Smith’s Longspurs were documented at opposite sides of the continent last week, providing new state records – a Third State Record for Washington and a Seventh State Record for New York (photo by Andrew Spencer).

Found at opposite sides of the continent, the sightings of 2 Smith’s Longspurs provided 2 new state records – a Third State Record Smith’s Longspur near Tacoma, Washington and a Seventh State Record Smith’s Longspur in Babylon, New York. Birders also found a Fourth State Record Limpkin at Angel Mounds in Indiana, and an Eighth State Record Fork-tailed Flycatcher was an exciting Latin American vagrant for birders in Escanaba in northern Michigan. Many other rare birds were found from Newfoundland to Minnesota.

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

Third State Record Smith’s Longspur – near Tacoma, Washington

Fourth State Record Limpkin – Angel Mounds, Indiana

Seventh State Record Smith’s Longspur – Robert Moses Park, New York

Eighth State Record Fork-tailed Flycatcher – Ludington Park, Michigan

NEW REALLY RARE BIRDS

Black-tailed Godwit – St. John’s, Newfoundland

Tufted Duck – Duluth, Minnesota

Curlew Sandpiper – Cape May, New Jersey

Willow Ptarmigan – Point Pelee, Ontario

Hooded Oriole – Dauphin Island, Alabama

Snail Kite – near Fowlstown, Georgia

Chuck-Wills-Widow – McFarland, Wisconsin

Lark Bunting – Braddock Bay, New York

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks – Wood’s Edge Park, Pennsylvania

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Tundra Bean Goose – California

LaSagra’s Flycatcher – Florida

Bahama Mockingbird – Florida

Brown Jays – Texas

You can often find more info 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/