July 4, 2025
It’s not really much of a surprise anymore, but the Steller’s Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland continues to be seen in to July 2025.
The rarity season in Alaska is coming to an end, but a Pacific Swift (5) in St Paul Island suggests that surprises are still possible. There are approximately 10 records of this east Asian migrant in the ABA Area, most come from western Alaska.
1st records for the period come from the north of both the US and Canada. Northwest Territories picks up two territrial 1st records in the last couple weeks, with a Red-necked Stint (4) seen on the Arctic Ocean shore at Tuktoyaktuk, and the rather shocking record of Burrowing Owl at Behchoko, representing the farthest north record of this species by a significant margin.
North Dakota boasts its long-awaited 1st record of Mississippi Kite in late June, an adult bird photographed in McKenzie Co.
And from Wisconsin, we get the fascinating story of a Kelp Gull (4) in Milwaukee Co. The bird was first noted last summer, but identified as both Great and Lesser Black-backed Gull at various times. Once the bird’s identity was confirmed birders quickly noticed that it had paired off with an American Herring Gull at a gull colony. The subsequent chick did not survive, but the pair wasted no time working on a new one. At last check, that egg has yet to hatch.
Up to Alberta, where 3 Orchard Orioles in Medicine Hat Co represent only the 5th occurrence of this species in the province. Further, there is some evidence that the birds might be breeding.
It’s a similar situation next door in Saskatchewan, where the province’s 5th Plumbeous Vireo at Cypress Hills Provincial Park is singing as if on territory.
In Wyoming, a Curve-billed Thrasher in Yellowstone Co is the state’s 5th.
In what it increasingly becoming the ABA Area’s most ridiculous rarity phenomenon, Colorado sees yet another Yellow Grosbeak (4), this time in Estes Park in Larimer Co. This is the state’s 6th and the fourth this year, a year that also included the Yellow Grosbeak in Arkansas. Also noteable, the state’s 2nd record of Brown Booby (3) was seen in Baca Co.
Good birds seen in Washington of late include the state’s 9th Least Tern in Walla Walla Co, and the state’s 6th Alder Flycatcher in Okanogon Co.
The first Purple Gallinule in Kansas for many years was seen in Wichita.
In Mississippi, a Brown Booby (3) was seen well inland in Lauderdale Co.
Notable for Alabama was a Hudsonian Godwit in Coden.
Florida had its first Red-footed Booby (4) in several years in Palm Beach Co.
Indiana’s 2nd record of Crested Caracara was seen in Sullivan Co.
Noteworthy in New Jersey was a Sabine’s Gull in Cape May Co.
Connecticut has had a nice run of rarities this summer including the state’s 7th Anhinga in Hamden, it’s 11th Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in New Haven, and its 6th Black-bellied Whistling Duck in Berlin.
And in Nova Scotia, the province’s 7th record of Swallow-tailed Kite was discovered at Inverness.
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.
