Birders on a pelagic cruise originating in Brooklyn found a rare Fea’s Petrel far south in New Jersey waters, which created an exciting First State Record for the Garden State (photo by Jason Denesevich).

Birders documented a total of 5 state record birds last week, which included a First State Record Fea’s Petrel, sighted far offshore central New Jersey. Two Second State Records were established for a Brown Booby found in Indiana, and a Gray-cheeked Thrush photographed in Arizona. A pair of state records were established by 2 different White-rumped Sandpipers during the same week in Oregon, with a Seventh State Record White-rump documented at Alvord Playa, and an Eighth State Record White-rumped Sandpiper at Fort Stevens Beach.

Additionally, an immature Yellow-headed Caracara was photographed in Texas, the third state to host this Latin American species. A Black-whiskered Vireo was also found in North Carolina; there was a repeat sighting of the Steller’s Sea Eagle in Newfoundland; plus more Asian species were recorded after crossing into Alaska territory.

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Fea’s Petrel – offshore central New Jersey

Second State Record Brown Booby – Spring Mill, Indiana

Second State Record Gray-cheeked Thrush – Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona

Seventh State Record White-rumped Sandpiper – Alvord Playa, Oregon

Eighth State Record White-rumped Sandpiper – Fort Stevens Beach, Oregon

REALLY RARE BIRDS

Yellow-headed Caracara – Seabrook, Texas

Black-whiskered Vireo – Dare County, North Carolina

Yellow-green Vireo – Carlsbad Cavern National Park, New Mexico

Ruff – Gilbert, Arizona

Costa’s Hummingbird – Quadra Island, British Columbia

REALLY RARE FAR WEST ALASKA BIRDS

Baikal Teal (3) – Gambell Island, Alaska

Common Pochard – St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska

Wood Sandpiper – Nome, Alaska

Eyebrowed Thrush – St. George Island, Pribilofs, Alaska

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Steller’s Sea Eagle – Newfoundland

Mottled Owl – Texas

Yellow-headed Caracaras – Florida, California

American Flamingos – Florida, Texas, Georgia, New York

Berylline Hummingbird – Arizona

Brown Jays – Texas

Blue Bunting – Texas

For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: June 7, 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