We've been over a year since we've gone more than one full week without a report of a state or provincial first record, and with our backs to the wall we've done it again. As with so many times during this remarkable streak it was the birders of Colorado, home of the ABA, who came through once again.
That potential first is a Mottled Duck, found and photographed in Morgan, Colorado. The species has actually been reported in the distant past at least two times previously, but this one looks to be the first with supporting documentation, which gives it a significant leg up on those historical records. So congrats, Colorado, which seems to be adding to its state list by leaps and bounds this year.
Also in the state, Colorado's fifth record of White Ibis comes from Alamosa.
In British Columbia, a Crested Auklet was seen offshore near Tofino over the course of a few days.
A repositioning ship traveling between California and Alaska had a Hawaiian Petrel (ABA Code 4) offshore in Oregon, just north of the California line.
A Little Stint (3) was unfortunately on private property in Kings, California, where it was seen by very few. Other notable birds in that state include a Glossy Ibis in Yolo and a Crested Caracara in San Luis Obispo.
A pair of Neotropic Cormorants were seen in a marsh in Greene, Indiana.
A Curlew Sandpiper (3) in Allegan, Michigan, was that state's 15th record or thereabouts. A Long-tailed Jaeger also turned up in Delta.
A very cold Gray Catbird was photographed near Rankin, Nunavut, last week.
Great for Newfoundland, a Prothonotary Warbler showed up on a research vessel working the Grand Banks.
Both a Sabine's Gull and a Sandwich Tern were seen at Barnstable, Massachusetts.
New York's second Ruff (3) in as many weeks turned up at Jamaica Bay NWR in Queens.
An astonishing 15 Herald 'Trindade' Petrels (3) and a Fea's Petrel (3) were seen on a research vessel in Maryland waters.
That same boat in Virginia territory had a White-tailed Tropicbird (3) offshore.
And a Red-billed Tropicbird (3) was seen off of Dare, North Carolina.
In Georgia, a Cave Swallow was seen in Bartow.
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Omissions and errors are not intended, but if you find any please message blog AT aba.org and I'll 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.
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