Townsend’s Warblers provided a couple exciting rare bird sightings last week beyond their normal western range, including the First State Record Townsend’s Warbler in Hartford, Connecticut; while another Townsend’s Warbler was observed in Deer Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Three First State Records were reported last week – a Bahama Mockingbird in Florida, a Black Phoebe in Kansas, and a Townsend’s Warbler in Connecticut. Yet another Garganey has been reported, this one a Fifth State Record for Texas. Other exciting finds included a dark morph male Ruff in central Iowa, a Tuffed Duck in Wisconsin, and a Cave Swallow in New York – plus a Townsend’s Warbler near Chicago, a Varied Thrush in Utah, and a Say’s Phoebe in Ohio!

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Bahama Mockingbird – Palm Beach, Florida

First State Record Black Phoebe – Jordan Lake, Kansas

First State Record Townsend’s Warbler – Hartford, Connecticut

Fifth State Record Garganey – Aransas Refuge, Texas

REALLY RARE SIGHTINGS

Ruff – Hawkeye Wildlife Area, Iowa

Tufted Duck – Neenah, Wisconsin

Cave Swallow – Braddock Bay, New York

Townsend’s Warbler – Deer Park, Illinois

Say’s Phoebe – Cleveland, Ohio

Varied Thrush – Stout Canyon, Utah

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