Date: 11/8/26 10:56 am From: eBird alert via slocobirding <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
---------------------------------------------
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.
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.
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 10:08 by Bridget Spencer
- Morro Bay Oyster Farm, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8438&<ll...>,-120.8438 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408818097 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing. Stocky, rich brown sea duck with unique face and bill structure. Initially in array of white buoys at the oyster farm with terns but later diving nearby. Photos"
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 08:18 by Tom Edell
- 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/S408745427 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Female continuing at Morro Bay since Aug 2025. Distant bird from boardwalk and to the left of the oyster company floats. Identified by large size compared to adjacent Bufflehead and cinnamon brown color. I could see no fine plumage details but could see that the forehead sloped down and continued the angle to the tip of the dark bill. While searching for it with my camera, I saw it flying further into the bay and managed a few poor photos, some of which show a pale underwing. I never saw where it landed. Sun was mostly behind the bird so images are backlit."
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 15:54 by Kathy Dale
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408815159 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing, found by Michael Moss 11/1. Along edge of western most tidal pond, briefly flew to eastern pond, then back. Black upper and white under, long thin bill and long pink legs. Seen by many."
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) (1)
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 15:36 by Jacob Graham
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408819254 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing bird spotted wading in the tidal flats off Turri Rd. Identifiable by its very long reddish pink legs, solid black back, and solid white front. Distinguishable from avocet in non-breeding plumage based on straight, medium length bill and black extending up its neck and over its crest. It flew back and forth a couple of times between the eastern and western tidal ponds off Turri Rd, repeating its sharp, high-pitched keek many times in succession."
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 15:36 by Jacob Graham
- Turri Road Tidal Ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8218378&<ll...>,-120.8218378 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408819254 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing birds spotted between the Turri Road tidal ponds in the same spot as yesterday. Distinguishable from non-breeding black-bellied plover and American golden plover by the gold spots on their backs. Distinguished from juvenile American golden plovers by facial patterning."
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) (1)
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 08:00 by steve chu
- Oso Flaco Lake (not for beach/ocean), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6207848&<ll...>,-120.6207848 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408841943 - Comments: "start on the boardwalk then turn to look in the cat tails on the left. nice fat heron standing there in the early morning. classic black streak down side of neck. pics in a bit"
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 12:28 by Kelley Boland
- Lakeside Ave, Oceano, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.625654&<ll...>,-120.625654 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408792262 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing, found by Petra yesterday. Immediately visible upon driving up—bright red small flycatcher sallying from barbed wire. Extremely cooperative, continued returning to perch on the barbed wire the entire time I was there. Photos"
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 12:30 by Andrew Fleming🦉
- Oceano Airport - Lakeside Avenue, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.625928&<ll...>,-120.625928 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408782527 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird found yesterday by Petra. Seen with Kelley and Brian. Very cooperative bird sitting on the barbed wire fence of the airport and frequently flycatching. Striking adult male with red belly and cap, grey elsewhere. Took some ok digibin photos."
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (1)
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 13:17 by Kilian Hampl
- PSB — Lakeside Ave, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.625476&<ll...>,-120.625476 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408797130 - Comments: "**Continuing cooperative HY male found yesterday by Petra and Jack Clayton. I watched this bird for some time as it sallied out to catch insects from the barb-wired fence on the perimeter of the south side of the airport. This was a small, plump flycatcher with a small dark bill, dark eye, and dark legs and feet. The crown was mostly a fiery bright red with a few retained dark brownish gray feathers. Similarly, the lores, auriculars, nape, back, and relatively short, broad, and slightly forked tail were the same dark brownish gray color. Much of the flight feathers were that color as well, but had worn pale edges. Returning to the head, the throat was mostly a fiery bright red color similar to the crown, but was also interspersed with retained pale feathers. The breast and much of the underparts including the undertail coverts were the same red color as well. The vent was pale and contrasted with the bright red underparts. This bird did not vocalize, even during a brief interaction with one of the Tropical Kingbirds. Photos tba"
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) (2)
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 13:17 by Kilian Hampl
- PSB — Lakeside Ave, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.625476&<ll...>,-120.625476 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408797130 - Comments: "*Continuing cooperative birds seen well flycatching from the same barbed wire fence as the Vermilion, occasionally chasing it and each other. Lanky medium-sized Tyrannus with large black bills, dark eyes, mostly pale gray heads, dark eyelines, slightly but more extensively paler throats, greenish upper breast, lemon yellow belly and undertail coverts, dull greenish backs, dark wing coverts with pale edges on all feathers, and thinner (for a kingbird) tails of medium length that were entirely dark and slightly forked. The legs and feet were dark. Both individuals were vocal, briefly heard once when chasing each other giving high-pitched buzzy twittering calls typical of this species. These two seem to move widely between the campground and the airport area, and at this point one or both may winter. Photos tba"
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 05, 2026 10:09 by Kelley Boland
- Cuyama Ave, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.676049&<ll...>,-120.676049 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S408793149 - Media: 1 Photo, 1 Audio
- Comments: "Heard calling from the only pine tree on the street. Eventually got eyes on at least two, a male and female. Possibly more, but difficult to see in the canopy. Mediocre digibin photo tba. Wow, crossbills at the beach!"
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (2)
- Reported Nov 07, 2026 16:23 by Lance Benner
- Rim Trail Lot, Montana de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.863786&<ll...>,-120.863786 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409052192 - Comments: "I heard a couple calling "jip, jip, jip, jip" as they flew by. Not seen, and unfortunately, they vanished before I could record them. Sounded like type 2s. They were downhill and west of the parking lot. Probably part of the big ongoing irruption."
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/
