The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, January 24th, 2008:
--- EXCEPTIONAL SIGHTINGS---
An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus) was present (and photographed) on Meadow Lake in Round Rock late the afternoon of January 2nd and has been seen there or on private property nearby as of January 6th. There are only a handful of Austin area records for this species, and none in the last couple of years. Meadow Lake is off of Settlement Drive, a quarter mile so north of its intersection with Old Settlers Drive. The small lake does not usually hold any gulls though there were hundreds there when the Lesser Black-backed was initially seen.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) photographed at Southeast Metro Park on January 20th was still being seen as of January 23rd. The park is off of HWY 71 just east of FM 973 and HWY 45. The bird has been found off the northwest portion of the parking lot where the trailhead for the Primitive Trail is located, which is north of the ball fields.
A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendroica virens) was studied along Austin's Lady Bird Lake near Shoal Creek on January 21st.
A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was in northeast Travis County on January 19th. The bird was present off Skog Ln., 0.5 miles north of Lund Carlson Rd.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) was on Shipp Lake near Smithville on January 20th.
--- 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 January 23rd. It reappeared on November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.
A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris) has been present (still being seen as of January 22nd) at a residence in West Lake Hills.
A GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) first noted at the Shaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on January 13th was still being seen as of January 18th.
A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Dendroica dominica) that wintered at a residence on Lake LBJ last year has returned again this winter and was still present as of January 17th.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Dendroica pensylvanica) reported from the New Braunfels CBC on December 30th was still present as of January 5th. This bird is being seen in Hinman Island Park in New Braunfels.
A few CAVE SWALLOWS (Petrochelidon fulva) are lingering in our area with several reports at different locations, with recent reports of a five birds in northeast Austin, and several birds seen at Shipp Lake near
Smithville on January 20th.
Recent wintering WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus) sightings include a handful of other sightings around Austin during the month of January.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus) was observed near Old Manor Rd and Springdale Rd in northeast Austin on January 15th.
McKinney Roughs held a CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii) as well as a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) on January 15th.
A WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) was along FM 969 in eastern Bastrop County on January 15th.
The Schaezler's Warbler Woods near Cibolo held a LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre) on January 13th.
One ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) and one GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) were at Hornsby Bend on January 12th.
Unusual for winter, a NASHVILLE WARBLER (Vermivora ruficapilla) was at a private residence near Smithville on January 7th.
Two ANHINGAS (Anhinga anhinga) were at Meadow Lake in Round Rock on January 6th.
An OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) was reported along the Blanco River in se. Blanco County on January 5th.
A birding/kayaking survey of the Colorado River between the 183/Montopolis Bridge and Hornsby Bend on January 5th produced the following highlights: 2 ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga), a RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus), and a WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus).
The Granger CBC was held on January 5th with birding highlights that included ANHINGA (Anhinga Anhinga), several VIRGINIA RAILS (Rallus limicola), a BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia), SAY'S PHOEBES (Sayornis saya), WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus) and LARK BUNTINGS (Calamospiza melanocorys).
The Balcones Canyonland CBC on January 4th had exciting birds including ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens) and GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis).
A visit to the Gonzales area on January 4th was very productive with several great finds: an ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) at Woods Lake, 4 HARRIS'S HAWKS (Parabuteo unicinctus), a SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya), a PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus), 3 WHITE-EYED VIREOS (Vireo griseus), 18 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), and 14 PURPLE FINCHES (Carpodacus purpureus).
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
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