Date: 7/17/26 5:45 pm From: Nick Lethaby via groups.io <nlethaby...> Subject: [sbcobirding] More shorebirds, including a White-rumped Sandpiper (not chaseable)
All,
In addition to the birds reported by Florence at COPR and Jamie at the SMRE, there was a Lesser Yellowlegs and 3 (Lynn S had 6 earlier) Wilson's Plovers at Devereux. I had a Solitary Sandpiper a couple of days back at Laguna Blanca. Shorebird numbers were clearly up (except for Westerns) at the SYRE yestesrday as well, with season highs for pretty much every species I saw there. So it appears things are finally taking off.
A few days ago, there was an adult White-rumped Sandpiper at the Santa Ynez River Estuary. I could not release the information due it being only visible from base property. It appeared to move on that day and has not been seen subsequently, despite some checking. Some photos are on this blog entry:
On Friday, July 17th, 2026 at 5:09 PM, Jamie Chavez via groups.io <almiyi...> wrote:
> Even more on shorebirds from the Santa Maria River mouth today. This included a Red Knot, a sizeable flock of Western Sandpipers, and a few Red-necked Phalaropes. Also present was a Common Tern. Confirmed breeding Eared Grebe for the CA Bird Atlas. Most birds were toward the northern end, or what might be considered in SLO. Curiously, there was a 3" white egg sitting on the edge of the estuary shoreline. Anyone want to take a stab at which species might be involved? > > https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S373239714 > > Jamie M. Chavez > Santa Maria, CA > > On Friday, July 17th, 2026 at 3:38 PM, Florence Sanchez via groups.io <sanchezucsb11...> wrote: > >> I have been walking COP Beaches very early in the morning this week. It's been nice to pick up returning species like Sanderlings, Least Sandpiper, and Black Turnstone, while seeing the numbers increase a little each day for Western Sandpipers, SB Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers, and all the large shorebirds. Today I found an adult Surfbird at the western edge of the reef. I think this is quite early for this species. >> >> Also present today were four adult, clean California Gulls. Last year a few of these gulls over-summered, but this year, they have been scarce. >> >> Florence Sanchez > > -- > Jamie Chavez > Santa Maria, CA >
