Date: 8/13/25 9:16 am From: Dave Compton via groups.io <davcompton60...> Subject: [sbcobirding] Recent (not accessible) Crested Auklet
I'm providing this information because it's obviously relevant to all those out there who, like me, try to keep up on local bird goings on. This is not chaseable, as it was found far from any place where most of us have access. Anyway, for those wondering what the next first record for Santa Barbara County would be, read below:
A Crested Auklet was found by biologists offshore from a restricted area on Vandenberg Space Force Base, representing the first record for Santa Barbara County. It was seen on July 28 and again on July 29, but has not been seen since then despite being searched for on several occasions. As a reminder, Vandenberg Space Force Base is not open to the public and birders should not try to access the base to find this bird.
There are only two prior CBRC-accepted records of Crested Auklet for California: one approximately 5 km north of Bolinas, Marin County, 16-17 July 1979, and at Bodega Head, Sonoma County, 24 June 1995. Pending acceptance by the CBRC, a recent report from Southeast Farallon Island, San Francisco County, 21 July 2025 and the Santa Barbara County report will represent the third (if considered the same individual) or third and fourth state records.
