Rare Bird Alert

The exciting Red-flanked Bluetail (ABA Code 4) in Washington is an easy highlight of the contining rarities in the ABA Area this week. It is joined on the west coast by a long-staying Little Stint (4) in California, and the remaining Social Flycatcher (5) and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) in Texas. A Black-faced Grassquit (4) also continues in southern Florida and the Redwing (4) is still being seen in Newfoundland. 

This spring has been an interesting one for Northern Lapwings (4) as the latest turned up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, this week. There is some speculation that it could be the same individual that was seen just south in New Hampshire of late, which would make sense for a bird that overwintered on the North American continent and is slowly making its way northward. 

We stay in eastern Canada, where in Newfoundland a Western Tanager is visiting a feeding station in St. John’s. 

Connecticut birders continue to turn up great birds as the state’s 2nd Short-billed Gull and 4th Say’s Phoebe were both seen near Stratford. 

In New York, a sharp male Cinnamon Teal was discovered in Livingston. 

And in Colorado, a Slaty-backed Gull (3), the state’s 3rd, was seen in Larimer. 

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.