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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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Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) (1)
- Reported Apr 27, 2026 19:45 by Michael Moss
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328763089 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing found by Ann Stockert earlier today mid size to smaller than a yellow leg bobbing and swooshing movement complete white eye ring off yellow olive legs dark brown shoulders with white spots breeding plumage see pic"
Seen in a small,, narrow pond adjacent to the road, immediately west of the large easternmost pond."
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) (1)
- Reported Apr 27, 2026 12:37 by Ann Stockert
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328629242 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Observed in first pond. Originally miss ID’d as a Yellowlegs in the field. After downloading photos fine pale speckling on dark wings and eyering became noticeable. Photos"
Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 27, 2026 11:38 by The Spotting Twohees
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328628383 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing in same oak Grove by stream crossing. Top of head and nape gray. Two white wing bars. Tail bobbing when perched.
Photo from Brian's Big Book of Blurry Birds"
Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 27, 2026 07:15 by Ann Stockert
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328602561 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Rare but probably regular. Ann and I were able to easily relocate this continuing bird in the same oaks and bottlebrush near “Casa Diablo” as found and seen previously. During our observation this individual spent its time flycatching both along the outer edge and within the oaks, swooping down frequently to catch low-flying insects. It was being rather active and moving around a wide area foraging mostly low but also to a lesser extent higher in the oaks, yet It did not allow close approach. However, this bird was not particularly skulky, and occasionally even perched in the open. This was a rather pale gray Empidonax flycatcher that exhibited a relatively rounded head and overall chunky shape. The bill was short and the lower mandible was almost if not entirely a pale yellow-orange color, while the upper mandible was darker. The throat, breast, and lores were pale while the belly, vent, and undertail coverts were similar in color but washed a pale yellow. Its mantle, nape, crown feathers, and rectricies were a pale brownish gray color. The wing coverts were primarily dark, however the median and greater secondary coverts were tipped pale creating double wingbars and the tertails and secondaries were also edged pale. The primary extension was relatively short compared to other Empids. This bird had a pale eyering that was evenly rounded and not almond-shaped, while the eye itself was dark. The tail was proportionately long for an Empid and was frequently dipped down unlike other species in this genus and more like the tail wag of Phoebes. The legs and feet appeared dark. This individual was rather vocal, and called frequently giving the typical sweet “whit” or “pwit” calls of this species. Our views were not prolonged, but were reasonable and we were able to spend an extended amount of time with this bird. Photos and (eventually) audio tba."
Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) (1)
- Reported Apr 26, 2026 16:05 by Terri Osborn
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328832275 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird found by Nick Belardes on 4/24/2026. The bird was brownish gray above, had dark wings with double white wing bars, bicolored bill that was dark above and yellow below with a dark tip, pale eye ring and whitish below with pale yellow wash on its belly. It was perched up high in a bottle brush tree and frequently flicked its tail down as it foraged in the tree."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1)
- Reported Apr 27, 2026 07:15 by Ann Stockert
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328602561 - Comments: "Rare but regular. KH was able to briefly see the continuing SY female foraging mid-height in the bottlebrush bordering the edge of the cluster of oaks just northwest of “Casa Diablo”. My views were brief, but I was able to note most features of this bird including the thin pale bill, dark legs with dull yellow foot soles, white central crown stripe, supercillium, eye ring, and throat, black median crown stripes and postocular stripe, grayish lores and cheek, and evenly black and white streaked back. In addition, the breast and belly were white and the sides and flanks had blurry black streaking and the flanks in particular had a slight buffy wash. The undertail coverts were white with extensive black streaking. The eye was dark. The rectrices and wing coverts were largely black, though the median and greater secondary coverts were pale-tipped, creating double white wingbars and the secondaries and primaries were edged white. The outer visible tertials were boldly edged white as well. It exhibited the typical foraging behavior of this species, crawling and switching back and forth across the trunk of the trees like a nuthatch. I did not hear this bird vocalize. I was also focused mostly on the Flycatcher, so did not attempt photos."
Orange-crowned Warbler (celata) (Leiothlypis celata celata) (1)
- Reported Apr 27, 2026 07:15 by Ann Stockert
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328602561 - Comments: "Rare but probably regular. We were able to relocate a continuing celata first seen yesterday when there was also a second bird present (KH). This individual was in the same place it was yesterday near the King court entrance. It spent most of its time foraging high and deep in Bottlebrush and eventually moved on with other warblers. Overall, this was a very dull Orange-crowned. The entire bird was a dull gray color, with the only color being confined to a pale yellow wash to the upper belly and breast. The bill was long and thin, the eye arcs were bright and pale, and the undertail was plain and not streaked. The legs, feet, bill, and eye were dark. This bird was silent to the best of my knowledge. Our views were prolonged and at a reasonable distance but were largely obscured. KH was able to get a few bad photos."
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) (Leiothlypis celata celata/orestera) (4)
- Reported Apr 27, 2026 07:15 by Ann Stockert
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328602561 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Scarce in spring but underreported. E/c x1s of “gray-headed” individuals seen in different sections of Bottlebrush in the middle of the park. Yesterday there was an apparent “fallout” of Orange-crowned Warblers here, with 100+ individuals present. At least 6 of those were “Gray-headed” individuals (KH). These birds were similar to the numerous lutescens Orange-crowned, but were smaller and duller paler green overall with paler and brighter more contrasting eye arcs and noticeable streaking on sides of the breast. Some individuals with paler vent than lutescens and at least partial gray hoods. Some birds undertails plain lime greenish and some similar but lightly and incompletely streaked olive. Several of these birds were vocal, giving chip calls higher pitched and sharper than the numerous lutescens. Overall good comparison between these birds and lutescens together. KH was able to get photos of a few individuals."
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's) (Setophaga coronata coronata x auduboni) (1)
- Reported Apr 27, 2026 09:30 by Ann Stockert
- Laguna Lake, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6903817&<ll...>,-120.6903817 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S328602430 - Comments: "Uncommon (and vastly underreported!). This alternate-plumaged male was seen foraging in the pine grove here: (35.265310, -120.684630). It appeared superficially similar to an Audubon’s, but showed a faint mask and supercillium, a more lightly-streaked (as opposed to mostly black) upper breast, and a reduced white secondary covert wing patch. Also, the throat was almost entirely yellow, but was completely bordered by a thin layer of white which extended slightly around the auriculars. It did not vocalize. KH was able to get a few bad photos."
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