Rare Bird Alert

We’re back after a week off. Thanks for your patience. Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include both Plain-capped Starthroat (ABA Code 4) and Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, both Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida, the remarkably long-staying Steller’s Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland, and the small flock of Brown Jays (4) in south Texas.

Late July was a special period for vagrant plovers in Quebec, where both a Lesser Sand-Plover (4) on Anticosti Island in the St. Lawrence River and a Pacific Golden-Plover at Sainte-Plavie represent 1st provincial records. Interestingly, both birds likely came from the same direction as the sand-plover was of the East Asian mongolus subspecies, considered by some authorities to be a full species called Siberian Sand-Plover. Also notable for Quebec, a young White Ibis in Percé is the third seen in the province in this summer.

Idaho also gets on the board with a recent 1st record, in this case a Prairie Warbler photographed in Jefferson Co. This closes the book on this species for the continental United States, with Hawaii the only outstanding state left without a Prairie Warbler record. One wouldn’t expect that to come anytime soon, however.

And to Oklahoma, where a Cactus Wren singing near the town of Kenton, in the far western panhandle, is a long anticipated state 1st. The species has come within 7 miles of the Oklahoma border in the past, but these sedentary birds are hard to budge from their familiar haunts.

El Niño’s effects on California are starting to mount, with the discovery of the ABA Area’s 4th and California’s 3rd Swallow-tailed Gull (5),  a stunning adult bird, in Santa Barbara Co. This species is known to wander as a result of food shortages in the waters of western South America, and could potentially turn up again this summer or fall.

Up to Washington, where a pelagic out of Westport turned up the state’s 6th record of Wilson’s Storm-Petrel.

Iowa’s 7th Limpkin was discovered in Johnson Co last month. The state’s 1st came only last year.

Wisconsin hosts a Roseate Spoonbill in Green Bay, the state’s 2nd and shockingly the first in the state in 178 years.

Michigan also had a Roseate Spoonbill in late July, in Jackson Co representing that state’s 2nd.

And New York completes the trio of vagrant Roseate Spoonbills with a bird in Buffalo.

Nova Scotia’s 10th Bar-tailed Godwit (3) was seen in Shelburne Co.

Newfoundland is the latest to benefit from stint season with a Red-necked Stint seen well near St John’s.

In Massachusetts, a Mountain Plover in Cape Cod is the state’s 2nd record and, like Wisconsin’s spoonbill, the first seen in over a century.

DC hosted a pair of young Roseate Spoonbills, the 2nd incidence for the district.

For the 5th consecutive year, a Pacific Golden-Plover has spent a few midsummer weeks in Dare, North Carolina. This is almost certainly the same bird returning year after year.

And in Alabama, a Neotropic Cormorant near Rogersville is one of fewer than 10 records for 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.