Date: 6/8/26 4:45 am From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- Lesser Scaup (2 reports)
- King Eider (2 reports)
- Long-tailed Duck (1 report)
- Common Goldeneye (1 report)
- Vaux's Swift (1 report)
- American Oystercatcher (1 report)
- Western Sandpiper (1 report)
- Black Skimmer (1 report)
- Vesper Sparrow (1 report)
- American Redstart (1 report)
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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 Jun 07, 2026 09:57 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Corner of Pasadena Drive & Santa Lucia Avenue, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8422319&<ll...>,-120.8422319 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S354240983 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing female sea duck with tawny-brown plumage and a sloping, all-black bill. Initially observed the duck resting and preening on a narrow mudflat with exposed eelgrass approximately 300 yards west of the point and about 150 yards south of its favored oyster-farm loafing barge. As the tide rose, the duck shifted into feeding mode, spending the next 20 minutes or so 'grubbing" the mud in very shallow water to pull eelgrass to consume along with other food items.
Toward the end of my visit, the bird swam back to its usual loafing barge near the oyster rigging closest to the point. It attempted to fly up a few feet onto the deck but was unsuccessful. After swimming around the barge, it tried again and successfully reached the deck. When I departed, the duck was loafing/preening on the barge deck with with a group of Brown Pelicans."
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1)
- Reported Jun 07, 2026 10:38 by Vivek Madasu
- Morro Bay SP--Marina/Boardwalk Trail, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8418006&<ll...>,-120.8418006 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S354195938 - Comments: "Admittedly don't know too much about ID for this species, but saw a duck looked similar to photos by Michael Moss. All brown, with large blackish bill. Seen at mouth of marina when walking west on Marina peninsula trail, but I lost it once I arrived at the mouth to try to get a photo."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 07, 2026 09:06 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Anchor Memorial Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8540039&<ll...>,-120.8540039 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S354259054 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "The continuing female-type was brown on the upperparts and sides, and white below with brown blotching on the face and neck. It was first observed loafing on the sand spit on the west bank of the harbor with a flock of Red-breasted Mergansers and Surf Scoters before flushing into the harbor channel when a kayaker approached too closely. Once on the water, brief views of the wing plumage indicated that the bird was undergoing molt."
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) (1)
- Reported Jun 06, 2026 08:39 by Vivek Madasu
- Rancho Marino Reserve (restricted access), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.0897564&<ll...>,-121.0897564 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S354058144 - Comments: "I clearly heard it singing in the field, IDed by sound and confirmed by Merlin. Wanted to look and find, but was helping out with DeAnza Marine bio camping trip so too busy."
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