A Mexican Duck was observed far north of its normal range in Lander, Wyoming; making it a Second State Record (photo by Del Nelson).

A Mexican Duck found in Lander proved to be a Second State Record for Wyoming last week. A second Common Crane was observed in as many weeks east of Kearney, Nebraska in the spring staging area for Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River, which was especially surprising. More exciting rare birds included a Neotropic Cormorant in Kentucky, a Townsend’s Warbler in South Carolina, a Purple Sandpiper in southern Florida, and a Lesser Goldfinch in Arkansas – all far from their expected range limits.

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

Second State Record Mexican Duck – Lander, Wyoming

REALLY RARE SIGHTINGS

Common Crane – near Kearney, Nebraska

Townsend’s Warbler – Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Thick-billed Murre – Assateague Seashore, Maryland

Purple Sandpiper – Homestead, Florida

Lesser Goldfinch – Little Rock, Arkansas

CONTINUING RARE BIRDS

Northern Jacana – Arizona

Streak-backed Oriole – Arizona

Hawfinch – Yukon

Red-legged Thrush – Florida

Black-faced Grassquit – Florida

Common Crane – Nebraska

For more information, refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at https://www.aba.org/rare-bird-alert-march-19-2021/ 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/