Rare Bird Alert

There’s a very heavy tyrannid representation among the returning ABA rarities this week, which is appropriate given some of our new birds.  The Social Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) in Texas was rediscovered this week after a couple months away. The dynamic duo of Tufted Flycatcher (5) and the ABA’s 2nd Pine Flycatcher (5) are also in Arizona, and at least one and maybe two LaSagra’s Flycatchers (4) are continuing in Florida.

And it is to Florida we go first this week with the fantastic discovery of a very well-documented Cuban Pewee (5) in Monroe. This represents about the 6th record of this species in the ABA Area, all from Florida as one would expect.

No 1sts to report this week, but a Little Stint (4) in Cumberland, New Jersey is a very nice find, particularly on the east coast.

In Pennsylvania, a Pacific Loon was found in York. 

Connecticut, had a Black-necked Stilt in Old Lyme, the state’s 10th record.

Massachusetts also had a pair of Black-necked Stilts photographed on Nantucket Island.

Notable for New Hampshire was a Curlew Sandpiper (3) in Rockingham. 

Michigan’s 2nd record of Townsend’s Warbler, and the first to be photographed, was in Iosco this week.

Iowa’s 4th record of White Ibis was seen in Chickasaw. 

Missouri adds to its Limpkin haul with the state’s 4th record in Henry. All the more impressive given that it was only two weeks ago that Missouri had its 1st record.

Arkansas also had its 4th record of Limpkin, this time in Washington. The state’s 1st was only documented last summer.

New Mexico’s 10th record of Purple Gallinule was photographed in De Baca. 

In California, a Ross’s Gull in Del Norte is the state’s 4th, and one of very few spring records in the Lower 48.

Oregon had a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Multnomah this week.

And in Alaska, a Fieldfare (4) in Utquiakvik is hopefully a good sign for a productive spring. Lesser Sand-Plover (3) and Wood Sandpiper were highlights this week on St Paul Island, open to visiting birders this summer for the first time since 2019.

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.