THE BIRDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – August 2005

Western/Clark's Grebes – 13 Aug, nesting continued with two active Western nests and one possible Clark's nest in bulrushes at
Whale Rock Reservoir (TME)

Short-tailed Albatross -- 24 Aug, a sub-adult was found dead on the Morro Bay Sandspit (TJE)

Brown Booby – 21 Aug, the female summering at Point Piedras Blancas continues (DML, SJ)

Least Bittern – 10 Aug, last date one was seen at the Cloisters Pond in Morro Bay (MLS)

Little Blue Heron – 26 Aug, a juvenile was found at the mouth of Morro Creek (TME, SF)

Brant – 15-28 Aug, one was along the Estero Bluffs (EF, SF); 27 Aug, two continued on Morro Bay (MDH)

Wood Duck – 13 Aug, two females were on Whale Rock Reservoir (TME); 16 Aug, ~70 were at the Atascadero Wastewater Ponds(MDH); 28 Aug, a female was at the mouth of Morro Creek (TME); and 31 Aug, a female was at the mouth of San Simeon
Creek (GPS)

Northern Shoveler – 23 Aug, early arrival date, 12 on Oso Flaco Lake (MLS)

Common Merganser – 7-31 Aug, up to six juveniles were seen off and on at the mouth of San Simeon Creek (MLS) and probably
accounted for the six at the mouth of Pico Creek on 14 Aug (TME) and the three at the mouth of Little Pico Creek (MLS). Other
reports were: 15 Aug, one at the mouth of Arroyo Grande Creek (MLS); 20 Aug, one near the mouth of Arroyo Grande Creek
(MLS); and 20 Aug, one at Oceano County Park (MLS)

Osprey – 24-31 Aug, one was seen along the Morro Bay Sandspit and around Morro Bay (TJS, MDH, LT), 24 Aug, one was at Avila
(DV); and 31 Aug, one was at the mouth of San Simeon Creek (GPS)

Bald Eagle – 3 Aug, an adult was at Whale Rock Reservoir (LT)

Cooper's Hawk – 30 Aug, early date, an immature was at the Pismo State Beach, Oceano Campground (MLS)

Prairie Falcon – 28 Aug, one seen over the Morro Bay Estuary was unusual (BKS)

Sora – 15 Aug, early date, one at Oso Flaco Lake (MLS)

Pacific Golden Plover – 25 Aug, a molting adult was on the SLO County side of the Santa Maria River mouth (MJI)

Lesser Yellowlegs – 4 Aug, one seen with four Greater Yellowlegs off the Audubon Overlook was the only report (MLS)

Red Knot – 21 Aug, three seen along the Morro Bay Sandspit provided the only report (TJE)

Baird's Sandpiper – 12-31 Aug, at least 26 were found on sandy beaches and on Morro Bay (mob) and one was inland at the
Atascadero Wastewater Ponds (MLS, AFS)

Wilson's Phalarope – 16 Aug, eleven at the Atascadero Wastewater Ponds provided the high count for August (MDH)

Red Phalarope – 21 Aug, one along the Morro Bay Sandspit provided the lone report (EF)

Royal Tern – 6 Aug, one at the Morro Strand State Beach campground lagoon was rather late for the fi rst of the season (MDH)

Elegant Tern – 30 Aug, one at the mouth of Old Creek, Cayucos, was the lone report for a species that is usually abundant at this
time of year (MLS)

Marbled Murrelet – 14-31 Aug, up to 17 were in the San Simeon Creek area (TME, MLS, GPS) and 24 Aug, one was off the mouth
of Villa Creek (AFS)

Acorn Woodpecker – 26 Aug, one was at Spooners Cove Campground where it is unexpected (AFS, MLS)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 28 Aug, early date, “several” at the Oceano Campground were very early (RHZ)

Cedar Waxwing – 12 Aug, at least two in the eucalyptus and pines at the Avila Beach Resort may have summered locally (JND)
while one heard calling over Oceano campground on 30 Aug was an early arrival (BKS)

Chestnut-sided Warbler – 23 Aug, a fall male at the mouth of Santa Rosa Ck. provided the county's earliest fall record (KC)

Yellow-rumped Warbler – 26 Aug, an “Audubon” race bird at the Oceano campground provided the countyʼs earliest arrival date
(BKS)

Hermit Warbler – 13 Aug, early date, one at the Oceano campground (NL)

Yellow-billed Magpie – 8 Aug, two at the San Simeon State Park campground (JL) and 16 Aug, a fl ock of 20 along Hwy 227 just
south of Price Canyon Road (BAB) were in unusual locations.

Brewer's Blackbird – 21-27 Aug, one of the white fledglings from Spooners Cove Campground was seen around the Cuesta by-the-
Sea area of Los Osos (LL, JS)

Great-tailed Grackle – 14 Aug, there were several reports of adults and juveniles at the San Simeon State Park campground and the
mouth of Morro Creek (TME, NR)

Exotics / Escapees
Mute Swan – 12 Aug, one was seen in the vicinity of the Atascadero wastewater ponds (LM, MDH)
OBSERVERS: Thanks to the many birders that report their sightings. The following people are cited above: Bill A. Bouton, Mark
Brown, Karen Clarke, Tom M. Edell, Torrey J. Edell, Erin Fienblatt, Sandy French, Marlin D. Harms, Marshall J. Iliff, Steven Jobst,
Dave M. Lawrence, Jamen Lee, Nick Lethaby, Laury Lotz, Lynda Merril, Nancy Revelle, John L. Roser, John Sawyers, Alan F.
Schmierer, Brad K. Schram, Gregory P. Smith, Maggie L. Smith, Mike D. Stiles, Judy Szamos, Linda Tanner, Deb Villa, 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