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North American rarity round-up

July, 2000

This is a very informal collection of some of the more interesting sightings reported to the regional hotline tapes during this period. These are not authenticated records and are in only a loose species order. Apologies for any omissions.

Adult alternate-plumage Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), New York © Angus Wilson. Used by permission. Go to website below for more photos and discussion http://www.best.com/~petrel/RNS.NY.html

Round-Up By Andy Birch

JULY is often referred to as the summer doldrums for birding. However, there were still one or two exciting birds around to quicken the pulse.

The LEAST GREBE continued at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson, Arizona through 24th.

A LEACH’S or BAND-RUMPED STORM PETREL was found by boaters in Lake Erie off Long Point on the weekend of 15th. According to the Calgary RBA "while the bird was turned over to Bird Studies Canada, it unfortunately did not survive its several hundred if not thousand mile trip from the nearest ocean. Whatever it turns out to be, this bird brought Long Point's species list to a total of 370, which just happens to coincide with Point Pelees's species total!" A total of 60+ BAND-RUMPED STORM PETRELS were seen on a pelagic out of Brownsville, Texas on July 15th.

On July 6th, a probable SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS was seen on San Francisco Bay at noon off the Marin side of the San Rafael Bridge, northern California and must rank as a superb "from land" sighting.

From Ontario, Canada, the third week of July produced the bird of the week, if not of the year, an adult male AMERICAN ANHINGA found 17th and still present on the 24th (but not since) in the Delaware Sportsman's Club Pond west of London. It is estimated that a 1000 people managed to see it.

In Colusa County in northern California on July 1st, a WHITE IBIS was seen flying over 99 West, 5 miles north of Maxwell. From southern California the highlight was two alternate plumaged GLOSSY IBIS. They were with many White-faced Ibis in a flooded field on the south side of the extreme West End of Young Road at the south end of the Salton Sea and reported up until the 8th. The GREATER FLAMINGO was last seen at Goose Island, Texas on 19th.

In Brevard County, Florida, two WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILs were seen in the afternoon on 7/22.

Anhinga, Ontario, Canada © Andrew Ross. Used by permission. Go to websitebelow

http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~robross/Pictures/Anhingaflying.jpg

The Connecticut RBA reported a PURPLE GALLINULE found at Osbournedale State Park in Derby on the 15th and continued through the 19th. This is a review species for that state.

The Georgia RBA reported a CURLEW SANDPIPER in breeding plumage on Saturday 8th on Little Tybee Island had been present since the 5th. At least 11 other birders converged on the site that day and relocated the bird. "If substantiated by the photos, this would become the first documented record of the species in Georgia. A couple of other reports in the past have not been well-documented enough to confirm the sighting."

The New York, RBA reported on July 12th a RED-NECKED STINT at Cupsogue County Park in Moriches Bay. The bird was refound and seen well and video-taped by others up through the 15th. An adult RED-NECKED STINT was also seen in Santa Barbara, CA on July 13th but, unfortunately, just a one day wonder.

The Detroit Audubon Society tape reported a RUFF at Point Mouillee on June 30th, which unfortunately, could not be found on subsequent days. However, those looking for the Ruff turned up bonus birds in the form of YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, three adults, on July 1st and these birds seemed to be hanging around. A good bird in Delaware was the chestnut-colored RUFF at Bombay Hook Refuge, on both July 8th and 9th at Raymond Pool. A RUFF was also reported at Bear Swamp, Bombay Hook on July 22nd and another bird at Little Creek Wildlife Area on the 23rd.

The eastern Massachussetts RBA reported an amazing total of 41 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at South Beach, the highest count ever established in New England. Maryland's KELP GULL was seen a few times near the Sea Breeze Restaurant in Sandgates, most recently on the 20th. And, another gull that attracted quite a bit of attention: a reported YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (of Europe) in 2nd summer plumage, found on Saturday, July 22nd at Port Mahon Rd by the Pennsylvania RBA.

The Maine RBA reported a WHITE-WINGED TERN in breeding or near breeding plumage in Scarborough marsh on the 25th.

Seward, Alaska reported that the HOUSE MARTIN, might again have been seen on July 3rd over the Sealife Center. No detailed information was given. The last report with details was on June 25, over the small boat harbor.

The Colorado RBA reported a WHITE-WINGED DOVE seen in Lamar on the 7th. Another WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen flying along road 160 west of Salida on the 6th.

The Wisconsin RBA reported that the two EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES are still being seen in northeastern Oconto County. This is the 4th record for the state.

From Arizona, RUDDY GROUND-DOVE has been reported at a feeder in central Phoenix.

The San Diego RBA reported a singing WHITE-EYED VIREO on July 5th onwards at the Sweetwater River NWR, narrows (riparian) area,

The male BLACK-BACKED ORIOLE was still lingering in the Tijuana River Valley at Smuggler's Gulch early in the month.

Black-backed Oriole, California © Gjon Hazard

Used by permission. To see more photos and a discussion go to:

http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/

Top headline for Vermont was the continued presence of the FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER, which continued until the 24th in Ferrisburgh, about 20 miles south of Burlington off Route 7. Another FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found on 7/23 at Zellwood Farms, Orange County, Florida.

Other possible rare flycatchers came from the Eastern Mass RBA, and along Polpis Road where there was a fly-by sighting of a possible SCISSOR-TAILED or FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Vermont © Dick Lavallee. Used by permission. To see more photos go to: http://www.uvm.edu/~smorrica/forktail.html

The Connecticut RBA alerted birders to a report of a long-tailed flycatcher that suggests a possible FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER from the Windham Airport from the first weekend in July. While details are sketchy, it appears that the bird was last seen on June 30th. It was searched for unsuccessfully on July 5th and 6th.

Other oddities came from Delaware on July 8th where there was an odd-looking KINGBIRD seen at the Little Creek Wildlife Area, near the tower. Said maybe to be a HYBRID between EASTERN and CASSIN'S KINGBIRD. "With a number of the fieldmarks of the EASTERN KINGBIRD (the white tail band etc), but with a pale yellow coloration on the belly, and a head DARK - not gray as that of a WESTERN KINGBIRD, not capped as that of an EASTERN KINGBIRD."

From Mississippi, on July 17th, there were reports that the GRAY KINGBIRDS in the parking lot area at the JL Scott Marine Education Center in Biloxi had successfully hatched their young.

San Luis Obispo County in California reported an EASTERN KINGBIRD on 27th July, just north of Cayucos.

The Fingerlakes Region RBA reported on the morning of Thursday July 20 exciting news in the form of a singing SEDGE WREN that was found on the west side of Freese Road in Ithaca.

CLAY COLORED ROBINS continued at Santa Ana and Anzalduas in Texas.

YELLOW GREEN VIREOS continued at Sabal Palm, Texas and another was found at Weslaco, Texas. Both these birds seemed to go missing towards the end of the month though. Some lucky birders at Weslaco, however, were also able to say hello to an old friend, the BLUE MOCKINGBIRD that popped up again this month.

The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was still present at the Arboretum at Parking 23 on Wednesday 5tth according to the DuPage, Illinois RBA.

From Arizona, the RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER was again found in French Joe Canyon of the Whetstone Mountains on July 3rd and reported until the 23rd at least.

The Portland, Oregon RBA reported a male BLUE-WINGED WARBLER on July 24 along Indian Ford Creek

Also from Arizona, Chino Canyon on the west flank of the Santa Rita Mts. continues to be the place to find BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS. A male was seen on the 5th about a half-mile up the wash from the big saguaro where everyone parks and was present until at least 22nd.

At the Beattys' at the end of Miller Canyon Rd on the east side of the Huachuca Mts. south of Sierra Vista, BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRDS continued through the 25th and also a female in Ramsey Canyon too.

The New Mexico RBA had reports from mid month, onwards that there were two WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS at the feeders in Mogollon.

Used by permission. To see more photos, go to:

http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/

The Detroit RBA reported a male BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD, Michigan's second, at a feeder at a private residence near Rockford in Kent County on 12th and 13th. The bird was videotaped.

A female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was seen at Mason City, Iowa, apparently paired with a RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. An interesting Hummingbird sp was reported from Malibu Creek, CA on 21st. It was reported as having some Xantus' features...

From Calgary, The FIELD SPARROW that was found in the Bryant Creek area on Hwy 68 on June 8 and has been seen by many observers was still at that site July 16th.

Alberta's only PAINTED BUNTING ever appeared near Bowden in central Alberta, on Wednesday, July19, and subsequently appeared every day but one up to Monday, 24th. Photographs of the bird do confirm it as a male.

Please visit http://www.birdingonthe.net/hotmail.html for more detailed regional reports from around North America.

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