Continuing rarities in the ABA Area into this week include Cattle Tyrant (ABA Code 5) and Mottled Owl (5) in Texas and Cuban Pewee (5) in Florida.
The question of provenance is always mentioned when it comes to wayward waterfowl in the ABA Area, particularly those species that are common in aviculture. But one must also consider that it is at least equally likely that a strong-flying duck from a growing population might naturally find its way to the middle of the continent. These considerations come to the fore once again with the discovery of an adult male Baikal Teal (4) seen by many birders near Point Pelee in Ontario. This is potential provincial 1st record, though not the first Baikal Teal to be seen in the province. In fact, there are a number of scattered records of this species in eastern North America owing to their prevalence in captive collections.
However, Baikal Teal is a species that has been doing very well in their East Asia range, with wintering populations now estimated in the hundreds of thousands in Korea and Japan. As such, sightings in the northwest of the ABA Area have also been increasing, as one might expect. So a bird seen in a migration hotspot in the Great Lakes could very conceivably be a natural vagrant. In any case, it is a stunning little duck.
Utah also boasts a potential 1st record this week, with a photographed Pileated Woodpecker near Provo. Relatively recent records from southeastern Idaho certainly suggest the possibility that this mostly sedentary species could wander a bit.
And Alberta goes for the double this week! The province’s first record of Vermilion Flycatcher in Banff was followed only a few days later by the province’s 1st record of Ross’s Gull near Henderson Lake. The latter has stuck around for many birders to see while the former was, sadly, offered only a brief stop-over. Additionally, a Slaty-backed Gull (3) at the Fort McMurray landfill is Alberta’s 7th.
Not too far away in neighboring Montana, a beautiful male Vermilion Flycatcher near Whitefish is that state’s 2nd record, suggesting a little bit of a pattern here in early spring.
We’ll no doubt soon be hearing from birders on the vagrant outposts of western Alaska, but a Whooper Swan (3) well inland at Delta Junction is noteworthy this week.
Notable birds in British Columbia of late include a Hooded Oriole in Merritt and a White Wagtail (3) in Tofino.
Washington’s 10th record of Least Tern was showing well for birders in Walla Walla Co.
In California, a colorful male Garganey (3) near Redwood City was a very nice find.
Colorado’s 7th record of Harlequin Duck was seen this week in Arapahoe Co, and the state’s 8th or so Western Gull in Chaffee Co.
South Dakota boasts a very nice male Ruff (3) in Roberts Co.
The Kelp Gull (4) that has spent the last couple summers among an American Herring Gull nesting colony in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has apparently returned for yet another summer of attempting to make “Chandeleur” Gull babies.
Iowa’s 3rd record of Swainson’s Warbler surprisingly turned up in a Warren Co backyard.
Quebec’s 5th White Ibis was seen at St Blaise sur Richelieu.
It is European Golden-Plover (4) season in Atlantic Canada, with a single bird seen at Marystown, Newfoundland, and an additional two across the water in Goose Bay, Labrador.
In Massachusetts, good finds include a Eurasian Whimbrel (3) on Nantucket, and a White-faced Ibis in Newbury.
Maryland had yet another Crested Caracara, this time in Pasadena.
And in Georgia, one young Snail Kite was seen in McIntosh Co, likely driven north by fires in Florida. An additional two unconfirmed birds were also reported in the in southwestern part of the state.
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.
