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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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Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Chris Henry
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401166361 - Comments: "*Scarce and early. One bird seen briefly but reasonably well skulking low in willows near the maintenance road. Medium-sized sparrow with a short conical bill, dark eye, reddish crown with a buffy central crown stripe, largely grayish face with warm buffy auriculars, dark postocular stripe that was flared behind the eye, pale throat and malar, relatively plump body, moderately long tail, lightly streaked breast with a buffy wash, reddish wings, and dull flesh-colored legs and feet. Silent. Attempted photos but were unsuccessful."
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Kilian Hampl
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401165755 - Comments: "*Scarce and early. One bird seen briefly but reasonably well skulking low in willows near the maintenance road. Medium-sized sparrow with a short conical bill, dark eye, reddish crown with a buffy central crown stripe, largely grayish face with warm buffy auriculars, dark postocular stripe that was flared behind the eye, pale throat and malar, relatively plump body, moderately long tail, lightly streaked breast with a buffy wash, reddish wings, and dull flesh-colored legs and feet. Silent. Attempted photos but were unsuccessful."
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Marty Freeland
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401331658 - Comments: "*Scarce and early. One bird seen briefly but reasonably well skulking low in willows near the maintenance road. Medium-sized sparrow with a short conical bill, dark eye, reddish crown with a buffy central crown stripe, largely grayish face with warm buffy auriculars, dark postocular stripe that was flared behind the eye, pale throat and malar, relatively plump body, moderately long tail, lightly streaked breast with a buffy wash, reddish wings, and dull flesh-colored legs and feet. Silent. Attempted photos but were unsuccessful."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Kilian Hampl
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401165755 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "*Rare but regular. New apparent AHY female seen well near the maintenance road. Small lanky warbler with thin slightly curved mostly darker bill, dark eye, black and white striped crown, grayish cheek, white throat, white underparts with moderate black streaking on flanks, breast sides, and undertail coverts, black and white striped back, mostly darker wing with dark primary coverts and white double wingbars, bold white tertial edges, largely darker tail, and dark legs and feet. There was a barely noticeable buffy wash to the throat and flanks. Aggressive, chased several Yellow-rumped and a Townsend’s Warbler. Creeping along branches like a nuthatch or wren as is typical of this species. Silent. Photos"
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Chris Henry
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401166361 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "*Rare but regular. New apparent AHY female seen well near the maintenance road. Small lanky warbler with thin slightly curved mostly darker bill, dark eye, black and white striped crown, grayish cheek, white throat, white underparts with moderate black streaking on flanks, breast sides, and undertail coverts, black and white striped back, mostly darker wing with dark primary coverts and white double wingbars, bold white tertial edges, largely darker tail, and dark legs and feet. There was a barely noticeable buffy wash to the throat and flanks. Aggressive, chased several Yellow-rumped and a Townsend’s Warbler. Creeping along branches like a nuthatch or wren as is typical of this species. Silent. Photos"
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Marty Freeland
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401331658 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "*Rare but regular. New apparent AHY female seen well near the maintenance road. Small lanky warbler with thin slightly curved mostly darker bill, dark eye, black and white striped crown, grayish cheek, white throat, white underparts with moderate black streaking on flanks, breast sides, and undertail coverts, black and white striped back, mostly darker wing with dark primary coverts and white double wingbars, bold white tertial edges, largely darker tail, and dark legs and feet. There was a barely noticeable buffy wash to the throat and flanks. Aggressive, chased several Yellow-rumped and a Townsend’s Warbler. Creeping along branches like a nuthatch or wren as is typical of this species. Silent. Photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 13:02 by Kilian Hampl
- Del Mar Park--Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8586752&<ll...>,-120.8586752 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401158771 - Comments: "*Expected. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bill, greener supraloral, diffusely streaked breast, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. Lower-pitched metallic chip call. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 13:02 by Chris Henry
- Del Mar Park--Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8586752&<ll...>,-120.8586752 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401164284 - Comments: "*Expected. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bill, greener supraloral, diffusely streaked breast, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. Lower-pitched metallic chip call. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 13:02 by Marty Freeland
- Del Mar Park--Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8586752&<ll...>,-120.8586752 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401331679 - Comments: "*Expected. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bill, greener supraloral, diffusely streaked breast, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. Lower-pitched metallic chip call. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2)
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 11:49 by Chris Henry
- Meadow Creek/Monarch Butterfly Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6328654&<ll...>,-120.6328654 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401164289 - Comments: "*Expected. One on each side, and at least one continuing. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bills, greener supralorals, diffusely streaked breasts, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. lower-pitched metallic chip call. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2)
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 11:49 by Kilian Hampl
- Meadow Creek/Monarch Butterfly Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6328654&<ll...>,-120.6328654 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401158056 - Comments: "*Expected. One on each side, and at least one continuing. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bills, greener supralorals, diffusely streaked breasts, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. lower-pitched metallic chip call. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2)
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 11:49 by Marty Freeland
- Meadow Creek/Monarch Butterfly Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6328654&<ll...>,-120.6328654 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401331689 - Comments: "*Expected. One on each side, and at least one continuing. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bills, greener supralorals, diffusely streaked breasts, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. lower-pitched metallic chip call. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1)
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 11:21 by Marty Freeland
- Nacimiento Ave Trail, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.614886&<ll...>,-120.614886 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401331701 - Comments: "*Expected. 1-2. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bill, greener supraloral, diffusely streaked breast, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. Silent. We are well aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1)
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 11:21 by Chris Henry
- Nacimiento Ave Trail, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.614886&<ll...>,-120.614886 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401164293 - Comments: "*Expected. 1-2. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bill, greener supraloral, diffusely streaked breast, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. Silent. We are well aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (1)
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 11:21 by Kilian Hampl
- Nacimiento Ave Trail, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.614886&<ll...>,-120.614886 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401157815 - Comments: "*Expected. 1-2. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bill, greener supraloral, diffusely streaked breast, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. Silent. We are well aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but this individual appeared to be a straightforward sordida, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Marty Freeland
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401331658 - Comments: "*Expected. Singles on the peninsula and near the maintenance road. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bills, greener supralorals, diffusely streaked breasts, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. lower-pitched metallic chip call given by at least one bird. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but these individuals appeared to be straightforward sordidas, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Kilian Hampl
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401165755 - Comments: "*Expected. Singles on the peninsula and near the maintenance road. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bills, greener supralorals, diffusely streaked breasts, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. lower-pitched metallic chip call given by at least one bird. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but these individuals appeared to be straightforward sordidas, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 08:58 by Chris Henry
- Pismo SB--Oceano Campground, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6265268&<ll...>,-120.6265268 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401166361 - Comments: "*Expected. Singles on the peninsula and near the maintenance road. Dusky olive Orange-crowned with large bills, greener supralorals, diffusely streaked breasts, “vested” appearance, slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked olive, etc. lower-pitched metallic chip call given by at least one bird. Aware that this subspecies now intergrades extensively with lutescens, but these individuals appeared to be straightforward sordidas, at least from a phenotypic point of view… Escaped photos"
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 06:55 by Kilian Hampl
- Arroyo Grande Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6287241&<ll...>,-120.6287241 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401173045 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "A drab, washed out fem/imm type here with photos (35.0997042, -120.6231810) about half a mile up stream there was a bright adult with fiery orange in the throat with bright white wingbars and a darker back (35.0964989, -120.6147240) they are structurally different from Townsend’s by a longer bodied bird with proportionally longer wings."
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 06:55 by Marty Freeland
- Arroyo Grande Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6287241&<ll...>,-120.6287241 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401331750 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "A drab, washed out fem/imm type here with photos (35.0997042, -120.6231810) about half a mile up stream there was a bright adult with fiery orange in the throat with bright white wingbars and a darker back (35.0964989, -120.6147240) they are structurally different from Townsend’s by a longer bodied bird with proportionally longer wings."
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 06:55 by Chris Henry
- Arroyo Grande Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6287241&<ll...>,-120.6287241 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401027836 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "A drab, washed out fem/imm type here with photos (35.0997042, -120.6231810) about half a mile up stream there was a bright adult with fiery orange in the throat with bright white wingbars and a darker back (35.0964989, -120.6147240) they are structurally different from Townsend’s by a longer bodied bird with proportionally longer wings."
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 17:06 by Terri Osborn
- Santa Rosa Creek Trail--Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1005139&<ll...>,-121.1005139 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401170452 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird (Terri Osborne 10.08.26) - Bumped into Terri on our way to bird the willows below Windsor Blvd and Santa Rosa Creek Trail. By the time we began birding Santa Rosa Creek Trail, light was fading fast. We encountered a mixed flock of Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Townsend's Warbler that keep us busy as the canopy darkened. We saw a small bird several times moving quickly in the upper canopy almost always backlit. One feature we could easily see was that the bird was completely gray below with black tail side tips. The bird stayed mostly buried in the upper canopy but allowed a brief photo op to get a few less-than-thrilling photos which revealed reddish brown smudges on flanks, gray face, two white wing-bars and complete white eye-ring. The location where we observed this bird was from the trail very near the cement riser with the man-hole cover a short distance east of the pipe-gate crossing the trail."
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 10, 2026 17:06 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Santa Rosa Creek Trail--Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1005139&<ll...>,-121.1005139 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401165465 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird (Terri Osborne 10.08.26) - Bumped into Terri on our way to bird the willows below Windsor Blvd and Santa Rosa Creek Trail. By the time we began birding Santa Rosa Creek Trail, light was fading fast. We encountered a mixed flock of Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Townsend's Warbler that keep us busy as the canopy darkened. We saw a small bird several times moving quickly in the upper canopy almost always backlit. One feature we could easily see was that the bird was completely gray below with black tail side tips. The bird stayed mostly buried in the upper canopy but allowed a brief photo op to get a few less-than-thrilling photos which revealed reddish brown smudges on flanks, gray face, two white wing-bars and complete white eye-ring. The location where we observed this bird was from the trail very near the cement riser with the man-hole cover a short distance east of the pipe-gate crossing the trail."
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