Rare Bird Alert: August 23, 2019

A number of continuing rare birds can be found into this week in the ABA Area, including the long-staying Slate-throated Redstart (ABA Code 4) in west Texas. Arizona boasts a pair of continuing hummingbirds in a Berylline Hummingbird (4) and a Plain-capped Starthroat (4), in addition to the continuing Common Crane (4) in the northern part of the state. And California hosts booby trifecta with Nazca Booby (5), Red-footed Booby (4), and Blue-footed Booby (4) all being seen in the last few days.

Exciting news from Florida, where an apparent family group of three Thick-billed Vireos (4) was seen in Monroe, perhaps suggesting breeding success for this widespread Caribbean species.

In North Carolina, an apparent Lazuli Bunting visiting a feeder in Carteret, would represent the state’s 3rd record.

Tennessee had a Neotropic Cormorant in Davidson this week.

Virginia’s 5th record of Allen’s Hummingbird was well-photographed at a feeder in Montgomery. 

Good birds for Pennsylvania this week include a Brown Booby (3) in Northampton and a Swallow-tailed Kite in Lehigh. 

In Connecticut, a Magnificent Frigatebird was seen at Hammonasset State Park.

Noteworthy for Maine, a Kentucky Warbler was seen on Mount Desert Rock in Hancock. 

Minnesota’s 8th record of Black Vulture was seen associating with Common Ravens in Duluth.

Good for Colorado, a Common Ground Dove was found in Weld. 

California birders are getting better at picking recently split storm-petrels from their flocks, as evidenced by a Townsend’s Storm-Petrel (3) seen on a pelagic out of San Diego. 

British Columbia had a pair of excellent offshore birds this week, with a Hawaiian Petrel (3) seen from a cruise ship representing the province’s 5th, and a Guadalupe Murrelet on a more traditional pelagic representing the 3rd foer the province and for Canada.

And in Alaska, a second Little Stint (4) in as many weeks was seen on St Paul Island.

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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, the richly illustrated journal of ornithological record published by the ABA.

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