The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, December 6th, 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 5th. Lake Pflugerville is at the intersection of Jesse Bohls and Weiss Lanes on the east side of Pflugerville.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Dendroica pensylvanica) and a PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus) were 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.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
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 2nd. 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 "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.
An immature SURF SCOTER (Melanitta perspicillata) was seen on Lake Pflugerville on November 18th.
A SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) was cruising over the fields just north of Shipp Lake (eastern Bastrop County) on November 18th.
A visit to the Granger Lake area on November 17th was productive, with some of the highlights being: 3 ANHINGAS (Anhinga Anhinga) circling over the lake, 1 PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) over Willis Creek Park, and a lone LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) along CR 354 just east of CR 350.
A VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola) was spotted at the Union Grove Wildlife area on Stillhouse Hollow Lake (Bell County) on November 16th.
--- 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 5th. Lake Pflugerville is at the intersection of Jesse Bohls and Weiss Lanes on the east side of Pflugerville.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Dendroica pensylvanica) and a PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus) were 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.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
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 2nd. 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 "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.
An immature SURF SCOTER (Melanitta perspicillata) was seen on Lake Pflugerville on November 18th.
A SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) was cruising over the fields just north of Shipp Lake (eastern Bastrop County) on November 18th.
A visit to the Granger Lake area on November 17th was productive, with some of the highlights being: 3 ANHINGAS (Anhinga Anhinga) circling over the lake, 1 PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) over Willis Creek Park, and a lone LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) along CR 354 just east of CR 350.
A VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola) was spotted at the Union Grove Wildlife area on Stillhouse Hollow Lake (Bell County) on November 16th.
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