Date: 8/18/26 10:10 pm From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- King Eider (1 report)
- Black Tern (13 reports)
- 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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Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 18, 2026 12:58 by Matt Brady
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9069453&<ll...>,-120.9069453 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384802130 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing adult just molting the last few feathers into basic. Small tern, light ashy-gray above, whiter below, the dark on the crown and a black spur extending from the shoulder down the side of the breast. Very buoyant flight as it flew in the strong wind, attempting to pick bits of food off the water around pelicans."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 18, 2026 12:58 by Genevieve Mount
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9069453&<ll...>,-120.9069453 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384802131 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing adult just molting the last few feathers into basic. Small tern, light ashy-gray above, whiter below, the dark on the crown and a black spur extending from the shoulder down the side of the breast. Very buoyant flight as it flew in the strong wind, attempting to pick bits of food off the water around pelicans."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 18, 2026 09:11 by Ben Kolstad
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9069453&<ll...>,-120.9069453 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384710911 - Media: 13 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird. Much small, black on head and neck and upper and under wings. It seemed to enjoy foraging near/harassing the pelicans and Heermann's gulls sitting on the water."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 18, 2026 08:57 by Ann Stockert
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9069453&<ll...>,-120.9069453 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384731206 - Media: 17 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing molting adult flying and feeding very close to both sides of the pier. Very small compared to other Terns in the area. Dark gray above and gray underwing. Photos"
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 17, 2026 16:15 by Terri May
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9069453&<ll...>,-120.9069453 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384754072 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Very quick and agile flight. Smaller and more compact than nearby Elegant Terns. Black bill, partial black cap, white underparts, dark gray wings, small black partial stripe on neck.
First seen by Kathi Marston."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 17, 2026 15:05 by Terri Osborn
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9069453&<ll...>,-120.9069453 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384793851 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "Small, fast tern flying and foraging close to the pier. Smaller than nearby Elegant Terns, dark gray back, eye patch and cap, dark upper and lower wing with partial dark stripe from shoulder to chest, white leading edge of wing, white below, around the nape and on the face with a black bill. Found earlier today by Kathi Marston."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 17, 2026 14:50 by Petra Clayton
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9069453&<ll...>,-120.9069453 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384508290 - Media: 1 Video, 15 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing since a.m. (Kathi Marston).
Small gray, black and white tern, smaller than nearby Forster's and Elegant Terns.
White forehead, forecrown and nape; dark central crown with a dark extension down the middle of the white nape and down to the auricular area, giving the appearance of a black skull cap; dark spot in front of eye; black patch on the side of breast; gray back and slightly notched tail; gray wings above and below with a darker leading edge on the upperwings; white underparts; all black bill.
It was observed flying with Forster's and Elegant Terns along the length of both sides of the pier. It was flying with steady wing beats. The flight pattern was quite erratic and it was not seen diving into the ocean, as the other terns were."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 17, 2026 12:58 by Herb Elliott
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9069453&<ll...>,-120.9069453 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384525254 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "This bird’s forehead and sides of its head were white contrasting with a black crown; upperparts gray; underparts predominantly white with varying amounts of gray.
Notably agile in flight exhibiting rapid wing movements but didn't directly plunge into the ocean as other terns - during my stay. Its feeding behavior was interesting, as it often tried to take food from cormorants floating on the water.
Found late this morning by Kathi Marston who also found a Black Tern a few mile to the north at Morro Strand State Beach on 13 Aug 2026."
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 18, 2026 15:03 by Aidan Brubaker
- 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/S384809145 - Comments: "Female near the culvert just a little north of the norswing entrance (same loc a pair nested earlier this summer). I have to imagine this is one of the continuing individuals, despite being undetected for over a month. Yellowstart flashing yellow wings/tail, giving thin sweet chip notes. Pics"
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