The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, January 10th, 2008:
--- Exceptional Sightings---
A GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) was photographed near the entrance to Willis Creek Park on Granger Lake (map) on January 3rd. The bird has been looked for since but not yet relocated.
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.
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 30th. Lake Pflugerville is at the intersection of Jesse Bohls and Weiss Lanes on the east side of Pflugerville.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
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).
--- 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 8th. It reappeared on November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.
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.
An ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna) was photographed visiting a feeder on private property in Spring Branch (Blanco County) on December 19th, and was still present as of January 1st.
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 25th.
Six SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS (Tyrannus forficatus) were along Old Settler's Blvd. in Round Rock as recently as January 1st.
A few CAVE SWALLOWS (Petrochelidon fulva) are lingering in our area with several reports at different locations, with recent reports of a single bird on the Bell County CBC as well as multiple birds in multiple locations on the Austin CBC, both counts being held on December 15th. Fifteen or more were present near Peaceable Kingdom (Bell County) on December 23rd. At least 5 birds continue in northeast Austin.
Recent wintering WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus) sightings include one at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on January 1st.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) was near Bastrop & Buescher State Park on January 2nd.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) first found near Spring Branch (Blanco County) on December 27th was still being seen as of January 1st.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) was near La Grange on December 30th.
Two ZONE-TAILED HAWKS (Buteo albonotatus) were over Lake Austin near City Park on December 29th.
A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was in Tahitian Village in Bastrop on December 29th.
A GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) was in far northwest Austin on December 27th.
Single BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS (Selasphorus platycercus) were noted at two private residences around Austin this past week: one near Shoal Creek on December 23rd, and the other on the west side of Austin between Commons Ford and Emma Long Parks on December 24th.
A NASHVILLE WARBLER (Vermivora ruficapilla) was studied at Hornsby Bend on December 23rd.
A visit to the Granger area was productive on December 23rd with the following highlights: a PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) over Sore Finger WMA, a BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) along CR 354, and a SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) along CR 345.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
--- Exceptional Sightings---
A GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) was photographed near the entrance to Willis Creek Park on Granger Lake (map) on January 3rd. The bird has been looked for since but not yet relocated.
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.
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 30th. Lake Pflugerville is at the intersection of Jesse Bohls and Weiss Lanes on the east side of Pflugerville.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
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).
--- 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 8th. It reappeared on November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.
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.
An ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna) was photographed visiting a feeder on private property in Spring Branch (Blanco County) on December 19th, and was still present as of January 1st.
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 25th.
Six SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS (Tyrannus forficatus) were along Old Settler's Blvd. in Round Rock as recently as January 1st.
A few CAVE SWALLOWS (Petrochelidon fulva) are lingering in our area with several reports at different locations, with recent reports of a single bird on the Bell County CBC as well as multiple birds in multiple locations on the Austin CBC, both counts being held on December 15th. Fifteen or more were present near Peaceable Kingdom (Bell County) on December 23rd. At least 5 birds continue in northeast Austin.
Recent wintering WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus) sightings include one at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on January 1st.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) was near Bastrop & Buescher State Park on January 2nd.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) first found near Spring Branch (Blanco County) on December 27th was still being seen as of January 1st.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) was near La Grange on December 30th.
Two ZONE-TAILED HAWKS (Buteo albonotatus) were over Lake Austin near City Park on December 29th.
A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was in Tahitian Village in Bastrop on December 29th.
A GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) was in far northwest Austin on December 27th.
Single BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS (Selasphorus platycercus) were noted at two private residences around Austin this past week: one near Shoal Creek on December 23rd, and the other on the west side of Austin between Commons Ford and Emma Long Parks on December 24th.
A NASHVILLE WARBLER (Vermivora ruficapilla) was studied at Hornsby Bend on December 23rd.
A visit to the Granger area was productive on December 23rd with the following highlights: a PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) over Sore Finger WMA, a BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) along CR 354, and a SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) along CR 345.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
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