September 10, 2021

ABA Area rarities hanging around for another week include the young Common Shelduck (ABA Code 4) in Quebec, the long-staying Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, and littles on opposite sides of the continent with Little Stint (4) in California and a Little Egret (4) in Delaware.

It’s the time of year when rare bird fans look to Alaska, and Gambell continues to build on the great birds we noted a couple weeks ago. The most exciting of which was a Middendorf’s Grasshopper Warbler (4), but also at least 2 Dusky Warblers (4), and 3 or more Siberian Accentors (4).

Staying out west, Washington had a good week in eastern warblers with an Ovenbird in Adams and the state’s 2nd Canada Warbler near Ephrata.

Idaho had its 2nd record of Great Crested Flycatcher this week in Gem. 

September is arguably the best time of year to bird California and this makes the case with a Red-faced Warbler in San Diego, a Common Ringed Plover in Del Norte, and a Red-footed Booby (4) in San Luis Obispo. 

Good birds for Iowa include both a Long-tailed Jaeger and a Pomarine Jaeger in Polk and a Swallow-tailed Kite in Earlham.

Missouri also had a Long-tailed Jaeger this week in Clay, the second in as many weeks in the state.

Michigan’s 15th record of Purple Gallinule, a young bird, was seen in Macomb. 

Ohio becomes the latest state to boast a Roseate Spoonbill this year, as #spoonbillsummer turns to #spoonbillfall, in Sandusky. 

Good for Connecticut was a Black-legged Kittiwake in New Haven.

In New York, a Townsend’s Warbler was a nice find in Kings. 

And in Georgia, the state’s 2nd record of Short-tailed Hawk was found in Lowndes. 

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.