Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the still present Steller’s Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland, and Florida’s South American vibe continues with both Large-billed Tern (5) and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) present this week.
Of all the terns in the ABA Area, Roseate Tern is probably the strangest in terms of status and distribution. It breeds in such far-flung places as New England and the Caribbean and is uncommon most everywhere else. Inland records, in particular, are practically unheard of, which is why the discovery of a Roseate Tern in Erie Co, Ohio, of all places, is so extraordinary. There are a handful of inland records of this pinkish beauty in the ABA Area, but most of them are associated with the passage of tropical storms. One, however, came from western New York earlier this year, and while it might be reasonable to think that this could be one individual bird on a Great Lakes sojourn, both were photographed well enough to see that the Ohio bird, unlike the New York one, was banded. And so we know that this Ohio bird was last documented as a chick on Eastern Egg Rock in Maine in 2022.
Over to Delaware, where a reported American Flamingo (3) seen at Cape Henlopen would represent a 1st record and yet another state that has documented these birds following the hurricane induced irruption last summer. The bird was seen heading south and not refound. No photos were taken, unfortunately so it is not certain whether this was the individual seen earlier this year in New York and Massachusetts.
And Louisiana gets its long-awaited 1st record of Snail Kite in the form of a young bird photographed in Ascension Parish this week. This is a similar route to the one taken in previous years by another Florida snail-eating specialist, though Snail Kite is yet to wander in the numbers we saw in Limpkin over the last couple years.
And a late stunner from Alaska to wrap up the 1sts. Back in late May, an Oriental Honey-Buzzard photographed on the restricted island of Shemya in the western Aleutians represents a 1st ABA record from what appeared to be an exception spring on the island. In addition to the buzzard, multiple Gray Buntings (5) were documented, at least one Steller’s Sea-Eagle, and likely another Alaska 1st that has yet to be revealed. Shemya, just east of famous Attu, is inaccessible to civilian personnel.
Notable for Nova Scotia was a young Mississippi Kite on Brier Island.
Labrador saw its first record of House Wren in Forteau, though there are a number of records from the island of Newfoundland in the province.
In Quebec, a Pacific Golden-Plover at Baie-des-Sables was a nice find.
In Maine, a Bridled Tern was a surprise among the seabird colonies on Metinic Island.
Good for Ontario, and indeed anywhere in the interior of the continent, was a Brown Booby (3) at Haldimand.
Connecticut’s 4th record of Black-bellied Whistling Duck was represented by a trio of birds in West Haven. A Swallow-tailed Kite was also noteworthy in Hartford Co.
Hurricane Beryle was not super-birdy in the interior of the continent, but a Sooty Tern in Hardin Co, Tennessee, suggests it did blow some seabirds around a little.
Wyoming’s 4th White Ibis was photographed in Albany Co.
In Idaho, a sharp adult Heermann’s Gull in Fremont Co is the state’s 2nd record, and the first to be photographed.
Notable for Saskatchewan was a Curve-billed Thrasher in Melville Co.
In Washington, a Great Shearwater was seen from a pelagic off Neah Bay.
In California, a Yellow-green Vireo was a nice find in San Diego Co.
And in Arizona, the state’s 10th record of Eastern Wood-Pewee was seen in Santa Cruz Co.
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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