Rare Bird Alert

Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Steller’s Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland, both Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida, the continuing Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, along with the small flock of Brown Jays (4) in Texas and at least one lingering Siberian Rubythroat (4) in western Alaska.

Late summer in the southwest means monsoon season, a time of year that typically sees excellent birding and a good chance of ABA rarities. The extraordinary confluence of four individual Yellow Grosbeaks in southeast Arizona this year suggested that something really amazing was on the horizon. That came this week with the discovery of a possible ABA Area 1st Blue-black Grassquit in Graham Co. This species is likely familiar to anyone who has birded the American tropics as it is a common resident of weedy fields and scrublands from northern Argentina all the way north to west Mexico, notably a regular breeder around 300 miles south of the US-Mexico border. It has been on the radar of Arizona birders for some time.

Provenance is obviously always a question when it comes to Mexican songbirds, but the timing and location seem good for this species. That decision, however, is ultimately up to the local rare bird bodies.

The Limpkin invasion continues apace this summer, with a bird seen in Hamilton Co, Ohio, this week. This means there are currently two individuals at opposite sides of that state.

Tennessee has also been overflowing with Limpkin this spring, as a bird in Blount Co adds to what I believe to be at least four individuals in the state, though it’s hard to keep track these days.

North Carolina gets its first of the season, with a Limpkin in Stanly Co.

Louisiana’s 2nd record of Green-breasted Mango (3) was photographed at a feeder near Vidalia.

Notable for Prince Edward Island, a Crested Caracara at East Point appears to be the same individual seen earlier this summer in Maine.

In Nova Scotia, a Common Ringed Plover was well-photographed at Pinkney’s Point.

And in Quebec, what appears to be the second Roseate Spoonbill of the spring was seen in Chaudière-Appalaches.

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.