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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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Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 30, 2026 11:00 by Robbie & Bob Revel
- 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/S315259405 - 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."
Western x Clark's Grebe (hybrid) (Aechmophorus occidentalis x clarkii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 27, 2026 08:44 by Robbie & Bob Revel
- Santa Margarita Lake, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.4874811&<ll...>,-120.4874811 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S315259622 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Photos and Notes by KH
*Rare. Seen while sorting through a raft of grebes here: (35.323208, -120.453683). There may have been a 1-2 more hybrids in the same raft as this one but they quickly dove when the raft was flushed by a passing boat (not us). It is also worth noting that we did see ~4 mixed grebe species pairs on the lake today.
This Aechmophorus grebe was mostly like Clark’s (having the orangey bill and paler flanks of that species), but also had somewhat of a thicker hind neck stripe that is more typical of Western. Most striking, however, was that the dark hood extended down below and completely encompassed the eye, extending into a point nearly connecting to the bill gape.
This bird did not appear to be paired up like most grebes were/are at this point. We studied this bird for about a minute at a reasonably close distance before a passing boat flushed the raft. MB and I were able to get photos."
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (2)
- Reported Mar 31, 2026 07:49 by Will Knowlton
- 10827–10891 CA-46 E, Paso Robles US-CA (35.6586,-120.4893), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.489259&<ll...>,-120.489259 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S315369260 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Pair observed nest building. One adult was doing most of the nest building, while the other adult perched nearby and sometimes made short flights to the nest. The nest is located about a half mile from this location. A scope is needed for viewing. Distant scope photos included that show the dark bib and white chin of one of the adults. Both were observed flying and showed long, pointed wings with white underwing coverts in flight."
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) (1)
- Reported Mar 31, 2026 09:33 by Ann Stockert
- Cerro Alto Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7491446&<ll...>,-120.7491446 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S315410272 - Comments: "Early but not unexpected as it has thus far been a good early spring for this and some other species. This unseen bird was heard briefly from the upper part of the road giving several typical burry “ka-breer” calls. It sounded far off on a nearby hill but still close enough to clearly identify. No photos or audio recordings were attempted."
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 27, 2026 08:44 by Robbie & Bob Revel
- Santa Margarita Lake, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.4874811&<ll...>,-120.4874811 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S315259622 - Comments: "Notes by KH
*Early, but not that unexpected as it has thus far been a good early spring for this and some other species. This unseen bird was heard briefly from the boat giving several typical burry “ka-brick” calls from here: (35.322242, -120.446106). I am not sure whether or not others were able to hear this bird; a nearby thrasher singing at the same time did not help. No photos or audio recordings were attempted."
Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens) (3)
- Reported Mar 31, 2026 09:33 by Ann Stockert
- Cerro Alto Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7491446&<ll...>,-120.7491446 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S315410272 - Comments: "Slightly early, and a rather high count for March. One ASY male was seen initially feeding in the oak canopy ~20 yards along the Boy Scout Trail from the first parking lot, and then later two more ASY males were seen in a warbler flock ~100 yards up the road from the first parking lot. The first bird was mostly seen from below, and we were able to note the mostly white underparts with dark blobby streaked down the sides and onto the flanks and the pale undertail with dark edges. We were able to see the head more clearly as it foraged, noting the entirely black throat, auriculars, and crown that contrasted with the bright white malar and supercillium. Also visible was the small yellow supraloral spot of this species, a small dark bill, and dark legs and feet. This individual caught a fly or winged insect of some sort and was last seen flying towards the lower parking lot. The other two ASY males were seen much closer and at eye level in willows and small oaks and showed all characteristics mentioned in the first individual in addition to dark-streaked backs bluish-gray backs, wing coverts, and tail, as well as double white wingbars. All birds were vocal giving flat “chup” calls and at least one singing a typical buzzy “zeedle zeedle zeedle zeet-chee” song. I (KH) was able to get photos of the first bird and Ann was able to get photos of at least one if not both of the later birds."
Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Mar 27, 2026 08:44 by Robbie & Bob Revel
- Santa Margarita Lake, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.4874811&<ll...>,-120.4874811 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S315259622 - Comments: "Early, though not overly surprising given what has thus far been an early spring for this and several other species.
I (KH) first noticed this bird upon hearing an interesting song emanating from a small stand of pines from the boat as we were slowly moving along the lake edge around here: (35.325050, -120.456180). The song was similar to Townsend’s to my ear, but clearly less buzzy with more of a ringing quality, etc.
My view of this bird was brief and not very good, but I was able to see what appeared to be a small grayish warbler with wing bars and what appeared to probably be a yellow face lacking a dark cheek patch (not seen overly well), a definite pale breast lacking any yellow color below the throat, pale flanks lacking any sort of streaking, and white outer tail feathers. This bird did appear to have a good amount of black in the throat (and was singing) indicating a male, but I was unable to see the extent of black in the throat and whether or not there were dark centers or molt limits in the median secondary wing coverts so I am not sure whether it was a SY or ASY bird.
Almost immediately upon locating the bird in the small stand of pines it flew to an adjacent Oak before flying back and out of sight. I believe one or two people may have heard the bird singing but I believe I was the only person to see the bird, unfortunately. No photos were attempted and we did not linger."
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