Previously reported rarities continuing into the first week of March in the ABA Area include the Red-flanked Bluetail (ABA Code 4) in Virginia, and Brown Jay (4), Cattle Tyrant (5), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) in Texas.
Late winter in the ABA Area is frequently left to the gulls, and northern Illinois continues its impressive run of unusual larids, centered around the Waukegan Marina in Lake Co. The same spot that had a Short-billed Gull last month hosted the other half of the “Mew Gull” tandem shortly after, a state 1st Common Gull (3). Also present was the state’s eighth record of Glaucous-winged Gull.
Montana was the latest state to join the bean-goose parade, as what now appears to be the state’s first record of Tundra Bean-Goose (3) was found in Great Falls. This is the first bean-goose of any type in Montana.
New Mexico’s 2nd record of Purple Sandpiper was recorded in Eddy Co in late February. Notably, the bird was seen at the exact spot that the state’s first record was found just last year, suggesting that it might be the same individual returning for another winter.
Always a nice find in the East, a Green-tailed Towhee was seen in Williamson Co, Tennessee.
North Carolina’s fourth record of Lazuli Bunting was seen by many birders at a feeder in Onslow Co.
In Pennsylvania, a continuing female-type Garganey (4) was an excellent bird in Bedford Co. Most Garganey records in the continental U.S. are of males in spring.
New York birders enjoyed a Swainson’s Hawk in Brooklyn, and a Common Gull (3) in Westchester Co.
Good birds in Québec of late include a Harris’s Sparrow in Abitibi and a Varied Thrush in Témiscamingue.
Nova Scotia’s fourth Slaty-backed Gull (3) was seen at the harbor in Pubnico.
And a far western Golden-crowned Sparrow found its way to a feeding station in the far east of the continent, at St. John’s, Newfoundland, where it represented that province’s third record.
Omissions and errors are not intended, but if you find any, please message blog AT aba.org and we 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 installments of the ABA Rare Bird Alert. Readers should note that most of these reports have not yet been vetted by a records committee. All birders are urged to submit documentation of rare sightings to the appropriate state or provincial records 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.
