Rare Bird Alert

Notable rarities continuing into this week in the ABA Area include the stunning Steller’s Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Quebec, Nevada’s 2nd Common Crane (4), the Oahu Inca Tern (5) in Hawaii, and the apparently oversummering Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona.

It’s always exciting when an east Asian vagrant shows up in a part of North American that isn’t Alaska, and an Oriental Turtle-Dove (4) in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the province’s 4th record, certainly fits the bill. This represents only the 6th record away from Alaska for this long-distance migrant, with 3 previous from BC, plus two from California and one from Yukon Territory.

Michigan becomes the latest state to experience the dizzying highs of #spoonbillsummer, as the state’s 1st record of Roseate Spoonbill comes from a documented bird in Washtenaw. 

Mississippi also enjoyed a 1st record this week, with a sharp-looking Curlew Sandpiper in Quitman. 

Up to Alberta, where a Least Tern near Calgary is the province’s 2nd.

In Texas, a Mexican Violetear (3) was visiting a feeder in Hidalgo. 

New Jersey had a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, a species that, like Roseate Spoonbill, is wandering widely this summer, in Ocean. 

And to New Hampshire, where a Lark Bunting is visiting a feeder near the town of Hudson.

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.