Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Yellow-headed Caracaras (ABA Code 5) in both Florida and Texas. Texas also continues to host the long-staying Mottled Owl (5) in the Lower Valley, and a Little Stint (4) is still being seen into this week in California.
The Pacific Northwest has seen a minor influx of Yellow-green Vireo this week, with Washington’s 1st record coming from Grays Harbor Co. This species has been increasingly common in fall up the coast and a previous British Columbia record from more than a decade ago strongly suggested that Washington was overdue for such a record.
Also notable from Washington this week, was a Wilson’s Storm-Petrel seen from shore in Pierce Co.
Oregon also lacked Yellow-green Vireo until this week, with the state’s 1st coming from Coos Bay more or less at the same time as the Washington bird farther north. Will Alaska be far behind? Additionally, the state’s 7th Northern Wheatear was also discovered in Multnomah Co.
And one more first, Louisiana’s 1st Violet-green Swallow was photographed among a flock of migrating swallows in Caddo Parish.
Back up to British Columbia, which has no Yellow-green Vireos yet, but did land two Eurasian Skylarks (3) this week in Tofino and Ucluelet.
In Alaska, a Tropical Kingbird on Prince of Wales Island comes from the opposite direction of many of the season’s most exciting rarities, but a Song Thrush (5) in Utqiagvik, the ABA Area’s 9th or so, keeps the streak alive.
A young Costa’s Hummingbird was photographed this week in Calgary, representing a 5th record for Alberta.
Things are beginning to heat up in Texas as we head into the traditional rarity season in the southern tip of the state with a Roadside Hawk (4) discovered this week in Hidalgo Co.
Florida only documented the state’s 1st record of Small-billed Eleania (5) last month before the state’s 2nd record was discovered in Franklin Co thanks to the ABA’s What’s This Bird Facebook group.
North Carolina’s 5th record of Broad-billed Hummingbird was photographed at a feeder in Dare Co this week.
Massachusetts had a strong run of rarities in the last few days highlighted by the state’s 2nd Roseate Spoonbill in Plymouth Co. Additionally, a Townsend’s Warbler was captured at a banding station in Barnstable Co, a Purple Gallinule was seen in Hampden Co, and a Townsend’s Solitaire at a hawkwatch near Granville.
Maine picked up not one, but two Tropical Kingbirds this week, one seen by many birders in Hancock Co and another by far fewer on Monhegan Island. A LeConte’s Sparrow was also seen this week in York Co.
And notable for Newfoundland and Labrador, a Prothonotary Warbler, a Warbling Vireo (no word on which), and a Black-throated Blue-Warbler were all seen from Forteau on the mainland.
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.
