January 3, 2025
Rarities in the New Year include the third year of Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5) and Brown Jay (4) in south Texas, with both Cattle Tyrant (5) and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) farther up the coast.
Wisconsin ended 2024 on an incredible rarity run, with the final find a state 1st White Wagtail in Door Co. That was Wisconsin’s sixth 1st record in 2024, a list that included birds from all over the globe including Short-tailed Shearwater, Varied Bunting, and Fieldfare, among others.
Quebec also closed last year with a 1st provincial record, a Wood Sandpiper that was found on Allumette Island on the Quebec side of the Quebec/Ontario border. This is only the 3rd record of this species for Canada, with previous records coming from either end of the county in BC and Newfoundland. Early in 2025, the province’s 5th record of Slaty-backed Gull (3) was found at the landfill in Mirabel.
And the first 1st record for the new year comes from Massachusetts, where a state 1st Ferruginous Hawk was seen in Cape Cod. Adding to the western theme, a Western Meadowlark was in Hadley.
In nearby Nova Scotia, a Hermit Warbler in Canso is that province’s 5th.
Connecticut hosted two different Black-throated Gray Warblers, one in New London and another in Branford in addition to the state’s 2nd Spotted Towhee, also in New London.
Rhode Island becomes the latest state to host a Northern Lapwing (4) this winter, with a bird seen in Narragansett.
New Jersey’s 3rd record of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (3) was photographed at Ocean City.
In South Carolina, a Black-throated Gray Warbler in Columbia is one of only a few records for the southeast.
Florida’s 2nd record of Scott’s Oriole was visiting a feeder in Leon Co, and a Bananaquit (4), the second of the winter, was seen in Miami-Dade Co.
In Louisiana, a Red-naped Sapsucker in Plaquemines Parish is the state’s 4th.
Texas’s 7th record of Kelp Gull (4) was seen in Nueces Co.
Good for Iowa was a Golden-crowned Sparrow found in Union Co in the middle of the state.
CBC season has been very good for Michigan, with nice finds including California Gull in Wayne Co, a wintering Arctic Tern in Emmet Co, a Slaty-backed Gull (3) in Muskegon Co, and an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Calhoun Co.
In Washington, a Summer Tanager was a nice find in King Co, as was an Arctic Loon in Port Angeles.
Oregon’s 7th record of Wood Thrush in Lane Co was a nice way to usher in the new year.
And in British Columbia, a Green-tailed Towhee was found in Victoria.
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.
