Rare Bird Alert: November 1, 2019

Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Antillean Palm-Swift (ABA Code 5) still being seen in Florida, and a Red-footed Booby (4) in California.

Just in time for the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, south Texas is seeing some interesting vagrants including a both a Green-breasted Mango (3) and a Northern Jacana (4) in Hidalgo. Farther afield, a Varied Thrush was seen in San Saba. 

We have a couple 1st records to report this week, one of which is a little questionable, however. In the sure thing department, a Vermilion Flycatcher in Nampa, Idaho, is the 1st confirmed record of this species in the state. Though there is a hypothetical record from two decades previous.

And in Clallam, Washington, which has seen a ton of great birds in the last couple weeks, a Eurasian Tree Sparrow, a potential 1st, raises some interesting questions about provenance. Is this individual from the established populations in the middle of the continent or could it have come from across the ocean. Also in Washington, a Brown Booby (3) was seen near Waldron.

Notable for British Columbia was an Ash-throated Flycatcher near Burns Lake.

Birders are out of the Bering Sea for the most part, but there are still birds to be found in Alaska. A Chipping Sparrow was in Homer this week.

California had a Worm-eating Warbler in Davis

In Colorado, a Eastern Wood-Pewee was discovered in Bent. 

Arizona’s first Rufous-backed Robin (3) of the season turned up in Yuma. 

Notable for South Dakota was a Parasitic Jaeger photographed near Oahe.

In Kansas, a Golden-crowned Sparrow was seen in Russell. 

Missouri had a Say’s Phoebe in Dunklin. 

Good for Tennessee is a Long-tailed Jaeger in Davidson. 

Illinois had a King Eider seen in northern Cook. 

Michigan’s 9th record of White Ibis was a young bird in St. Clair. A Townsend’s Warbler was also seen at Penninsula Point.

In Ohio, a Vermilion Flycatcher was seen by many birders in Wayne. 

Ontario had a Common Ground-Dove in Toronto.

New Brunswick becomes the latest place to get a Tropical Kingbird this fall, with a bird at Cambridge Narrows.

Newfoundland’s 2nd record of Golden-crowned Sparrow turned up near Renews. Also on the island, a Glossy Ibis was seen in Rocky Harbour and yet another Townsend’s Warbler, the fourth this fall, was seen in Flatrock.

Prince Edward Island had a lingering Black Skimmer in Pownal Bay.

Maine also gets a Tropical Kingbird, this one at East Machias.

Massachusetts is red hot in terms of rarities lately, with the latest a Bell’s Vireo in Bristol and a “Western” Flycatcher, that many believe is a Pacific-slope, in Hampshire.

New Jersey had a Brown Booby flyby in Cape May. 

In Virginia, a Little Egret was reported from Accomack. 

South Carolina’s 3rd record of Snail Kite was seen in Clarendon this week.

And in Alabama, a Black-headed Grosbeak was visiting a feeder in Baldwin. 

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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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