There are many new record bird sightings to share, starting with the documentation of the First North American Record Chilean Skua offshore from New Hampshire, which is also a first for the Northern Hemisphere considering that Chilean Skuas usually don't venture north of Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, this Chilean Skua is also a First State Record, as is the First State Record Great Skua that was sighted during the same record-breaking pelagic birding trip. There are 6 more First Record birds to report, along with other record sightings and an exciting list of Asian birds observed on Gambel Island, Alaska.
NORTH AMERICAN RECORD
First North American Record Chilean Skua – offshore New Hampshire
STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS
First State Record Chilean Skua – offshore New Hampshire
First State Record Great Skua – offshore New Hampshire
First State Record Piratic Flycatcher – near Phoenix, Arizona
First State Record Gray Flycatcher – near Tallahassee, Florida
First State Record American Three-toed Woodpecker – near Boise City, Oklahoma
First State Record Western Gull – near Guymon, Oklahoma
First Provincial Record Laughing Gull – Fort McMurray, Alberta
First State Record Garganey – near Augusta, Georgia
Second State Record Blue Rock Thrush – Portland, Oregon
Second State Record Cactus Wren – near Kenton, Oklahoma
Second State Record Red-footed Booby – near Victoria, British Columbia
Third State Record Golden-winged Warbler – Neah Bay, Washington
Fourth State Record Wedge-tailed Shearwater – Seattle, Washington
Fourth State Record Smith's Longspur – Mackay Island Refuge, North Carolina
Fourth State Record Nelson's Sparrow – Aurora, Colorado
Seventh Provincial Record Little Blue Heron – Elk Island National Park, Alberta
REALLY RARE BIRDS
Siberian Sand Plover – San Diego, California
Dusky Warbler – Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Willow Warbler – Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Middendorf's Grasshopper Warbler – Gambell, Alaska
Pectora Pipit – Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Siberian House Martin – Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Clark's Nutcracker – near Goodland, Kansas
Purple Sandpiper – Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Illinois
Brown Pelican – Indianapolis, Indiana
CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS
Steller's Sea Eagle – Newfoundland
Mottled Owl – Texas
Far Eastern Curlew – Quebec
Kelp Gull – Wisconsin
Brown Jays – Texas
Tufted Flycatcher – Arizona
For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association's Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: September 18, 2026 - American Birding Association. Special Thanks to the ABA for permitting us to use the Rare Bird Alert as the basis to prepare this replay.
You can often find more information about individual rare bird sightings from the ABA regional and state rare bird alert listserves that you can access at Birding News brought to you by American Birding Association - (aba.org) or at ABA Rare Bird Alert | Facebook.