Notable continuing ABA Area rarities include the ABA 1st Long-legged Buzzard (no code), still sticking it out through the Alaska winter on St Paul Island. Also, the Yellow Grosbeak (ABA Code 4) is still coming to a feeder in in Texas, and recent reports suggest that the hosts are open to allowing birders to visit. A Pink-footed Goose (4) is still holding on in Colorado, as is a Barnacle Goose (4) in New York. The Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in California was present until at least the early part of the week, and the White-throated Thrush (4) is still being seen in Arizona.
Always a nice find away from Alaska, an Arctic Loon, photographed in Clallam, Washington, is a good bird just about anywhere in the Lower 48 and in most of Canada, too.

Photo: Kevin Metcalf Macaulay Library
And speaking of Canada, a Lazuli Bunting was discovered visiting a feeder near Ottawa, Ontario, for one of very few records for the province.
In Rhode Island, a Barnacle Goose (4) was seen in North Kingston.
Massachusetts had a Trumpeter Swan in Milford. Records of this species are increasing in the east as the re-introduced Great Lakes population starts to take hold.
In New York, a Varied Thrush was seen in Staten Island, Richmond.
Noteworthy for New Jersey was a Townsend’s Warbler in Mercer.
A winter pelagic in North Carolina had a Common Murre in offshore Dare.
Louisiana’s 3rd record of Gray Flycatcher was extremely photogenic for birders in Plaquemines.
In Texas, a Golden-crowned Warbler (4) was seen quite recently in Hidalgo.
Wisconsin had a Varied Thrush near Suamico.
And at least two Brambling (3) are currently being seen in Minnesota, one in Becker and another in Winona.
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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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