The ultra-surprise sighting of a Lesson’s Seedeater in Quebec established a First North American Record! and a First Provincial Record! (photo by Steeve Baker).

An exceptional pair of rare birds documented last week in Quebec established 2 First North American Records, including a Lesson’s Seedeater at Pointe-aux-Outardes and a Small-billed Elaenia at Tadoussac – Wow! Plus it was an eventful week across the continent, with 8 First State or Provincial Records established by birders who reported birds far beyond their normal ranges, such as a First State Record Gray-tailed Tattler in Florida and a First Provincial Record Phainopepla in Saskatchewan – and there’s much more!

NORTH AMERICA RECORDS

First North American Record Lesson’s Seedeater – Pointe-aux-Outardes, Quebec

First North American Record Small-billed Elaenia – Tadoussac, Quebec

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First Provincial Record Small-billed Elaenia – Tadoussac, Quebec

First Provincial Record Lesson’s Seedeater – Pointe-aux-Outardes, Quebec

First State Record Gray-tailed Tattler – Tavernier, Florida

First Provincial Record Crested Caracara – Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan

First Provincial Record Phainopepla – Zealandia, Saskatchewan

First State Record Bar-tailed Godwit – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

First State Record Rock Wren – Unicoi State Park, Georgia

First State Record Thick-billed Longspur – Pea Island Refuge, North Carolina

Third State Record Rufous-backed Robin – Desert Refuge, Nevada

Third State Record Cassin’s Kingbird – Cypremort Point, Louisiana

Fifth State Record Limpkin – Tennessee Refuge, Tennessee

Eighth State Record Groove-billed Ani – Perth, Ontario

Tenth State Record Black-throated Gray Warbler – Hammonassett, Connecticut

REALLY RARE SIGHTINGS

Yellow Grosbeak – Sedona, Arizona

Pink-footed Goose – Hartford, Connecticut

Hook-billed Kite – xxxx, Texas

Vermillion Flycatcher – Higbee Beach, New Jersey

LeConte’s Sparrow – Fairfield, Connecticut

Harris’s Hawk – Ensign, Kansas

CONTINUING RARE BIRDS

Inca Tern – Hawaii

Thick-billed Vireo – Florida

Little Egret – Nova Scotia

For more information, refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: October 29, 2021 - American Birding Association (aba.org) Special Thanks 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 information about individual rare bird sightings from the state rare bird alert listserves that you can access at http://birding.aba.org/ or at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ABArare/