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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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Least Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates microsoma) (3)
- Reported Sep 24, 2026 11:22 by Irby Lovette
- Santa Barbara Channel--central channel (SBA Co.), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.9613146&<ll...>,-119.9613146 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S396065106 - Comments: "Tiny storm petrel directly compared to Ashy & Blacks. Comparatively long wings for tiny body and head, with very short tails held tightly in a blunted point. Very bat-like flight. Possible pics to be added later. Flushed out of a resting flock of stormies."
Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 17:58 by Samuel Bressler
- Santa Cruz Island--Potato Harbor Trail, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5843309&<ll...>,-119.5843309 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S396245232 - Comments: "Tentative, based on examination of photo taken of seabird raft. Mixed with pelicans (which were larger), cormorants (which had shorter, thinner bills). I think Incan just make out the white on the belly in the photo. Will post when I’m back home."
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 11:38 by Mark Holmgren
- Evergreen Open Space, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8909131&<ll...>,-119.8909131 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S396208442 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Small Buteo when compared to the turkey vultures it was with. Black subterminal tail band. Black margin along the distal primaries and secondaries. Heavy markings on throat and upper breast."
Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) (5)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 08:50 by John Lewis
- Foxen Canyon Rd (private residence), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.12417&<ll...>,-120.12417 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S396125965 - Comments: "A group of about five, seen perched briefly on an oak tree before flying off. Large, dark green woodpecker with reddish spots on its breast and head and a whitish collar."
Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) (2)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 09:58 by Ron Hirst
- 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/S396162234 - Comments: "black woodpeckers, crow like flight. one perched nearby and rose underpart visible, then went away and was fly catching with a second lewis. probably one of them was seen again later near the peak."
Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 08:08 by Rebecca Coulter
- Refugio Rd--first creek crossing, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0689661&<ll...>,-120.0689661 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S396210306 - Comments: "Continuing bird first found by Nick Lethaby and refound this morning by Jim Hodgson. Difficult lighting today. Overcast but lots of glare and not a lot of detail visible. A few warbling vireos also present. But this bird stood out from them with mostly pale plumage, olive gray back, strong, dark line through eye with white supercilium. Dark contrasting cap. The brightest yellow on the bird was at the throat, and the undertail coverts were pale yellow also. Moved vireo-like through the trees, occasionally hovering to glean from leaf clumps."
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 12:43 by Peter Gaede
- 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/S396218856 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "1324 hrs. First heard calls then saw the bird perched on top of a pine down the road east of the peak almost to the end of the line. Seemed to be the only CLNU around, down from 85 recorded earlier this morning."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 13:40 by Zach Nett
- 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/S396207692 - Comments: "continuing bird at the west entrance. was driving out when I saw it fly up into the tree it’s been frequenting the last week. pulled over and relocated high in the tree, nuthatching around. distinct patterning and behavior relative to Black-throated Gray. someone mentioned they had seen one in the middle section while I was there just before, so likely multiple birds on the property."
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 15:40 by Luke Jensen
- Oak ridge park community, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.407188&<ll...>,-120.407188 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S396246227 - Comments: "Continuing individual first seen in the late afternoon around 4:30 PM then later seen in the evening around 5:30 PM. Smaller but chunkier bird than nearby orange crowned warblers with white supercilium, white rump and olive green back. Great comparison photos between the Tennessee will be posted at some point."
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 08:08 by Rebecca Coulter
- Refugio Rd--first creek crossing, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0689661&<ll...>,-120.0689661 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S396210306 - Comments: "First heard the squeaky single “chink” note, then a female type grosbeak came down to eye level where we could see detail on the plumage. Strong warm buffy wash across the throat and breast, with extensive dark streaking. Foraging on elderberries next to the road."
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) (1)
- Reported Sep 25, 2026 12:17 by Spencer Seale
- Lake Jocelyn, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.4772805&<ll...>,-119.4772805 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S396192942 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Immature/green-type bunting perched in bulrushes at NW corner of lake. Uniform greenish upperparts, most noticeable on mantle and rump/base of tail. Underparts plain and pale yellowish-green. Wings dark with greenish covert edging; lacked distinct dual wing bars of Lazuli Bunting. Plain faced with conical Passerina bill. Viewed at distance; photos attached."
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