August 20, 2021

The Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) continues in southeast Arizona as it has all summer, along with a Little Egret (4) in Delaware and the ABA Area’s 2nd record of Inca Tern (5) still on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

Given the incredible irruption of southern waders into the northeast of the ABA Area this summer, perhaps the discovery of a Roseate Spoonbill in Berkshire, Massachusetts, shouldn’t be surprising. But it’s a 1st record nonetheless, the fourth such 1st involving this species so far in 2021. And if that wasn’t enough, a White Ibis was photographed in Middlesex for an exceptional Threskiornithid month for the Bay State.

Kansas also got a 1st record this week, and one also in the southern species moving north vein, though this time it is a little more surprising as it involves a beach-loving Royal Tern, photographed in Marion. 

Even given the number of spoonbills in the northeast it’s still surprising that Connecticut has hosted a remarkable five of them, including a Roseate Spoonbill this week at Hammonasset.

Rhode Island had a nice Little Gull in Charleston, that state’s 6th.

And lest we forget about bird whose early movements set us on this wader path, a Limpkin was seen in Howard,  Maryland, this week. It is the state’s 7th.

And that wasn’t all, a Limpkin was also seen in Putnam, Illinois, this week.

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.