Rare Bird Alert

Washington continues to host a Siberian Accentor (4) into this week, and Florida birders are continuing to keep track of a pair of Caribbean specialities in the south of the state in the form of a Thick-billed Vireo (4) and a La Sagra’s Flycatcher (4).

California is still going gaga for Garganey , as the third individual in the state this winter was seen this week in Colusia. This suggests that perhaps Garganey are wintering in the west of the continent more frequently that was believed, but are easily overlooked when the vagrants are the more subtle female birds.

We have two 1st records to share this week. Kentucky boasts its 1st Burrowing Owl, found in Todd. Photos of the bird show that it is of the highly migratory western population as opposed to the mostly sedentary Florida population, as is the case with most, if not all, vagrant Burrowing Owls in the east.

And in Florida, a Scott’s Oriole visiting a feeder in Tallahassee, Leon, represents a 1st for the state. Scott’s Oriole is an uncommon vagrant in the southeast but not unheard of. There is a previous record from Georgia and one each from both Carolinas.

Connecticut’s 5th record of Harris’s Sparrow was seen this week at Hammonasset Beach.

Arkansas had a very nice male Vermilion Flycatcher in Lee. 

Yet another Rose-throated Becard (3) turned up in south Texas this year, this one in Cameron. 

And Colorado continues to make its case for the best gull-watching away from any ocean with a young Glaucous-winged Gull at a reservoir in Larimer. 

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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.