Rare Bird Alert: October 20, 2017

The list of continuing ABA Area rarities has nearly faded into nothing, but this week sees the triumpgant return of a bird many probably though had moved on. The Tufted Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) in Arizona has been hanging around, unbothered by birders who have mostly stopped chasing it, an was seen again this past week. Who knows how long it will remain, or even if it will return to Mexico at all at this point. In California, the Blue-footed Booby is still being see in the vicinity of the Farallones, and in Alaska, the ABA 1st Red-backed Shrike is still hanging on in Gambell.

For once this month, the most exciting bird of the week isn’t coming from western Alaska, though it is of Eurasian origins. A Yellow-breasted Bunting (5) was photographed visiting a feeder in Forteau Bay, Labrador. This is a 1st provincial record for Newfoundland & Labrador (and finally an opportunity for Labrador to steal some attention from its extremely birdy island counterpart) and a 1st for Canada. This is also a first record for this species away from western Alaska, where there are a few records.