The recurring Gray Gull was found regularly by birders last week in the area of Florida Point at Orange Beach, Alabama. The species’ normal range is western South America, especially along the Pacific Coast from Ecuador to southern Chile (photo by Alden Dauby).

The Gray Gull is back, with this super-rare individual of a South American species being observed and photographed by many birders at Florida Point in Orange Beach, Alabama. A big flash of excitement was created in San Francisco when a White-tailed Eagle was photographed as it was flying north just west of the Golden Gate Bridge. Keep an eye open for this Eurasian eagle at all points north as it is the first of the species seen in North America beyond the Aleutian Islands and it represents a First State Record White-tailed Eagle for California.

Kansas birders also came through with a Second State Record Gray-crowned Rosy Finch documented at a park in Wichita, Kansas, and a Fourth State Record Sagebrush Sparrow was recorded in the southwest corner of Kansas (Morton County).

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record White-tailed Eagle – San Francisco, California

Second State Record Gray-crowned Rosy Finch – Wichita, Kansas

Fourth State Record Sagebrush Sparrow – Morton County, Kansas

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Gray Gull – Alabama

Crane Hawk – Texas

Bare-throated Tiger Heron – Texas

Mottled Owl – Texas

Roadside Hawks – Texas

Gray-collared Becard – Texas

Cattle Tyrant – Texas

Red-flanked Bluetail – New Jersey

American Flamingos – Florida

Gray Heron – Nova Scotia

Whooper Swan – Washington

Brown Jays – Texas

Fieldfare – Wisconsin

Golden-crowned Warbler – Texas

Fan-tailed Warbler – Texas

Blue Bunting – Texas

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