---------------------------------------------
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.
Swainson's Thrush (Olive-backed) (Catharus ustulatus [swainsoni Group]) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 07:00 by Kevin Zimmer
- KJZ yard, Garcia Rd, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7064838&<ll...>,-120.7064838 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395030327 - Media: 8 Photos
- Comments: "This was one of the olive-backed subspecies of Swainson's Thrush, as judged by the "cold", uniformly grayish-olive upperparts (including the tail); buffy eyering and supraloral; pale, grayish-brown wash to the flanks; boldly, blackish spotted breast; and with a decidedly buffy ground-color to the malar/moustachial region. Much "colder" more grayish-olive dorsal coloration than in any of the West Coast breeding subspecies of the ustulatus-group, and with bolder, darker breast spotting than any of the expected breeding or migratory Swainson's. The only warmer brown color on this bird was in the greater primary and secondary coverts. My best guess would be that this bird would be referable to the Alaskan breeding subspecies incanus, as opposed to more eastern breeding swainsoni, although incanus more often has a slight rufous cast to the dorsal surface of the tail, which this bird showed no indication of. This is only the 3rd or 4th time that I've recorded one of these olive-backed Swainson's Thrushes in my yard (or the county) in 40 years of living here. All of my previous records were also in Sept-Oct."
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1)
- Reported Sep 21, 2026 09:13 by Bob McCay
- 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/S394995004 - Comments: "Brown back with brown and faintly yellowish stripes beneath. Prominent white eyebrow. Bobbing along the creek about 150’ seaward of the 101 bridge on the south side. It hung out well within the willow branches so no pic."
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 10:30 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/S394825716 - Media: 1 Video, 7 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing since 9/18/26.
Chocolate-brown crown, nape, back, wings (no wingbars) and tail; broad cream-colored supercilium and throat; thin dark malar stripe; cream-colored breast with long, broad dark stripes; cream-colored belly with dark markings; cream-colored undertail; dark stripes running the whole length of the cream-colored flanks; dusky pink legs; slender dark bill; dark eye. --- Frequently bobbing its tails and flipping leaf litter as it foraged in the creek bed, occasionally in the company of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, west of the Highway One bridge at the end of the creek."
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 21, 2026 12:16 by Barry Langdon-Lassagne
- 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/S395038500 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Overall drab warbler, with striking yellow tail-windows. Lots of tail-wagging & fan display. Photos."
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 21, 2026 12:16 by Virginia Langdon-Lassagne
- 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/S395038497 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Overall drab warbler, with striking yellow tail-windows. Lots of tail-wagging & fan display. Photos."
***********
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/
