Representing a fifth state record, a California Gull was found at Turners Falls, Massachusetts – it’s the first record found inland from the coast.

The first state record Dusky Thrush was reported in the greater Portland, Oregon area. This is only the second record of this East Asian species documented in the Lower 48 States! Considering how rare Short-tailed Albatrosses are, especially those that make it to the waters offshore from the Pacific Northwest, it’s exciting that pelagic trips from Washington and British Columbia found at least three Short-tails last week. On the opposite coast, a fifth state record California Gull, and the first reported inland from the coast, was found by none other than David Sibley.

STATE RECORDS

First State Record Dusky Thrush – Portland, Oregon

(this is only the Second Record of a Dusky Thrush in the Lower 48 States)

Fifth State Record California Gull – Turners Falls, Massachusetts

REALLY RARE SIGHTINGS

Short-tailed Albatrosses – offshore Westport, Washington

Short-tailed Albatross – offshore Tofino, British Columbia

Great Cormorant – Cleveland, Ohio

Barnacle Goose – southwest Rhode Island

Eurasian Wigeons – Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Eurasian Wigeon – San Angelo, Texas

Olive Warbler – near McAllen, Texas

Golden-crowned Sparrow – Balmoria, Texas

The first Long-legged Buzzard (hawk) found in the North American realm was observed again on Saint Paul Island, Alaska. At the opposite end of the United States, birders in the Miami area are still finding the Thick-billed Vireo and Bananquit. Continuing California rare birds include the Garganey in West Sacramento and the Red-flanked Bluetail in Los Angeles. As for south Texas, birders continue to report the exciting Yellow Grosbeak and a Crimson-collared Grosbeak. Keep your eyes peeled this week; you never know where the next rare birds will be found!

For more information, see the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at http://blog.aba.org/2019/03/rare-bird-alert-march-22-2019.html

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/