---------------------------------------------
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.
Sora (Porzana carolina) (1)
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 10:37 by Yamina Pressler
- Villa Creek--Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9688341&<ll...>,-120.9688341 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356369033 - Comments: "Stout roundish bird flushed up from sedges in marsh, flew across my field of view, then quickly disappeared back into the vegetation. Short, triangular bright yellow bill was striking as it flew by at close range. White rump also visible. Brownish gray overall. Flew quickly, did not vocalize. I was not able to get a photo or relocate."
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 13:24 by Isaiah Woodard
- 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/S356357909 - Comments: "Continuing. Seen foraging along the rocky intertidal just south of the trail exit initially, then flew north of the trail among 3 BLOY. White below, dark above, with black extending part-way down the breast. Remained despite heavy tidepooling traffic."
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 10:37 by Yamina Pressler
- Villa Creek--Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9688341&<ll...>,-120.9688341 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356369033 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Seen swimming in marsh. I first noticed the slender, delicate bill and dark red on neck. Only got low quality photos of bird with bill tucked in feathers. Presumably continuing, reported by MS yesterday 06/11/26."
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) (76) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 11, 2026 13:45 by Yamina Pressler
- Arroyo Grande Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6287241&<ll...>,-120.6287241 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356406215 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Mixed in with caspian terns and gulls. Most on beach adjacent to creek mouth, some in the creek. Counted x 1s, but may be a slight underestimate as it was a tight flock and some were behind a small dune. I counted in one scan across the beach and creek mouth. A small airplane flew over and flushed the group while I was taking photos after I did the count. I could not get all individuals in a photo due to lens and vantage point. Photos show subset of flock. Bill more orange than nearby caspian terns, but still thick. Shaggier crest with white top compared to slick black-capped caspian terns."
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 08:23 by Andrew Mickelson
- North Point Natural Area--Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8717568&<ll...>,-120.8717568 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356299783 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Noticed blending within a group of California Gulls and Heermann’s Gulls. Noted with white forehead, black roughed up crest, and a lighter orange bill."
White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 15:13 by Kathy Dale
- Villa Creek--Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9688341&<ll...>,-120.9688341 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356436597 - Media: 12 Photos
- Comments: "Found 2 other times by Maggie Smith. In wet marsh, long down curved bill,reddish body, long legs, pink at base of bill with white outline, photos."
White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 10:37 by Yamina Pressler
- Villa Creek--Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9688341&<ll...>,-120.9688341 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356369033 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Large burgundy/greenish bird with long downturned bill wading and foraging in marsh. Presumably continuing, reported by MS yesterday 06/11/26. Photos."
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 07:57 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/S356369413 - Comments: "Heard only once not long after I got out of my car and started walking the southern path. The call (a loud, harsh rik-rik-rik-rik) came from the reeds about 75-100 feet south of the large eucalyptus near the dirt parking area by the restrooms. There was a fisherman in a kayak near the area and I believe I heard the bird flush, and assume it flew to the southern end of the lake ( closer to Madonna Rd) since I didn’t see it cross the lake. Unable to get a recording or photo."
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 11, 2026 16:00 by Kevin Zimmer
- CA-46, Shandon US-CA 35.66154, -120.43649, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.436494&<ll...>,-120.436494 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356330485 - Comments: "Light-morph (or close to it) adult soared overhead as I was driving west on Hwy 46 near Shannon. Long, narrow wings tapered at tips, and held in a dihedral; dark hood over chest contrasted with pale belly; under wing linings whitish, contrasting with dark remiges lended a distinct two-toned look to the underwing."
Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 08:10 by Reef Comer
- Coon Creek Trail--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8808124&<ll...>,-120.8808124 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356363906 - Comments: "Breeds at this location in very small numbers and much more common in winter. First bird seen up close and at length at the MAWA spot and the second bird heard only singing just past third bridge. Very familiar with this species from NorCal. Tiny, dark brown, cryptic wren with noticeably short tail and pale brown eyebrow. Song incredibly complex, high, trilly, warbly, buzzy, and beautiful. May have heard a third bird calling, but couldn’t confirm."
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 13, 2026 05:47 by Ben Kolstad
- Hwy 41 at San Gabriel Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6749329&<ll...>,-120.6749329 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356663293 - Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "This is an evil stealthy bird with amazing powers of invisibility that, thankfully, do not extend to its trilled song. This bird flew back and forth, invisibly (or at least only when my attention was elsewhere), between the two tall multi-trunked sycamores on either side of San Gabriel. Once safely hidden, it sang tauntingly at me, the would-be observer. Since I arrived early, I was able to get a few seconds of recordings without (or at least with minimal) traffic noise.
Just as it does in the cypress swamps of Florida, where I’m more familiar with it, it seems to favor trees with plenty of lace lichen, whether maple in the east or sycamore here."
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 07:01 by Maggie Smith
- Hwy 41 at San Gabriel Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6749329&<ll...>,-120.6749329 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356350399 - Comments: "Anne had heard the Northern Parula singing. Gabe Rudy arrived and we heard the singing again. We all saw the bird for short periods. It moved constantly. I saw an adult male with blue-gray back, bright yellow throat, a black and chestnut band across the breast and white eye arcs. It's song was a rising, buzzy trill ending in a single sharp note. Others may have been able to photograph the bird."
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 07:01 by Kathy Dale
- Hwy 41 at San Gabriel Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6749329&<ll...>,-120.6749329 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356438350 - Comments: "Anne had heard the Northern Parula singing. Gabe Rudy arrived and we heard the singing again. We all saw the bird for short periods. It moved constantly. I saw an adult male with blue-gray back, bright yellow throat, a black and chestnut band across the breast and white eye arcs. It's song was a rising, buzzy trill ending in a single sharp note. Others may have been able to photograph the bird."
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jun 12, 2026 06:39 by Ann Stockert
- Hwy 41 at San Gabriel Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6749329&<ll...>,-120.6749329 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S356361612 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Very small short tailed warbler. Blue-gray above, bright yellow on throat and breast, and a black and rufous breast band, along with white underparts. Was singing and foraging in the top of a tall Sycamore. Very poor distant photo."
***********
You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
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/
