An extremely rare Red-flanked Bluetail has been wowing New Jersey birders during the past week, having established a First State Record as well as being the first sighted in the eastern half of North America (photo by Dave DeSarno).

Two far offcourse record-breaking birds included the documentation of a First State Record Yellow-headed Caracara in southern Florida, and a First State Record Red-flanked Bluetail in New Jersey. In addition to these exceptional sightings, there was an impressive new Second State Record Mountain Plover photographed and seen by many in Louisiana, a Third Provincial Record sighting of a Great Black-backed Gull in British Columbia, and 2 new Third State Records – a Virginia’s Warbler in New Hampshire and a Western Flycatcher in Connecticut.

Two exciting sea ducks also made the record books: A Fifth State Record King Eider in Florida and an Eighth State Record Harlequin Duck on the Big Island of Hawaii – and there are plenty of other rare sightings below.

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Yellow-headed Caracara – Biscayne Bay, Florida

First State Record Red-flanked Bluetail – Manchester Township, New Jersey

Second State Record Mountain Plover – near Dixie, Louisiana

Third Provincial Record Great Black-backed Gull – Penticton, British Columbia

Third State Record Virginia’s Warbler – Hampton, New Hampshire

Third State Record Western Flycatcher – New London, Connecticut

Fifth State Record King Eider – Ocean Ridge, Florida

Eighth State Record Harlequin Duck – Whittington Beach Park, Big Island of Hawaii

Eighth State Record Ash-throated Flycatcher – Hampton, New Hampshire

REALLY RARE BIRDS

Green-breasted Mango – near Shriever, Louisiana

Fieldfare – Ste-Luce-sur-Mer, Quebec

Crimson-collared Grosbeak – Hidalgo County, Texas

Rufous-backed Robin – Camp Verde, Arizona

Gray Heron – near Belleville South, Nova Scotia

Bullock’s Oriole – Roberval, Quebec

Black-headed Grosbeak – near Halifax, Nova Scotia

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Mottled Owl – Texas

Bare-throated Tiger Heron – Texas

Gray-collared Becard – Texas

Roadside Hawk – Texas

American Flamingos – Florida, South Carolina, Texas

Large-billed Tern – Florida

Fieldfare – Ontario

Golden-crowned Warbler – Texas

Brown Jays – Texas

Nutting’s Flycatcher –Texas

La Sagra’s Flycatcher – Florida

Blue Bunting – Texas

For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: December 8, 2023 - American Birding Association (aba.org) to the ABA, and Nate Swick, who does such a great job of compiling the ABA’s Rare Bird Alert, which we use to prepare this weekly replay.

You can often find more info about individual rare bird sightings from the ABA 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