The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, December 13th, 2007:
--- Exceptional Sightings---
A female BLACK SCOTER (Melanitta nigra) has been present at Lake Pflugerville. First found (and photographed) on November 17th, it was still being seen as of December 9th. Lake Pflugerville is at the
intersection of Jesse Bohls and Weiss Lanes on the east side of Pflugerville.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A few CAVE SWALLOWS (Petrochelidon fulva) are lingering in our area with recent reports of up to 15 just northeast of HWY 183/Cameron Road as of December 12th, one or more at Lake Pflugerville as of December
8th, and at least 45 over Hornsby Bend on December 8th.
On December 9th, Lake Buchanan held 11 WESTERN/CLARK'S GREBES as well as 15+ HORNED GREBES (Podiceps auritus).
Six HORNED GREBES (Podiceps auritus) were on Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir (Bell County) on December 8th.
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) was found along the river at Hornsby Bend on December 8th.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
As many as three COMMON GOLDENEYES (Bucephala clangula) have been seen at Hornsby Bend recently. They were first noted on December 1st and were seen as recently as December 8th.
A BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) first seen at a private residence near Bee Caves and 360 in southwest Austin on August 27th was still being seen as of December 13th. It reappeared on
November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.
Recent sightings of BURROWING OWLS (Athene cunicularia) in the Granger area include one bird along CR 354 on November 17th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Dendroica pensylvanica) and a PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus) webe both in the Fairview Cemetery on the east side of Bastrop on December 3rd.
Quite rare for our area, a first-year female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Dendroica townsendi) was photographed December 2nd at the Pedernales Falls State Park bird blind.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) was over Commons Ford Park on the west side of Austin on December 1st. The park is located on Commons Ford Road, off of Cuernavaca Rd near Bee Caves Road.
Fifteen or more SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS (Tyrannus forficatus) were roosting off of Mays Street in Round Rock as of November 30th.
A CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii) was carefully observed at McKinney Roughs Natural Area on November 29th. Also at this location was a GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis).
A lingering OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) visited a private residence near Utley on November 29th.
A "WESTERN"-TYPE FLYCATCHER was studied at McKinney Roughs Natural Area, along the Coyote Trail, on November 28th.
A lingering SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) was in Belton on November 27th.
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) was along Lund Road in eastern Travis County on November 26th.
Birding on Lake Buchanan on November 24th was excellent with the following outstanding finds: 2 PACIFIC LOONS (Gavia pacifica) were in the cove along HWY 261; 6 HORNED GREBES (Podiceps auritus) were off CR 225; a lingering SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) on a stock pond at the intersection of FM 2900/FM 2233; and the area around the Llano County Boat Ramp off HWY 261 held 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS (Recurvirostra americana), an adult CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus), and three HERRING GULLS (Larus argentatus). All of these birds were photographed.
A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) was photographed near LBJ State Park on November 24th. The bird was seen along HWY 290 about .5 miles west of the Park Road 1 intersection, still in Blanco County.
A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendroica virens) was lingering near Utley (Bastrop County) on November 23rd.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
--- Exceptional Sightings---
A female BLACK SCOTER (Melanitta nigra) has been present at Lake Pflugerville. First found (and photographed) on November 17th, it was still being seen as of December 9th. Lake Pflugerville is at the
intersection of Jesse Bohls and Weiss Lanes on the east side of Pflugerville.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A few CAVE SWALLOWS (Petrochelidon fulva) are lingering in our area with recent reports of up to 15 just northeast of HWY 183/Cameron Road as of December 12th, one or more at Lake Pflugerville as of December
8th, and at least 45 over Hornsby Bend on December 8th.
On December 9th, Lake Buchanan held 11 WESTERN/CLARK'S GREBES as well as 15+ HORNED GREBES (Podiceps auritus).
Six HORNED GREBES (Podiceps auritus) were on Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir (Bell County) on December 8th.
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) was found along the river at Hornsby Bend on December 8th.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
As many as three COMMON GOLDENEYES (Bucephala clangula) have been seen at Hornsby Bend recently. They were first noted on December 1st and were seen as recently as December 8th.
A BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) first seen at a private residence near Bee Caves and 360 in southwest Austin on August 27th was still being seen as of December 13th. It reappeared on
November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.
Recent sightings of BURROWING OWLS (Athene cunicularia) in the Granger area include one bird along CR 354 on November 17th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Dendroica pensylvanica) and a PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus) webe both in the Fairview Cemetery on the east side of Bastrop on December 3rd.
Quite rare for our area, a first-year female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Dendroica townsendi) was photographed December 2nd at the Pedernales Falls State Park bird blind.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) was over Commons Ford Park on the west side of Austin on December 1st. The park is located on Commons Ford Road, off of Cuernavaca Rd near Bee Caves Road.
Fifteen or more SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS (Tyrannus forficatus) were roosting off of Mays Street in Round Rock as of November 30th.
A CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii) was carefully observed at McKinney Roughs Natural Area on November 29th. Also at this location was a GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis).
A lingering OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) visited a private residence near Utley on November 29th.
A "WESTERN"-TYPE FLYCATCHER was studied at McKinney Roughs Natural Area, along the Coyote Trail, on November 28th.
A lingering SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) was in Belton on November 27th.
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) was along Lund Road in eastern Travis County on November 26th.
Birding on Lake Buchanan on November 24th was excellent with the following outstanding finds: 2 PACIFIC LOONS (Gavia pacifica) were in the cove along HWY 261; 6 HORNED GREBES (Podiceps auritus) were off CR 225; a lingering SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) on a stock pond at the intersection of FM 2900/FM 2233; and the area around the Llano County Boat Ramp off HWY 261 held 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS (Recurvirostra americana), an adult CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus), and three HERRING GULLS (Larus argentatus). All of these birds were photographed.
A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) was photographed near LBJ State Park on November 24th. The bird was seen along HWY 290 about .5 miles west of the Park Road 1 intersection, still in Blanco County.
A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendroica virens) was lingering near Utley (Bastrop County) on November 23rd.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
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