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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 Aug 09, 2026 17:44 by Carol Comeau
- Mitchell Drive, Private Residence (not open to the public, Los Osos US-CA 35.32170, -120.84943, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.849428&<ll...>,-120.849428 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S382273674 - Comments: "Continuing female, seen at distance through a scope. Large duck out of the water, resting on the floating structure near the southern oyster barge, where she has been frequently observed. Large head with a sloping bill profile; overall brownish plumage, lighter/paler around the head and chest."
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 09, 2026 10:21 by Michael Moss
- Shark Inlet, Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8653633&<ll...>,-120.8653633 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S381751348 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "first observed through scope with black legs and short straight stout bill but waited till I reviewed the picture to add the observation. Shades of brown not rufous."
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 10, 2026 18:25 by Michael Moss
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S382125202 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing observed at first by Reef mixed with westerns and least one at each pond short stout straight bills with black legs brown tones instead of rufous pics tba"
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 10, 2026 18:25 by The Spotting Twohees
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S382126568 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing observed at first by Reef mixed with westerns and least one at each pond short stout straight bills with black legs brown tones instead of rufous pics tba"
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (2)
- Reported Aug 10, 2026 17:55 by Reef Comer
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S382156178 - Comments: "Both juvenile birds. One in first pond, the other in last big pond further up road. Small, compact, pale grayish-brown peeps with scaly pattern on upperside, white below, brownish wash on breast, darkish cap, stubby, straight bill, and black legs. Seen very well in Mike’s scope!"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (9)
- Reported Aug 10, 2026 07:03 by The Kingbirder
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S382020196 - Comments: "**Very much expected, but high. New personal high count for SLO! Very careful e/c by 1s, essentially all in different parts of the campground, most looking slightly different, and not ranging widely so I am confident that the count of 9 is accurate. I assume at least several if not most are continuing birds that I observed here last Monday (8/3). There was one at the Native Garden (35.108938, -120.627754), one by the amphitheater (35.109778, -120.628453), two on the maintenance road (35.111054, -120.626989, 35.112014, -120.626898), and 5 on the Norswing drive trail (1 north (35.110775, -120.625329), and 4 south (35.108921, -120.625546, 35.108329, -120.625011, 35.107304, -120.624995) of the trail entrance).
All birds were relatively straightforward, being large, very dull Orange-crowneds that were overall a dull olive color, with a large thick-based bill, dark eye, greener upper and slightly paler lower eye arcs, a large head with a faint veiled/hooded appearance, a streaked breast almost appearing vested, dull legs and feet, a relatively slim build and medium-length tail, and strongly and extensively streaked undertail coverts. Several birds also gave harsh metallic chip calls typical of this subspecies, though I was unsuccessful in my attempts to record all calling individuals. I was able to see all birds well and at reasonably close range, varying from the midstory at eye level to up higher in the canopy. The lighting was dismal, but I was nevertheless able to photograph at least five of the nine individuals present. This subspecies departs the Channel Islands for the mainland as early as the later half of July and usually are the first migrant/dispersing OCWAs I see in south county in early fall.
Pics tba at some point…"
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