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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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Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 15:52 by Cathy Jain
- 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/S400657750 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing. Much lighter and slightly smaller than associated MAGO. Obvious supercilium and white tail in flight. On beach close to water off East side of point. Getting spooked every once in a while by people with dogs. Photos. TBA."
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 15:52 by Chris Jain
- 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/S400657751 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing. Much lighter and slightly smaller than associated MAGO. Obvious supercilium and white tail in flight. On beach close to water off East side of point. Getting spooked every once in a while by people with dogs. Photos."
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 15:35 by Philip Zeng
- 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/S400681943 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing, photos. It has grayish-brown plumage, a white belly, and a very prominent white eyebrow. It is also smaller than the Marbled Godwit. I’m so happy to see this rare shorebird here, especially because it is a species more commonly found in Asia, including my hometown in China. Seeing it here makes the encounter feel even more special!"
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 14:20 by Craig Prater
- 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/S400649902 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing at Coal Oil Point. This observation was just east of the point with one Bar-tailed associated with 20+ Marbled. Observed both working the surf and foraging in the sand close to the cliff. Bar-tailed is the lighter, smaller bird with the strong white eyebrow. Some photos include nearby Marbled for comparison."
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 13:42 by Matt Brady
- 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/S400678053 - Comments: "Continuing bird, extremely confiding on the beach just to the east of the point (<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Vd1uqkd8YBajCKj6">34.4073616, -119.8776610</a>), closely associating with the flock of ~30 Marbled Godwits. In comparison to the MAGOs this was a slightly smaller and more compact bird, lacking any of the peachy tones typical of that species. The distinct white supercilium was the easiest way to pick the bird out, but the shorter, thicker legs, rather streaky upper parts, white underwings barred with gray, and barred tail also differed from the MAGOs. Many, many photos of the bird, which was in view for the duration of my observation, at times down to <3m from me."
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 12:31 by Kim Stackpole
- 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/S400633325 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Mixed in with marbled godwits. Underside noticeably lighter than Marbled Godwit. Sharply contrasting light eyebrow extends firmly back past eye. slightly shorter/smaller than the MAGO. No rufous/cinnamon coloration on breast, belly or rump. Pix to follow"
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 12:09 by Rebecca Coulter
- 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/S400619214 - Comments: "Continuing rarity at this location with a flock of about 25 marbled godwit. Viewed from the cliff directly below the point on the east side. About 12:30 PM. Seen from above, it appeared slightly lighter with a few more obvious white frosty patches. But the most definite field mark that set it apart from the marbled was its face pattern, much lighter with a bright white eyebrow. Although the marbled were a little variable in plumage, none showed this face pattern and were overall much buffier in color. As this is a lifer for me, I have no experience otherwise, but it would seem that this is an adult in non-breeding plumage, or better yet a juvenile with that much strong patterning on the back?"
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 10:57 by Dennis Doordan
- 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/S400646820 - Comments: "Spotted at 11:05 am on Coal Oil Point. First seen in flight in a group of 15+ Marbled Godwits; the Bar-tailed was smaller with lighter coloration and no cinnamon color. The difference was easy to identify with the birds in flight. The Godwits were feeding on the shore immediately to the east of COP."
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 08, 2026 14:03 by Barbara Millett
- 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/S400570902 - Comments: "Continuing rarity found Oct. 7 by Benjamin Byerly. The bird was foraging with a flock of Marbled Godwits. It was smaller and had shorter legs compared to Marbled Godwits. Overall the plumage had a pale gray appearance without buffy tones. The bicolored bill was pink at base and black toward tip. Bill was long and straight with slight upturn on end. There was a prominent white superciliam. In flight the tail showed black and white barring."
Williamson's Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 09:55 by Zach Nett
- Bella Vista OSP, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8836064&<ll...>,-119.8836064 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400615170 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "continuing in the NWern most pine. silent and tough to pick out, luckily another birder pointed me in the right direction. female with black and white barring with nice yellow bellow."
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (1)
- Reported Oct 08, 2026 06:49 by Dawn Garcia
- Santa Cruz Island--Scorpion Anchorage and Beach Area, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5555481&<ll...>,-119.5555481 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400586740 - Comments: "Little flycatcher hanging out in the same area as yesterday. On the tractor wheel and over the wet marsh. Light under parts with peachy flanks and under tail coverts
Brownish gray upper parts smaller than say's phoebe, that displaces it."
Swinhoe's White-eye (Zosterops simplex) (Exotic: Naturalized) (1)
- Reported Oct 08, 2026 13:56 by Ann Stockert
- 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/S400637655 - Comments: "*Rare but expanding in SBA county. One bird h/o call somewhere relatively close by on the west/main side here: (34.431271, -119.892983). Call was a descending ringing tzew which I recognized immediately as this species, having heard countless white-eyes from all over Southern California."
Swinhoe's White-eye (Zosterops simplex) (Exotic: Naturalized) (1)
- Reported Oct 08, 2026 13:56 by Kilian Hampl
- 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/S400622570 - Comments: "*Rare but expanding in SBA county. One bird h/o call somewhere relatively close by on the west/main side here: (34.431271, -119.892983). Call was a descending ringing tzew which I recognized immediately as this species, having heard countless white-eyes from all over Southern California."
Cassin's Finch (Haemorhous cassinii) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 08, 2026 07:39 by Mason Henry 🐦
- Auto selected 34.00025, -119.73607, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.736071&<ll...>,-119.736071 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400684478 - Comments: "Calling with diagnostic till’ip call. Landed on an oak, the side-on view honestly wasn’t enough to eliminate purple (fem type), but the call was heard well and of course very different from a purple."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 15:30 by Steve Hovey
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400677909 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Small warbler with black neck, black and white face with a yellow crown and bright yellow patch on the wings. Seen in sycamore trees just south of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Dam."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 15:25 by Yixin L
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400679898 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "finally saw it at around 6. warbler with a clear black throat and white around it, yellow forehead. white underparts with no streaking. thank you to Zach Nett for spotting it."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 11:28 by Chris Jain
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400614701 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing. Being very difficult. Giving fantastic clear view for about half a second at a time before disappearing into the foliage. Otherwise consistent, possibly working a circuit and coming around to be visible for a short period of time off the West side of the dam in oaks and sycamores. Appears for a short period at a time about every 45 minutes or so. Face and golden wing obvious at a glance. Photos."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 11:20 by Chang Huan
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400608929 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "First report yesterday, refound this morning. Beautiful small warbler with black throat and mask. Golden crown, large golden patch on wings. Seen with many others, photos tba."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 11:20 by Caroline Chen
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400609045 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "First report yesterday, refound this morning. Beautiful small warbler with black throat and mask. Golden crown, large golden patch on wings. Seen with many others, photos tba."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 11:12 by Eunice Schroeder
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400697067 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing male found yesterday by Jane Orbuch and seen today with many other birders. Beautiful, distinctive warbler foraging actively in the sycamores on the northwest side of the dam. Mostly gray overall with bold black-and-white face pattern consisting of black throat and mask outlined by white; bright golden crown and wing patch. Photos."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 08:54 by Laurel S Luby
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400598140 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Saw with many other birders at the stone bridge. Small warbler with gray uppers and light underparts. Black mask, yellow crown and yellow wing patches. Photos."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 08:54 by David Blue
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400658369 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "First discovered here yesterday by Jane Orbuch. This is only the sixth record for Santa Barbara County, with the last record being 25 years ago in 2001. This bird was found today by Nick Lethaby while standing on the dam over Mission Creek. It foraged mostly in sycamores immediately northwest of the dam at approximately: 34.458803, -119.710027
Despite being grayish overall this was a striking bird with a white face set off with a black throat and mask, and highlighted by a bright yellow forecrown and wing-panel."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 08:54 by Linda Blue
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400664379 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "First discovered here yesterday by Jane Orbuch. This is only the sixth record for Santa Barbara County, with the last record being 25 years ago in 2001. This bird was found today by Nick Lethaby while standing on the dam over Mission Creek. It foraged mostly in sycamores immediately northwest of the dam at approximately: 34.458803, -119.710027
Despite being grayish overall this was a striking bird with a white face set off with a black throat and mask, and highlighted by a bright yellow forecrown and wing-panel."
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 08:54 by Tom Beland
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.710266&<ll...>,-119.710266 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400612002 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Saw with many other birders at the stone bridge. Small warbler with gray uppers and light underparts. Black mask, yellow crown and yellow wing patches. Photos."
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 07:35 by Zach Nett
- Refugio State Beach, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0694835&<ll...>,-120.0694835 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400615501 - Comments: "smaller warbler with green-leaning yellow uppers, eyeline, unstreaked breast, and distinct white undertail coverts. visited the seep on multiple occasions and associating OCWA offered great comparisons."
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 09:45 by Ryan Seppala
- Maria Ygnacio Creek--north of US 101, including Calle Barquero OS and Patterson OS, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8033118&<ll...>,-119.8033118 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400615289 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Inside of a mixed flock on the east end of the open space, in the riparian woodland bordering the creek."
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) (1)
- Reported Oct 09, 2026 16:08 by Daniel Kolbach
- Refugio State Beach, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.0694835&<ll...>,-120.0694835 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S400689188 - Comments: "Foraging low in the eucalyptus trees, then came down to take a bath. Gray underparts, yellow-green upperparts, and bold white eyering. Will post photos on Monday. Seen a little down the road where the Tennessee Warbler was seen."
Townsend's x Hermit Warbler (hybrid) (Setophaga townsendi x occidentalis) (1)
- Reported Oct 08, 2026 13:56 by Kilian Hampl
- 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/S400622570 - Comments: "*Rare. HY male (partially black throat and median covert wingbar with dark centers) here: (34.431444, -119.892914). This individual looked mostly like Hermit but with an olive cap extending farther into forehead than expected on pure Hermit, mostly olive back, stronger olive cheek patch than expected in pure Hermit, and diffuse streaking on sides of breast extending down through the flanks nearly reaching the vent. Decent identifiable views initially then moved deeper into the foliage and eventually flew off when we tried to get photos."
Townsend's x Hermit Warbler (hybrid) (Setophaga townsendi x occidentalis) (1)
- Reported Oct 08, 2026 13:56 by Ann Stockert
- 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/S400637655 - Comments: "*Rare. HY male (partially black throat and median covert wingbar with dark centers) here: (34.431444, -119.892914). This individual looked mostly like Hermit but with an olive cap extending farther into forehead than expected on pure Hermit, mostly olive back, stronger olive cheek patch than expected in pure Hermit, and diffuse streaking on sides of breast extending down through the flanks nearly reaching the vent. Decent identifiable views initially then moved deeper into the foliage and eventually flew off when we tried to get photos."
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