Pacific Loon - 20 Aug, three found along the north coast were summering locally (AFS)
Sooty Shearwater - 13 Aug, numbers swelled in Aug with 5,000-10,000 off the Arroyo Grande Creek mouth representing the highest count reported (BKS)
Ashy Storm-Petrel - 18 Aug, one found dead along Highway 1 north of Villa Creek was an exceptional find (GPS)
White-faced Ibis - 28 Aug, 15 that flew over and landed briefly on Morro Bay before flying off to the north around 10:30am (TME) were likely part of the flock of 20 seen around 3:00pm flying south near Leffingwell Point in Cambria (RHZ). 29 Aug, one was in the lagoon at the Arroyo Grande Creek mouth (MLS)
Canada Goose - the many subspecies that make up Canada Goose were recently split by the American Ornithologist Union into two separate species - mark your field guides.
Cackling Goose (Anser hutchinsii) -- includes the
smaller size former Canada Goose subspecies hutchinsii [Richarson's], asiatica
[Bering-extinct?], leucopareia [Aleutian], taverneri [part of the Lesser complex],
and minima [Cackling].
Canada Goose (Anser canadensis)
-- now includes the subspecies Canadensis [Atlantic], interior [Interior], maxima
[Giant], moffitti [Moffit's], parvipes [the other part of the Lesser complex],
fulva [Vancouver], and occidentalis [Dusky]. --
17 Aug, 37 Canada Geese at Oceano
County Park likely summering locally (MLS)
Brant - 30 Aug, one in a field along Foothill Blvd 0.35 miles north of Los Osos Valley Road (GPS) was one of the few to ever be found away from the immediate coast in SLO County and the first in summer.
Wood-Duck - numbers began to build as breeders accumulated at traditional late summer locations. 5-28 Aug, up to 68 were present at the Atascadero Wastewater Ponds (RHZ); and 6-31 Aug, five at Whale Rock Reservoir in early Aug increased to 21 birds by months end (TME)
Gadwall - 15 Aug, ten at Whale Rock Reservoir likely involved adults that bred there and their fledged young (DL)
Northern Shoveler - 30 Aug, ~20 on Oso Flaco Lake were recent arrivals from breeding locales outside the county (MLS)
Common Merganser - rare in summer, the bird that wintered at Oceano County Park was reported to 19 Aug, (BKS); and 20 Aug, three were seen along the north coast, two at San Simeon Creek and one south of San Simeon Point (AFS)
Osprey - 4-28 Aug, 6-8 birds were reported along the immediate coast (mob)
Cooper's Hawk - 28 Aug, an immature bird in Los Osos was either an early arrival or fledged locally (KAH)
Accipiter sp. - 26 Aug, an immature, believed to be a Sharp-shinned, was in upper Deer Canyon, Arroyo Grande (BKS)
Prairie Falcon - 28 Aug, a juvenile was at the Atascadero Wastewater Ponds (RHZ)
Common Moorhen - 28 Aug, a juvenile at the Arroyo Grande Creek mouth was an early transient (NL)
Sora - 21 Aug, a juvenile at Oso Flaco Lake was the first one reported since May suggesting it was an early fall arrival (MLS)
Lesser Yellowlegs - 5-28 Aug, five were reported from along the immediate coast (mob)
Wandering Tattler -this species is most abundant during fall and spring migration as shown by 7 along the North Coast on 20 Aug, (AFS)
Baird's Sandpiper - 15 Aug, a juvenile was at Whale Rock Reservoir (TME); 28 Aug, three were seen along the Morro Bay sandspit (fide MDH); and 30 Aug, one was at the Santa Maria River mouth (BKS)
Wilson's Phalarope - 14-28 Aug, six were recorded along the immediate coast (MOB)
Red-necked Phalarope - 14 Aug, 128 on Oso Flaco Lake (DL) was the high count for the period.
Common Tern - 14 Aug, a juvenile was on the beach at the mouth of Pismo Creek (BKS); 13 Aug, a probable adult Common Tern was at the Arroyo Grande Creek mouth (BKS)
Marbled Murrelet - 15 Aug, four were seen off San Simeon Creek mouth (DL); and 20 Aug, a juvenile was ~ 2 miles south of San Simeon Point (AFS)
White-winged Dove - 22 Aug, one at a feeder in Grover Beach may be the same bird that wintered there last year (CT)
Common Ground-Dove - 13 Aug, one seen along Dana-Foothill Road in Nipomo confirms this species continuing presence (PAW)
Burrowing Owl - 10 Aug, a used burrow found in Cholame Valley between Hwy 41 and 46 just east of their separation was the third burrow site found in this infrequently birded area of northeast SLO County (DGH)
Vaux'x Swift - this species is unexpected between late May and early Sep, therefore the following sightings are or interest: 4 Aug, a swift at Atascadero Wasterwater Ponds thought to be this species (fide RHZ); 9 Aug, one was seen over Deer Canyon, Arroyo Grande (BKS); and 23 Aug, three were over Deer Canyon (BKS).
Willow Flycatcher - 27 Aug, early date, one seen near the Morro Bay State Park marina (MDS) was one of three reported between 27-30 Aug (NL, GPS)
Pygmy Nuthatch -- 28 Aug, one at the Oceano State Park Campground (NL) was unusual; this species is only expected in the Cambria Monterey pine forest.
Townsend's Warbler - 22 Aug, early date, two were at Oso Flaco Lake (BKS)
Black-throated Gray Warbler - 27 Aug, early date, a male was at the Oceano Campground (BKS)
Black-and-white Warbler - 28-29 Aug, one was at the Oceano State Park Campground (NL)
Hermit Warbler -- 28 Aug, early date, two were at the Oceano Campground (NL)
Indigo Bunting - 22-23 Aug, a male was reportedly seen at a feeder on Black Hill in Morro Bay (fide MDS)
Yellow-headed Blackbird - 21 Aug, a female was at the Cholame Valley Road wetland (AFS)
OBSERVERS: Thanks to the many birders that report their sightings. The following people are cited above: Tom M. Edell, Dave G. Hacker, Marlin D. Harms, Karen A. Havlena, Dave Lawrence, Nick Lethaby, Alan F. Schmierer, Steve C. Schubert, Brad K. Schram, Gregory P. Smith, Maggie L. Smith, Mike D. Stiles, Carol Thorpe, Pat A. Wells, and Roger H. Zachary. For information about birds or locations mentioned in this report, contact Tom Edell at (805) 995-1691 or tedell@aol.com….Tom Edell