Rare Bird Alert

Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

Notable rarities continuing into this week include the Gray Heron (ABA Code 5) in Nova Scotia, and the long-staying Little Egret (4) in Maine. Florida’s Black-faced Grassquit (4) was seen again this week and Arizona is still full of birds including Common Crane (4), Berylline Hummingbird (4), Streak-backed Oriole (4), and Crescent-chested Warbler (4).

Rhode Island is the center of the rare shorebird universe as in addition to last week’s Terek Sandpiper which has apparently moved on, birders this week found a Little Stint (4) and a Ruff (3) in Charleston, and a Red-necked Stint (3) just down the road in Westerly. I’m not certain, but my working hypothesis is that the heat in east Asia has opened some sort of portal to Rhode Island of all places.

Virginia also has a Ruff (3) this week, in Loudon. 

Noteworthy for Florida was a really nice male Western Spindalis (3) at Big Pine Key in Monroe. 

In Montana, a Yellow-billed Loon was photographed in Lincoln. 

In Quebec, a Mountain Bluebird was seen at Rivière Bleue.

Arizona adds to its haul with a Tropical Parula in Cochise. 

And in Montana, a Yellow-billed Loon was seen in Lincoln. 

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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.