March 27, 2008

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, March 27th, 2008:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

A LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) was studied near Wimberly on March 23rd.

A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) was near Hamilton Pool on March 23rd.

Another ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) flew over the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on March 22nd.

An early KENTUCKY WARBLER (Oporornis formosus) was near Utley on March 22nd.

A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was along Town Lake near Barton Springs on March 21st.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) photographed at Southeast Metro Park on January 20th was still being seen as of March 17th. The park is off 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 PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was photographed at Commons Ford on the west side of Austin on March 9th and was still present as of March 22nd.

A GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) has been present much of the winter at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. It was last reported there on March 24th. In addition, both COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) and LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre) have been seen as recently as March 20th.

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 March 15th.

LEAST GREBES (Tachybaptus dominicus) continue at Hornsby Bend where at least a pair of birds has been present for several months. The latest sighting of these birds was on March 25th.

A pair of RINGED KINGFISHERS (Megaceryle torquatus) has been present along the river at Pedernales Falls State Park, with the last report as of March 9th. Another pair is present around Hornsby Bend, with the last report of those birds on March 9th.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES (Bucephala clangula) were at Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on the east side of Austin on March 18th.

An early PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Protonotaria citrea) and a couple of YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS (Dendroica dominica) were noted near Utley in eastern Bastrop County on March 16th.

A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was in northwest Austin on March 9th and again on March 16th.

The first report of WHIP-POOR-WILL (Caprimulgus vociferus) this spring was a rather early one near Utley on March 15th.

Four GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila) were on Meadow Lake in Round Rock on March 10th.

Early FRANKLIN'S GULLS (Larus pipixcan) include 3 on Lake Walter E. Long on March 9th and 3 at Granger Lake on March 10th.

A LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) was at Mills Pond near Wells Branch on March 8th and March 9th.

A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was seen at Tejas Camp on Lake Georgetown on March 8th.

--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society

March 20, 2008

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, March 20, 2008:


--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

A pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES (Bucephala clangula) were at Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on the east side of Austin on March 18th.

An early PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Protonotaria citrea) and a couple of YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS (Dendroica dominica) were noted near Utley in eastern Bastrop County on March 16th.

A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was in northwest Austin on March 9th and again on March 16th.

The first report of WHIP-POOR-WILL (Caprimulgus vociferus) this spring was a rather early one near Utley on March 15th.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) photographed at Southeast Metro Park on January 20th was still being seen as of March 17th. The park is off 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 PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was photographed at Commons Ford Park on the west side of Austin on March 9th and was still present as of March 16th.

A GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) has been present much of the winter at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. It was last reported there on March 13th. In addition, both COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) and LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre) have been seen as recently as March 13th.

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 March 15th.

LEAST GREBES (Tachybaptus dominicus) continue at Hornsby Bend where at least a pair of birds has been present for several months. The latest sighting of these birds was on March 18th.

A pair of RINGED KINGFISHERS (Megaceryle torquatus) has been present along the river at Pedernales State Park, with the last report as of March 9th. Another pair is present around Hornsby Bend, with the last report of those birds on March 9th.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

Four GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila) were on Meadow Lake in Round Rock on March 10th.

Early FRANKLIN'S GULLS (Larus pipixcan) include 3 on Lake Walter E. Long on March 9th and 3 at Granger Lake on March 10th.

A LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) was at Mills Pond near Wells Branch on March 8th and March 9th.

A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was seen at Tejas Camp on Lake Georgetown on March 8th.

An ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) was over Commerce Park in Round Rock on March 2nd.

-- Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society

March 13, 2008

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, March 13, 2008:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

Four GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila) were on Meadow Lake in Round Rock on March 10th.

A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was photographed at Commons Ford Park on the west side of Austin on March 9th.

A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was in northwest Austin on March 9th.

Early FRANKLIN'S GULLS (Larus pipixcan) include 3 on Lake Walter E. Long on March 9th and 3 at Granger Lake on March 10th.

A LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) was at Mills Pond near Wells Branch on March 8th and March 9th.

A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was seen at Tejas Camp on Georgetown Lake on March 8th.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) photographed at Southeast Metro Park on January 20th was still being seen as of March 2nd. The park is off 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 GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) has been present much of the winter at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. It was last reported there on March 5th.

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 February 24th. It reappeared on November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.

LEAST GREBES (Tachybaptus dominicus) continue at Hornsby Bend where at least a pair of birds has been present for several months. The latest sighting of these birds was on March 8th.

A pair of RINGED KINGFISHERS (Megaceryle torquatus) has been present along the river at Pedernales Falls State Park, with the last report as of March 9th. Another pair is present around Hornsby Bend, with the last report of those birds on March 9th.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

An ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) was over Commerce Park in Round Rock on March 2nd.

A PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) was on the University of Texas tower on February 25th, and has been frequenting that area and other locations in downtown Austin since January.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Dendroica dominica) was on private property at Sunrise Beach on Lake LBJ on February 24th.

Six ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) were over Cherry Springs Ranch in southeast Burnet County on February 23rd.

An early SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) was at Hornsby Bend on February 23rd.

--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society

March 6, 2008

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, March 6, 2008:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

An ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) was over Commerce Park in Round Rock on March 2nd.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) photographed at Southeast Metro Park on January 20th was still being seen as of March 2nd. The park is off 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 GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) has been present much of the winter at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. It was last reported there on March 5th.

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 February 24th. It reappeared on November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) was on the University of Texas tower on February 25th, and has been frequenting that area and other locations in downtown Austin since January.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Dendroica dominica) was on private property at Sunrise Beach on Lake LBJ on February 24th.

Six ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) were over Cherry Springs Ranch in southeast Burnet County on February 23rd.

An early SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) was at Hornsby Bend on February 23rd.

A BLACK-AND WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) was near Utley on February 19th.

A GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus crinitus) in nw. Austin on February 20th was very unusual.

A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was observed on the east side of the old Robert Mueller Airport in Austin on February 6th and was seen again as recently as February 19th.


--
Eric Carpenter

Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society