Rare Bird Alert: November 11, 2011

My internet connection is a little sketchy here in Harlingen, so in the interests of moving this along I'm going to dispense with the introduction this week and go straight to the birds.  That's why you come anyway, right?

Here in Texas, the bird of the hour is a Rose-throated Becard (ABA Code 3) present for the last few days at Estero Llano Grande in Hidalgo County. 

Arizona's rarities are not of the southern variety, but birds from around the continent like a Glacous-winged Gull in Maricopa County, a Long-tailed Duck at Pena Blanca Lake in Santa Cruz County, and a Blue Jay at Cave Creek, Cochise County.

Good birds in California this week include a Rusty Blackbird in Kern County, a Dusky-capped Flycatcher in Inyo County, and a Common Grackle in Orange County.

There are a pair of vagrants in Clark County, Nevada, both an Eastern Phoebe and a Varied Thrush.

Rare for Utah is a Pine Warbler at Lytle Ranch in Washington County.

An apparant Ross's Goose was photographed in Astoria, Oregon, in Clatsop County.

A Rusty Blackbird is also in Cowlitz County, Washington.

Yukon Territory continues to attract good birds, the most recent being a report of a Brown Thrasher in Whitehorse.

The Whooper Swans (3) have returned to Adak, Alaska, along with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (3) and a Dusky Thrush (4).

Another eastern warbler for Colorado this season, this time a Worm-eating Warbler in Fremont County.

There is what appears to be an influx of mountain species moving into western Kansas (and elsewhere?) this year, with both a Western Scrub-Jay and a few Mountain Chickadees in Grant County.

Not one, but two, Inca Doves have been seen in the vicinity of Pangburn, White County, Arkansas.

The southernmost Gryfalcon of the season thus far comes from Meade County, South Dakota.

The upper midwestern states continue to attract western vagrants.  A Townsend's Solitaire was discovered in Duluth, Minnesota, and a Vermilion Flycatcher in Rusk County, Wisconsin.

Two good birds in Illinois this week, a female Mountain Bluebird in Lake County, and a Western Grebe in Fulton County.

In Ohio, a White Ibis in Ottawa County and a Little Gull (3) in Lake County have birders in that state excited.

Excellent just about anywhere inland are both a Laughing Gull and a Red-throated Loon at South Holston Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Some western flycatchers reported in Louisiana include a Say's Phoebe and a Great Kiskadee in Jefferson Davis Parish.

Tryant flycatchers are also on the menu in Florida, Vermilion Flycatcher at Lucky Hammock in Miami-Dade County, and a Brown-crested Flycatcher at Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, plus a White-faced Ibis at St. Marks NWR, Wakulla County.

One of only a handful of Black-throated Gray Warblers have been seen in Georgia, the most recent in Gilmer County.  Also a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is present on Tybee Island.

Up the coast in Maryland, a pair of vagrant gulls including a Franklin's Gull in Prince George's County and a Black-headed Gull (3) in Baltimore County.

The season's first Snowy Owl was spotted at Merrill Creek Reservoir in Warren County, and a Western Kingbird has stayed the week at Cape May.

In New York, a Pacific Loon is reported from Rensselaer County and a Western Kingbird in Suffolk County.

A Western Kingbird has also been seen at New Salem, Franklin County, in Massachusetts, as well as a Black-headed Gull (3) at Plymouth.

Very exciting for Maine is the state's third ever Virginia's Warbler, photographed at Monhegan Island.

Tyrant Flycatchers are also the present in the Maritime Provinces of Canada as well, with an Ash-throated Flycatcher on Grand Manan Island, new Brunswick, and a Western Kingbird near Trepassey, Newfoundland.