Rare Bird Alert

Not a lot has changed in continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week, with Common Shelduck (ABA Code 5) persisting in Pennsylvania, along with La Sagra’s Flycatcher (4) and Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. The Red-flanked Bluetail (4) and Little Stint (4) are also still being seen in California.

It’s a relatively light week in the ABA Area, but we still keep our run of 1st records alive. From New Brunswick comes a provincial 1st Brewer’s Sparrow in Quispamsis. The consensus seems to be that this is likely the more highly migratory and more northern taverneri subspecies, frequently called “Timberline” Sparrow, which is represented in many of the records in eastern North America.

Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, a Townsend’s Warbler was seen in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, this week.

Maine had a Common Ringed Plover in Biddeford, one of only a few winter records on the continent.

And in Ontario, a Lewis’s Woodpecker was been present and reliable in Billings since mid-January.

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.