Rare Bird Alert: May 19, 2017

We head into the tail end of spring migration, and across much of the continent we’re seeing the slow start catch up with a vengeance. Elsewhere, birds are going about nesting, including vagrants in Arizona that look like they are going to be sticking around awhile. The nesting Tufted Flycatchers (ABA Code 5) are joined in Arizona by a pair of nesting Slate-throated Redstarts (4), the long-staying Flame-colored Tanager (4) is still present and the state 1st Common Crane (4) was present into the beginning of the week. In Florida, most of the Caribbean vagrants have moved on, but the Black Noddy (3) on the Dry Tortugas is still being seen from time to time.

Sticking to Florida, which has been red-hot this spring, a Bahama Woodstar (5) was discovered in Brevard. This is the ABA Area’s 6th record, all but one have been from Florida. Shockingly, in the aftermath of this find, a photograph is what is apparently a different bird originally a few weeks ago, came to light, making 2 different woodstars in Florida this spring.