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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 14, 2026 18:50 by Dominick Burnham
- 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/S393175251 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "continuing. first one flew over the pond at 1903 hours, another joined within a few minutes. both observed for about 20 minutes flying over the pond. bad digiscoped photo attached."
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 17:45 by Adrian O'Loghlen
- 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/S393163677 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Small, agile bird with brown and creamy striped underparts, creamy bar at throat, darker wings with cream colored stripe."
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 09:20 by James Rounds
- Ocean Beach Park and Santa Ynez River Estuary, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6003785&<ll...>,-120.6003785 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S393205622 - Comments: "In flight with commons at first. Feeding in the surf. Stood out because of being all gray above with a noticeably shorter bill. The belly showed as vaguely grey compared to the white bellies of all the other terns. I never found it sitting still on the sand for more than a few seconds. Lifer!"
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) (5)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 14:12 by Armando Aispuro
- 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/S393240240 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Small, long-winged terns. Some in alternate plumage; velvety black cap extending down the nape, red-orange bill and legs. Some in basic plumage; white crown exposed, black of nape remaining, bill and feet nearly fully black, and distinctive black carpal bars."
Least Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates microsoma) (2)
- Reported Sep 16, 2026 08:50 by Joel Barrett
- Santa Barbara Channel--east channel (Santa Barbara County only), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5149421&<ll...>,-119.5149421 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S393449002 - Comments: "Continuing small all dark storm-petrels. Deep wing beats with somewhat erratic zig zagging flight. Much smaller than Black Storm-Petrels that are also around."
Least Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates microsoma) (5)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 10:01 by Joel Barrett
- Santa Barbara Channel--east channel (Santa Barbara County only), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5149421&<ll...>,-119.5149421 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S393222442 - Comments: "Rare for this area and very rare in the SB channel. Very small bat like Storm-Petrel. All dark similar to much larger Black Storm-Petrels. A few seen side by side with Blacks for direct comparison. Erratic flight with deep wing beats unlike slightly larger and paler Ashy Storm-Petrel. No white on the bird at all. Short rounded or wedge shaped tail seen when close to the boat. Numerous sightings over the past week in the Channel and South of the Channel Islands. Waters have been warmer than normal in the low 70’s and a “Super El Niño” is happening well to the south of our location."
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (14)
- Reported Sep 14, 2026 18:49 by Jenna Hott
- Coal Oil Point Reserve, Goleta US-CA (34.4124,-119.8760), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.876015&<ll...>,-119.876015 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S393318539 - Comments: "The cormorants were roosting in a tree at sunset, making deep, guttural barking noises and getting into little tiffs with each other. If my senses and training didn’t deceive me, I feel my identification of these birds to be Neotropic is sound."
White-headed Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 08:02 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/S393301093 - Comments: "Male. Woodpecker with white and red on back of the head. Found initially in the pines at the very top of the peak but it also flew down to the parking area briefly. I strongly suspect two individuals up there today but difficult to verify certainly"
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 14:12 by Dustin H
- Santa Cruz Island--Scorpion Canyon Campgrounds, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5645389&<ll...>,-119.5645389 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S393451389 - Comments: "Heard it was around Scorpion Ranch this morning, others saw it. Spotted at the corral in afternoon. Photos to follow. Possibly 2 (male + female?) but definitely 1."
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 13:42 by David Blue
- Santa Barbara Shores Dr X Carmel Beach Cir, Goleta US-CA 34.42465, -119.89336, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.89336&<ll...>,-119.89336 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S393265950 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "First reported here this afternoon by Jim Hodgson. Seen from the intersection of Santa Barbara Shores Drive and Carmel Beach Circle on the lines behind the houses on the east side of Santa Barbara Shores Drive."
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 13:42 by Linda Blue
- Santa Barbara Shores Dr X Carmel Beach Cir, Goleta US-CA 34.42465, -119.89336, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.89336&<ll...>,-119.89336 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S393265951 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "First reported here this afternoon by Jim Hodgson. Seen from the intersection of Santa Barbara Shores Drive and Carmel Beach Circle on the lines behind the houses on the east side of Santa Barbara Shores Drive."
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 07:52 by Alex Harman
- 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/S393167790 - Comments: "Seen early flying west with a few of the CLNU. Blue-gray bird with minimal markings, similar in size to adjacent CLNU but with a longer tail, and flew with noticeably faster wingbeats. Others got photos."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (800)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 08:02 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/S393301093 - Comments: "The incredible spectacle of nutcrackers continues, they were passing in large groups both high overhead and low below the road, avoiding the fog as it blew in from the south. As the morning grew long they increasingly began perching in the trees to pick at pinecones and were contact calling to each other. At one point a flock of about 100 landed in the bare tree east of the tower and then all erupted past me at such close range that I could have reached out to touch one. I felt the air of their wings as they whistled by. 800 is being conservative to avoid re-counting circling birds but there were very strong numbers today"
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (239)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 07:52 by Alex Harman
- 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/S393167790 - Comments: "Heading west along the ridge, counting by 1s and 10s. Avoiding the edge of the fog, which would periodically creep over the ridge. Large, pale gray birds with black wings, white on the trailing edge and the tail."
Swinhoe's White-eye (Zosterops simplex) (Exotic: Naturalized) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 14:12 by Mario Ramos
- 144–152 W Gutierrez St, Santa Barbara US-CA (34.4143,-119.6959), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.695914&<ll...>,-119.695914 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S393275817 - Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "Heard only; recorded high-pitched, from vegetation adjacent to Mission Creek. Bird not seen. I observed this species in the same general area in December of the previous year."
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1)
- Reported Sep 15, 2026 08:55 by Armando Aispuro
- 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/S393188622 - Comments: "I detected a strange but familiar call and immediately recognized it as a Northern Waterthrush from my work with them for my Masters. The call was thick and metallic squeak with strong projection, repeating every two seconds. I spotted it in a willow at the southwest corner of the Dune Pond. The bird was a large warbler with a light buffy supercilium and a densely streaked neck over a yellowish wash. The back was solid dark brown. It was a brief look and it flew east immediately at my presence and I was unable to get a photo. I looked for twenty minutes around the pond but did not find it again."
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