Rare Bird Alert: October 14, 2016

This week was a particularly slow one, especially this deep into rarity season. But California, at least, picks up the slack with a number of excellent finds. As for noteworthy continuing birds, the Arizona Lesser Sand-Plover (ABA Code 3) stuck around into the beginning of the last week, while the Pink-footed Goose (4) in Quebec is still present.

California has most of the good birds this week, starting with a Little Stint (4) in Riverside, the season’s second Dusky Warbler (4)in Orange, and a ship-borne Red-footed Booby (4) in San Diego.

Texas also had a good week highlighted by a young Northern Jacana (4) in Hidalgo, a Great Black-backed Gull was found in Galveston, and an inland Brown Booby (3) in Wise.

Good for Iowa was a California Gull near the Quad Cities, on the Mississippi River.

Wisconsin had a stunning adult Purple Gallinule this week, near the town of Mauston.

Pennsylvania also had a Purple Gallinule, a young bird in Beaver.

Coastal Massachusetts was exceptional this week, with a Yellow-nosed Albatross (4) seen from shore in Barnstable a clear highlight, along with a briefly staying Black-throated Gray Warbler on Martha’s Vineyard.

In Newfoundland, a Harris’s Sparrow was visiting a feeder in Renews.

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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 aba.org/nab>, the richly illustrated journal of ornithological record published by the ABA.

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