Continuing rarities in the ABA Area into the end of August include a Yellow Grosbeak (ABA Code 4) in Colorado, the Cattle Tyrant (5) in Texas and the Steller’s Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland. The Kelp Gull (4) was also seen this week in Wisconsin.
On of the most prominent rarity trends of the last couple years is the expansion of species typically associated with west Mexico and found in the ABA Area only in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, or west Texas into the interior west. That trend continues this week in Utah, where an Olive Warbler at Lava Point National Park in Washington Co, represents not only the first record for that state, but the farthest north record of this species.
Olive Warbler has been slowly expanding northward in the last two decades, and is not found regularly in central Arizona. This expansion, and the subsequent extralimital record in Utah, would seem to put Colorado, Nevada, and California on the map as potential sites for this unique, warbler by name if not taxonomy, songbird.
Wyoming also boats a 1st record in the lattaer half of the month, though this one is of a species more prone to wandering. A Curlew Sandpiper (3) in Natrona Co is a 1st for the state, and one of only a few records in the mountain west. This Old World shorebird is a regular vagrant to the ABA Area, though, as expected, most records come from states and provinces on the east and west coasts.
And the Florida Gray Gull (5), seen on and off again on the eastern Gulf Coast since the fall of 2023, is on again at Dune Allen Beach in Walton Co, Florida.
Delaware also hosted a Curlew Sandpiper (3) this week at Bombay Hook NWR, a site that has hosted this species more than a few times in the past.
Common Ringed Plover made their semi-annual push into eastern Canada this week, with individuals seen at Kildare Capes Beach on Prince Edward Island, Biscay Bay in Newfoundland, and La Haute-Côte-Nord in Quebec.
Into the interior of the continent, where Lancaster Co, Nebraska, hosted both a pair of Long-tailed Jaegers and the states third modern record of Swallow-tailed Kite within days of each other.
A Swallow-tailed Kite was also a highlight in El Paso Co, Colorado, but the big excitement in the state came from a Wood Stork, first seen in Denver and later refound in Broomfield Co. This is the 2nd for the state, the first having been recorded nearly 100 years ago in 1934.
Notable for British Columbia was a Ruff (3) in Victoria.
Washington’s 2nd Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was discovered in Adams Co, and pelagic birders out of Grays Harbor encountered a Flesh-footed Shearwater (3).
Flesh-footed Shearwater (3) was also seen by pelagic birders our of San Diego, California, this week, as was the third Townsend’s Storm-Petrel (3) of the month. A Little Stint (4) was also seen by many in Yolo Co, in the northern part of the state.
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.
