#ABArare - Siberian Blue Robin - Alaska

Hot on the heels of St. Paul's Code 5 Pine Bunting (which is still present as of Oct 4), Gambell strikes back with a Code 5 of it's own: a Siberian Blue Robin discovered by David Pavlik in the Circular Boneyard on Oct 2, the same day that the Pine Bunting was found. This is only the second record for the ABA Area, with the first coming from Attu on May 21, 1985 (that one was found in a canyon now known to birders as "Blue Robin Canyon").

photos by David Pavlik

The identification of this bird was uncertain at first with Rufous-tailed Robin being considered as another possibility, but several birders with extensive experience with Siberian Blue Robin weighed in with the opinion that this is a first-winter female of that species. A post to the AKBirding email group explained the reasoning behind the identification.

Pavlik, the only birder currently at Gambell, did not see the bird on Oct 3, but he refound it on Oct 4. Check out his blog for more photos and notes on his observations.