Date: 8/30/26 8:38 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 (2 reports)
- Common Gallinule (1 report)
- Least Bittern (1 report)
- Yellow-crowned Night Heron (3 reports)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch (4 reports)
- Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (2 reports)
- Lucy's Warbler (2 reports)
---------------------------------------------
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.
eBird encourages safe, responsible birding. Some reports may be from private property. Respect access restrictions and follow the rules wherever you bird. For more information, visit the eBird and Merlin Community Guidelines: https://ebird.org/community-guidelines. Stay connected to the global birding community with eBird Updates: https://mailchi.mp/cornell/ebird-updates-sign-up-page.
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 27, 2026 08:46 by Rob Farber
- 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/S388062800 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "A darker dove with the eponymous wing stripes, white terminal tail band, and short black dash on the neck seen near the camp host site around 10am foraging with a flock of California Quail. [EM]"
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 09:30 by Andrew Fleming🦉
- 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/S388043384 - Comments: "Rare but regular. Possibly a continuing individual. Perched in the willows over the water near the native garden. Adult plumaged with black and white head stripes. Thicker bill than Black Crowned which was especially noticeable when it was facing direct at me. Grey front. Grey and white wings."
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 06:55 by Luke Jensen
- 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/S388118285 - Comments: "*Continuing presumably returning immature here: (35.108028, -120.626654). Slim Night Heron with large bill and more elaborate face pattern, etc. Pics will be added at some point."
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 06:55 by Kilian Hampl
- 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/S388115753 - Comments: "*Continuing presumably returning immature here: (35.108028, -120.626654). Slim Night Heron with large bill and more elaborate face pattern, etc. Pics will be added at some point."
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 09:30 by Andrew Fleming🦉
- 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/S388043384 - Comments: "Initially ID’d by hearing one making its meep-meep-meep call in the pine trees near the Amphitheater. Then spotted one nut-hatching around the top of the trees. It then flew over and joined another one and then they followed each other around the trees. Small nuthatches with black and white head, grey back, and orange underparts."
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 06:55 by Kilian Hampl
- 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/S388115753 - Comments: "*Early. 2-3. 1-2 males between the parking lot and the native garden and another h/o on the peninsula. Thin upturned bill, striped head pattern, rufous wash below, etc. Both birds yanking. Pics Tba."
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 06:55 by Luke Jensen
- 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/S388118285 - Comments: "*Early. 2-3. 1-2 males between the parking lot and the native garden and another h/o on the peninsula. Thin upturned bill, striped head pattern, rufous wash below, etc. Both birds yanking. Pics Tba."
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (6)
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 06:55 by Luke Jensen
- 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/S388118285 - Comments: "*Expected. One here: (35.110038, -120.627777), another at the native garden, two near the base of the peninsula, one on the maintenance road, and another just north of the Redstart spot on the Norswing Drive trail. All very dull large-billed Orange-crowneds with a large-headed appearance, greener upper and paler lower eye arcs, a faint dull hooded appearance, streaky breast, vested appearance, and extensive dusky olive undertail covert streaking. Several birds heard giving the thick metallic chip calls typical of this subspecies/type. Pics of several tba at some point."
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (6)
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 06:55 by Kilian Hampl
- 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/S388115753 - Comments: "*Expected. One here: (35.110038, -120.627777), another at the native garden, two near the base of the peninsula, one on the maintenance road, and another just north of the Redstart spot on the Norswing Drive trail. All very dull large-billed Orange-crowneds with a large-headed appearance, greener upper and paler lower eye arcs, a faint dull hooded appearance, streaky breast, vested appearance, and extensive dusky olive undertail covert streaking. Several birds heard giving the thick metallic chip calls typical of this subspecies/type. Pics of several tba at some point."
Lucy's Warbler (Leiothlypis luciae) (1)
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 06:55 by Luke Jensen
- 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/S388118285 - Comments: "*Rare but regular. 1-2, but probably just one. While walking back on the dirt road near the Ampitheater I noticed this bird foraging in the upper midstory of the pines, and I was able to watch it as it continued to come down lower and lower out of the pines and eventually flew into the bushes down in here: (35.109559, -120.628491) where I lost it. Luke and his mom arrived shortly thereafter and we looked for the bird where I had last seen it without success. A short while later we were walking back near the native garden when the same or a different (likely the former) Lucy’s materialized suddenly in a flock of Bushtits here: (35.108958, -120.627950). However it almost immediately flew up and off towards the front parking lot the moment we saw it (and that was the last time we saw it). This was a small warbler that was a mostly dull pale gray color overall, with a small thin gray bill, a dark eye that was conspicuous on the pale gray face, a pale grayish white breast, belly, and undertail coverts, a pale gray back and wing coverts which contrasted only slightly with the back, and a relatively short gray tail. When the bird flew down from the pines I was able to see that the rump was a buffy color that contrasted only slightly with the tail and back, though my view of this was rather brief. This bird was vocal as well, and would occasionally give quick high-pitched “tzip” chip calls. Overall my views of this bird were decent (albeit backlit) and I was able to see this bird at a reasonable (although not overly close) distance. I was able to obtain several poor but certainly identifiable photos of this bird that will be added at some point."
Lucy's Warbler (Leiothlypis luciae) (1)
- Reported Aug 29, 2026 06:55 by Kilian Hampl
- 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/S388115753 - Comments: "*Rare but regular. 1-2, but probably just one. While walking back on the dirt road near the Ampitheater I noticed this bird foraging in the upper midstory of the pines, and I was able to watch it as it continued to come down lower and lower out of the pines and eventually flew into the bushes down in here: (35.109559, -120.628491) where I lost it. Luke and his mom arrived shortly thereafter and we looked for the bird where I had last seen it without success. A short while later we were walking back near the native garden when the same or a different (likely the former) Lucy’s materialized suddenly in a flock of Bushtits here: (35.108958, -120.627950). However it almost immediately flew up and off towards the front parking lot the moment we saw it (and that was the last time we saw it). This was a small warbler that was a mostly dull pale gray color overall, with a small thin gray bill, a dark eye that was conspicuous on the pale gray face, a pale grayish white breast, belly, and undertail coverts, a pale gray back and wing coverts which contrasted only slightly with the back, and a relatively short gray tail. When the bird flew down from the pines I was able to see that the rump was a buffy color that contrasted only slightly with the tail and back, though my view of this was rather brief. This bird was vocal as well, and would occasionally give quick high-pitched “tzip” chip calls. Overall my views of this bird were decent (albeit backlit) and I was able to see this bird at a reasonable (although not overly close) distance. I was able to obtain several poor but certainly identifiable photos of this bird that will be added at some point."
***********
You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/
