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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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Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) (1)
- Reported Sep 18, 2026 19:01 by Kilian Hampl
- 410 Pecan St, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.596334&<ll...>,-120.596334 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394082589 - Comments: "*Continuing HY male at feeders (see yesterday’s list). Small pale hummer with long bill, white breast, narrower inner primaries, broad rounded p10, squeaky calls, etc. Some purple gorget feathers starting to grow in on throat. Photos tba at some point."
Murphy's Petrel (Pterodroma ultima) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 06:43 by Leisyka Parrott
- North Pacific Ocean (35.2737,-122.1285), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-122.128488&<ll...>,-122.128488 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394242018 - Comments: "I was counting SOSH in the scope as I was panning left and came across an all dark bird of similar size and distance that had no underwing flash. I stayed with it for about 45 seconds noting the dark upper and underwings. It was mostly gliding on crooked wings, but the flap was quick and snappy, faster than a PFSH/FFSH. Did not really consider FFSH, just not dark chocolate brown enough and flap was faster."
Murphy's Petrel (Pterodroma ultima) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 06:43 by Russ Namitz
- North Pacific Ocean (35.2737,-122.1285), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-122.128488&<ll...>,-122.128488 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394242016 - Comments: "I was counting SOSH in the scope as I was panning left and came across an all dark bird of similar size and distance that had no underwing flash. I stayed with it for about 45 seconds noting the dark upper and underwings. It was mostly gliding on crooked wings, but the flap was quick and snappy, faster than a PFSH/FFSH. Did not really consider FFSH, just not dark chocolate brown enough and flap was faster. I have seen dozens of these on spring repo cruises and in Hawaii and have a good sense of flight style & gestalt."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (3) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 18, 2026 15:30 by Tom Slater
- East Cuesta Ridge, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6290937&<ll...>,-120.6290937 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394090000 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "At 3 miles up from the parking area I found 1 feeding on the ground. I watched it for 45 minutes, fishing out pine nuts and other things. Using it's large black bill to hammer away. Black wings, gray body, heavy black bill, white undertail, white tail when in flight.
I rode up to the Black Butte Repeater and on the way down, I saw two more flying through the pines behind a 20' pine snag right next to the road (with cavities in it... woodpeckers?). So I saw a total of 3 birds."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 18, 2026 06:44 by Jay Carroll
- East Cuesta Ridge, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6290937&<ll...>,-120.6290937 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394047744 - Comments: "Perched on pine and then flying NE into moderate breeze; 0732 at 35.33400, -120.60960 (elev. 2,097 ft). A distinctive gray corvid with black wings, mostly white tail, and large pointed black bill observed briefly through bins at about 100 m distant. When it flew, the contrasting gray, black, and white plumage pattern was very obvious. Compared to a co-occurring Band-tailed Pigeon with which it may have initially been confused, the Nutcracker had a stronger direct flight with slower wing beats, an unbanded tail, larger head, thicker neck, and longer black bill. No vocalizations were heard and no photos were taken."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (1)
- Reported Sep 18, 2026 14:43 by Kyle Rundel 🐦⬛
- Mount Lowe Rd, San Luis Obispo US-CA (35.3300,-120.6088), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.608766&<ll...>,-120.608766 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394060210 - Comments: "Scrub-jay sized light gray bird with black wings, white undertail coverts, large lightly curved black bill and black eyes. Face lacked the usual white hue. Seen foraging on the ground upon fallen pinecones. Very friendly, popped out of the trees onto the trail right in front of us multiple times. Not likely to be the same individuals as reported by others this morning, as it was a mile or so back on the road. Photos tba."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 18, 2026 10:47 by Jay Carroll
- Mount Lowe Rd, San Luis Obispo US-CA 35.31627, -120.60176, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.60176&<ll...>,-120.60176 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394058497 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Most likely a different individual than the one seen over three hours earlier in a different location on the same road. It was first observed methodically foraging on the ground under overhanging pine boughs along the dirt road, presumably for seeds. Distinctively plumaged gray corvid with black wings, white tail, and large black bill. It flushed when it was disturbed by some passing cyclists, but returned to the same location about 10 minutes later. Photos."
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 18, 2026 10:40 by Petra Clayton
- Hardie Park/Cayucos Creek (Ocean Ave Bridge to Hwy 1 Bridge), Cayucos, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9062489&<ll...>,-120.9062489 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394035601 - Media: 1 Video, 8 Photos
- Comments: "Most recent eBird report of this species at this eBird hotspot: 9/6/2025.
Chocolate-brown crown, nape, back, wings (no wingbars) and tail; broad cream-colored supercilium and throat; thin dark malar stripe; cream-colored breast, belly and undertail; broad dark stripes running the whole length of the cream-colored flanks; dusky pink legs; slender dark bill; dark eye. --- Observed foraging in the creek bed west of the Highway One bridge at the end of the creek. Even when not seen clearly in the underbrush, the constant tail bobbing was most noticeable."
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