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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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Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 13, 2026 07:30 by Maggie Smith
- Laguna Lake, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6903817&<ll...>,-120.6903817 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402112282 - Comments: "very small heron flushed from the reeds at edge of water. Mostly orange/tan with black back and stripes on neck and white below.; long pointed bill.. Flew a short distance and disappeared into reeds."
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (19) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 13, 2026 16:51 by Michael Moss
- Morro Bay SP--Black Hill, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8316064&<ll...>,-120.8316064 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402129804 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing observed the first group here 35°21'49.09"N 120°49'56.88"W, then another group of five or more towards the peak. Seems they like to hang out in the main live pine trees and go to the dead trees kind of shift back-and-forth feeding in both places pics tba"
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (42) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 13, 2026 07:32 by Reef Comer
- Morro Bay SP--Black Hill, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8316064&<ll...>,-120.8316064 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402070655 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "The crossbills are in! Counted as best I could. Flock of at least 30 birds on Fleming Trail closest to frontage rd/hwy. This group eventually flew S in the direction of S Bay intersection. Another flock of 12 in same area as yesterday. Very active and not staying in the same trees for long. Would also go quiet almost as soon as landing. Stocky, big-headed, shorted-tailed finches. Males brick red, females olive green overall. Thought I had a couple streaky juveniles in the larger flock, but couldn’t confirm. Larger crossed bill and clear gyp/kip calls fit type 2, but no recordings. Lou got pics of one of the smaller flock."
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) (1)
- Reported Oct 13, 2026 10:25 by Josiah Parris
- Estero Bluffs SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9437799&<ll...>,-120.9437799 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402146469 - Comments: "Flagged as rare. In the brush down the hill from the fig tree parking lot. Small and short-tailed sparrow that was very secretive as it stayed low in the grasses (the only reason I observed it was because it flushed up practically from under my feet as I walked down the trail). I assumed that it would be a savannah sparrow but then I noticed the complete white eyering and large bill. I was able to manage some poor photos."
Savannah Sparrow (Large-billed) (Passerculus sandwichensis rostratus/atratus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 12, 2026 11:30 by Wanda Lo
- Morro Bay SP--Marina/Boardwalk Trail, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8418006&<ll...>,-120.8418006 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401850386 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Solo bird on the shrub near the beginning of the south entrance boardwalk. noticeably larger beak than the usual Savannah Sparrow. If I were to sketch this bird, its bill is 1/4 longer than the non-Large Billed Savannah Sparrow."
Savannah Sparrow (Large-billed) (Passerculus sandwichensis rostratus/atratus) (2)
- Reported Oct 11, 2026 08:34 by Josiah Parris
- Morro Bay SP--Marina/Boardwalk Trail, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8418006&<ll...>,-120.8418006 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S401868301 - Comments: "Photos. Very different from the other savannah sparrows. Most notable were the large bill, overall pale and dusty coloration, and limited yellow on the lores. Foraging in washed up kelp/eelgrass with other savannah sparrows (belding's subspecies?)."
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) (1)
- Reported Oct 13, 2026 07:34 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/S402112516 - Comments: "*Rare but regular. One bird loosely associating with mixed species flock in creek riparian adjacent to the ornamental yard: (35.096441, -120.614674). Small parulid with a small thin bill, dark eye, yellowish supercillium, throat, and breast, dull greenish crown, cheek, and flanks, bright green back and rump, darker wing coverts, short dark tail, and bright white vent and undertail coverts. Vocal, giving thin high-pitched chip calls. Photos"
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) (1)
- Reported Oct 13, 2026 07:34 by Ann Stockert
- 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/S402137189 - Comments: "*Rare but regular. One bird loosely associating with mixed species flock in creek riparian adjacent to the ornamental yard: (35.096441, -120.614674). Small parulid with a small thin bill, dark eye, yellowish supercillium, throat, and breast, dull greenish crown, cheek, and flanks, bright green back and rump, darker wing coverts, short dark tail, and bright white vent and undertail coverts. Vocal, giving thin high-pitched chip calls. Photos"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2)
- Reported Oct 13, 2026 07:34 by Ann Stockert
- 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/S402137189 - Comments: "*Expected. 2-4. Very dull olive Orange-crowned with large bills, greener supralorals, variably greener upper and paler lower eye arcs, “large-headed” and “vested” appearance, diffusely but extensively streaked breast, and variably slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked dusky olive. Several birds vocal giving deep metallic husky chip call typical of many individuals of this subspecies/type. 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… Photos tba"
Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2)
- Reported Oct 13, 2026 07:34 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/S402112516 - Comments: "*Expected. 2-4. Very dull olive Orange-crowned with large bills, greener supralorals, variably greener upper and paler lower eye arcs, “large-headed” and “vested” appearance, diffusely but extensively streaked breast, and variably slightly brighter undertail coverts extensively streaked dusky olive. Several birds vocal giving deep metallic husky chip call typical of many individuals of this subspecies/type. 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… Photos tba"
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