The ABA Area continues to host a number of continental rarities, many of which have been present for more than a year. Both Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5), and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) continue in Texas, the latter of which is not molting into its adult plumage. The ABA 1st Gray Gull (5) is once again being seen in the Florida panhandle, and the Steller’s Sea-Eagle (4) was reported again in Newfoundland. In addition, the Little Stint (4) in northern California is also continuing into October.
The usual suite of migrating warblers passing through New York City’s parks was supplemented by one spectacular Old World addition. New York’s 1st record of Arctic Warbler was discovered this week on Randall’s Island in New York Co. This species is widespread across Eurasia and breeds in small numbers in Alaska, where most ABA Area records are concentrated. Away from Alaska, Arctic Warbler has been recorded a few times in California, and once in Baja California, Mexico. A single record from Bermuda, however, suggests some impressive vagrant potential for this easily overlooked bird.
It has been a good week for east Asian vagrants in the ABA Area. In addition to the New York warbler, a Marsh Sandpiper (4) in Lorain Co is a 1st for Ohio, and about the fifth or so for the ABA Area away from Alaska. Most of those predictably come from the Pacific coast, though a previous Ontario record suggest that the Great Lakes is not completely out of the way for this species.
And in British Columbia, an Olive-backed Pipit (3) photographed on the southern end of Graham Island in Haida Gwaii is a provincial 1st. This is yet another species that is annual on the western Alaska islands but quite elsewhere on the continent. Previous records come from Nevada, California, and Baja California, Mexico.
And as if to drive home this interesting phenomenon, a Red-flanked Bluetail (4) on Middleton Island, Alaska, in the Gulf of Alaska, is noteworthy for being away from the vagrant-rich Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, where it is annual.
In Washington, a Blackburnian Warbler in Clallam Co is a nice find.
Montana’s 4th record of Prothonotary Warbler was photographed this week in Missoula.
And down to Florida, where a second Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher in as many weeks was seen in Collier Co.
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.
