 Identified and photographed in the Google parking lot in Mountain View, California, this Dark-sided Flycatcher is the first found in North America beyond Alaska, and a First State Record for California (photo by Eric Heisey).  An interested landowner contacted birders to learn more about an unknown bird on their property, which turned out to be the Second North American Record Double-striped Thick-knee, which also provided a Second State Record for Texas (photo by Tim Forrester). |
Three mega-rare birds were documented last week including 2 Second North American Record birds – a Double-striped Thick-knee in Texas and a Yellow-browed Bunting in Alaska! Both birds also created Second State Records. A surprising First State Record Dark-sided Flycatcher was actually found in the Google parking lot in Mountain View, California; and the Asian flycatcher also represents a first time record for the Lower 48 States. Two Second Provincial Records included a Broad-winged Hawk observed in Labrador and a Black-tailed Gull in Quebec.
Alberta birders had a big week as they documented 3 new record birds – a Fourth Provincial Record Blue-winged Warbler, a Sixth Provincial Record Ancient Murrelet, and a Nineth Provincial Record Little Blue Heron. A Fourth State Record Variegated Flycatcher documented in Florida is outstanding too, and there’s much more to report:
NORTH AMERICAN RECORDS
Second North American Record Double-striped Thick-knee – near Pandora, Texas
Second North American Record Yellow-browed Bunting – Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
LOWER 48 STATES RECORD
Lower 48 States Record Dark-sided Flycatcher – Mountain View, California
STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS
First State Record Dark-sided Flycatcher – Mountain View, California
Second State Record Double-striped Thick-knee – near Pandora, Texas
Second State Record Yellow-browed Bunting – Gambell, Alaska
Second Provincial Record Broad-winged Hawk – Goose Bay, Labrador
Second Provincial Record Black-tailed Gull – Chaudiere-Appalaches, Quebec
Fourth State Record Variegated Flycatcher – Loxahatchee Refuge, Florida
Fourth Provincial Record Blue-winged Warbler – Calgary, Alberta
Sixth Provincial Record Ancient Murrelet – Banff National Park, Alberta
Nineth Provincial Record Little Blue Heron – near Redwater, Alberta
Tenth State Record Red-necked Stint – Renton, Washington
REALLY RARE BIRDS
Common Ringed Plover – San Francisco, California
Gray Kingbird – Manicouagan, Quebec
Fork-tailed Flycatcher – Cape May, New Jersey
Upland Sandpiper – Renton, Washington
Siberian Accentor – Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Common Chiffchaff – Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Red-flanked Bluetail – St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska
CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS
Steller’s Sea Eagle – Newfoundland
Yellow-headed Caracara – Florida
Gray Gull – Florida
Kelp Gull – Wisconsin
Berylline Hummingbird – Arizona
American Flamingos – Florida, Texas
For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: Sept. 6–19, 2025 - American Birding Association (aba.org) Special Thanks to the ABA for permitting us to use the Rare Bird Alert as the basis to prepare this weekly or bi-weekly replay.
You can often find more information 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