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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 Apr 22, 2026 11:11 by Robbie & Bob Revel
- 1143 Pasadena Drive, Baywood-Los Osos, California, US (35.331, -120.843), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8431758&<ll...>,-120.8431758 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S325635188 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Lightly colored chest, brown otherwise. Heavy duck with a black bill, perched on sandbar at a very low tide."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 22, 2026 11:11 by Lisa Ankenbrandt
- 1143 Pasadena Drive, Baywood-Los Osos, California, US (35.331, -120.843), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8431758&<ll...>,-120.8431758 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S325696358 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Lightly colored chest, brown otherwise. Heavy duck with a black bill, perched on sandbar at a very low tide."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 22, 2026 11:11 by Mike Bush
- 1143 Pasadena Drive, Baywood-Los Osos, California, US (35.331, -120.843), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8431758&<ll...>,-120.8431758 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S325623984 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Lightly colored chest, brown otherwise. Heavy duck with a black bill, perched on sandbar at a very low tide."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 22, 2026 11:11 by Mark Mushkat
- 1143 Pasadena Drive, Baywood-Los Osos, California, US (35.331, -120.843), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8431758&<ll...>,-120.8431758 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S325681720 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Lightly colored chest, brown otherwise. Heavy duck with a black bill, perched on sandbar at a very low tide."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 22, 2026 11:11 by Debra Cherry
- 1143 Pasadena Drive, Baywood-Los Osos, California, US (35.331, -120.843), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8431758&<ll...>,-120.8431758 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S325664107 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Lightly colored chest, brown otherwise. Heavy duck with a black bill, perched on sandbar at a very low tide."
Hammond's Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 22, 2026 07:51 by Tom Edell
- 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/S325624593 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "This distant bird was perched in the leafless upper branches of a Coast Live Oak. The pale underparts, small bill, peaked gray head, thin white eyering, and long primary extension all pointed to Hammond's Flycatcher. The photos show a gray throat and vest with a streak of yellow continuing up from the belly that separated at least the lower portion of the vest. No calls were heard."
Hammond's Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 21, 2026 18:00 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/S325317639 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Small gray Empidonax with long primary projection, bold white eye ring, flat topped head, and shortish tail. Gave frequent pip calls. Very poor photo’s due to weather conditions, and lighting. Will also try and upload an audio clip."
Hammond's Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) (2)
- Reported Apr 21, 2026 17:27 by Reef Comer
- 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/S325328612 - Comments: "One heard calling almost immediately upon entering campground and quickly got on it. Flew into pine, where a second individual was already perched, but chased it off. The second bird continued to call, but much further back in campground. Thankfully one bird stuck around closer for awhile after.
Both small, gray empids with flat-topped head with peak on back, short bill with very limited pale base, bold white eyering, vest like appearance on breast, and relatively long primary projection. Both birds giving sharp, abrupt peep/peek calls. Think Ann got decent recordings. Rare, but expected in spring migration here."
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 22, 2026 07:32 by Ann Stockert
- W. Ormande Road at Pismo Creek, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.620181&<ll...>,-120.620181 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S325530570 - Comments: "Slightly late. I briefly heard the “typewriter” call of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet coming from the oaks closer to Price Canyon Road while trying to listen for the wintering Ovenbird. The call was a fast-paced short series of “jid-di-dit” calls. I briefly mentioned the bird, but I do not know if Ann was able to hear the bird. Regardless, I did not pay much more attention to this bird as again I was mainly focused on the Ovenbird. I did not see the bird and no audio was attempted."
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) (1)
- Reported Apr 22, 2026 07:32 by Ann Stockert
- W. Ormande Road at Pismo Creek, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.620181&<ll...>,-120.620181 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S325530570 - Comments: "Very rare. Ann and I were able to hear but not see the continuing Ovenbird singing from dense riparian this morning. We heard this bird almost immediately upon arrival singing from deep in the riparian from the south side of the bridge. It sounded as though the bird was singing from the upper understory, though I am not certain. This presumably wintering individual continued to sing a slightly shorter and somewhat hesitant version of the classic Ovenbird 8-12 note (~6 notes in this bird) “tea-cheer tea-cheer tea-cheer” song that became louder after the first few notes and ended abruptly. Singing a more hesitant and/or shorter song is more typical of a lingering wintering bird. Unlike yesterday, it did not sing any more typical longer phrases. I (KH) briefly saw this bird several times yesterday as well, but we did not see it today (see my (KH) eventual checklist for yesterday describing plumage details). Overall it seemed less active this morning compared to yesterday, but like yesterday it was singing consistently and was relatively easy to hear although the song wasn’t particularly loud (I attribute this to the bird being farther back in the willows). I believe Ann was able to get several recordings, but I do not know how useful they will be. I expect this bird to depart any day now…"
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