One of 4 First State Record birds documented last week, an impressive Yellow-headed Caracara has been available to birders in the Los Angeles–Long Beach area of California (photo by Caleb).

Totals of 4 First State Records and 5 Second Records last week are hard to beat, and the variety of birds is every bit as impressive. First State Records included a Yellow-headed Caracara in California, a Black Rosy Finch in northern Minnesota, a Great Knot in Washington, and a Common Swift in New Jersey, which was only the third record in the Lower 48 States. A Second Provincial Record of a Temminck’s Stint in British Columbia is only the third in North America beyond Alaska, and Second State Records included a Tropical Parula in California, a Yellow Grosbeak in Colorado, a White-winged Tern in Michigan, and a Cook’s Petrel offshore from southwest Washington – and there’s more!

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Yellow-headed Caracara – Lomita, California

First State Record Black Rosy Finch – Silver Bay, Minnesota

First State Record Great Knot – Willapa Bay, Washington

First State Record Common Swift – Cape May, New Jersey

Second Provincial Record Temminck’s Stint – Victoria, British Columbia

Second State Record Tropical Parula – near Glendora, California

Second State Record Yellow Grosbeak – Pueblo, Colorado

Second State Record White-winged Tern – Linwood, Michigan

Second State Record Cook’s Petrel – offshore southwest Washington

Seventh State Record Gray-cheeked Thrush – near Jay Em, Wyoming

Eighth State Record Gray-cheeked Thrush – near Manville, Wyoming

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Mottled Owl – Texas

Yellow-headed Caracara – Florida

Berylline Hummingbird – Arizona

American Flamingos – Florida and Texas

Brown Jays – Texas

Flame-colored Tanager – Texas

Slate-throated Redstart – Texas

For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: May 17, 2024 - 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