March 28, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the long-staying Gray Gull (ABA Code 5), an ABA 1st, turning up again in Alabama. Brown Jay (4) continues in the Lower Valley of Texas, while Yellow-headed Caracara (5) and Asian Stonechat (5) continue up the coast. The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (5) on Adak, Alaska, was seen again this week, and the Yellow Grosbeak (4) in Arkansas also continues.
Some fun 1st records to report this week, starting in New Mexico, where a Tufted Flycatcher (5), more regular in recent years in nearby Arizona, was spotted in Dona Ana Co, where it will represent a 1st for the state. This sighting is additionally noteworthy for being a lowland record, where most ABA Area Tufted Flycatchers are in high elevations, both in Arizona and in western Texas.
Up to Alberta, where a Pink-footed Goose (4) near Calgary is a 1st provincial record and only the second record for western Canada. Pink-footed Goose is still a real rarity west of the Great Lakes, but with the breeding population in Greenland and Iceland continuing to increase, it seems likely we’ll be seeing more of these records creeping westward.
And in Kansas, a Lawrence’s Goldfinch visiting a feeder in far-western Finney Co is a state 1st, Kansas’s third of the year so far. Despite it’s wandering reputation, Lawrence’s Goldfinch is a rare vagrant, with previous records in the Great Plains only from Oklahoma and far eastern Wyoming.
Elsewhere in the middle of the continent, South Dakota gets to enjoy the impressive owl movement of this past winter with a Great Gray Owl discovered in Hughes Co.
Nebraska has seen at least three different Common Cranes (3) among the flocks of Sandhills this spring, the most recent from Keith Co.
Notable for British Columbia, was a White-winged Dove in Vancouver.
In Ontario, a group of birders traveled to the far northern reaches of the province to document Rock Ptarmigan, near Fort Severn.
In Quebec, a Common Shelduck (4) was a good bird in Montérégie.
Exciting for New York birders, an interesting Progne sp in Richmond Co, is being discussed as a possible Gray-breasted Martin (5). If confirmed, this would be the state’s 2nd record, following a bird from 2021 that was, interestingly enough, also seen in the New York City metro area.
In West Virginia, a Bullock’s Oriole was photographed visiting a feeder in Charleston.
And in North Carolina, the state’s 4th Sage Thrasher was sadly a one-day wonder in New Hanover Co.
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.
