Date: 6/1/26 6:06 pm From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- American Wigeon (1 report)
- Vaux's Swift (1 report)
- American Oystercatcher (2 reports)
- Royal Tern (2 reports)
- White-faced Ibis (1 report)
- Lewis's Woodpecker (2 reports)
- Kentucky Warbler (1 report)
- American Redstart (1 report)
---------------------------------------------
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.
eBird encourages safe, responsible birding. Some reports may be from private property. Respect access restrictions and follow the rules wherever you bird. For more information, visit the eBird and Merlin Community Guidelines: https://ebird.org/community-guidelines. Stay connected to the global birding community with eBird Updates: https://mailchi.mp/cornell/ebird-updates-sign-up-page.
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) (1)
- Reported May 31, 2026 08:43 by Andrew Fleming
- West Hazard Canyon--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8812916&<ll...>,-120.8812916 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S350620302 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Celebrity bird continuing since 5/25. This time it was foraging on a reef a bit south from Hazard Canyon, instead of north. Around here (35.2859730, -120.8844999). Watched it feeding on reef creatures along with two Black Oystercatchers. Sounds like it’s “American enough” on the hybrid scale according to other reports. Took some low quality digibin photos."
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) (1)
- Reported May 26, 2026 08:30 by Gabriel Rudy
- West Hazard Canyon--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8812916&<ll...>,-120.8812916 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S347300210 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Initially considered this individual as a potential hybrid (American × Black Oystercatcher) and held the record pending further review. After consulting with other more experienced birders, reviewing various online resources, and considering the Jehl scale, the consensus is that this individual falls within the lower threshold of characteristics consistent with an American Oystercatcher. Although most American Oystercatchers observed along the California coast exhibit some degree of hybridization, this individual appears to possess sufficient defining features to support classification as an American Oystercatcher."
Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported May 31, 2026 13:29 by Lisa Gattuso
- 5525 Shell Creek Road, Santa Margarita, California, US (35.485, -120.329), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.3290996&<ll...>,-120.3290996 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S350549350 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "dark woodpeckers with pale red and washed gray breast flying in and out of large dead oak tree snags and nearby pine tree. photos to come
Alex Y. helped us to locate these birds"
Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported May 31, 2026 13:29 by Jan Bugge
- 5525 Shell Creek Road, Santa Margarita, California, US (35.485, -120.329), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.3290996&<ll...>,-120.3290996 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S350550388 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "dark woodpeckers with pale red and washed gray breast flying in and out of large dead oak tree snags and nearby pine tree.
Alex Y. helped us to locate these birds"
Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa) (1)
- Reported May 29, 2026 06:10 by Paul Hicks
- Cambria: Cambria Pines Rd, etc, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1068116&<ll...>,-121.1068116 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S351110350 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "**On return down Cambria Pines Rd around 7:30 I heard a loud, simple song not heard on the way up: 4 notes, sometimes 5, pretty much on same pitch, with hint of doubled syllables, and little separation between notes. Though it superficially resembled a simple MacGillivray’s Warbler song (eg, a somewhat dark/throaty ringing undertone), it was much too loud/bold and a tad higher pitched. I quickly realized this was an unfamiliar eastern bird: I entertained waterthrush and KEWA (but wrong habitat), Carolina Wren and Ovenbird. I guessed and played audio of KEWA and the bird immediately responded. My initial impression at first momentary glimpse was yellowthroat (yellow throat & dark in eye area, but it seemed too large), then chat; but the habitat didn’t fit either one. It sang almost nonstop mostly from a young pine about 10 feet up (terribly backlit and only partially visible), crossed the road a couple times into large pines (but allowed no view), then finally seemed to settle closer to the ground beneath the young pines and in the grasses where I could get marginal pics with my cell phone. Besides distinctive voice, including two types of call notes, recognized by bold dark line/mask below eye dropping down to frame clear, bright yellow throat. I contacted Murray Berner, a Bay Area birder, who passed the word to John Sterling and Ann Stockert and others. Apparently later in the day 5 local birders scoured the location, 6760 Cambria Pines Rd and vicinity, but could not relocate it."
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/
