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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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King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 09, 2026 12:40 by Todd McGrath
- Pasadena Park Beach, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8440733&<ll...>,-120.8440733 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392869142 - Comments: "We eventually located the continuing eider sitting on the second row of floats for the closer oyster farm, where it remained for the rest of our visit. The distance was moderate and the bird was sitting, but with its head up.
This was a large, rather stocky duck with a plump body, a short neck, and a large head with a sloping forehead, a gently rounded crown, and a blocky appearance, along with a stubby bill. The overall coloration was a rich buff to a warm, sandy-brown with a diffuse eyering and a somewhat uneven appearance to the plumage, but it was difficult to see much more detail given the conditions. I thought both the bill and eyes were dark, but I could not discern more detail than this."
Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Kilian Hampl
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392978344 - Comments: "*Late. One HY male initially heard in the bottlebrush near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard giving the high pitched twittering calls of this species, somewhat reminiscent of a BUSH. Eventually located in there where the medium length slightly curved bill, pale postocular stripe extending down and connecting to the pale collar, vest, smaller overall size, and tubby structure were apparent. A few purple feathers starting to come in on throat. Zooming around and vocalizing frequently as it chased (or was chased off) by other hummers and we tried for photos but were unsuccessful."
Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Ann Stockert
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392986619 - Comments: "*Late. One HY male initially heard in the bottlebrush near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard giving the high pitched twittering calls of this species, somewhat reminiscent of a BUSH. Eventually located in there where the medium length slightly curved bill, pale postocular stripe extending down and connecting to the pale collar, vest, smaller overall size, and tubby structure were apparent. A few purple feathers starting to come in on throat. Zooming around and vocalizing frequently as it chased (or was chased off) by other hummers and we tried for photos but were unsuccessful."
Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Roger Hammer
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392983274 - Comments: "*Late. One HY male initially heard in the bottlebrush near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard giving the high pitched twittering calls of this species, somewhat reminiscent of a BUSH. Eventually located in there where the medium length slightly curved bill, pale postocular stripe extending down and connecting to the pale collar, vest, smaller overall size, and tubby structure were apparent. A few purple feathers starting to come in on throat. Zooming around and vocalizing frequently as it chased (or was chased off) by other hummers and we tried for photos but were unsuccessful."
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) (1)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 12:05 by Petra Clayton
- 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/S393002999 - Media: 1 Video, 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing immature since 8/19/26 (Jay Carroll). ---Brown mantle; brownish crown and neck; pale chin and throat; gray underparts; short tail with white edges; white-edged flanks; dark shield; dark bill with yellow tip; dark eye; greenish legs."
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 14:57 by Russ Namitz
- Caliente Ridge Trail-PIJA 2016, Santa Margarita US-CA 35.08383, -119.80644, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.806444&<ll...>,-119.806444 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392983585 - Media: 2 Videos, 2 Photos, 2 Audio
- Comments: "Solid blue Jay flushed from the ground. Walked back to get media validation. Loosely associated with scrub jays, but foraging alone, mostly on the ground. Crappy cell phone documentation."
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) (Leiothlypis celata celata/orestera) (1)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Ann Stockert
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392986619 - Comments: "*Seems more or less on time. One rather dull bird (tending more towards celata, but still ambiguous) with the flock near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard. Dull OCWA with contrasting grayish head, small bill, evenly bright white eye arcs, streaked breast, dull greenish below contrasting somewhat weakly with gray head, and very weakly and incompletely streaked undertail coverts, typical of many “gray-headed”. Silent to the best of my knowledge. Photos tba at some point."
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Ann Stockert
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392986619 - Comments: "*Expected, though scarcer in north county. One bird seen briefly but reasonably well high up with flock near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard. Dull olive OCWA with large bill, very streaky breast, faint vested appearance, and extensively olive-streaked undertail coverts. Silent. Ultimately not able to get photos as it stayed high in the oaks and was very active not sitting still for long."
Orange-crowned Warbler (celata) (Leiothlypis celata celata) (2)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Ann Stockert
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392986619 - Comments: "*Rare but regular, relatively early. Two birds identifiable to nominate together in the large flock near the “Casa Diablo” yard (?). One bird very drab, essentially entirely gray, with a small bill, streaked breast, evenly bright white eye arcs, and unmarked undertail coverts. Second bird similar but with a very faint yellow/greenish wash to uppermost upper breast and undertail coverts, still being almost completely pale grayish below. One bird (drabber individual) heard giving sharp high-pitched chip calls higher than the average “chip” calls of lutescens. Both birds seen well albeit high up in the canopy, got some poor pics of at least one individual that will be added at some point."
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Kilian Hampl
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392978344 - Comments: "*Expected, though scarcer in north county. One bird seen briefly but reasonably well high up with flock near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard. Dull olive OCWA with large bill, very streaky breast, faint vested appearance, and extensively olive-streaked undertail coverts. Silent. Ultimately not able to get photos as it stayed high in the oaks and was very active not sitting still for long."
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) (Leiothlypis celata celata/orestera) (1)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Kilian Hampl
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392978344 - Comments: "*Seems more or less on time. One rather dull bird (tending more towards celata, but still ambiguous) with the flock near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard. Dull OCWA with contrasting grayish head, small bill, evenly bright white eye arcs, streaked breast, dull greenish below contrasting somewhat weakly with gray head, and very weakly and incompletely streaked undertail coverts, typical of many “gray-headed”. Silent to the best of my knowledge. Photos tba at some point."
Orange-crowned Warbler (celata) (Leiothlypis celata celata) (2)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Kilian Hampl
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392978344 - Comments: "*Rare but regular, relatively early. Two birds identifiable to nominate together in the large flock near the “Casa Diablo” yard (?). One bird very drab, essentially entirely gray, with a small bill, streaked breast, evenly bright white eye arcs, and unmarked undertail coverts. Second bird similar but with a very faint yellow/greenish wash to uppermost upper breast and undertail coverts, still being almost completely pale grayish below. One bird (drabber individual) heard giving sharp high-pitched chip calls higher than the average “chip” calls of lutescens. Both birds seen well albeit high up in the canopy, got some poor pics of at least one individual that will be added at some point."
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Roger Hammer
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392983274 - Comments: "*Expected, though scarcer in north county. One bird seen briefly but reasonably well high up with flock near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard. Dull olive OCWA with large bill, very streaky breast, faint vested appearance, and extensively olive-streaked undertail coverts. Silent. Ultimately not able to get photos as it stayed high in the oaks and was very active not sitting still for long."
Orange-crowned Warbler (celata) (Leiothlypis celata celata) (2)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Roger Hammer
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392983274 - Comments: "*Rare but regular, relatively early. Two birds identifiable to nominate together in the large flock near the “Casa Diablo” yard (?). One bird very drab, essentially entirely gray, with a small bill, streaked breast, evenly bright white eye arcs, and unmarked undertail coverts. Second bird similar but with a very faint yellow/greenish wash to uppermost upper breast and undertail coverts, still being almost completely pale grayish below. One bird (drabber individual) heard giving sharp high-pitched chip calls higher than the average “chip” calls of lutescens. Both birds seen well albeit high up in the canopy, got some poor pics of at least one individual that will be added at some point."
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) (Leiothlypis celata celata/orestera) (1)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 08:59 by Roger Hammer
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S392983274 - Comments: "*Seems more or less on time. One rather dull bird (tending more towards celata, but still ambiguous) with the flock near the “Casa Diablo” (?) yard. Dull OCWA with contrasting grayish head, small bill, evenly bright white eye arcs, streaked breast, dull greenish below contrasting somewhat weakly with gray head, and very weakly and incompletely streaked undertail coverts, typical of many “gray-headed”. Silent to the best of my knowledge. Photos tba at some point."
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