Date: 8/21/26 12:44 am From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- Red-breasted Merganser (1 report)
- Common Gallinule (3 reports)
- Black Tern (7 reports)
- Least Bittern (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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Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 20, 2026 08:18 by Herb Elliott
- 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/S385254200 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "… predominantly gray plumage with brownish back, darker head, white stripe on sides, and a dull two-toned bill. This sighting follows a report by Jay Carrol yesterday."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 20, 2026 14:44 by Kelley Boland
- 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/S385327302 - Comments: "Continuing since 8/17. Distinctly different tern, noticed immediately as I started walking the pier. Small, fast, and agile with a dark gray back. Flying back and forth close to the side of the pier, sometimes flying over the pier just a couple feet above people. Occasionally swooped to surface of water but never saw dive. Spectacular views, probably less-than spectacular photos tba."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1)
- Reported Aug 20, 2026 14:20 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/S385335642 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing tern seen as soon as I walked onto the pier. It was flying and foraging mostly off the southeast end of the pier. It was a small, fast tern, dark above, white below and around the collar, dark cap and eye patch, with black feet and bill. Found 8/17/2026 by K. Marston."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 20, 2026 09:20 by Kaaren Perry
- Cayucos Pier, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9062254&<ll...>,-120.9062254 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S385270632 - Comments: "Smallish tern even when compared to nearby Foresters. Upper parts appeared dark gray, underparts mostly white. dark crown, slightly forked tail. Seen as it flew past my view from the parking lot just south of the pier. It foraged, landing in front of me near shore briefly before being chased off by a Forester's Tern. No working camera available."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 19, 2026 15:50 by Tom Edell
- 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/S385030825 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing adult foraging on both sides of the Cayucos Pier, but primarily in shallower water. Wing and tail molt evident. Underwing mostly gray. This bird tended to pick food off the water rather than dive for it. Noticeably smaller than all other terns."
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 19, 2026 13:40 by Gregory Smith
- 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/S385168965 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Smaller tern with white forehead, black to gray crown, nape and auricular. Blackish smudge on sides of breast, along with a white collar. Black bill. Mixed gray on dorsal side. Rectrices dark gray-blackish with central feathers being almost white."
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 20, 2026 09:30 by Tom Edell
- 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/S385262159 - Comments: "Flew from one spot in bulrushes to another, northwest end of the lake. Brief observation of a small, buff colored, bittern. I saw Green Heron flights and they appeared both larger and darker overall with dark streaked breasts."
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