Date: 8/29/26 6:49 am From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- White-winged Dove (1 report)
- Black Swift (1 report)
- American Oystercatcher (1 report)
- Black Skimmer (1 report)
- Bell's Vireo (2 reports)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch (4 reports)
- Cedar Waxwing (2 reports)
- Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (3 reports)
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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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White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) (1)
- Reported Aug 28, 2026 09:58 by Kilian Hampl
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S387750432 - Comments: "*Rare but regular. Continuing bird found yesterday by Eve Martin. Today found perched in the cypress directly adjacent to the amphitheater. Medium-sized dove with thin dark bill, dull reddish eye, black whisker, brown head and back and wing coverts except for the white on the leading edge of the wing, medium length tail, and pinkish legs, etc. photos tba at some point."
Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 28, 2026 08:24 by Kathi Marston
- Cerro Alto Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7491446&<ll...>,-120.7491446 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S387723219 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "There were huge flocks of swallows and one obvious skinny winged swift. I originally thought White-throated by the shape (and because it was infrequent vs. rare), but looking at the photos and trying to over expose/lighten shadows it remains dark. Photos tba."
Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) (1)
- Reported Aug 28, 2026 08:08 by Kilian Hampl
- Lila Keiser Park/Morro Creek, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.856743&<ll...>,-120.856743 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S387743384 - Comments: "**Very rare. While walking down in the creek this bird spontaneously vocalized once from the willows here: (35.377520, -120.857880), a distinctive rambling jumbled series of vireo-like phrases - immediately recognizable as a Bell’s. We then used a slight bit of playback and the bird responded and gave a short series of wren-like scolding calls before eventually making a very brief appearance low down and deep in the willows in the same location, and later singing a quiet song phrase once. Shortly thereafter it disappeared and we were never able to relocate it. In my (Kilian) very brief view I was able to see that this was a small drab vireo with a small but thick bill, dark eye, pale grayish head, paler throat and breast, dull double wingbars, and dark wing coverts that were pale-edged. In my split-second view I did not see this bird’s tail well, and I did not see well the legs or feet. Additionally, I am not confident of the subspecies involved as I did not see the back or underparts very well, though I suspect based on the overall drab appearance that it was V. b. pusillus (Least). I was essentially able to see this bird well enough to feel confident in its identity but otherwise views were not good, though the vocalizations we heard this bird give are diagnostic of Bell’s. Overall this bird was rather uncooperative and we were therefore not able to get photos."
Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) (1)
- Reported Aug 28, 2026 08:08 by Reef Comer
- Lila Keiser Park/Morro Creek, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.856743&<ll...>,-120.856743 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S387780796 - Comments: "**Very rare. While walking down in the creek this bird spontaneously vocalized once from the willows here: (35.377520, -120.857880), a distinctive rambling jumbled series of vireo-like phrases - immediately recognizable as a Bell’s. We then used a slight bit of playback and the bird responded and gave a short series of wren-like scolding calls before eventually making a very brief appearance low down and deep in the willows in the same location, and later singing a quiet song phrase once. Shortly thereafter it disappeared and we were never able to relocate it. In my (Kilian) very brief view I was able to see that this was a small drab vireo with a small but thick bill, dark eye, pale grayish head, paler throat and breast, dull double wingbars, and dark wing coverts that were pale-edged. In my split-second view I did not see this bird’s tail well, and I did not see well the legs or feet. Additionally, I am not confident of the subspecies involved as I did not see the back or underparts very well, though I suspect based on the overall drab appearance that it was V. b. pusillus (Least). I was essentially able to see this bird well enough to feel confident in its identity but otherwise views were not good, though the vocalizations we heard this bird give are diagnostic of Bell’s. Overall this bird was rather uncooperative and we were therefore not able to get photos."
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) (2)
- Reported Aug 28, 2026 09:58 by Kilian Hampl
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S387750432 - Comments: "*Early, seems as though this could be the precursor to an irruption year of sorts for this species. One bird here: (35.273312, -120.884266) and another here: (35.274337, -120.882870). Small nuthatches with thin upturned bill of moderate length, dark eyes, white face with dark eyeline, grayish crowns, grayish blue back, wing coverts, and tail, and rufous breast and underparts, etc. Both birds vocal giving series of “yank” calls characteristic of this species."
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (7)
- Reported Aug 28, 2026 09:58 by Kilian Hampl
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S387750432 - Comments: "*Expected, though generally scarcer in north county…this seems like a rather high count. Nevertheless this is an exact count of birds one way through the campground, with two behind the Ranch House, two here: (35.273300, -120.884255), one here: (35.274312, -120.882859), and two more here: (35.275581, -120.880139). These were all very dull Orange-crowned with large bills, a large-headed appearance, greener upper and paler lower eye arcs, a veiled “hooded” appearance, streaked breast and vested appearance, and extensive dusky undertail streaking. At least one or two heard giving thicker, lower-pitched metallic chips typical of this subspecies/type. Should have photos of at least a few birds."
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2)
- Reported Aug 28, 2026 08:08 by Reef Comer
- Lila Keiser Park/Morro Creek, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.856743&<ll...>,-120.856743 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S387780796 - Comments: "*Expected, but generally scarcer in north county. 2-3. Very dull OCWAs with large bills, large-headed appearance, greener upper and pale lower eye arcs, faint hooded appearance, streaked breast, vested appearance, strong and extensive dusky streaking on undertail coverts, etc. Pics of both tba at some point."
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2)
- Reported Aug 28, 2026 08:08 by Kilian Hampl
- Lila Keiser Park/Morro Creek, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.856743&<ll...>,-120.856743 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S387743384 - Comments: "*Expected, but generally scarcer in north county. 2-3. Very dull OCWAs with large bills, large-headed appearance, greener upper and pale lower eye arcs, faint hooded appearance, streaked breast, vested appearance, strong and extensive dusky streaking on undertail coverts, etc. Pics of both tba at some point."
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