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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.
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Mallard x Northern Pintail (hybrid) (Anas platyrhynchos x acuta) (1)
- Reported Jan 12, 2026 09:00 by Lynn Scarlett
- Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.5283666&<ll...>,-119.5283666 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S293900727 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing amid flock of mallards. Pintail features including white stripe on neck, but also green on head, mallard type breast"
Swinhoe's White-eye (Zosterops simplex) (Exotic: Provisional) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 12, 2026 15:52 by John Callender
- Mesa Lane backyard, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.526193&<ll...>,-119.526193 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S293947353 - Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "Vocalizing as it foraged in our backyard apple tree. I observed it naked-eye, seeing the characteristic small body with greenish-yellow upperparts, white belly, yellow on the throat and undertail coverts, and a very broad white eye-ring. I was interested in seeing if Merlin Sound ID would be able to identify it, which it wasn't; it only identified the American Crow that was also audible."
Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 12, 2026 12:59 by Karen Rusch
- Evergreen Open Space, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8909131&<ll...>,-119.8909131 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S293954719 - Comments: "Heard only just east of the Bryson Williams bench. With Kelly when we both heard it call. She was able to see it-as I turned to look it dropped down and was not seen again. Stayed in the area for another 45 minutes or so to visualize it but didn’t see it."
Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 12, 2026 12:22 by Kelly Krechmer
- Evergreen Open Space, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8909131&<ll...>,-119.8909131 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S293935706 - Comments: "Continuing last reported by another bird on the 11th and thanks to them for saying where as it is in the same area today!! Heard calling near Bryson Williams bench and saw at 1:15pm. Located by Karen and Kelly. Karen identified the bench where it had last been observed near and then we both heard it calling a few times. We followed the sound along paved trail and stop to try to find it. It suddenly landed on a eucalyptus branch feet away (mid-canopy) in the Eucalyptus Grove near where the trail forks. Red male ruled out Western and Summer Tanagers. I said there it is to Karen and it flew away right then before Karen got eyes on. We tried to relocate unsuccessfully. Hanging out near six Mourning Doves and a bunch of foraging juncos, a few Acorn woodpeckers…and one Nuttalls. I stayed until 2:30pm to try and relocate and get a pic."
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