Western / Clark’s Grebes – 13 Jun, these birds abandoned nests started in May on the Cottontail Creek arm of Whale Rock Reservoir due to declining water level and were constructing 3 nests on Old Creek arm. At least two Western and two Clark’s nests were later seen on the Old Creek arm (TME). Aechmorphus sp. – 25 Jun, nine seen on S. Margarita Lake included a pair of Clarks Grebes building a nest (M. T. Hanson)

Northern Fulmar – 1 Jul, a fresh dead dark phase bird was found on Morro Strand State Beach (hereafter MSSB)) (GPS)

American White Pelican – 5 Jun, 20-30 on Morro Bay increased to 72 on 12 Jun (TME); 24 Jun, three flew over Santa Margarita Lake (MTH); and 30 Jul, three were at OFL (hereafter OFL) (MLS). These birds used to be rare in summer, but this year are being recorded in unusually high numbers along the Central Coast.

Double-crested Cormorant – Two new rookery sites were discovered: 10 Jul, a rookery in blue gum eucalyptus at San Simeon Cove had at least 38 nests (TME); 10-11 Jul, 45-50 nests were found in a blue gum eucalyptus and Monterey pine stand along the coast in Shell Beach (RJ, AT)

California Condor – 12-13 Jul, up to eight birds roosted overnight at Huffs Hole (fide SCS)

Brant – 5 Jun, one on Morro Bay likely summered there (CAM)

Wood Duck – 12 Jun-11 Jul, average numbers were recorded at the Atascadero Wastewater Ponds, Whale Rock Reservoir, Lopez Lake and Santa Margarita (RHZ, TME, MA, MTH)

Scaup sp. – 3 Jun-26 Jul, a male and female seen off and on at OCP were identified as Greater and Lesser Scaup (MLS, mob)

Common Merganser – 5 Jun-9 Jul, a sub-adult male at OCP (hereafter OCP) was last reported in early Jul (MDS)

Northern Harrier – 13 Jun, an adult male was hunting the slopes of Valencia Peak in MDOSP (hereafter MDOSP) (JLR); I Jul, a pair nesting in a Monterey pine at the Conoco Refinery north of OFL (PY) confirmed nesting on the south coast; 10 Jul, five (male,2 juvs, 2 others) at Arroyo de La Cruz (AFS) suggested nesting along the north coast.

Bald Eagle – 13 Jun, a third year bird at Whale Rock Reservoir (MDS) and an adult being harassed by a raven and red-tail on a pond at the Chimineas Ranch (north of Hwy 166) were at unusual mid-summer locations (BS)

Cooper’s Hawk – 10 Jul, a juvenile at San Simeon State Park (AFS) and another juvenile at Canet Road and Chorro Creek (ML) on 12 Jul suggest nesting nearby.

Sharp-shinned Hawk – 13 Jun, an adult soaring over Islay Creek and actively hunting the north and northwest flanks of Valencia Peak suggests nesting nearby (JLR); this species is a casual SLO County nester

Virginia Rail – 1-7 Jul, 3-4 adults (two heard) and one juvenile were in the Cholame Valley Road wetlands (AFS) 11

Black-bellied Plover – 13 Jun, 23 in basic plumage on Morro Bay (MDS) and another three along the Estero Bluffs near mouth of Villa Creek (TME) summered locally.

Semipalmated Plover – 5-13 Jun, up to 13 summered on Morro Bay (CAM)

Black-necked Stilt – 2 Jun-7 Jul, up to four adults and three young were recorded at the Cholame Valley Road wetland (Linda Tanner). Young chicks in early Jul suggested a second brood.

American Avocet – 5 Jun, chicks were seen at the Cholame Valley Road wetland (RMO); 8 Jul, two at the mouth of Oso Flaco Creek (MLS) were early fall transients.

Greater Yellowlegs – 20 Jun, early date, an alternate plumaged adult was at Whale Rock Reservoir (TME)

Willet – 19 Jun, alternate plumaged birds along the Estero Bluffs State Park (TME) were the first fall returnees recorded

Whimbrel – 11-19 Jun, up to six at Cayucos Creek mouth and near Villa Creek mouth summered locally (TME) Sanderling – 1 Jul, early date, an alternate plumaged bird on MSSB (GPS)

Western Sandpiper – 1 Jul, early date, eight alternated plumaged adults on MSSB (GPS)

Baird’s Sandpiper – 21 Jul, a very early juvenile was at the mouth of Villa Creek (GPS)

Dunlin – 17 Jul, an alternate plumaged adult on Morro Bay was very early (DL)

Dowitcher sp. – 13 Jun, two distant birds seen on Morro Bay from the 13th St. overlook in L Osos likely summered (TME)

Wilson’s Phalarope – 18 Jun, early date, one was seen at OFL (RJ)

Red-necked Phalarope – 14 Jun, an alternate plumaged female at mouth of Villa Creek may have been attempting to summer locally (GPS)

while a male at mouth of San Simeon Creek on 27 Jun was an early fall migrant (RF)

Parasitic Jaeger – 9 Jun, a light morph adult was on the beach between Oceano and Grover Beach (MLS)

Bonaparte’s Gull – single basic plumaged birds were on Morro Bay on 5 Jun (TME), at Oceano County Park on 15 Jun (MLS) and at OFL on 20 Jun (MLS).

Royal Tern – 1 Jul, six on MSSB were the earliest fall transients recorded (GPS)

Black Skimmer – 4 Jul, one was reportedly seen on the beach at Oso Flaco Creek mouth (fide MLS)

Marbled Murrelet – 21 Jul, a dead immature bird was found near Hazard Canyon, MDOSP (fide GPS)

Long-eared Owl – 10 Jun, adults with two young were seen again at a willow and cottonwood spring on the west side of the Carrizo Plain (AFS)

Black Swift – 10 Jul, two were seen at first light over the Ragged Point Inn, a traditional nesting location (AFS)

Rufous Hummingbird – 7 Jul, a male near Santa Margarita was the earliest fall transient noted (AFS)

Willow Flycatcher – 5 Jun, two at the Oceano campground were the latest spring transients reported (CAM)

Loggerhead Shrike – 4 Jul, one seen on the Morro Bay sandspit was in an unusual summer location (RF)

Bank Swallow – 9 Jun, two seen at OFL were probably very late spring transients (GPS) Phainopepla – The following birds were west of their expected summer range: 5-10 Jun, a male was seen along the Cerro Alto campground road with a male and female there 1 Jul (AFS); 19 Jun, a male was in Poly Canyon (JM); and 22 Jun, a pair fledged young in Deer Canyon, Arroyo Grande (BKS)

Le Conte’s Thrasher – 10 Jun, 2-3 were seen at mid-Carrizo Plain south of Soda Lake (TME)

American Redstart – 24 Jun, a singing first year bird at OFL was a late spring transient (CF)

Yellow-breasted Chat – 6 Jun, a singing bird along Cottontail Creek Road above Whale Rock Reservoir (SCS) and a singing bird in Pecho Willows on 7 Jun (CAM) were in unusual locations if summering.

Scarlet Tanager – 3-5 Jun, a first summer male at OFL was the rarest bird of the period (JA) and provided the county’s third spring record.

Lark Bunting – 17 Jun, one seen along the bluffs of MDOSP provided the county’s first summer record (BAB)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak – four birds were recorded this spring: 3-6 Jun, a singing male was along the road to Cerro Alto Campground (AFS); 9-17 Jun, a male was at a feeder 5 miles up See Canyon (SB); 10-15 Jun, a male was seen in Cambria (PMc); and 9 Jul, a male was on Nipomo Mesa (TME).

Indigo Bunting – 3-30 Jun, a singing male along Stenner Creek on the Cal Poly campus was likely the same bird present there the past two summers (MDS)

Scott’s Oriole – 10 Jun, three males in the southeastern Caliente Range near Quail Springs (AFS) were at the northern extent of this species range in SLO County

Lawrence’s Goldfinch – 17 Jun, a male and possible female were at a feeder in See Canyon (SB); 13 Jul, 20-30 adults and young were along the Salinas River at Las Pilitas Road (EW)

Introduced/Exotics:

Peach-faced Lovebird – 1 Jul, one at a feeder in Grover Beach (RJ) and at least ten, including two sub-adults, on Nipomo Mesa on 9 Jul (TME) suggest this species is widespread on the mesa.

Orange Weaver – 27 Jun, one was at a feeder in Arroyo Grande (BF)

OBSERVERS: Mary Adams, Judy Alcier, Sara Bilstein, Bill A. Bouton, Tom M. Edell, Becky Fae, Craig Fiehler, Rosemary Flamion, Michael T. Hanson, Marlin D. Harms, Ryan Jorgeson, Dave Lawrence, Michael Lisitza, Curtis A. Marantz, Penny McAulay Jennifer Moonjian, Regina M Orr, John L. Roser, Alan F. Schmierer, Steve C. Schubert, Brad K. Schram, Gregory P. Smith, Maggie L. Smith, Bob Stafford, Mike D. Stiles, Angela Tanore, Eric Weis, Paul Young, 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