Creating a First State Record in New Mexico, a Purple Sandpiper was documented along the shore at Brantley Lake State Park.

The report of a First State Record Purple Sandpiper in New Mexico led the rare birds parade last week, followed by a Second State Record Glaucous-winged Gull that was documented in New York City. Old World birds found in North America included a Barnacle Goose in Delaware, a Brambling in Indiana, and a Black-headed Gull in South Carolina. Birds found far beyond their normal North American range included a Green-tailed Towhee in Florida, and a Gilded Flicker in Utah, along with a host of continuing rare birds.

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Purple Sandpiper – Brantley Lake, New Mexico

Second State Record Glaucous-winged Gull – New York, New York

REALLY RARE BIRDS

Barnacle Goose – Smyrna, Delaware

Brambling – Fort Wayne, Indiana

Black-headed Gull – Columbia, South Carolina

Green-tailed Towhee – Pensacola Beach, Florida

Gilded Flicker – Salt Lake City, Utah

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Mottled Owl – Texas

Bare-throated Tiger Heron – Texas

Red-flanked Bluetail – New Jersey

Gray-collared Becard – Texas

Roadside Hawks – Texas

American Flamingos – Florida, Alabama

Brown Jays – Texas

Golden-crowned Warblers – Texas

Crimson-collared Grosbeaks –Texas

Blue Bunting – Texas

For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: January 26, 2024 - American Birding Association (aba.org) to the ABA, and Nate Swick, who does 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