Birders know well that the healthiest, most dynamic choruses contain many different voices. The birding community encompasses a wide variety of interests, talents, and convictions. All are welcome. 
You know the drill by now, and likely most of the continuing birds staying put in the ABA Area into this weel. Florida’s Black-faced Grassquit (ABA Code 4) and Western Spindalis (3) remain, as does the California Blue-footed Booby (4), joined this week by a Red-necked Stint (3). Down in Arizona, the Tufted Flycatcher (5), Flame-colored Tanager (4), and Common Crane (4) continue into this week, and Maine still hosts a Little Egret (4).
This week was exceptionally good for 1st records, with a total of four around the ABA Area. A Bar-tailed Godwit in Marion, Iowa is one of the most noteworthy, as that species is quite rare in the middle of the continent.
This Bar-tailed Godwit in Iowa is good for the Lower 48, and even better away from the coast. Photo: Aaron Brees/Macaulay Library
Pennsylvania also gets a 1st record this week, and unlike the notable birds in that state this summer, this one does not come from the south. A stunning alternate-plumage White-winged Tern (4) was photographed in Tioga just yesterday.
Kentucky also gets a 1st this week, with a Lark Bunting visiting a feeder in Henderson.
And in the Great Basin, an Arctic Tern was photographed in Box Elder, Utah, a great bird for the mountain west and a 1st for that state.
Up in Saskatchewan, a Ruff (3) is a nice find near Saskatoon.
Alberta’s 2nd record of Crested Caracara was photographed near Fort McMurray.
A nice find for Oregon was a Plumbeous Vireo, well-documented in Harney.
Good vireos in Arizona include a Yellow-green Vireo in Santa Cruz and a Red-eyed Vireo in Cochise.
Florida continues to attract Caribbean vagrants throughout the summer, the latest a Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Brevard.
In Massachusetts, a Little Stint (4) was seen in Barnstable, a great bird for the east coast.
In Quebec, a Brown Pelican was found in Capitale-Nationale.
Nova Scotia is certainly out of the way for a warm-water loving Audubon’s Shearwater, seen in Browns Bank this week.
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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 <aba.org/nab>, the richly illustrated journal of ornithological record published by the ABA.
Nate Swick
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