Mergansers also made an above average showing this season with six reports: one was at Cabin Creek Rec Area, Johnson Co 1 Jan (LA); one was at East Swan Pond, Hiram, Cleburne Co 13 Jan (Michael Linz, Patty McLean); one was at Lake Sequoyah, Washington Co 9 Feb; six at Helena Harbor, 21 Feb (Matt Sutton Delaware) were a surprising first for Phillips Co; two were at Rec Area, Yell Co 19 Feb and 16 were north of Lake Dardanelle State Park, Pope Co 18 Feb (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). Very uncommon in winter, a male Red-breasted Merganser was at Lake Maumelle, Pulaski Co 4 Dec (Dustin Lynch, Brie Olsen).

Doves through Shorebirds

Out-of-range Inca Doves were spotted at Carden Bottoms, Yell Co 30 Dec and 26 Jan (Michael Linz, Patty McLean) and at Scott, Pulaski Co 7 Feb (Araks Ohanyan). Rare but increasing, lone White-winged Doves were at the England Grain Bins, Lonoke Co 24 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols) and at a backyard feeder at Leachville, Mississippi Co 13 Feb (Jansen Hawkins).

Extralimital hummingbirds this season included a Black-chinned Hummingbird, present at a feeder in Austin, Lonoke Co 29 Jan–5 Feb (David & Gabriele Bitner, Michael Linz, Patty McLean); an Anna’s Hummingbird at a residence in Vilonia, Faulkner Co 30 Jan (Tracie Lemar, Michael Linz, Patty McLean); and a Broad-tailed Hummingbird photographed at a backyard feeder in Wynne, Cross Co 3 Dec that represents just the fifth occurrence in the state (Retha & Bob Hayes). Rufous Hummingbirds are rare but regular during the winter season and this year there were no less than five reports: an immature at Alexander, Saline Co 14 Dec (Rhonda & Danny Townsend); an adult male at Hampton, Calhoun Co 18 Dec (Charles & Michelle Brandon); one at Little Rock, Pulaski Co 14 Jan (Michael Linz, Patty McLean); one photographed in North Pulaski Co 11 Feb (Kaye Osburn); and one near Lake Ouachita, Garland Co 14 Feb (Reed & Jane Kilgore).

There were numerous Virginia Rail reports with the most impressive being four counted at Alcoa Bottoms, Clark Co 8 Feb (Michael Linz, Patty McLean). The season’s only Sora report was a bird in rural Lonoke Co 27 Dec and 17 Jan (Michael Linz, Patty McLean). Single Sandhill Cranes were at Arkadelphia, Hot Springs Co 19 Dec (Leif Anderson) and Lonoke, Lonoke Co 27 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). Very rare in winter, two American Avocets were seen on the Lonoke CBC, Lonoke Co 27 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols).

Rare shorebirds this season included an exceptional 100 Dunlin, counted in a flooded field east of Egypt, Lawrence Co 6 Dec (Alex Worm, Emily Donahue), and Spotted Sandpipers photographed at Lake Dardanelle State Park, Pope Co 15 Dec  (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols) and Two Rivers Park, Pulaski Co 13 Feb (Johnny Walker). A Pacific Loon on Lake Hamilton, Garland Co 20 Dec was the only report of this rare winter visitor (Leif Anderson). Very rare in winter, Anhingas were spotted at Arkansas Post National Memorial, Arkansas Co 18 Dec and 28 Jan (Gabrielle Hargrove, Rosemary & Jessica Joganic) and the St. Francis National Forest, Lee Co (Leif Anderson). An American Bittern photographed at DeWitt, Arkansas Co 18 Feb (Mickey Smith) was the only report of this very rare winter visitor. Lingering Cattle Egrets were at Bald NWR, White Co 4 Jan (Glenn & Michelle Wyatt) and Hazen, Prairie Co 24 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). A high number, 75, of overwintering White Ibis were found near the intersection 71 N and Hwy 108, Miller Co 16 Dec (Bob Boyd).

Flickers through Blackbirds

A “Red-shafted” Northern Flicker observed at Horseshoe Bend 1 Jan was a first for Izard Co (David Martin). Rare falcons this season included Peregrine Falcons at the AGFC Nursery Pond near Knoxville, Johnson Co 1 Jan (LA), one chasing ducks on Lake Dardanelle, Yell Co 17 Feb  Kenny & LaDonna Nichols), and a Prairie Falcon photographed south of Blackwell, Conway Co 13 Jan (Glenn Wyatt). Very rare in winter, a Myiarchus sp. flycatcher was found at Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area, Pulaski Co 1 Jan (Doug Zollner). Just the second ever for the state, a Tropical Kingbird at Lake Saracen, Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co 7 Dec was undoubtedly the same bird that lingered in the area the previous winter (Delos McCauley).

Very rare overwintering White-eyed Vireos were at Lake Saracen, Jefferson Co 10 Dec and 29 Jan (Michael Linz & Patty McLean, Nancy & Joe Gieringer) while two separate individuals were found on the White River NWR, Arkansas Co 18 Dec (Alex Matthews, Lindsey Martin-Krikorian). Annual or nearly so, a Rock Wren at the Alma WTP 13 Jan was a first for Crawford Co (Sandy Berger). Rare and seriously declining, a Bewick’s Wren photographed at Little Rock 18 Feb was the first for Pulaski Co in over three years (Misty Ladd).

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are rare but annual in winter; one was in rural Cleveland Co 2 Jan  (Michael Linz, Patty McLean) and one was at Lake Felsenthal, Union Co 26 Dec (Leif Anderson). About the 12th for the state, a Townsend’s Solitaire was photographed at Devil’s Backbone Natural Area, Izard Co 16 Jan (Heather & Tony Cook).

A Gray Catbird on the Pine Bluff CBC, Jefferson Co 28 Dec was the season’s only report (Leif Anderson). The Evening Grosbeak invasion that began in late November continued throughout the winter season with five reports: one in Little Rock, Pulaski Co 8 Dec (Gary Morris); one at Kingston, Madison Co 15 Dec (Beth Weaver); six at a feeder in Lonsdale, Saline Co 15 Dec (Matt & Melanie Guthrie); seven at a feeder in Pangburn, Cleburne Co 31 Jan (Forest & Barbara Hembree); and six at Hot Springs, Saline Co 15 Feb (Sherry Clifton).

Very rare in winter and the first for Stone Co, a Common Redpoll was photographed east of Mountain View 1 Jan (Megan Foil). Three Red Crossbills on the Ozark NF, Pope Co 15 Dec were the only report of the season (Leif Anderson). Rare but annual, a Spotted Towhee was at Fayetteville, Washington Co 16 Feb (Sara & Bob Caulk). Very rare in winter, a Yellow-headed Blackbird was at Springdale, Washington Co 17 Feb (Richard & Donna Apfel).

Orioles through Dickcissels

Baltimore Orioles are considered to be very rare winter visitors. There were too many to list here but the number of sightings (15!) during the winter of 2020–2021 was exceptional by any standard. To put this into perspective, prior to the winter of 2020–2021, there were a grand total of 18 winter season sightings.

Just the third winter record, a Yellow Warbler was photographed at Rogers, Benton Co 16 Jan (Jeremy Cohen, Erin Sauer). A female Wilson’s Warbler at Knoop Park, Little Rock, Pulaski Co 8 Jan represents just the fifth winter occurrence (Ragan Sutterfield, Dan Scheiman).

Though considered very rare in winter, Summer Tanagers were well represented with five sightings: one at Fayetteville, Washington 1 Dec (J.D. Wilson); one at Jonesboro, Craighead 3 Dec (Than Boves); one at Little Rock 10 Jan (Michelle Hansen, Caroline Hunt); one photographed in Fayetteville, Washington Co 10 Feb (Tayla & John Boerner); and another photographed in Fayetteville, Washington Co 12 Feb (Michael Lehmann).                                                                                                                 

An extremely rare xanthochromic “yellow” Northern Cardinal was photographed visiting a feeder at Caldwell, St. Francis Co 30 Dec (Phyllis Russell, Niki Jones, Cooper Jones, Carter Jones, Dawn Gray). Very rare in winter, Black-headed Grosbeaks were at Monticello, Drew Co 28 Dec (Ryan Askren) and Lake Erling, Lafayette Co 18 Feb (Phillip Abernathy). Very rare in mid-winter, a Dickcissel was found on the Pine Bluff CBC, Jefferson Co 28 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols).

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 4 Apr 2023.