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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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Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) (1)
- Reported Aug 23, 2026 11:30 by Will Black
- Santa Cruz Island--Scorpion Anchorage and Beach Area, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5555481&<ll...>,-119.5555481 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S386399305 - Comments: "*Rare: While kayaking the sea caves just west of Scorpion Anchorage, an adult made a flyby pass at fairly close range inshore. Nearly pure white bird contrasting with a stocky, decurved red bill and a solid black mask running back from the eye to the back of the head. Underwings appeared almost completely white, and upper side of primaries showing black. From my viewing angle, it was not easy to see back well, but did appear to have some black barring. As most Southern California tropicbird encounters are from finding the bird sitting on the water, observing this bird flying towards me was rather perplexing. By the time I’d run through the options to rationalize this being a flyby tropicbird, my rushed, fumbling attempt from my kayak to photograph the bird with my cell phone through a waterproof photo case was rather unsuccessful and the bird was gone (no photo)."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (1)
- Reported Aug 23, 2026 11:26 by David Compton
- Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve--Devereux Lagoon, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8756027&<ll...>,-119.8756027 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S386282425 - Comments: "This is the bird that has caused a lot of discussion because of the small amount of yellow that can be seen above the gape at some angles, despite all else looking fine for Neotropic. Cormorant that is much smaller than adjacent Double-cresteds, longer-tailed, and noticeably smaller billed and small headed. There is a white border around the bare yellow parts at the base of the bill, where yellow and white form a distinct point at the back. The surrounding feathers here are relatively pale, which reduces the contrast of the white border. And the bird is a younger individual and relatively pale overall on the underparts."
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) (1)
- Reported Aug 23, 2026 11:30 by Will Black
- Santa Cruz Island--Scorpion Anchorage and Beach Area, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5555481&<ll...>,-119.5555481 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S386399305 - Comments: "*rare: small green and brown heron with striped throat. Initially observed when it flew off the cliff side, making a loop over the water and coming back into the cliff and sitting on the rocks. Eventually flew again, flying over to Cavern Point and sitting on a more gradual cliff with sparse vegetation. Remained fairly active over the viewing period, throwing up crest and extending neck regularly. Pretty weird sight. No photo."
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