However, there was an exciting First State Record for Oklahoma, a Limpkin, which was among the rare birds observed near the border of other states. The Limpkin was photographed near the borders of Texas and Arkansas, so birders from those states should be on the lookout. Similarly, birders in Florida should watch for a Eurasian Ruff sighted just to the north near St. Marys, Georgia; and a Neotropic Cormorant found near Frohna, Missouri, should keep birders alerted just across the Mississippi River in Illinois.

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Limpkin – Red Slough, Oklahoma

REALLY RARE SIGHTINGS

Bar-tailed Godwit – Eureka, California

Ruff – near St. Marys, Georgia

Least Tern – Las Vegas, Nevada

Neotropic Cormorant – near Frohna, Missouri

CONTINUING RARE BIRDS

A Gray Heron is still being monitored by birders in Nova Scotia, and continuing rare birds in Arizona include the Berylline Hummingbird in Madera Canyon, the Streak-backed Oriole near Palm Lake, and the Common Crane at Mormon Lake. In south Florida, the Black-faced Grassquit is still being observed in Everglades National Park, and the Little Egret continues to be documented near Portland, Maine. With the earliest migrants already on the move, rare bird sightings should increase dramatically – stay alert in the field, and in your yard.

For more information, see the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at https://www.aba.org/rare-bird-alert-july-17-2020/ 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/