The Nor-easter that dropped some unusual early season snow on much of the Northeast United States and eastern Canada was one of those weather systems that birders sort of expect to bring something interesting to their local patches, but that storm turned into more or less of a bust as far as vagrants are concerned, seeming to serve only to push the last of the migrants south and usher in winter. That front seemed to drop its load of birds as it passed through the center of the continent, particularly the upper Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, where loads of interesting birds were left in its wake.
But first, a belated first state record for Nevada. A Sedge Wren near Dyer, Esmerelda County, was reported in mid-October.
But Wisconsin, of all places, seemed to be the continent's epicenter for rarity hunting, notably for the state's first record of Inca Dove, an individual still present in Ozaukee County. As if that weren't enough, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was also discovered in Kenauwee County, as was a Say's Phoebe in Sheboygan County, and a Western Tanager has been visiting a feeder in Lincoln County. (photo at left by Chris West)
Next door in Minnesota, the western vagrants are coming nearly as fast and thick, and with the novelty of being in completely unexpected places. In chilly Duluth, St. Louis County, both a Tropical/Couch's Kingbird and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher have been well-photographed, as has the state's 5th Scott's Oriole in Cook County.
Down in Illinois, a Sage Thrasher in Cook County has garnered great attention. It's the state's 5th record. And a Purple Sandpiper in Macon County is only Illinois's second record away from Lake Michigan.
To the east, a rare inland record of Razorbill comes from a bird skirting the Ontario/Quebec border on the Ottawa River near Deschennes Lookout.
The Maritime Provinces are less busy than they have been recently, but a pair of Western Kingbirds, one in St. Margaret's Bay,Nova Scotia, and the second near Renews, Newfoundland, are always notable.
A change from the run of western vagrants elsewhere on the continent, a Wood Stork in Monroe County, New York, was something of a surprise.
In New Jersey, a Harris's Sparrow was discovered earlier this week and well-photographed at Sandy Hook, Monmouth County.
Maryland has a very early and very southerly Northern Shrike in Montgomery County, as well as the state's 4th record of Calliope Hummingbird, visiting a feeder in Easton, Talbot County.
A very rare inland Cave Swallow was briefly seen in Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina.
A Fork-tailed Flycatcher (ABA Code 3) was discovered in Palm Beach County, Florida, remarkably by a group of students visiting Loxahatchee NWR. Also in the Sunshine State this week, the season's second Thick-billed Vireo (4) in Miami-Dade County, and a Say's Phoebe in Lake County.
A Northern Saw-whet Owl was caught in a banding station in Clay County, Alabama this week.
Multiple westerners can be found in Louisiana currently, including a Black-headed Grosbeak and a Bullock's Oriole in Cameron Parish), and a Say's Phoebe in Jefferson Davis Parish.
The Black-vented Oriole (4) in Hidalgo County is still being seen sporadically, but a Ruff (3) near Houston is more predictable.
In Missouri, a Mountain Bluebird was reported from Prairie State Park in Barton County.
Always good in the interior of the continent, a Red-throated Loon has been present in Johnson County, Iowa, for the better part of the week.
A Varied Thrush appeared in Edwards County, Kansas.
Adding to the excellent flight of eastern warblers in Colorado this fall, is a Pine Warbler in Pueblo County.
A pair of Red Phalaropes are present in the mountain west, one In Nez Perce County, Idaho, and a second in Anaconda County, Montana.
A remarkable record of a Prothonotary Warbler near Calgary, Alberta, is a bird that seems to have headed in the opposite direction it was supposed to.
Also in western Canada, the Yukon Territory's fifth Brambling (3) was photographed near Whitehorse.
A trio of great birds are reported in British Columbia, a Clay-colored Sparrow near Victoria, and both a Clark's Grebe and a Tropical Kingbird near Sooke.
A great bird particularly south of Alaska, is the Yellow-billed Loon reported from Douglas County, Oregon.
California's notables seem to be congregated in the northern half of the state this week, with a Red-throated Pipit (3) in Santa Clara County, a Northern Wheatear in San Francisco, and an American Tree Sparrow at Point Reyes, Marin County.
Good birds in Arizona include a Prothonotary Warbler and a Chestnut-sided Warbler in Pima County, and a Black-legged Kittiwake at Casa Grande in Pinal County.
In New Mexico, a Long-billed Thrasher was reported from Gila, Grant County.
Photos of the Casa Grande Black-legged Kittiwake can be seen on my blog. http://www.azbirdbrain.blogspot.com
Posted by: Jeremy Medina | 11/04/2011 at 01:08 PM
Excellent photos. Thanks, Jeremy!
Posted by: Nate Swick | 11/04/2011 at 08:46 PM
There has been a Groove-billed Ani in Cochise Co., Arizona, these past few days; the species is just barely annual in the state.
Posted by: Rick Wright | 11/04/2011 at 08:49 PM
Hello, I just wanted to report that I saw a male McKay's Bunting near Port Townsend, Washinton yesterday. It was on the ground eating and I got a good close look for a good amount of time. Definitely not a snow bunting. It was all white except for a small amount of black on its' wing tips.
Posted by: Brighid McCarthy | 11/05/2011 at 02:16 PM