The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, December 25th, 2008:
--- Exceptional Sightings---
A COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte costae) was present (and photographed) at a private residence in Dripping Springs on November 17th, and was still being seen as of December 15th. The Austin-area checklist shows only one prior record for this species from 1974.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
Twenty two Aechmorphorus (Western/Clarke's) grebes were noted on Lake Buchanan on December 23rd.A GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos) was studied as it flew thru northwest Austin (near Cameron Rd & HWY 183).
A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Dendroica dominica) was seen on December 22nd at a private residence on Lake LBJ. This marks the third year that this individual has wintered at this location.
The Austin Christmas Bird Count was held on December 20th with an unofficial total of 140 species tallied. The best birds of the day were 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS (Buteo regalis) videotaped over the fields between FM 1625 and HWY 183 south of McKenzie Road, and a LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre) studied at McKinney Falls State Park. Both of these great finds were seen again the following day, when the thrahser was photographed. Please contact me for more specific directions to the Long-billed Thrasher.
Other good finds from the Austin CBC on December 20th include 4 COMMON GOLDENEYES (Bucephala clangula) , 4 heard-only VIRGINIA RAILS (Rallus limicola), a RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus), a late SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) - all at Hornsby Bend - and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendroica virens) in south Austin as well as YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) photographed near Elroy.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
An ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna) has been present at a private residence in the Spring Branch area (Blanco Co.) since November 22nd, last reported on December 6th.
A HORNED GREBE (Podiceps auritus) first found on Lake Pflugerville on November 22nd was still present as of December 5th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
Thirteen MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS (Sialia currucoides) were seen on the Balcones Canyonland CBC on December 15th. The birds were seen near Hopewell Cemetery on HWY 285 in Williamson County and were still present in the area on December 16th.
A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was photographed at Hornsby Bend (along Pond 1W) on December 13th.
A lone SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) was still lingering at Hornsby Bend as of December 13th.
A RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus) was seen along the Colorado River near the FM 973 bridge at Hornsby Bend on December 13th.
An adult male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) was photographed at a private residence in the Great Hills area of northwest Austin on December 7th.
A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was photographed at Commons Ford Park on the west side of Austin on December 7th. This is likely a returning bird that has been present in the park two of the last three winters.
Seven HORNED GREBES (Podiceps auritus) were on Stillhouse Hollow Lake at Union Grove WMA on December 7th.
A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) was photographed in a northwest Austin neighborhood near 183/620 on December 6th.
A WOOD THRUSH (Hylocichla mustelina) was photographed at a private residence in Utley (western Bastrop County) on December 4th.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
--- Exceptional Sightings---
A COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte costae) was present (and photographed) at a private residence in Dripping Springs on November 17th, and was still being seen as of December 15th. The Austin-area checklist shows only one prior record for this species from 1974.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
Twenty two Aechmorphorus (Western/Clarke's) grebes were noted on Lake Buchanan on December 23rd.A GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos) was studied as it flew thru northwest Austin (near Cameron Rd & HWY 183).
A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Dendroica dominica) was seen on December 22nd at a private residence on Lake LBJ. This marks the third year that this individual has wintered at this location.
The Austin Christmas Bird Count was held on December 20th with an unofficial total of 140 species tallied. The best birds of the day were 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS (Buteo regalis) videotaped over the fields between FM 1625 and HWY 183 south of McKenzie Road, and a LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre) studied at McKinney Falls State Park. Both of these great finds were seen again the following day, when the thrahser was photographed. Please contact me for more specific directions to the Long-billed Thrasher.
Other good finds from the Austin CBC on December 20th include 4 COMMON GOLDENEYES (Bucephala clangula) , 4 heard-only VIRGINIA RAILS (Rallus limicola), a RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus), a late SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) - all at Hornsby Bend - and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendroica virens) in south Austin as well as YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) photographed near Elroy.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
An ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna) has been present at a private residence in the Spring Branch area (Blanco Co.) since November 22nd, last reported on December 6th.
A HORNED GREBE (Podiceps auritus) first found on Lake Pflugerville on November 22nd was still present as of December 5th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
Thirteen MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS (Sialia currucoides) were seen on the Balcones Canyonland CBC on December 15th. The birds were seen near Hopewell Cemetery on HWY 285 in Williamson County and were still present in the area on December 16th.
A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was photographed at Hornsby Bend (along Pond 1W) on December 13th.
A lone SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) was still lingering at Hornsby Bend as of December 13th.
A RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus) was seen along the Colorado River near the FM 973 bridge at Hornsby Bend on December 13th.
An adult male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) was photographed at a private residence in the Great Hills area of northwest Austin on December 7th.
A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was photographed at Commons Ford Park on the west side of Austin on December 7th. This is likely a returning bird that has been present in the park two of the last three winters.
Seven HORNED GREBES (Podiceps auritus) were on Stillhouse Hollow Lake at Union Grove WMA on December 7th.
A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) was photographed in a northwest Austin neighborhood near 183/620 on December 6th.
A WOOD THRUSH (Hylocichla mustelina) was photographed at a private residence in Utley (western Bastrop County) on December 4th.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
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