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Thank you for subscribing to the <daily> Santa Barbara County Rare Bird Alert. The report below shows observations of rare birds in Santa Barbara County. View or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35915 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.
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Craveri's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus craveri) (4)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 11:27 by Philip Zeng
- Offshore--southern Pilgrim Bank, north of Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.1055298&<ll...>,-119.1055298 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385058300 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Two pairs with photos of at least one pair. All were obvious Craveri's, even if looks of one pair were brief. Straight demarcation of black and white on the face, long tails held cocked up, and when erupting in flight the dusky underwings and dark spur on the side of the breast was noted. Pereksta would also contend that they have a hunched back appearance when taking off or just generally in flight. Appear to reliably hold their head lower while other small murrelets (Scripps's and Guadalupe) often hold their head higher in flight. More investigation needed, but reliably seen in photos."
Craveri's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus craveri) (4)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 11:27 by logan kahle
- Offshore--southern Pilgrim Bank, north of Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.1055298&<ll...>,-119.1055298 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385057399 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Two pairs with photos of at least one pair. All were obvious Craveri's, even if looks of one pair were brief. Straight demarcation of black and white on the face, long tails held cocked up, and when erupting in flight the dusky underwings and dark spur on the side of the breast was noted. Pereksta would also contend that they have a hunched back appearance when taking off or just generally in flight. Appear to reliably hold their head lower while other small murrelets (Scripps's and Guadalupe) often hold their head higher in flight. More investigation needed, but reliably seen in photos."
Craveri's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus craveri) (4)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 11:27 by Todd McGrath
- Offshore--southern Pilgrim Bank, north of Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.1055298&<ll...>,-119.1055298 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385056308 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Two pairs with photos of at least one pair. All were obvious Craveri's, even if looks of one pair were brief. Straight demarcation of black and white on the face, long tails held cocked up, and when erupting in flight the dusky underwings and dark spur on the side of the breast was noted. Pereksta would also contend that they have a hunched back appearance when taking off or just generally in flight. Appear to reliably hold their head lower while other small murrelets (Scripps's and Guadalupe) often hold their head higher in flight. More investigation needed, but reliably seen in photos."
Craveri's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus craveri) (4)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 11:27 by Caitlin Chock
- Offshore--southern Pilgrim Bank, north of Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.1055298&<ll...>,-119.1055298 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385060529 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Two pairs with photos of at least one pair. All were obvious Craveri's, even if looks of one pair were brief. Straight demarcation of black and white on the face, long tails held cocked up, and when erupting in flight the dusky underwings and dark spur on the side of the breast was noted. Pereksta would also contend that they have a hunched back appearance when taking off or just generally in flight. Appear to reliably hold their head lower while other small murrelets (Scripps's and Guadalupe) often hold their head higher in flight. More investigation needed, but reliably seen in photos."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 09:29 by Caitlin Chock
- Anacapa / Santa Cruz passage (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5024109&<ll...>,-119.5024109 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385060532 - Comments: "Seen as we made our way to the south side of the passage. Small tern with a uniformly dark gray back and tail. Had a dark black spot on the head and distinctive Black Tern flight style."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 09:29 by Philip Zeng
- Anacapa / Santa Cruz passage (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5024109&<ll...>,-119.5024109 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385058303 - Comments: "Seen as we made our way to the south side of the passage. Small tern with a uniformly dark gray back and tail. Had a dark black spot on the head and distinctive Black Tern flight style."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 09:29 by logan kahle
- Anacapa / Santa Cruz passage (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5024109&<ll...>,-119.5024109 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385057401 - Comments: "Seen as we made our way to the south side of the passage. Small tern with a uniformly dark gray back and tail. Had a dark black spot on the head and distinctive Black Tern flight style."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 09:29 by Todd McGrath
- Anacapa / Santa Cruz passage (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5024109&<ll...>,-119.5024109 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385056278 - Comments: "Seen as we made our way to the south side of the passage. Small tern with a uniformly dark gray back and tail. Had a dark black spot on the head and distinctive Black Tern flight style."
Cook's Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) (7)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 14:14 by logan kahle
- Eastern slope of Santa Cruz Basin (SBA), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.331997&<ll...>,-119.331997 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385057397 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "All initially found on the water. In bad backlight, they first presented as Sabine's Gulls. We were shocked when they lifted off as none of us has ever seen them in this part of the bight. Small gray petrels with dark "M" pattern across the back and white undersides. First group of six at 33.615864, -119.321439, then one additional bird shortly after."
Cook's Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) (7)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 14:14 by Caitlin Chock
- Eastern slope of Santa Cruz Basin (SBA), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.331997&<ll...>,-119.331997 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385060526 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "All initially found on the water. In bad backlight, they first presented as Sabine's Gulls. We were shocked when they lifted off as none of us has ever seen them in this part of the bight. Small gray petrels with dark "M" pattern across the back and white undersides. First group of six at 33.615864, -119.321439, then one additional bird shortly after."
Cook's Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) (7)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 14:14 by Todd McGrath
- Eastern slope of Santa Cruz Basin (SBA), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.331997&<ll...>,-119.331997 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385056353 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "All initially found on the water. In bad backlight, they first presented as Sabine's Gulls. We were shocked when they lifted off as none of us has ever seen them in this part of the bight. Small gray petrels with dark "M" pattern across the back and white undersides. First group of six at 33.615864, -119.321439, then one additional bird shortly after."
Cook's Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) (7)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 14:14 by Philip Zeng
- Eastern slope of Santa Cruz Basin (SBA), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.331997&<ll...>,-119.331997 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385058298 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "All initially found on the water. In bad backlight, they first presented as Sabine's Gulls. We were shocked when they lifted off as none of us has ever seen them in this part of the bight. Small gray petrels with dark "M" pattern across the back and white undersides. First group of six at 33.615864, -119.321439, then one additional bird shortly after."
Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) (1)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 12:59 by Philip Zeng
- Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.035716&<ll...>,-119.035716 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385058299 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Assumed continuing individual (male?) that has been here for a number of years. Only asserting it as a possible continuing bird because of its association with an apparent Blue-footed x Cocos hybrid that it sired in ??. Those two are often seen together and apparently have a strong bond. Slender booby with streaked brownish-gray head, pale eye, slender gray bill, white barring on the back, and pale uppertail. Blue feet were visible at times. Photos forthcoming."
Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) (1)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 12:59 by logan kahle
- Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.035716&<ll...>,-119.035716 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385057398 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Assumed continuing individual (male?) that has been here for a number of years. Only asserting it as a possible continuing bird because of its association with an apparent Blue-footed x Cocos hybrid that it sired in ??. Those two are often seen together and apparently have a strong bond. Slender booby with streaked brownish-gray head, pale eye, slender gray bill, white barring on the back, and pale uppertail. Blue feet were visible at times. Photos forthcoming."
Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) (1)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 12:59 by Todd McGrath
- Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.035716&<ll...>,-119.035716 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385056319 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Assumed continuing individual (male?) that has been here for a number of years. Only asserting it as a possible continuing bird because of its association with an apparent Blue-footed x Cocos hybrid that it sired in ??. Those two are often seen together and apparently have a strong bond. Slender booby with streaked brownish-gray head, pale eye, slender gray bill, white barring on the back, and pale uppertail. Blue feet were visible at times. Photos forthcoming."
Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) (1)
- Reported Aug 13, 2026 12:59 by Caitlin Chock
- Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.035716&<ll...>,-119.035716 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385060527 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Assumed continuing individual (male?) that has been here for a number of years. Only asserting it as a possible continuing bird because of its association with an apparent Blue-footed x Cocos hybrid that it sired in ??. Those two are often seen together and apparently have a strong bond. Slender booby with streaked brownish-gray head, pale eye, slender gray bill, white barring on the back, and pale uppertail. Blue feet were visible at times. Photos forthcoming."
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) (1)
- Reported Aug 19, 2026 15:53 by Diego Perez
- field site off figueroa mtn rd (no public access), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.02629&<ll...>,-120.02629 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385049503 - Media: 1 Video, 3 Photos
- Comments: "Juvenile. Bold white supercilium and white throat. Light gray breast with some faint streaking. gray-brown back and wings. Solid dark gray crown and auricular. lark sparrow would show dark malar, patterning on wing and auricular, which this bird lacked. Foraged around my site while I worked for a few hours."
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