Photographed in a backyard in Bellevue, Nebraska, a male Red-naped Sapsucker was the first record for eastern Nebraska, although the species is a rare migrant in the far western portion of the state.
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Most exciting among the rarest birds reported last week was an off-course Asian wagtail – a White Wagtail – about an hour north of Las Vegas on the north end of the Moapa Valley. This stunning wagtail is the second state record for Nevada, and cross-country another second state record appeared in Connecticut, a California Gull that’s been sighted repeatedly at or near Bradley Point in West Haven. Two Fork-tailed Flycatchers were found in southeast Texas last week, one among migrants at the famous spring birding site of High Island, and another near the popular Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Did we mention the Red-footed Booby sighted offshore Los Angeles County?
STATE RECORDS
Second State Record White Wagtail – north of Las Vegas, Nevada
Second State Record California Gull – Bradley Point in West Haven, Connecticut
REALLY RARE SIGHTINGS
Fork-tailed Flycatchers – near Anahuac Refuge and High Island, Texas
Red-footed Booby – near Los Angeles, California
Long-billed Curlew – Chicago lakefront, Illinois
Red-naped Sapsucker – Bellevue, Nebraska
Mew Gull – St. John, Newfoundland
White-faced Ibis – south-central Long Island, New York
Cinnamon Teal – Grande Isle, Louisiana
As for continuing rare birds, last week south Texas birders continued to see the female Crimson-collared Grosbeak, Ontario birders continue to spy on the Pink-footed Goose, and Florida birders have been getting better looks at a continuing Key West Quail Dove. Keep an eye out for new rare birds, and thanks to all the generous birders who share rare bird sightings each week!
For more information, see the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at http://blog.aba.org/2019/04/rare-bird-alert-april-19-2019.html Special Thanks 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 information about individual rare bird sightings from the state rare bird alert listserves that you can access at http://birding.aba.org/ or at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ABArare/