Date: 11/9/26 10:58 am From: eBird alert via slocobirding <alert.ebird...> Subject: [slocobirding] [eBird Alert] San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert
*** Species Summary:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1 report)
- Pacific Golden-Plover (3 reports)
- American Bittern (1 report)
- Vermilion Flycatcher (1 report)
- Western Warbling Vireo (1 report)
- Evening Grosbeak (2 reports)
- Evening Grosbeak (Northwestern or type 1) (2 reports)
- Red Crossbill (7 reports)
- Red Crossbill (Ponderosa Pine or type 2) (3 reports)
- Tennessee Warbler (1 report)
- Orange-crowned Warbler (Channel Is.) (1 report)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's) (1 report)
- Western Tanager (1 report)
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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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Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) (1)
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 06:57 by Kilian Hampl
- Mentone Basin Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6132531&<ll...>,-120.6132531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409151762 - Comments: "***4th County record and 2nd latest state record (pending acceptance/rejection by CBRC); other records as follows:
1. HY male visiting feeders at El Sueno Way, Arroyo Grande October 8th - 25th, 2006 (Cheryl Lish)
2. HY male visiting feeders at a residence in Nipomo August 30th - September 2nd, 2014 (Jacqueline Allison)
3. AHY male visiting feeders at Antler Drive, Arroyo Grande September 3rd - 6th, 2014 (Brad Schram)
Circumstances: I first encountered this bird at about 7:55 am while investigating some agitated hummingbirds and warblers in the smaller of the two flowering oaks in the northeast corner of the park here: (35.115900, -120.612383). While doing so, a small pale hummingbird suddenly materialized right in front of me before instantly zipping around to the back side of the oak calling. I pretty much immediately recognized the calls as sounding like an Archilocus and not a Calypte or Selasphorus hummingbird (the latter of which it was most similar to, but clearly not), and I followed the bird to the back side of the oak where I found it sitting on an open branch. I quickly got my bins on it and was excited to see a small, very bright, and contrasty Ruby-throated/Black-chinned hummingbird looking back at me! I pretty much immediately suspected I may have a Ruby-throated based on the overall bright, contrasting, and pale coloration, and it then quickly zipped back around to the front of the oak again. Over the next ~20 minutes I was able to study this bird well and get superb killer looks at point blank range (sometimes perched for minutes within feet of my face!) at pretty much all parts of this bird including all of the finer features necessary for identification, including some generally only seen when examining photos! All this said, I tried desperately to photograph this bird continuously throughout that time to no avail, as my camera has trouble focusing often in general and especially in low light; the bird was in the dark shaded part of the oak the entire time. I eventually lost the bird somewhere in the oak, and not long after most of the birds dispersed and I was not able to see where this bird went. Soon afterwards several other folks arrived, and together we searched the park extensively for it over the next several hours to no avail. The following description was written shortly afterwards:
General size/structure: As mentioned previously, this was a relatively small (from a North American perspective) hummingbird that was obviously smaller (~2/3 smaller) than the majority of Anna's hummingbirds. In flight and while hovering this bird appeared distinctly thin and longer overall, but when perched it had more of a plump shape, also looking more compact at times. It often appeared small-headed at times as well.
Behavior: This bird was relatively active and would frequently fly and zip around to different sides of the oak it was in but would also occasionally perch and sit almost motionless for periods of time. It was here where I was able to get great close views, nearly always on the outside/edges of the oak at eye level and at least a few times very close. I tried but was never able to get my camera to focus on the bird while it was perched. It didn't really seem to be actively foraging much, but was perhaps instead attracted by the agitated flock of birds in the oak. It did preen and ruffle its feathers briefly at one point while perched. Initially this individual was not hassled by the nearby Anna's (and in fact even chased one or two away at one point), but after a while the Anna's seemed to take note of this guy's presence and would not let him get near them and would occasionally chase it off to another side of the oak. Something that I noticed with this bird is that during the entire time I watched it while hovering and flying around it did not really pump its tail. It would often fan its tail (Including a few times when perched), and would occasionally flick its tail up. Black-chinned Hummingbirds really tend to pump their tails up and down constantly while foraging.
Bare parts: This bird's bill was completely dark as is typical of many North American Hummingbirds. Compared to similar hummingbird species, however, the bill appeared distinctly short, thin (almost comparatively needle-like to my eye), and straight with only slightly curvature in the middle of the bill. The eye was dark overall, I assume that the iris was a slightly lighter color than the pupil, but I was not able to see this well if at all. Moving down to the legs and feet, the tibia was feathered with white feathers, and the tarsus was short, dark, and thin. The feet were small and the toes were similarly dark, small, and short. They consisted of three forward facing digits and one rear facing digit (hallux). Each toe had a short dark nail. I was not able to see the soles of the feet well other than to say they were not contrastingly pale.
Head: The head overall was small and rounded, with a flatter sloping forehead. The nape, crown, and forehead were a beautiful and shocking bright deep emerald green with a variably blue and coppery iridescent sheen, visible in different lighting. Overall the green on the head contrasted starkly with the white throat. The throat was white in color, but with vertical rows of indistinct dark spots and two distinct red feathers in the lower center of the throat. The lores were dark and this bird had a very striking prominent dark "mask" that extended down to the neck. There were a few green feathers mixed into the dark feathers as well. Overall the dark mask contrasted with the white throat. Additionally this bird also had a small but obvious white spot immediately posterior to the eye.
Body: Overall the body was two toned, with a beautiful and shocking bright deep emerald green back and rump with a variably blue and coppery iridescent sheen identical to the nape, crown and forehead. The flanks were a dusky green color with a buffy suffusion. Both the dusky flanks and bright green back contrasted starkly with the bright pearly white remainder of the underparts. The breast was especially bright white and extended up onto the shoulder forming a short collar that continued above the green shoulder, but not into the nape. This gave the bird an overall whitish appearance. The undertail coverts were similarly white but had extensive very faint dusky streaking, somewhat similar in distribution to Black-and-White Warbler.
Wings: I was able to study the folded wings very well and occasionally at very close range while the bird was perched. The wings were obviously shorter than the tail. Most obvious to me initially was that the wings were completely jet black and contrasted strongly against the rest of the bird. Upon closer inspection I was able to note that the outer primary (p10/p10) was thin and pointed and thinner than p9/p9, very different from the broader, more blunt tip shown by Black-chinned to my eye. Black-chinned also has p10/p10 broader than p9/p9. This bird had bunched up thinner inner primaries typical of Archilochus hummingbirds but unlike Calypte and Selasphorus hummingbirds. Similarly, all inner primaries (p1/p1 - p6/p6) were distinctly notched, typical of Ruby-throated but not Black-chinned. p6/p6 in particular was obviously notched and had a pointier and more attenuated tip, supportive of HY male Ruby-throated. Overall the outer primaries in this bird (p7/p7 - p10/p10) became thinner further out on the wing, with p7/p7 - p8/p8 being the broadest and bluntest feathers and p10/p10 being the thinnest and sharpest. In Black-chinned the primaries generally become broader and blunter the farther out on the wing you go.
*Description continued in Checklist Comments"
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) (1)
- Reported Nov 09, 2026 08:02 by Nancy Overholtz
- 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/S409310969 - Comments: "Only one was seen today, but we did have BBPL nearby to compare it to. Smaller, with a smaller bill and more gold tones. White around the Bill contrasting with the golden color of the face. Photos will be added."
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 09:30 by Kaaren Perry
- 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/S409131648 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Two plovers roosting on a small pickle-weed island. Mottled back showing golden feather edges to upper back area, light brown smudging on underparts golden flecked crown, prominent white eyebrow stripe, pale auricular patch. They remained roosting together during my observation. Continuing rarity at this location."
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 10:20 by Lisa Ankenbrandt
- Turri rd ponds, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8223313&<ll...>,-120.8223313 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409110506 - Comments: "Smaller than black bellied. Shorter bill. Overall golden hugh on back . Blackish cap and line above eye. Pale between cap and eye. Seen past few days in this area. Confirmed by the Revels via their scope."
Western Warbling Vireo (Vireo swainsoni) (1)
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 06:57 by Kilian Hampl
- Mentone Basin Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6132531&<ll...>,-120.6132531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409151762 - Comments: "**Late. Presumably Western but more than happy to downgrade to Western/Eastern if preferred. Catching moths in the largest oak in the NE corner of the park. Small vireo with small bill, pale supercillium, and mostly grayish olive above and pale below. Photos"
Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 12:40 by Petra Clayton
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409154074 - Media: 1 Video, 13 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing species since 10/14/26. Not sure if today's birds were the same individuals.
Reported earlier today by Russ Namitz/Leisyka Parrott.
Although two birds were observed feeding in the coffee berry bush on the east (right) side of the campground entrance, just past the open gate, only one was clearly seen in the field. A second individual, which appears to be a male, was seen in one of the video clips. The observation ended when the birds flew across the road into a cypress.
Clearly seen was a female: Dark head; pale throat with prominent dark malar stripes; light colored heavy conical bill; light brown neck, breast, belly and flanks; white under tail coverts; black wings with white patches; black tail.
Male (in the video): Black head and nape; brownish flanks; bright yellow under tail coverts; black wings with white patch; dark heavy conical bill.
Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) (4) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 12:03 by Mark Mushkat
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409152860 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "35.2741040, -120.8858101 where Russ N. reported. Feeding on coffee berry next to Oats Peak trailhead. The group rests and preens in evergreen directly across entrance road from the CB bushes."
Evening Grosbeak (Northwestern or type 1) (Hesperiphona vespertina brooksi) (4) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 10:15 by Leisyka Parrott
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409158617 - Media: 4 Photos, 2 Audio
- Comments: "Feeding quietly on coffeeberry near entrance gate. (35.2741040, -120.8858101). Flew across road. No recording. Thick bills and bright white wing patch."
Evening Grosbeak (Northwestern or type 1) (Hesperiphona vespertina brooksi) (4) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 10:15 by Russ Namitz
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409158616 - Media: 4 Photos, 2 Audio
- Comments: "Feeding quietly on coffeeberry near entrance gate. (35.2741040, -120.8858101). Flew across road. Poor recording. Thick bills and bright white wing patch."
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (1)
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 12:40 by Jake Hager
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409177145 - Comments: "Heard loud, chippy flight calls from (I believe) a single bird from high in the pines at the end of the campground. I recognized the call having had several encounters with the species in the sierras this summer. Their presence at the location has been well-documented in this irruptive year. Wasn’t able to get eyes on the bird."
Red Crossbill (Ponderosa Pine or type 2) (Loxia curvirostra (type 2)) (5) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 06:57 by Kilian Hampl
- Mentone Basin Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6132531&<ll...>,-120.6132531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409151762 - Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "*Very rare, irruptive. At least five birds (1 male and 4 females) flying around the park all morning. Stocky red (male) and greenish (female) finches with large crossed bills, streaked undertail coverts, and short forked tails. This birds called frequently, all giving “kip-kip-kip” calls vaguely reminiscent of the introductory notes of a Wrentit song. These birds sounded like type 2, and my recording supports that. Recording tba, others have photos."
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 12:40 by Petra Clayton
- Islay Creek Campground--Montana de Oro SP, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8838502&<ll...>,-120.8838502 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409154074 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Olive back and head; dark line through the eye, front to back; pale supercilium; yellow throat and breast; pale belly; faint pale wingbars; white patch on upper wing edge; short tail; thin pointed bill.
Foraging in the coffee berry bush at the campground entrance, just past the open gate, where the Evening Grosbeaks were seen."
Orange-crowned Warbler (Channel Is.) (Leiothlypis celata sordida) (2)
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 06:57 by Kilian Hampl
- Mentone Basin Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6132531&<ll...>,-120.6132531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409151762 - Comments: "*Expected, both continuing birds. Large dusky olive Orange-crowned Warblers with large bills, greener supralorals, variably greener upper and paler lower eye arcs, diffusely streaked breast with a “vested” appearance, and slightly brighter extensively olive-streaked undertail coverts. Both silent. Did not photograph either bird as I was focused on the RTHU."
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's) (Setophaga coronata coronata x auduboni) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Nov 08, 2026 06:57 by Kilian Hampl
- Mentone Basin Park, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6132531&<ll...>,-120.6132531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S409151762 - Comments: "*Uncommon. Yellow-rumped warbler similar to pure Audubon’s but with obvious pale supercillium and paler corners to yellow throat extending slightly around auriculars. Did not photograph as I was focused on the RTHU."
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