly all brown except for dark barring on breast, white arm-pits, limited white on underwing and black sloping bill. Observed swimming about .25mi north of oyster farm before taking flight east to mudflat to loaf with a growing flock of Double-created cormorants. All aboard treated to exciting views of the duck on the water and tasking flight."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Mar 30, 2026 12:44 by Robbie & Bob Revel
- 500 San Simeon-Monterey Creek Road, Cambria, California, US (35.595, -121.125), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1245832&<ll...>,-121.1245832 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314932072 - Comments: "White belly, dark back, small bill, smallish head. Distinctive White face. Dark on lower cheek.LTDU was swimming and diving in the creek underneath the bridge over highway 1."
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) (1)
- Reported Mar 30, 2026 10:01 by Ann Stockert
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314975218 - Comments: "Rare but regular. Ann and I (KH) had been looking through what I can only describe as a “flock” of warblers for about five minutes at the beginning of the maintenance road when an (at least mostly) alternate-plumaged Tennessee Warbler appeared suddenly in the willow understory on the west side of the road. I was able to note the emerald green back contrasting with the pale grayish underside and head and pale supercillium of this species. The bill was thin and short. It appeared as though this bird was raggedy and in molt and that there were some buffy feathers on the side of the breast, but I am not certain of this based on my very brief view and also not certain as to whether or not that would be retained basic or newly replaced alternate. We did hear it giving sweet chip calls both before and just after seeing this bird, sounding similar to a Yellow Warbler’s chip calls but higher pitched and sharper.
It only appeared for a split second before flying across the road and out of sight. Our views of this bird were good and unobstructed, but were also extremely brief.
This is certainly a wintering individual as opposed to some early migrant of sorts. Unfortunately due to the brevity of the observation, no photos were taken."
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) (Leiothlypis celata celata/orestera) (2)
- Reported Mar 30, 2026 10:01 by Ann Stockert
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314975218 - Comments: "Continuing lingering wintering birds….
Ann and I were able to relocate these two SY birds in the same locations that I (KH) had them on March 22nd with one in the native garden and one at the base of the peninsula.
These two Orange-crowned were noticeably duller than expected in bright green L. c. lutescens at this time of year, and both had brighter pale eye arcs as well. The breast and upper belly of these birds was lightly streaked and the undertail was very weakly and sparsely streaked olive, far less so and weaker than L. c. sordida and more than L. c. lutescens. Both birds were in active molt on 3/22 and had some retained grayish formative feathers on the head - today it appeared as though most of any retained formative plumage has been replaced. I suspect both individuals pertain to L. c. orestera over L. c. celata (nominate), but I cannot be certain. Both birds were silent.
My view of both birds was decent, and I briefly attempted to photograph both of these birds but was unsuccessful and I believe Ann was as well."
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's) (Setophaga coronata coronata x auduboni) (4)
- Reported Mar 30, 2026 10:01 by Ann Stockert
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314975218 - Comments: "Uncommon, and vastly underreported. This is somewhat of a high count of this intergrade especially considering the rather low number of YRWAs present here today.
All four of these birds were seen at various times while watching the warbler “flock” at the beginning of the maintenance road. All appeared to be new birds and different from the 2-3 KH has seen here within the last week.
Bird 1: This SY(?) male was similar to Myrtle but had a reduced weaker supercillium and slightly pale yellow-tinged throat that did not extend around the auriculars as much as expected in pure Myrtle. Also, the dark breast patch was reduced in size and mostly limited to the upper breast almost creating a “breast band”.
Bird 2: This ASY(?) female looked essentially like Audubon’s but the edges of the throat were pale and extended obviously around the auriculars.
Bird 3: This ASY(?) male looked similar to Audubon’s but had faint pale edges to the yellow throat extending around the auriculars, a faint dark mask, and faint remnants of a supercillium.
Bird 4: This SY(?) female looked similar to Audubon’s but had a mostly pale throat with a yellow splotch in the center. This is ok for “pure” Audubon’s in the fall, but in this individual the pale throat was a brighter, more contrasting white than expected in an immature Audubon’s. Additionally, the pale edges of the throat extended partially around the auriculars.
At least one of these birds was heard giving a chip call that sounded intermediate between Myrtle and Audubon’s.
Our view of all birds varied between good point blank views and obscured views further back in the willow understory, but regardless we still were able to study all individuals for a reasonable amount of time.
Unfortunately these birds did largely stay deep in the willow understory which made obtaining photographs difficult, and we were ultimately unsuccessful in our attempts to photograph these birds."
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) (1)
- Reported Mar 30, 2026 10:01 by Ann Stockert
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314975218 - Comments: "Rare but regular. Ann and I were able to relocate this continuing SY male Summer Tanager in a pine near the amphitheater area, although it eventually flew back towards the native garden. It appeared to be eating bees.
This was a uniformly dull mustard-colored Tanager with green and orange tones as well. I was able to see the large horn-colored beak of this species and lack of wing bars. There was splotchy red feathers on the head, breast, rump, vent, and possibly back of this bird.
It was silent during this observation. My views were good, unobstructed, and reasonably close as well. KH has pics."
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