Rare Bird Alert

Both of the especially exciting rarities in the ABA Area are continuing into this week. The Steller’s Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland is showing well to all who seek it. Also, both Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida are continuing to the delight of birders who seek them.

We start in Maine this week, where a pair of marine birds have exciting local birders. A Yellow-nosed Albatross (4) was seen on a whale-watching trip on Boothbay Harbor, but the real prize was Maine’s 1st record of Red-footed Booby (3) in Hancock Co. This is the second Red-footed Booby in the northeast this year following one in New Jersey.

Pennsylvania comes in hard with not one, but two, 1st records in the last couple weeks. A Broad-billed Hummingbird was visiting a  feeder in Allegheny Co briefly and the inevitable Limpkin was finally seen in Pennsylvania in Lancaster Co. This puts Delaware and New Jersey as likely next states to join the Limpkin fun.

We are familiar with Alaska 1sts coming from the west this time of year, but they can come from the east, too. An Eastern Wood-Pewee well photographed and recorded in Juneau represents a new bird for the list.

Down to British Columbia, where a Nazca Booby (3) in Queen Charlotte Sound is a 4th for the province. A Red-necked Stint (3) was also seen this week in Delta.

Nevada’s 4th record of Yellow-green Vireo was photographed in Clark.

Over to Quebec, where a pair of young White Ibis was photographed in Capitale-Nationale.

Noteworthy for Newfoundland, a Brown Booby (3) was seen among a flock of Northern Gannets at St. Vincent’s.

In New Hampshire, a Vermilion Flycatcher was photographed in Strafford.

And shorebird season begins to heat up, with a Ruff (3) in Charlestown, Rhode Island.

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.