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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 16, 2026 16:03 by Christopher Well
- Isla Vista Beach (between Devereux Beach and Goleta Point), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8624379&<ll...>,-119.8624379 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402915556 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Relocated on the beach below Pelican Park with a small group of MAGO. Overall smaller in size, gray-tan upper with light belly and rump, white supercilium."
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 07:42 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/S402815171 - Comments: "Near the intersection of Dune Swale Pond Trail and Sands Beach. Kingbird with bright yellow breast all the way up the front, no white neck. Not calling, visual ID only."
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 14:55 by Noah Gaines
- 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/S402885944 - Comments: "Perched high on a snag along the nature trail. Calling a repeated mellow tu tu tu tu. Larger and chunkier than house finch. Difficult to see much color or detail as it was backlit. But no wingbars noted. Flew off into ag fields."
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 11:09 by Ryan Seppala
- Tecolotito Creek, north of Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8583293&<ll...>,-119.8583293 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402845183 - Comments: "A 10 second encounter of a bird circling overhead between Los Carneros and Cortona, calling “kip-kip-kip,” before departing to the SE. I had the bird in my binoculars for a couple seconds and, while it was mostly silhouetted, I could make out that it was a finch-sized passerine with a crossed bill. Calls seemed to match Type 2, though I’m uncertain."
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 08:37 by Zach Nett
- 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/S402835226 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "beautiful nonbreeding longspur with distinct dark frame on auriculars, rufous wing panels with white tips, chest patterning, and white belly. noticed due to larger and longer size relative to associating Savannah Sparrows, kind of like an old Cadillac. initially viewed foraging calmly on bare dirt path, where it gave great views for what felt like five minutes before it was flushed by a dog into nearby fennel. hung around a few more minutes before being flushed again by yet another dog. it gave distinct calls as I watched it disappear over the neighborhood SE of the mesa."
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (1)
- Reported Oct 17, 2026 07:11 by Armando Aispuro
- Girsh Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8747444&<ll...>,-119.8747444 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S403056580 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing on the easternmost field. A long and rotund sparrow-like songbird. The face has an obvious blackish-chocolate auricular above a white malar with pale buffy supercilium and face. Dark streaky cap and mottled russet nape. Fading but prominent blackish breast band on a dusty white breast, throat, and flanks. Thick streaks throughout the back and wings with russet primary coverts and white wing bars."
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 18:15 by Pamela Viale
- Girsh Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8747444&<ll...>,-119.8747444 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402906696 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "Brown mottling or streaking on upperparts and sides, reddish chestnut color in wings. Pale underparts. Face has creamy throat with dark streaks. Dark streak on crown. Tan above eye."
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 17:24 by Armando Aispuro
- Girsh Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8747444&<ll...>,-119.8747444 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402905086 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Reported by Adrian and Christopher Hinkle. A long and rotund sparrow-like songbird. The face has an obvious blackish-chocolate auricular above a white malar with pale buffy supercilium and face. Dark streaky cap and mottled russet nape. Fading but prominent blackish breast band on a dusty white breast, throat, and flanks. Thick streaks throughout the back and wings with russet primary coverts and white wing bars. Foraging lazily mostly on its own, seemingly while laying on its belly. Occasionally got up to walk around."
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 17:19 by Dawn Hovey
- Girsh Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8747444&<ll...>,-119.8747444 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402907083 - Media: 8 Photos
- Comments: "Seen in the grass field near the baseball diamond that is near the playground. It was crouching very still in the grass even when a Cooper’s Hawk flew by. Stout pinkish bill. Dark line behind eye, going into a dark border around the cheek. Dark on top of the head. Distinct white tips on wingbars. See photos."
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 17:19 by Steve Hovey
- Girsh Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8747444&<ll...>,-119.8747444 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402907114 - Media: 8 Photos
- Comments: "Seen in the grass field near the baseball diamond that is near the playground. It was crouching very still in the grass even when a Cooper’s Hawk flew by. Stout pinkish bill. Dark line behind eye, going into a dark border around the cheek. Dark on top of the head. Distinct white tips on wingbars. See photos."
A sparrow-like bird, stockier than the nearby Savannah Sparrow, and always crouched lower to the ground. It showed buffy ear patches outlined by a bold black border, a wide whitish-buffy eyebrow, and a bright rufous wing panel with white tips. The under parts were light with fine streaking on the throat and breast."
A sparrow-like bird, stockier than the nearby Savannah Sparrow, and always crouched lower to the ground. It showed buffy ear patches outlined by a bold black border, a wide whitish-buffy eyebrow, and a bright rufous wing panel with white tips. The under parts were light with fine streaking on the throat and breast."
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) (1)
- Reported Oct 17, 2026 07:07 by Caleb Stam
- Cabrillo Business Park (restricted access), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8606253&<ll...>,-119.8606253 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S403049316 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "continuing. plain pale sparrow, smaller than the white-crowneds it associates with. black streaks on the crown have that "painted-on" look. photos to come"
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 14:39 by Armando Aispuro
- Cabrillo Business Park (restricted access), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8606253&<ll...>,-119.8606253 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402875858 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Found by Zach Nett. A dainty and drab small-billed sparrow. The face pattern is diffusely striped with pale tan supercilium and white malar. The edges of the malar are gray, diffuse and not bold. The nape is grayish with darker streaks. Crown is tan with fine streaking. It was foraging in a shady spot of the lawn with other sparrows."
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 13:33 by Zach Nett
- Cabrillo Business Park (restricted access), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8606253&<ll...>,-119.8606253 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402859324 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "continuing in same area that I found it in yesterday. mixed in with white-crowned sparrow flock, foraging in the shade of the olive tree. dainty, long tailed sparrow, with light chest streaking. 34.4264358, -119.8627761"
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) (1)
- Reported Oct 15, 2026 13:32 by Zach Nett
- Cabrillo Business Park (restricted access), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8606253&<ll...>,-119.8606253 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402628355 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "white eyering, facial patterning, and chest streaking had me choose Vesper over Spizella even though it seemed off, but corrected to Brewer’s by Alex. longer tail, thinner eyering, less distinguished malar, weakly streaked chest."
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) (1)
- Reported Oct 16, 2026 09:45 by Jamie Chavez
- VSFB--B8310, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.537524&<ll...>,-120.537524 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402810620 - Comments: "Heard a dry, thin, chip note coming from the chain link fence behind my car. I then spotted a Palm Warbler sitting in the fence about 24" off the ground. The bird was constantly pumping its tail. I noted the bright yellow undertail coverts, buffy white underparts with faint breast streaking, a brownish back, a white supercilium, and a somewhat pointed bill. The bird was feeding in the weeds growing above the ground. It vocalized frequently."
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 11, 2026 11:10 by Chuhan Li
- 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/S401468200 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Seen with many others. Originally found by Chris Henry and Marty Freeland, shared with Dave Compton. Small warblers similar to Townsend's Warbler. Similar face pattern, but with black throat and strips along its side. Dark wing with two bold white wing bars. Can see yellow across its vent.
Very active bird. First been seen at the SW corner of the west parking lot, then refound in the NW corner, then fly along the west edge, finally lost track at the center of the complex."
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