Rare Bird Alert

The rare bird center of the ABA Area continues to be in Alaska where Taiga Flycatcher (ABA Code 4), Eurasian Bullfinch (4), Tree Pipit (4), and Little Stint (4) all continue in to this week.

As we watch Hurricane Ian make its way up the Atlantic coast, having passed over Florida, this week saw some interesting birds in the wake of Hurricane Fiona’s landfall in eastern Canada. Nova Scotia took the brunt of the storm, and birders in the wake of its landfall had a number of exceptional sightings, highlighted by Nova Scotia’s 1st record of Trindade Petrel (3) at Cape Breton, a 1st for Canada as well. At least two White-tailed Tropicbirds (3) were also seen at Cape Breton, one of which was wrecked and taken to a rehabilitation facility.

New Jersey also boasts a long-awaited state 1st this week, with the discovery of a Kirtland’s Warbler in Cape May, that was closely followed by a second bird nearby.

Checking in on Alaska, where the remains of Typhoon Merbok continue to drop birds all over the state. On St. Paul, two Eurasian Hoopoe (5), one alive and one dead, were discovered this week. These are the first on-land records of this bizarre Eurasian species since 1975. Also on the island, a Marsh Sandpiper (5) was a nice find. A Pin-tailed Snipe (4) in Seward shows that the birdfall is not just limited to the islands in the west. A  Common Crane (4) was seen migrating with Sandhills over King Island, and a Naumann’s Thrush (5) was photographed on Adak in the Aleutians.

Hawaii gets into the fun with a Common Snipe (3) photographed on Midway.

British Columbia’s 6th record of Hawaiian Petrel was seen offshore Cape Scott.

In Washington, a White Wagtail (3) in Walla Walla is the state’s 14th.

California also had a White Wagtail (3) this week, in Santa Barbara. 

In Idaho, an Ancient Murrelet in Boundary represents the state’s 5th record.

Utah’s 7th Philadelphia Vireo was well-photographed in Box Elder. 

A late report of a Great Kiskadee in Cochise, Arizona, is one of very few records for the state.

Kansas continues to attract Limpkins as yet another was found this week in Johnson. 

Virginia had a Bar-tailed Godwit (3) at Accomack. 

And in Labrador, a Marsh Wren at Grassy Point is the first for the mainland, though there are a small handful of records from Newfoundland island.

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.