Rare Bird Alert

Notable ABA Area rarities continuing into the last week of September include Common Shelduck (ABA Code 4) in Quebec, the long-staying Berylline Hummingbird (4) in southeast Arizona, the ABA’s 2nd record of Inca Tern (5) in Hawaii, Little Stint (4) in California and Little Egret (4) in Delaware.

September in California is frequently one of the best times of year in arguably one of the best birding states in the ABA Area with good chances for east Asian vagrants on the coast. And that’s what we get this week in the form of a  Lesser Sand-Plover in Santa Cruz. The bird has been seen by many and very well photographed. This species is annual and expected in western Alaska every year, but records away from there are much rarer.

Also notable for California this week, a young Mississippi Kite was seen in Imperial. 

One 1st record for this week, in South Carolina, where a female Broad-tailed Hummingbird was captured and banded in York. This is the second record for the Carolinas.

Maryland’s 6th record of Magnificent Frigatebird was photographed this week in surprisingly well-inland Allegheny. 

Pennsylvania had a pair of nice western birds in White-faced Ibis in Chester and a Say’s Phoebe in Northampton. 

Ohio’s 5th Magnificent Frigatebird was a one-evening wonder along Lake Erie in Cuyahoga. 

Notable for Indiana was a male Vermilion Flycatcher in Harrison. 

Michigan’s 12th record of Northern Wheatear was seen in Eaton. 

In Connecticut, a Yellow Rail, only the state’s 8th, was brought to a rehabber in Wilton, and a Swainson’s Hawk was seen at a hawkwatch in New Haven.

A Bell’s Vireo in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is one of only a few records for the province.

Newfoundland also had a Northern Wheatear, a bird near Renews. Wheatears are semi-annual in the province.

In Quebec, a Little Stint (4) in Gaspesie is a very nice find for the eastern side of the continent.

Minnesota had a Long-tailed Jaeger this week in Sherburne. 

Washington’s 5th record of Philadelphia Vireo was photographed (a first for the species in Washington) in Adams. 

And in Arizona, an Eared Quetzal (4) was heard in Cochise but, as is frequently the case for this secretive species, not seen.

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.