Date: 7/3/26 9:07 pm From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- Vaux's Swift (1 report)
- American Oystercatcher (1 report)
- Least Bittern (3 reports)
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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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Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jul 03, 2026 11:20 by Christine Hogue
- 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/S367196251 - Media: 2 Audio
- Comments: "Small elusive heron calling from the reeds along the east side of the lake by the brick BBQ. I was looking for the one I saw this morning with Bob M when I heard a new (to me) call sounding like an owl/frog/pigeon. Merlin did not give me an ID. I played a recording of a LEBI to see if it was what I was hearing. It was! The bird flew out and perched nearby. I didn’t get a photo because I was holding my phone. It had a dark blue-black head and back with rusty cheeks and sides of neck/chest with light under chin. Recordings."
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jul 03, 2026 09:19 by Bob McCay
- 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/S367097558 - Comments: "Small heron, black back with some red on sides and head. The colors were seen clearly. Seen with Christine Hogue looking west from the dock at the west end parking loop. It flew into the reeds around 50’ from us and then flew in and out, moving west. At one point it perched low in the reeds and gave a very clear look. It was too small and the wrong color for a Green Heron. Was not fast enough to get a photo."
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jul 03, 2026 07:39 by Christine Hogue
- Laguna Lake Park, San Luis Obispo US-CA 35.26574, -120.68344, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.683438&<ll...>,-120.683438 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S367198578 - Comments: "Small heron with rust colored neck and dark blue-black head & wings with reddish shoulders. Bob McCay and I saw it from the dock by the paved look. It was in the reeds and flew a bit north, quickly landed in the reeds, and a few min later, flew and hid again. I came back later and looked for it along the reeds heading south and confirmed our id. See my subsequent incidental post with recording."
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