Rare Bird Alert: April 7, 2017

Things are starting to pick up as the weather warms across the ABA Area. Many winter rarities are moving on with only a small handful remaining. Arizona hosts most of them, as the Tufted Flycatchers (ABA Code 5) look to be settling in for another crack at breeding. The Streak-backed Oriole (4) might never leave at this point, but the White Wagtail (3) looks like it has moved on despite making it into the very beginning of this past week. The feeder visiting Hawfinch (4) in Anchorage, Alaska, was seen into this week as well. Few Pink-footed Geese (4) remain, those one was in Maine this past week.

It was a good week for Ruff (3) in the Lower 48 this week, in addition to birds in more expected sites like Newfoundland and California, one was discovered in Charleston, South Carolina. And Michigan did very well, with  Ruffs in both Muskegon and Monroe.