A big surprise sighting at a feeder in rural Arkansas was a Yellow Grosbeak, which created a First State Record, and New York birders found a First State Record Kamchatka Common Gull far beyond its range. Another rare winter gull was observed in Idaho, where a Great Black-backed Gull created a Second State Record, and a bonus Glaucous-winged Gull was sighted along the same lakeshore. Another feeder visitor, this one in a big city setting, a Hooded Oriole created a Second State Record when documented in Athens, Georgia – and there’s more:

 

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Yellow Grosbeak – near Berryville, Arkansas

First State Record Kamchatka Common Gull – Rye, New York

Second State Record Great Black-backed Gull – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Second State Record Hooded Oriole – Athens, Georgia

 

REALLY RARE BIRDS

Glaucous-winged Gull – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Barrow’s Goldeneye – Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio

 

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Yellow-headed Caracara – Florida

Mottled Owl – Texas

American Flamingos – Florida

Northern Lapwing –New York

Berylline Hummingbirds – Arizona, Texas

Cattle Tyrant – Texas

Brown Jays – Texas

White Wagtail – Wisconsin

 

For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: February 21, 2025 - American Birding Association (aba.org) permitting us to use the ABA’s Rare Bird Alert to prepare this 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