Rare Bird Alert

New Jersey’s first record of Bermuda Petrel was photographed off Cape May August 27 on the Cape Sea Excursions pelagic trip.

Alaska had a few rarities this week (when doesn’t it?). A Fork-tailed (Pacific) Swift was found by birders almost immediately upon their arrival at Gambell September 1. A Common House-Martin was at St. Paul Island on August 27, and a Western Meadowlark was photographed in Anchorage on the 28th.

In Ohio, a Ruff  was discovered in Wayne on August 27.

Ontario is hosting a group of 7-10 Wood Storks at Point Pelee, marking the 7th time that species has been found in the province.

Nevada’s 10th Scarlet Tanager was photographed August 30 in Elko.

A Brookline Bird Club pelagic out of Hyannis on August 28 found a Black-capped Petrel, notable in Massachusetts waters.

Michigan’s 10th White Ibis was found at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw. The state is currently hosting a nice handful of rarities: the continuing Southern Lapwing, Limpkin, and a Great White (Great Blue) Heron.

A Curlew Sandpiper, Tennessee’s 4th record, was discovered in Humphreys August 29.

A birder browsing iNaturalist entries discovered a Townsend’s Warbler labeled as a Blackburnian, which was photographed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on August 30.

In Georgia, a Masked Booby was photographed during a pelagic trip offshore Brunswick, in Glynn.

Washington state’s 3rd record of Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, a juvenile bird still retaining downy plumes on its head, was photographed in downtown Seattle, King, on August 24. Where this bird originated is a mystery, but it was found in a small park near a shipping and cruise line terminal.

In Florida, a Golden-cheeked Warbler was seen in Pinellas, remarkably the 2nd record of that species for the state, the 1st having been in 1964.

In Quebec, two Piping Plovers at Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine was a notable find in that province.

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.