---------------------------------------------
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.
Redhead (Aythya americana) (3)
- Reported Jan 14, 2026 12:45 by Sam Miller
- Carrizo Plain NM--Soda Lake Rd. at Simler Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8577928&<ll...>,-119.8577928 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294286975 - Comments: "*rare on the plain it seems. One male and two female types on soda Lake with group of nopi. Big round divers, male mostly dark gray with dark chest and red head, females uniform pale brown."
Redhead (Aythya americana) (3)
- Reported Jan 14, 2026 12:45 by Daniel Irons
- Carrizo Plain NM--Soda Lake Rd. at Simler Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8577928&<ll...>,-119.8577928 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294286608 - Comments: "*rare on the plain it seems. One male and two female types on soda Lake with group of nopi. Big round divers, male mostly dark gray with dark chest and red head, females uniform pale brown."
Redhead (Aythya americana) (3)
- Reported Jan 14, 2026 12:45 by Baxter Beamer
- Carrizo Plain NM--Soda Lake Rd. at Simler Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8577928&<ll...>,-119.8577928 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294286610 - Comments: "*rare on the plain it seems. One male and two female types on soda Lake with group of nopi. Big round divers, male mostly dark gray with dark chest and red head, females uniform pale brown."
Redhead (Aythya americana) (3)
- Reported Jan 14, 2026 12:45 by Jonathan Irons
- Carrizo Plain NM--Soda Lake Rd. at Simler Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8577928&<ll...>,-119.8577928 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294286611 - Comments: "*rare on the plain it seems. One male and two female types on soda Lake with group of nopi. Big round divers, male mostly dark gray with dark chest and red head, females uniform pale brown."
Redhead (Aythya americana) (3)
- Reported Jan 14, 2026 12:45 by Andrew Rapp
- Carrizo Plain NM--Soda Lake Rd. at Simler Rd., San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-119.8577928&<ll...>,-119.8577928 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294289051 - Comments: "*rare on the plain it seems. One male and two female types on soda Lake with group of nopi. Big round divers, male mostly dark gray with dark chest and red head, females uniform pale brown."
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) (1)
- Reported Jan 15, 2026 09:00 by Hannah Buschert
- Morro Rock, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8670566&<ll...>,-120.8670566 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294378988 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Initially believed to be a common murre, upon photo review this appears to be a previously reported pigeon guillemot. Lack of definition on face, white markings on back that I didn't see initially point to first year/hatch year Guillemot. Photos to come. Bird was south of the rock floating and feeding in the channel."
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) (1)
- Reported Jan 15, 2026 09:00 by Erik Ostrander
- Morro Rock, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8670566&<ll...>,-120.8670566 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294378986 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Initially believed to be a common murre, upon photo review this appears to be a previously reported pigeon guillemot. Lack of definition on face, white markings on back that I didn't see initially point to first year/hatch year Guillemot. Photos to come. Bird was south of the rock floating and feeding in the channel."
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 11, 2026 08:21 by Steve Ellis
- Morro Bay Sandspit, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.8670158&<ll...>,-120.8670158 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294273416 - Media: 12 Photos
- Comments: "Viewed from 35.304464 -120.874432, looking west-northwest. Seems likely that it’s the same bird that the bigger field trip group found yesterday at Morro Creek (although I haven’t scrutinized the photos yet). We got a better view today, 10-15 minutes. Better photos. It was obvious today that the bird had a gimpy right leg."
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (1)
- Reported Jan 14, 2026 15:37 by Alexander Yan
- San Simeon Point, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1946398&<ll...>,-121.1946398 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294267321 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Continuing rarity found this morning by Seth S at 35.63962° N, 121.19586° W. Vocalized briefly. Seen immediately upon arrival around 4pm. Busy foraging berries at above mentioned coordinates. Gray bird with dark cap and rump, about mockingbird sized and shaped. Quite shy and easily startled by other birds and people. Poor photos to come."
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (1)
- Reported Jan 14, 2026 09:22 by Seth Greene
- San Simeon Point, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-121.1946398&<ll...>,-121.1946398 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294231816 - Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "*Rare. Departed the main path to check some interesting scrubby habitat and heard an unmistakable scratchy mew. Stopped to record it and it briefly popped up while I was recording allowing for shaky one-handed binocular views of a fairly dark, slim, long-tailed, slightly sub-robin sized-bird in the scrub. Visuals were admittedly poor, but consistent with GRCA; I am not aware of any species that fit that shape/size profile who make similar vocalizations other than perhaps NOMO which the low contrast plumage ruled out. Immediately after ending the recording it hopped down into the bushes and went silent. As I left I heard it again a bit closer to the trail but unfortunately was not able to visually relocate. Initially heard from 35.63910, -121.19645. Recording TBA"
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored/cismontanus) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis/cismontanus) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 14, 2026 08:26 by Nick & Jane
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294247713 - Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing since AY found this bird last year. Some brown on head and back, and a little on flanks depending on the angle. Otherwise, slate flanks. One could easily think this a slate-colored without a full-body view. Photos"
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/