Rare Bird Alert

Notable continuing ABA Area rarities this week include the stunningly long-staying Eared Quetzals (ABA Code 4) in southeast Arizona, the Common Crane (4) in California, and the Thick-billed Vireo (4) in Florida.

The state of New Jersey does not have many low-hanging fruit in terms of likely 1st records, but Wood Sandpiper is likely one. The widespread Eurasian analog to our familiar Solitary Sandpiper is not an expected rarity on the east coast, but with previous records in Delaware, New York, and Rhode Island, New Jersey had to feel as though it was only a matter of time. This week, the state’s likely 1st was discovered in Bergen and well-photographed by a number of birders.

Also notable for New Jersey, though not a 1st record, a Black-throated Gray Warbler in Cape May. 

1st records this week have a very warblery dimension this week, as in South Dakota a Painted Redstart in Fort Pierre represents a 1st for that state.

And in Florida, an apparent Hermit Warbler in Palm Beach would not only be a 1st for the state but the first for the entire southeast.

North Carolina had a Townsend’s Warbler in Dare. 

Tennessee birders found a Magnificent Frigatebird in Henry this week, perhaps a remnant of tropical storms that passed through the region weeks ago.

In Pennsylvania, a Northern Wheatear was found in Erie. 

Ontario also had a Northern Wheatear this week in Cochrane. 

And confirming a very wheatear-ful week, Massachusetts had a Northern Wheatear as well in Essex. 

Monhegan Island, Maine boasted both a Black-throated Gray Warbler and a MacGillivray’s Warbler this week, and a Common Ringed Plover was discovered on Seal Island.

On St. Pierre et Miquelon, a Clay-colored Sparrow was one of fewer than 10 for the islands.

Jumping over to Colorado, a Reddish Egret was noteworthy in Morgan. 

Arizona had a pair of eastern vagrants this week with a Chimney Swift in Maricopa and a Least Flycatcher in Yuma. 

California had a great week with rarities from all corners with a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher in Los Angeles, an apparent Arctic Warbler in Orange, a Northern Wheatear in Humboldt, and a Red-footed Booby (4) seen on a pelagic out of San Diego. 

Oregon also had a likely Arctic Warbler this week at Goose Lake State Park in Lake, and a rare LeConte’s Sparrow was discovered near the site of last week’s state 1st Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Fields.

The 2nd record of Great Crested Flycatcher fir the Northwest Territories was photographed near Yellowknife.

Alberta’s 2nd record of Purple Sandpiper turned up near Calgary.

And in British Columbia, a Ash-throated Flycatcher at Delta was a nice bird for the province.

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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.