Rare Bird Alert

A good number of conituing rarities in the ABA Area into this week, including the triumphant return of the Steller’s Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland where it seems content to tool around the island. The potential ABA Area 1st Southern Lapwing is still being seen in Michigan, as is a Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. Both Berylline Hummingbird (4) and Pine Flycatcher (5) are staying put in Arizona, where they ought to hang in through the summer. And the White-winged Tern (4) in Delaware and Little Stint (4) in California are also still present.

Shorebird migration is on, and with it a high potential of exciting Old World strays, including a sharp Curlew Sandpiper (3) this week in Fairfield, Connecticut. This is around the state’s 6th record or so.

Up to Nova Scotia, where at least 6 Mississippi Kites have taken up residence in Yarmouth. Shockingly, this is only the 3rd incident of this species that is expanding to parts north as are so many other southern breeders in recent years.

New York boasted a pair of excellent vagrants not too far away from each other. The state’s 8th Bar-tailed Godwit was found in Suffolk, all the more notable for being the east Asian migratory subspecies where previous records were the perhaps more expected western European birds. And in nearly Richmond, the state’s 6th Anhinga was seen, making for an odd combination for birders who sought out both in one day.

In North Carolina, a Pacific Golden-Plover in Dare, the state’s 4th, has turned up for the fourth consecutive summer. These records almost certainly represent that same individual coming back to the exact same spot at this time of year. Who knows where it goes for the other 11 months?

In Arkansas, the state’s 7th Mexican Violetear was visiting a feeder in Carroll, and the state’s 6th Limpkin was seen at Bald Knob NWR in White. 

Ohio also joined the 2022 Limpkin summer, with the state’s 4th record at an unspecified location in the southern part of the state.

And Iowa gets its 2nd Limpkin, in Buena Vista, not more than a month after its first.

Colorado had a fascinating combination of second records this week. A small flock of what appear to be Cassia Crossbills were recorded in Summit, and a Yellow Rail in Rio Grande is the first in the state since 1906!

A flyby Masked/Nazca Booby (3/4) in King, Washington, would be notable whichever species it turns out to be. If the former, the state’s 1st and if the latter, the 2nd. The identification may remain ambiguous, though.

Exciting finds in Alaska include a Steller’s Sea-Eagle (4) in Valdez, the state’s 2nd Chestnut-collared Longspur that was a passenger on a boat in peninsula, and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in remote Cape Pierce.

And to Arizona, where a Crescent-chested Warbler (4) was seen in Santa Cruz. 

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.