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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.
eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully
Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal (hybrid) (Spatula discors x cyanoptera) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 12:44 by Kaiting H
- Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8422726&<ll...>,-120.8422726 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209811767 - Comments: "Continuing bird, viewed from the bridge. Cinnamon body pointing towards cinnamon, with blueish head and a crescent indicating blue winged. Pics coming."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 15:06 by Carmen Galaz García
- Morro Bay Estuary (use more specific location(s) when possible), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8501072&<ll...>,-120.8501072 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209686263 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Reported by the trip before us. We observed it with a group of Bufflehead south of Coleman Park. Small duck, slightly larger than nearby Buffelhead, small dark bill with large white patch around the eye and smudgy dark on the top of the head and neck. On water, darkish back and white along the flanks. In flight, belly was whitish. Top was dark in coloration."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 07:38 by Pair of Wing-Nuts
- Morro Bay Harbor, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.857&<ll...>,-120.857 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209836055 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing small diving duck with mostly brown back, white throat collar (front and sides), brown neck collar (back and sides of neck), dark eye highlighted by white face and cheeks and brown crown and nape. Observed on feeding on opposite side of channel from USCG T-Pier. The bird was foraging alone away from Buffleheads and Eared Grebes in the area."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 12:53 by Teodelina Martelli
- Morro Bay Harbor, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.857&<ll...>,-120.857 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209843722 - Comments: "Small pale gray and blackish duck with dusky head and diamond-shaped patch of white surrounding the eye. Stocky, powerful dark bill. Swimming with the Bufflehead, roughly same size as them."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 11:41 by Tom Edell
- Morro Bay harbor mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8658353&<ll...>,-120.8658353 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209811807 - Comments: "Continuing bird first reported on yesterday's afternoon bay cruise. Poorly seen because of lighting, but it was a small duck that rode low in the water with a rounded head and small bill. Sex not determined. Poor photo will be added to the checklist."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 11:41 by Russ Namitz
- Morro Bay harbor mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8658353&<ll...>,-120.8658353 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209838963 - Comments: "Continuing bird first reported on yesterday's afternoon bay cruise. Poorly seen because of lighting, but it was a small duck that rode low in the water with a rounded head and small bill. Sex not determined. Poor photo will be added to the checklist."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 11:41 by Eve Meier
- Morro Bay harbor mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8658353&<ll...>,-120.8658353 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209835131 - Comments: "Continuing bird first reported on yesterday's afternoon bay cruise. Poorly seen because of lighting, but it was a small duck that rode low in the water with a rounded head and small bill. Sex not determined. Poor photo will be added to the checklist."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 11:41 by Robbie & Bob Revel
- Morro Bay harbor mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8658353&<ll...>,-120.8658353 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209816342 - Comments: "Continuing bird first reported on yesterday's afternoon bay cruise. Poorly seen because of lighting, but it was a small duck that rode low in the water with a rounded head and small bill. Sex not determined. Poor photo will be added to the checklist."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 11:41 by Michael Moss
- Morro Bay harbor mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8658353&<ll...>,-120.8658353 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209842340 - Comments: "Continuing bird first reported on yesterday's afternoon bay cruise. Poorly seen because of lighting, but it was a small duck that rode low in the water with a rounded head and small bill. Sex not determined. Poor photo will be added to the checklist."
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 11:41 by Morro Bay Bird Festival
- Morro Bay harbor mouth, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8658353&<ll...>,-120.8658353 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209820189 - Comments: "Continuing bird first reported on yesterday's afternoon bay cruise. Poorly seen because of lighting, but it was a small duck that rode low in the water with a rounded head and small bill. Sex not determined. Poor photo will be added to the checklist."
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 12:28 by Peter Gaede
- San Luis Obispo Creek Lagoon, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7364416&<ll...>,-120.7364416 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209818982 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing; photos. Female with peaked forehead, and steep slope from bill to top of forehead. Small mostly yellow bill with some dusky coloration visible at the base of the upper mandible. Good comparison with female common's swimming with it."
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 16, 2025 07:10 by Ann Stockert
- San Luis Obispo Creek Lagoon, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7364416&<ll...>,-120.7364416 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209733350 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing female…steeper forehead and a puffy nape, along with a shorter bill that is mostly yellow/orange. Observed associating with 5 common down stream from the golf cart bridge close to the creek mouth."
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 16, 2025 07:10 by Morro Bay Bird Festival
- San Luis Obispo Creek Lagoon, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7364416&<ll...>,-120.7364416 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209802688 - Media: 4 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing female…steeper forehead and a puffy nape, along with a shorter bill that is mostly yellow/orange. Observed associating with 5 common down stream from the golf cart bridge close to the creek mouth."
Vaux's Swift (Chaetura vauxi) (8)
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 16:19 by Van Pierszalowski
- San Simeon Creek Road--6.5 miles east of Hwy 1, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.050108&<ll...>,-121.050108 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209687066 - Comments: "While scoping a perched Red-tailed Hawk in a distant Gray Pine, I noticed a swirling flock of swifts high above and just behind Rocky Butte. The flock numbered at least 25 birds. Remarkably, at least 8 of them were Vaux’s Swifts, unmistakable with their streamlined, cigar-shaped bodies, all-dark plumage, and short tails.
I believe this marks only the 5th eBird record ever for this species in SLO County during January. Interestingly, all prior January records have come from this specific region - from San Simeon Creek Road to Hearst Castle - hinting at a potentially localized pattern.
Notably, this winter has brought a mini-irruption of Vaux’s Swifts along the west coast, including unprecedented winter records as far north as Washington. It will be interesting to see whether this is part of a northerly shift in this bird's wintering range, or just a weird outlier year. Either way - pretty amazing to watch these birds swirl high above the Santa Lucia Mountains, in mid-January."
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 09:50 by Roger Hammer
- Cypress Ridge pond, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.5779982&<ll...>,-120.5779982 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209833527 - Comments: "cont. overwintering bird, muted orange w/ yellow tipped candy corn bill with gray head and brown wings. resisted coming out for the first 40 min, KH was last to see it and coaxed me to persist a little longer, got it. county bird.i had been spending a lot of time glassing the bigger pond looking at each coot trying to find the gallinule, which tends to hang only in the small pond behind the gym."
Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 08:37 by August Hazel
- West of Pt Buchon (35.259, -120.998), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9976402&<ll...>,-120.9976402 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209803379 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "Adult female first seen in flight. Bird landed on a kelp pad, flew, and then landed on another kelp pad where it remained for close views. This is a recent split from Brown Booby. (photos, hopefully including flight shots to be added)"
Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 08:37 by Curtis Marantz
- West of Pt Buchon (35.259, -120.998), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9976402&<ll...>,-120.9976402 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209688726 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "My understanding is that Edell was the first person to recognize this bird as a booby when it came up from behind the boat, but given that I was on the bow at the time, I saw it some time after it was initially spotted, and only briefly when it made its first pass by the boat before flying off. Fortunately, others spotted it after it landed on a kelp patty, where it remained until we were able to motor right up to it for good views and many photos. Eventually, we got a bit too close and it flew off. It may have landed again, but we did not linger in the area to be sure. My views of this bird in flight were okay, but not great; however, when perched, myself and everybody else on the boat were able to get amazing views from close range in good, subdued light resulting from the overcast skies.
This was a medium-sized seabird that appeared to be roughly similar in size to nearby Western Gulls despite its very different shape. The bill was quite long and it tapered from a relatively deep base to a pointed tip along a culmen that curved downward at the midway point, so the distal half was really rather slim. I suspect the bill was as long as the head, if not slightly longer, but I did not notice the details in the field, nor did I attempt to compare the length of the bill relative to the depth at the base. The forehead was shore and gently sloping, and the crown was smoothly rounded on a head that was larger than that of a cormorant, and probably also a gull. The neck was longer than that of a gull, yet stouter than that of a cormorant, and intermediate between the two in both respects. The body was plump, full-chested, and with a posture while standing that was probably a little closer to horizontal than diagonal. The wings were quite long, with the narrowly tapered wingtips reaching to the tip of the tail, if my memory is correct. I also thought the primary projection was quite long, but I cannot recall noting it in the field. The tail was also relatively long, in that it was over half as long as the body without the head and neck, and seemingly slim when closed, but I cannot now recall the details of its shape when perched. The legs were relatively short and stockier than those of a gull, but not excessively so. The feet were relatively large and mostly, if not entirely, webbed. When seen in flight, this bird had notably long, slim wings that tapered to pointed tips that were held straight out from the body. The head and neck extended before the leading edge of the wings a moderate distance, and the long bill was held forward and possibly slightly downward. The tail extended beyond the trailing edges of the wings a similar distance, and I thought the tail tapered distally, though I did not see this overly well.
This was a well-marked bird with sharply contrasting plumage, but the coloration was limited to snowy white and a dark, chocolate-brown. The forehead, crown, nape, auriculars, and the back, sides, and front of the neck were chocolate-brown with no internal markings or unevenness. I noted no paling on the forehead, which appeared identical in color to the crown and the feathered parts of the face. The brown on the underparts extended from the base of the lower mandible on the chin down across the throat, foreneck, breast, and sides before ending abruptly at the junction of the lower breast and the belly along a line that extended straight across the body. Below this line, the belly, flanks, and undertail coverts were snowy-white and unmarked. I think the underside of the tail was dark, but I did not see it overly well. Returning to the upperparts, the dark, chocolate-brown of the neck continued down across the mantle, scapulars, wing coverts, and remiges with no obvious contrast or internal markings on what appeared to be uniformly marked upperparts. I also thought the wingtips and the upperside of the tail were similarly marked, but I cannot discount the possibly of their being slightly darker. I saw the underwings only briefly and at a distance, when I noted that there was some white centrally and some dark around the edges, at least in part, but apart from this, I am unsure about the pattern.
Rather striking was the contrast between the dark brown of the forehead and face with the light, lemon-yellow color that characterized the facial skin and the basal third to half of the bill. Quite obvious, however, was a blackish wedge in the loral skin just behind the eye that was sharply demarcated, and I think separated from the eye by a narrow region of yellow. The yellow on the basal part of the bill blended into a flesh to pinkish-flesh color distally. I cannot now recall the precise color of the eye, but I think they were dark. The legs, toes, and webbing between the toes were a light lemon-yellow, possibly with a trace of greenish."
Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 08:37 by John Hiebert
- West of Pt Buchon (35.259, -120.998), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9976402&<ll...>,-120.9976402 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209694085 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "Adult female first seen in flight. Bird landed on a kelp pad, flew, and then landed on another kelp pad where it remained for close views. This is a recent split from Brown Booby. (photos, hopefully including flight shots to be added)"
Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 08:37 by Mike Bush
- West of Pt Buchon (35.259, -120.998), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9976402&<ll...>,-120.9976402 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209692059 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "Adult female first seen in flight. Bird landed on a kelp pad, flew, and then landed on another kelp pad where it remained for close views. This is a recent split from Brown Booby. (photos, hopefully including flight shots to be added)"
Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 08:37 by Reef Comer
- West of Pt Buchon (35.259, -120.998), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.9976402&<ll...>,-120.9976402 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209745218 - Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "Adult female first seen in flight. Bird landed on a kelp pad, flew, and then landed on another kelp pad where it remained for close views. This is a recent split from Brown Booby. (photos, hopefully including flight shots to be added)"
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 07:40 by Nick & Jane
- Swainson's Hawk Stateout--Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.7295938&<ll...>,-120.7295938 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209818994 - Comments: "Continuing—seen while driving slowly with no traffic behind me. I last saw this bird Jan. 4 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S208023655). The bird was on a roadside fence—noted a hawk with a lot of white around eyes. Seen about 30-50 yards west of roadside shack. Heavy brown streaking on its underparts. Noticeable yellow legs. Also noted yellow base on its bill. Yellow cere, dark mustache. No photo. Just wanted to note this bird in case anyone wanted to search for it while visiting for the bird festival."
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2025 14:57 by Luke Passey
- 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/S209828757 - Comments: "Containing light gray headed yellow kingbird species. Thick darker line across eye to beak to a greater extent than a Western Kingbird; thicker bill. Seen fluttering about in bare tree at edge of reeds about 0.1 miles back from the most northwest parking lot."
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 08:30 by Cheryl Wood
- 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/S209816614 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing by first dock (35.2646755, -120.6857133). Long bill, green back, dark mask. Light grey above, green turning into lemon yellow below. Seen well by all."
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 08:30 by Kathy Kuyper
- 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/S209831298 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing by first dock (35.2646755, -120.6857133). Long bill, green back, dark mask. Light grey above, green turning into lemon yellow below. Seen well by all."
Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 13:35 by Joan Ling-Zwissler
- stakeout Sagebrush Sparrow -- Elkhorn/Simmler Rd Intersection (2025), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8400327&<ll...>,-119.8400327 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209844792 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing; photos. Pale gray head and nape, thin dark malar. Dark streaking on a pale gray back, with streaks extending across the center. Both actively feeding on the ground together."
Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 13:35 by Russ Namitz
- stakeout Sagebrush Sparrow -- Elkhorn/Simmler Rd Intersection (2025), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8400327&<ll...>,-119.8400327 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209686383 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing; photos. Pale gray head and nape, thin dark malar. Dark streaking on a pale gray back, with streaks extending across the center. Both actively feeding on the ground together."
Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 13:35 by Paul Rasmussen
- stakeout Sagebrush Sparrow -- Elkhorn/Simmler Rd Intersection (2025), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8400327&<ll...>,-119.8400327 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209799351 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing; photos. Pale gray head and nape, thin dark malar. Dark streaking on a pale gray back, with streaks extending across the center. Both actively feeding on the ground together."
Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 13:35 by Morro Bay Bird Festival
- stakeout Sagebrush Sparrow -- Elkhorn/Simmler Rd Intersection (2025), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8400327&<ll...>,-119.8400327 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209718717 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing; photos. Pale gray head and nape, thin dark malar. Dark streaking on a pale gray back, with streaks extending across the center. Both actively feeding on the ground together."
Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 13:35 by Angela Li
- stakeout Sagebrush Sparrow -- Elkhorn/Simmler Rd Intersection (2025), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8400327&<ll...>,-119.8400327 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209846390 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing; photos. Pale gray head and nape, thin dark malar. Dark streaking on a pale gray back, with streaks extending across the center. Both actively feeding on the ground together."
Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 13:35 by Lola Ross
- stakeout Sagebrush Sparrow -- Elkhorn/Simmler Rd Intersection (2025), San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8400327&<ll...>,-119.8400327 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209843006 - Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing; photos. Pale gray head and nape, thin dark malar. Dark streaking on a pale gray back, with streaks extending across the center. Both actively feeding on the ground together."
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 17, 2025 15:50 by Terri Osborn
- Cal Poly--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6608403&<ll...>,-120.6608403 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S209691949 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "One with a partial yellow head and one with yellow upper chest and head with a bit of rust on the crown. Continuing birds seen at the cattle pens with a mixed flock of blackbirds, cowbirds and starlings."
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