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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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Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) (2)
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 19:05 by Zach Nett
- Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve--Dune Pond, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.881839&<ll...>,-119.881839 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392754997 - Media: 1 Video, 2 Photos
- Comments: "continuing birds. showed up just after 7pm. characteristic hunting style and white wing patches. tons of bugs out. watched them for twenty minutes. a third may have shown up just before I left, but it was pretty dark and I was unable to get all 3 in glass at once."
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 12, 2026 07:34 by Ethan Ripperger
- Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve (restricted access), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5353699&<ll...>,-119.5353699 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392564986 - Comments: "Small shorebird with black legs and short, straight, black bill. Comparisons with nearby westerns were made which were the same size; but westerns showing longer bills with slight droop at the end and more extensive reddish tones."
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 12, 2026 07:34 by Rebecca Birchfield
- Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve (restricted access), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5353699&<ll...>,-119.5353699 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392732454 - Comments: "Small shorebird with black legs and short, straight, black bill. Comparisons with nearby westerns were made which were the same size; but westerns showing longer bills with slight droop at the end and more extensive reddish tones."
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) (2)
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 19:00 by Zach Nett
- Coal Oil Point, Devereux Beach, Sands Beach, and bluff trails, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8783064&<ll...>,-119.8783064 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392755074 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "unexpected. gray tern with red legs, red bill, and black cap. associating with Common and Elegant Terns for good side by side comparison. didn’t see any of the terns when I walked back down the beach half an hour later."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (219) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 08:48 by Peter Gaede
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392726145 - Comments: "We arrived mid-morning as the flight was already underway and counted 219 during this 1-hour and 30-minute period. A few birds landed in the pines briefly, but most continued west past the peak. Small and large flocks streamed past at varying intervals. No vocalizations were heard. I spoke with others that arrived earlier than we did to specifically count CLNU moving past the peak starting early AM, so totals for those lists longer in duration were much higher."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (219) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 08:48 by Lucas Gaede
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392732220 - Comments: "We arrived mid-morning as the flight was already underway and counted 219 during this 1-hour and 30-minute period. A few birds landed in the pines briefly, but most continued west past the peak. Small and large flocks streamed past at varying intervals. No vocalizations were heard. I spoke with others that arrived earlier than we did to specifically count CLNU moving past the peak starting early AM, so totals for those lists longer in duration were much higher."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (181) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 08:38 by Tim Lister
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392588248 - Comments: "Gray jay-sized bird with black wings and white outer tail feathers. Seen in flocks looking north from the trail around the cell tower at the peak at the end of the closed day area loop.
Birders there earlier had 500+ total"
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (181) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 08:38 by Rachel Street
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392588253 - Comments: "Gray jay-sized bird with black wings and white outer tail feathers. Seen in flocks looking north from the trail around the cell tower at the peak at the end of the closed day area loop.
Birders there earlier had 500+ total"
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (150) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 08:02 by Thomas Turner
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392611644 - Comments: "Migrating by in groups large and small. Large, gray body, bold black and white wings. Big hill. Not a very careful count, but a conservative one. Moving from E to W past the peak; seen by looking out to the East."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (560) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 07:57 by Craig Prater
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392603581 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Estimated 400 flyby count from around 8:15-8:45 comprising several large flocks flying through from the east and flew north of La Cumbre Peak and lower than the peak. Around a dozen birders at the peak for the show, but best viewing probably around 1 mile east of the peak at lower elevation. Many more CNs later flew right over peak and several landed on trees at the peak and along ECC. Will upload photos."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (560) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 07:57 by Yvonne Degraw
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392603582 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Estimated 400 flyby count from around 8:15-8:45 comprising several large flocks flying through from the east and flew north of La Cumbre Peak and lower than the peak. Around a dozen birders at the peak for the show, but best viewing probably around 1 mile east of the peak at lower elevation. Many more CNs later flew right over peak and several landed on trees at the peak and along ECC. Will upload photos."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (629) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 07:54 by Alex Castelein
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392678645 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "INSANEEEEEE showing today. Starting just after 8 am we had flocks every 5-10 minutes, sometimes upwards of 75 birds per flock. Tallied 1x1 as well as possible. Times and flock counts: 8:14 (83), 8:19 (10), 8:26 (46), 8:34 (23), 8:36 (55), 8:42 (103), 8:51 (3), 8:56 (54), 9:04 (75), 9:09 (2), 9:23 (51), 9:31 (31), 9:33 (46), 9:54 (40), 10:03 (5), 10:11 (1), 10:31 (1)"
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (629) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 07:54 by Chris Henry
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392743871 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "INSANEEEEEE showing today. Starting just after 8 am we had flocks every 5-10 minutes, sometimes upwards of 75 birds per flock. Tallied 1x1 as well as possible. Times and flock counts: 8:14 (83), 8:19 (10), 8:26 (46), 8:34 (23), 8:36 (55), 8:42 (103), 8:51 (3), 8:56 (54), 9:04 (75), 9:09 (2), 9:23 (51), 9:31 (31), 9:33 (46), 9:54 (40), 10:03 (5), 10:11 (1), 10:31 (1)"
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (629) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 07:54 by Sophie Cameron
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392678646 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "INSANEEEEEE showing today. Starting just after 8 am we had flocks every 5-10 minutes, sometimes upwards of 75 birds per flock. Tallied 1x1 as well as possible. Times and flock counts: 8:14 (83), 8:19 (10), 8:26 (46), 8:34 (23), 8:36 (55), 8:42 (103), 8:51 (3), 8:56 (54), 9:04 (75), 9:09 (2), 9:23 (51), 9:31 (31), 9:33 (46), 9:54 (40), 10:03 (5), 10:11 (1), 10:31 (1)"
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (500) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 07:45 by David Blue
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392717529 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "There was an incredible passage this morning of at least 629 Clark’s Nutcrackers between 8:14 and 10:31 AM. These large, striking, pale gray birds with black and white wings, and short black tails with white outer tail feathers just kept flying by from east to west in variously sized flocks of up to 103 individuals. (Since I was busy photographing for a small part of the time, I didn’t see all 629 birds that were tallied, but I did see at least 500 of them.)
These birds were observed by at least 15 birders looking eastward from just east of the radio tower. All the birds passed by us on the north side of our position heading west. Only a very few landed briefly in the tops of trees before continuing west.
For completeness, here are the tally notes copied from the checklist submitted by Alex Castelein:
“Starting just after 8 am we had flocks every 5-10 minutes, sometimes upwards of 75 birds per flock. Tallied 1x1 as well as possible. Times and flock counts: 8:14 (83), 8:19 (10), 8:26 (46), 8:34 (23), 8:36 (55), 8:42 (103), 8:51 (3), 8:56 (54), 9:04 (75), 9:09 (2), 9:23 (51), 9:31 (31), 9:33 (46), 9:54 (40), 10:03 (5), 10:11 (1), 10:31 (1)”"
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (500) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 07:45 by Linda Blue
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392719491 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "There was an incredible passage this morning of at least 629 Clark’s Nutcrackers between 8:14 and 10:31 AM. These large, striking, pale gray birds with black and white wings, and short black tails with white outer tail feathers just kept flying by from east to west in variously sized flocks of up to 103 individuals. (Since I was busy photographing for a small part of the time, I didn’t see all 629 birds that were tallied, but I did see at least 500 of them.)
These birds were observed by at least 15 birders looking eastward from just east of the radio tower. All the birds passed by us on the north side of our position heading west. Only a very few landed briefly in the tops of trees before continuing west.
For completeness, here are the tally notes copied from the checklist submitted by Alex Castelein:
“Starting just after 8 am we had flocks every 5-10 minutes, sometimes upwards of 75 birds per flock. Tallied 1x1 as well as possible. Times and flock counts: 8:14 (83), 8:19 (10), 8:26 (46), 8:34 (23), 8:36 (55), 8:42 (103), 8:51 (3), 8:56 (54), 9:04 (75), 9:09 (2), 9:23 (51), 9:31 (31), 9:33 (46), 9:54 (40), 10:03 (5), 10:11 (1), 10:31 (1)”"
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (315) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 13, 2026 07:45 by Eunice Schroeder
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392683238 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Viewed with about a dozen other birders. Flying from east to west passing north of the peak, in groups of about 40 to over one hundred; a small group flew overhead and a few landed momentarily just below the top of the peak. Gray body, black wings with white secondaries, white outer tail feathers and under-tail. Photos."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (310) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 12, 2026 07:45 by Maggie Sherriffs
- La Cumbre Peak, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7147721&<ll...>,-119.7147721 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392625984 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Observers were on the peak facing North. Large pale gray birds with black wings with white patches and black tails with white patches. Seen in multiple flocks, several very large, all flying east to west. Occasionally a few would perch in a tall leafless tree in front of us for good scope views."
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