Date: 10/24/26 9:51 am From: eBird alert via groups.io <alert.ebird...> Subject: [sbcobirding] [eBird Alert] Santa Barbara County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- Bar-tailed Godwit (2 reports)
- Pigeon Guillemot (1 report)
- Vermilion Flycatcher (1 report)
- Tropical Kingbird (1 report)
- Western Kingbird (1 report)
- White Wagtail (19 reports)
- Red Crossbill (2 reports)
- Red Crossbill (Ponderosa Pine or type 2) (1 report)
- Clay-colored Sparrow (1 report)
- Palm Warbler (1 report)
- Painted Bunting (2 reports)
---------------------------------------------
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.
eBird encourages safe, responsible birding. Some reports may be from private property. Respect access restrictions and follow the rules wherever you bird. For more information, visit the eBird and Merlin Community Guidelines: https://ebird.org/community-guidelines. Stay connected to the global birding community with eBird Updates: https://mailchi.mp/cornell/ebird-updates-sign-up-page.
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (1)
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 14:45 by Anna Kronberg
- 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/S404863398 - Comments: "Found again between IV and UCSB campus, foraging with two marbleds. Distinctive white eyebrow and white/gray breast and belly compared with brown/buffy marbleds."
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 12:10 by Alistair Skinner
- Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6984911&<ll...>,-119.6984911 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S404854192 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing found yesterday evening by Kristina. Smaller than nearby turnstones. Long tail dark above white below, wagging! Gray back and cap, dark line through eye and dark patch on breast. Actively foraging on beach in front of the yacht club, flying up to nearby palm trees when flushed but usually returning a after a while. Thanks to Kim who was looking at the same time and got on it first!"
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 10:07 by Mark Holmgren
- Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6984911&<ll...>,-119.6984911 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S404804572 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "It foraged inches above the waterline up and down the beach in the area shown in the track for this checklist. Very furtive. Nearly constant tail wagging, occasional hopping up while constantly on the lookout. Meanwhile, it fed on aerial insects or sand flies. Despite our requests to put dogs on leash, not one person obliged our requests. It was routinely flushed by beachgoers and unleashed dogs, but it returned to this section of the beach frequently."
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 08:21 by Zach Nett
- Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6984911&<ll...>,-119.6984911 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S404764922 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "white belly, grey back, black chest and tail, tan hue to supercilium, dark eyeline, characteristic tail bobbing, hopping around often to catch bugs. on the beach off the yacht club’s fenced area."
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 08:10 by Linda Blue
- Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6984911&<ll...>,-119.6984911 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S404853669 - Media: 7 Photos
- Comments: "First found here yesterday, and seen today on the beach in front of the yacht club parking lot, and slightly farther west. A highly active bird foraging on the sand just barely above the surf while constantly bobbing its tail. Often jumped into the air to feed on insects. White face with a thin black eyeline and a white supercilium. Gray crown and nape. Dark gray back and black rump and a long black tail with white edges (the outer two tail feathers were white). White underparts with a mostly blackish bib. Showed extensive white on the sides of the wings. This appeared to be a "Black-backed" White Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens)."
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 08:10 by David Blue
- Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.6984911&<ll...>,-119.6984911 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S404853668 - Media: 7 Photos
- Comments: "First found here yesterday, and seen today on the beach in front of the yacht club parking lot, and slightly farther west. A highly active bird foraging on the sand just barely above the surf while constantly bobbing its tail. Often jumped into the air to feed on insects. White face with a thin black eyeline and a white supercilium. Gray crown and nape. Dark gray back and black rump and a long black tail with white edges (the outer two tail feathers were white). White underparts with a mostly blackish bib. Showed extensive white on the sides of the wings."
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 12:55 by Lori Gaskin
- Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara US-CA 34.40262, -119.69661, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.696614&<ll...>,-119.696614 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S404837169 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Dark gray and white with black upper chest. Black eyeline. White edging to the dark tail. Tail wagging. Heard flight call when it flew from working the wet sand in front of the yacht club to the parking lot."
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 12:55 by Rick Boyer
- Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara US-CA 34.40262, -119.69661, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.696614&<ll...>,-119.696614 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S404859535 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Dark gray and white with black upper chest. Black eyeline. White edging to the dark tail. Tail wagging. Heard flight call when it flew from working the wet sand in front of the yacht club to the parking lot."
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (13) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 09:15 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/S404783180 - Comments: "Tight flock swooping over Patterson Open Space, making “Kip Kip Kip” calls and heading north. Sounded good for Type 2. 12 is a minimum count. Later I heard another one, possibly a lone bird, making “kip” calls over Calle Barquero Open Space and headed roughly east."
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Oct 23, 2026 11:22 by John Deacon
- A St. ponds, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.4626539&<ll...>,-120.4626539 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S404799374 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Photos. Found by Peter Schneekloth this morning. Greenish brown bunting. Definite conical bunting beak. No wing bars. Approximately the same size as nearby Savannah Sparrow. In the reeds on the west side of smallest pond to the south."
eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/
