Rare Bird Alert: March 9, 2018

The holding pattern we’d been in with regard to unusual vagrants seems to be breaking a little as spring moves along. The southern tier of the ABA Area is seeing the return of early migrants like Purple Martins and Osprey, moving northwards little by little every day. There are still some continuing rarities that are not moving much, including the ABA 1st Mistle Thrush in New Brunswick, well into its fourth month in Miramichi. The male Blue Bunting (ABA Code 4) is still in south Texas, and looking sharper every week. After a couple weeks of no reports (at least to eBird), the Streak-backed Oriole (4) in Tucson, Arizona, was noted again. Just to the south, the Sinaloa Wren (5) continues. In California, the Black-tailed Gull (4), a couple Nazca Boobies (4), and the Garganey (4) are all staying put. And a Pink-footed Goose (4) continues in New York.

One of the less common western vagrants to the east, a Lark Bunting was discovered in Centennial Park in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, which has to go down as one of the most productive urban birding sites in the ABA Area.