April 3, 2020

We’re still going to continue doing this weekly feature even while COVID-19 is making birding and, especially, rarity chasing more difficult. Please abide by state and local restrictions on movement and CDC recommendations on groups. We at the ABA still believe that birding can be practiced responsibly in this strange time, and we urge birders in our community to take these precautions seriously so that we can continue to do so.

In returning vagrants, the Garganey (ABA Code 4) in California was seen into this week. The Florida rarities we hd been keeping tabs on for several weeks may still be around, but access to the locations where they had been seen are more restricted now.

We do have a couple exciting 1st state records to report this week. A stunning male Hooded Oriole was photographed visiting a yard near Columbus in Franklin, Ohio. Unfortunately, access to this bird is limited and we urge birders who may be in a position to see it to be very conscious of social distancing protocols.

A little stale but still noteworthy, Virginia’s 1st record of  Scott’s Oriole was visiting a feeder in Augusta back in February and was seen until late March.

In California, a Marsh Sandpiper (5) was seen in Kern, in the southern part of the state. The state’s last Marsh Sandpiper was seen 2 years ago in late April at a site further north.

And in Kentucky, a Neotropic Cormorant, the state’s 7th, was seen in Fayette. 

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Omissions and errors are not intended, but if you find any please message blog AT aba.org and I will try to fix them as soon as possible. This post is meant to be an account of the most recently reported birds. Continuing birds not mentioned are likely included in previous editions listed here. Place names written in italics refer to counties/parishes.

Readers should note that none of these reports has yet been vetted by a records committee. All birders are urged to submit documentation of rare sightings to the appropriate state or provincial committees. For full analysis of these and other bird observations, subscribe to North American Birds, the richly illustrated journal of ornithological record published by the ABA.