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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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Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) (6) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 21, 2026 07:44 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/S395061513 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing small tern flock. Black caps, some still in breeding plumage, most not, most showing diagnostic black carpal bar. Orange to black bills and legs. Legs similar size to Forster’s."
Least Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates microsoma) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 09:45 by Leisyka Parrott
- North Pacific Ocean (34.6302,-121.8055), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.805455&<ll...>,-121.805455 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395003391 - Comments: "Whoa! Very small dark storm-petrel that was almost phalarope-sized with a short, rounded tail. Flying next to Red Phalarope and Black Storm-Petrel for direct comparison. Watched for about 50 seconds before it disappeared."
Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) (6)
- Reported Sep 18, 2026 09:45 by Tristan Yoo
- 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/S394808717 - Comments: "Large, torpedo shaped birds with all brown backs and white bellies. Four seen together forging and plunge diving like rockets. Two more seen briefly after as they tailed the boat momentarily. One had a whitish head. Seen within 10 minutes of reaching Scorpion Anchorage. Identification of non-white headed individuals is based on range."
Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 09:45 by Russ Namitz
- North Pacific Ocean (34.6302,-121.8055), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.805455&<ll...>,-121.805455 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394311017 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "This bird appears to be in its second prebasic molt based on the single generation of primary feathers with p1-p4 replaced and molting. Bill appeared to be greenish-blue at the base and yellow at the tip, lacking any orange or pink. The brown "shawl" of this bird seems better for Nazca, but it also appeared to lack white central retrices which is better for Masked. Better photos can be seen from the other birding group on the ship. https://ebird.org/checklist/S394310317"
Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 09:45 by Leisyka Parrott
- North Pacific Ocean (34.6302,-121.8055), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.805455&<ll...>,-121.805455 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395003391 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "This bird appears to be in its second prebasic molt based on the single generation of primary feathers with p1-p4 replaced and molting. Bill appeared to be greenish-blue at the base and yellow at the tip, lacking any orange or pink. The brown "shawl" of this bird seems better for Nazca, but it also appeared to lack white central retrices which is better for Masked. Better photos can be seen from the other birding group on the ship. https://ebird.org/checklist/S394310317"
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 16:00 by Chris Dellith
- Baron Ranch Trailhead, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.1176544&<ll...>,-120.1176544 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395017493 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "The Eastern kingbird was moving a with a Cassin's or western kingbird. The subject bird behaved and was the same size as the other kingbird (sp. unknown). I observed the birds with binoculars for a couple of minutes before I got the camera out. Unable to get better photos because they flew off suddenly."
Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis) (1)
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 13:00 by Mario Ramos
- 7402 - 7418 Hollister Ave (Tech Park), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8908561&<ll...>,-119.8908561 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394806759 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing. Perched in bush near the street The bird showed olive-green upperparts, a grayish head, a reddish-brown eye, large bill. The wings and back showed subtle darker feather edging. The bird was actively foraging among the foliage and berries 34.4300331,-119.8922616"
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) (8)
- Reported Sep 18, 2026 14:28 by Tristan Yoo
- Santa Cruz Island--Smugglers Road, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.557187&<ll...>,-119.557187 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394809488 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Lifer. There were a few flocks with a couple dozen House Finches along the hike. They would all flush up together and fly from bush to bush. In one of these movements, at around 6:15 PM, I saw a few larger birds fly into a bush at 34.0375955, -119.5615395 with the House Finches. I initially thought well-lit Blackbirds because of their size, but as I took a closer look, I realized they were blue. I snapped a couple of photos and was puzzled with what I saw: large and lanky unpatterned blue birds with sharp black bills and dark eyes. The blue was more concentrated on the head and smoothly transitioned to gray on the belly. Some individuals were more blue than others. As they flushed only a few seconds later, I head them make some "ree ree" calls. Photos.
First Santa Cruz island record on eBird, and first record on the Chanel Islands since September 13, 1976. This seems to be part of a recent irruption of Great Basin birds. Higher numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatch have been present, and Pinyon Jays have been spotted in a few places in Santa Barbara and Ventura recently."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (30)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 11:15 by Bernadette and Amante Mangaser
- 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/S394807660 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing for over a week now, the first flock seen around 11 am was about 25 birds, and then a smaller flock that landed on pine branches - crow-sized birds with gray heads and bodies, black wings with white patches."
Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 21, 2026 11:15 by Rebecca Coulter
- Elings Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7349691&<ll...>,-119.7349691 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395037921 - Comments: "Continuing rarity at this location, this is its second day here after Peter Gaede found it yesterday morning. Very pale pipit, walking in the weedy dry grasses among the stalks of fennel. Face very pale and unmarked with a dark eye. Crisp dark streaking across the back, otherwise pale white to buff overall. Bright yellow orange legs were remarkable! It moved quickly through the grasses, almost running at times. It did not fly except very briefly. No vocalizations. Seen roughly in this location: 34.40971, -119.73309."
Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) (1)
- Reported Sep 21, 2026 10:39 by Alistair Skinner
- Elings Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7349691&<ll...>,-119.7349691 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395086723 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing found yesterday by Peter. Streaked brown back, lighter front with dark streaks. Yellowish wash on face and wings, large dark eye, crazy orange/pink legs. Busily foraging on the ground, well camouflaged, hard to see until it moves. Occasionally flushing then flying a short distance maybe 15 ft high but staying in the same general area. 34.409567,-119.733036"
Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 21, 2026 07:22 by Lori Gaskin
- Elings Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7349691&<ll...>,-119.7349691 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394983550 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Found at 8:17am at approximately 34.409440, -119.732941.Streaky dark brown/tan/buff back that allows for great camouflage. White outer tail feathers. White throat, streaked breast. White/buffy underpart . Pinkish legs"
Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 21, 2026 07:22 by Rick Boyer
- Elings Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7349691&<ll...>,-119.7349691 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395018072 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Found at 8:17am at approximately 34.409440, -119.732941.Streaky dark brown/tan/buff back that allows for great camouflage. White outer tail feathers. White throat, streaked breast. White/buffy underpart . Pinkish legs"
Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 17:36 by Ryan Burnett
- Elings Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7349691&<ll...>,-119.7349691 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394810560 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "short tailed stocky pipit - white below with dark streaks on sides of breast, auricular buffy almost yellowish smudge, with darker malar stripes, lower mandible yellow, upperparts heavily streaked dark with buffer base than underparts, crown with same dark streaks, median and greater coverts edged white forming in distinct wing bars, central recs dark but outer white seen only in flight, bubble gum pink legs,walking continuously with long strides no tail bobbing- silent, allowed approach within 30 feet- poor digiscoped photos"
Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 17:35 by Spencer Seale
- Elings Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.7349691&<ll...>,-119.7349691 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394806164 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird found by Peter this morning. Short-tailed, pale/buffy pipit that blended in surprisingly well with the native vegetation. Juvenile with heavily scaled backside, pinkish legs, and fine streaking on buffy breast."
Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 08:11 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/S395048087 - Comments: "Female 9:39 in dead pine east of peak. Descending teew flight calls heard clearly before it was in view, then perched nicely for a few minutes in the dead tree. Photographed and recorded, will try to determine type"
Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 08:11 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/S395048084 - Comments: "Female 9:39 in dead pine east of peak. Descending teew flight calls heard clearly before it was in view, then perched nicely for a few minutes in the dead tree. Photographed and recorded, will try to determine type"
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 08:51 by Tristan Yoo
- 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/S394809687 - Comments: "Spizella sparrow with brown crown, pale lores, brown stripe behind the eye, tan supercilium, brown rump, and bright white malar stripes. Seen the ranch house at 10:30 AM. Initially foraging on the ground with a Spotted Towhee at the side of the building. Seen a couple more times over 30 minutes in the various trees around the house."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1)
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 13:00 by Mario Ramos
- 7402 - 7418 Hollister Ave (Tech Park), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8908561&<ll...>,-119.8908561 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394806759 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing. Actively foraging among the trees and branches. Distinctive black-and-white plumage was clearly visible, including bold black-and-white streaking on the head, back, and underparts, with the characteristic white wing bars. 34.4301094,-119.8924805"
Virginia's Warbler (Leiothlypis virginiae) (1)
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 10:09 by Ryan Seppala
- Business Park at Mentor Dr. (restricted access), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8124367&<ll...>,-119.8124367 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394814317 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "First observed in a tipu at the southeast corner of Seymour Duncan (34.4308871, -119.8127281). Classic VIWA with a gray body and wings, white eyering, and lemon undertail coverts. Some photos hint at yellow on the breast, which was not conspicuous in the field. Tail pumping behavior was noted. Later observed in a tipu on the west end of the Seymour Duncan complex."
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (1)
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 08:12 by Tristan Yoo
- 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/S394816606 - Comments: "Mostly gray warbler with black wings and white wingbars. Head showed orange hues and the distinct triangle shaped gray patch. Seen at 8:56 AM at the Cypress tress by the kayak rental. I first heard it chipping directly above me so I stopped to look. I was shocked and I couldn't believe my eyes...perhaps an exceptionally dull Townsend's? Just a minute later there was a Townsend's in the same tree giving perfect comparisons of both appearance and calls. Chips were similar but a bit softer than that of Townsend's. After a minute, it and the Townsend's flew into a lower Cypress."
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) (1)
- Reported Sep 20, 2026 08:12 by Tristan Yoo
- 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/S394816606 - Comments: "At roughly 9:45 AM, I sat down at one of the benches in front of the visitor center to get my dose of National Park free wifi. While on my phone, I heard a nice chip coming from one of the fig trees. I sifted through the House Finches with my binoculars until I saw a muted yellow warbler with white undertail coverts and white wingbars. Still gleeful from the Blackburnian from earlier, I stood up quite quickly and whipped up my camera. My sudden motion caused the finches and the warbler to flush to the trees behind. Luckily, I was able to quickly re-find it and got good looks. I saw a large drab warbler with a slightly darker head, fine black streaking on the upper breast and flanks, a faint dark line running through the eye, white wingbars, and very yellow feet. It was giving audible chips as it foraged in a tree in the edge of the ranch. A Northern Yellow Warbler came in to forage right next to it for a good comparison."
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) (1)
- Reported Sep 19, 2026 07:00 by Tristan Yoo
- 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/S394809592 - Comments: "Chunky bunting with a greenish back and pale undersides. Seems very juvenile as it had a fleshy gape. Seen at 7:54 AM just off the trail between the Lower and Upper campgrounds (34.0485734, -119.5641684). It was feeding in some tall grasses and was relatively unafraid. I got about 12 feet away from it and it didn't move much. After about five minutes of me staring at it, some campers walked by and flushed it and a couple of other juvenile buntings. A couole minutes later, I saw both of them in some short grasses together for some nice comparisons. Pictures coming."
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