Imagine stumbling upon a bird so rare that it’s never been seen before in your country.
That’s exactly what happened to Michael Sanchez, an amateur photographer from Washington, when he captured stunning images of a blue rock-thrush on the Oregon coast1. This extraordinary sighting has sent ripples through the birding community and left many wondering about this elusive species.
1. A Vagrant Far from Home
The blue rock-thrush is a long way from its native breeding grounds in Europe, Africa, and Asia. This particular bird, a male of the Southeast Asian philippensis subspecies, is the only one of the five subspecies with a reddish-brown belly.
Experts believe that this bird may have been blown off course during migration or hitched a ride on a cargo ship. Either way, it’s a testament to the incredible resilience and adaptability of these feathered adventurers.
STOP BUYING GREENS: This Machine Grows $1000s Worth Automatically
✓ Set It & Forget It: Fully Automated Growing
✓ From Seed to Harvest in Days - No Experience Needed
✓ Grow Premium Microgreens Worth $50/lb Year-Round
Note: This is an affiliate link and we may earn a small commission if you purchase at no additional cost. This helps keep our website free to use.
2. Once-in-a-Lifetime Sighting
The last time this species was seen on the continent was way back in 1997 in British Columbia. Even then, the sighting was shrouded in controversy, with the American Birding Association (ABA) rejecting the record due to doubts about how the bird arrived in the area. (ref)
Fast forward to 2024, and Michael Sanchez’s serendipitous discovery has reignited interest in this rare bird. The ABA is now considering reevaluating its stance on the 1997 sighting, making Sanchez’s find all the more significant.
3. Master of Camouflage
When Sanchez first spotted the bird, he thought it was just a small black bird. It wasn’t until he processed his photos at home that he realized he had captured something truly special. The bird’s stunning blue and chestnut plumage had been hidden in plain sight.
This ability to blend in with its surroundings is a key survival strategy for the blue rock-thrush. In its native habitat, it can easily disappear among the rocks and cliffs where it forages for insects and berries.
4. A Birder’s Dream Come True
Brodie Cass Talbott, an educator with the Bird Alliance of Oregon, couldn’t contain his excitement when he verified Sanchez’s sighting. “It was just a real shock,” he said. “This is potentially the rarest bird that’s ever been seen in Oregon.”
Oregon isn’t typically a hotspot for vagrant birds, especially those hailing from Asia. The state’s location on the Pacific coast means that most wayward birds tend to end up in Alaska or points further south. That’s what makes this sighting all the more remarkable – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for birders to add a truly exceptional species to their life lists.
5. Migration Mystery
How did this bird, native to regions thousands of miles away, end up on the opposite side of the world? The prevailing theory is that it got caught up in a storm during migration and was blown off course, possibly even hitching a ride on a cargo ship along the way.
But the plot thickens. Just a few days after Sanchez’s sighting, another blue rock-thrush was spotted on Southeast Farallon Island off the coast of San Francisco, some 500 miles away.
Could this be the same bird, making its way down the coast? Or is it a second individual, suggesting that there may be more blue rock-thrushes out there than we realize?
A Spark for Aspiring Photographers
For Michael Sanchez, the amateur photographer behind the now-famous blue rock-thrush images, this experience has been nothing short of life-changing.
What started as a casual day of photography has turned into a passion project, inspiring him to pay closer attention to the birds around him and hone his craft. “I have more of an interest in photographing birds now,” Sanchez says. “I don’t imagine I’ll ever get something like that again. But, you know, it does help me to notice birds a little bit more.”
And who knows? Maybe his newfound interest will lead to even more incredible discoveries down the line. After all, in the world of birding, anything is possible.
Source:
1. aba.org alert
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.