The same batch of continuing ABA rarities persists into another week, headlined by the ABA 1st record Mistle Thrush in New Brunswick. Nazca Booby (ABA Code 4) and Garganey (4) are still being seen in California and the Sinaloa Wren (5) is still in Arizona. Both Blue Bunting (4) and Tamaulipas Crows (4) continue in Texas, and the Hawfinch (4) continues in Anchorage, Alaska. And has been the case for much of the winter, Pink-footed Geese (4) and Barnacle Geese (4) are present at a number of sites in the northeast.
One of the more interesting birds of the year thus far was a Steller’s Eider, found in Clatsop, Oregon this week, the state’s 4th record. This Arctic duck is quite infrequent away from Alaska, with a handful of records down the west coast and even in the Atlantic basin.
Oregon’s 4th Steller’s Eider is one of only a handful of records of this hardy Arctic duck away from Alaska. Photo: Russ Morgan/Macaulay Library
No 1sts to report this week, but California had two Rusty Blackbirds in the state this week, one in Monterey and another in Los Angeles.
Good for Nevada, a Long-tailed Duck was seen in Pershing.
Arizona had a Laughing Gull in Mohave this week.
A noteworthy bird for Colorado, a Smith’s Longspur was photographed in a longspur flock in Kit Carson.
A Golden-crowned Warbler (4) has returned to Refugio, Texas, for the 3rd straight year.
Louisiana’s 2nd record of Pacific Loon was found in St. James.
Alabama had an American Tree Sparrow at a feeder in Hale this week, the 2nd report of this species in the southeast this month.
In Florida, a Cassin’s Kingbird was seen in Leon.
Tennessee had a Yellow-headed Blackbird in Washington.
As did Kentucky, with a Yellow-headed Blackbird in Muhlenberg.
And in New York, a Slaty-backed Gull (3) was seen in Oswego.
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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