For the second week in a row, another rare Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher was documented in southern Florida (photo by Barry Hammel).

Astute birders established 2 continental firsts last week, including the First Canadian Record of an Olive-backed Pipit in British Columbia, along with the First American Record of a Marsh Sandpiper in the Lower 48 States, which was also a First State Record for Ohio. A First State Record Arctic Warbler was documented in New York City, and a Fourth State Record Prothonotary Warbler was photographed in Missoula, Montana. A standout sighting in south Florida was another Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, the second in 2 weeks, and there are more especially rare birds to report:

CANADIAN RECORD

First Canadian Record Olive-backed Pipit – Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

LOWER 48 STATES RECORD

First Lower 48 States American Record Marsh Sandpiper – Lorain, Ohio

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Arctic Warbler – New York, New York

First State Record Marsh Sandpiper – Lorain, Ohio

First Provincial Record Olive-backed Pipit – Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

Fourth State Record Prothonotary Warbler – Missoula, Montana

REALLY RARE BIRDS

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (another) – near Naples, Florida

Red-flanked Bluetail – Middleton Island, Gulf of Alaska, Alaska

Little Stint – Victoria, British Columbia

Blackburnian Warbler – Port Angles, Washington

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Steller’s Sea Eagle – Newfoundland

Yellow-headed Caracara – Texas

Mottled Owl – Texas

Common Crane – Alaska

Gray Gull – Florida

Little Stint – California

Eyebrowed Thrush – Alaska

American Flamingos – Florida, Texas

For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: October 3, 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.