The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, May 22nd, 2009:
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A female GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora chrysoptera) was studied at Nicholas Dawson Park in south Austin on May 21st.
An immature WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) was in Temple on May 21st.
A lingering ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) has been present along Brushy Creek in Round Rock, with the latest sighting on May 20th.
Up to 6 CASSIN'S SPARROWS (Aimophila cassinii) have been seen/heard in the Mueller Development area (Austin), north and northwest of the old air traffic control tower as recently as May 19th.
A PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinica) has been present May 18th thru at least May 20th at the pond in the Triangle devleopment area near the northwest corner of 45th and Guadalupe Streets in Austin.
A SANDERLING (Calidris alba) was photographed at the ponds at Hornsby Bend on May 17th and was still present as of May 19th.
A TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor0 was seen at Hornsby Bend on May 19th.
A BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Dendroica striata) was present at a private residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood in Austin on May 18th. Another one was seen that same day in far nw. Austin near Anderson Mill and Hwy 183.
A late HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) was at a private residence in far w. Austin between Commons Ford and Emma Long Parks on May 18th.
Quite an outstanding number for the spring, 25 WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) were at Shipp Lake in eastern Bastrop County on May 17th.
On May 17th, Temple Park on Belton Lake held 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) and 7 SANDERLINGS (Calidris alba).
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus erythrophthalmus) was a great find in far nw. Austin on May 16th.
A LEAST TERN (Sternula antillarum) stopped over in Temple at Slough pond on May 16th.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) was found along Smith School Road north of the TPWD Headquarters in far south Austin on May 6th. It was seen again at nearby McKinney Falls State Park on May 11th, just a bit northeast of the lower falls.
Two MOTTLED DUCKS (Anas fulvigula) were photographed on the ponds at Hornsby Bend on April 30th and were still present there as of May 16th.
Quite surprising is a LEAST BITTERN (Ixobrychus exilis) that has been hiding out in the limited vegetation around the Turtle Pond on the University of Texas campus in Austin. The bird was first found/photographed on April 21st and was seen thru at least May 2nd though it can remain remarkably well hidden. The UT Turtle Pond/Tower Garden is immediately to the north of the UT Tower just to the southeast of the intersection of Guadalupe and 24th street. It has been mostly lurking deep in the clump of grass near the lower end of the pond.
A VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) was near the intersection of Old Ferry and River roads in far western Travis County (near Pace Bend Park) on April 12th and was stil in the same location as of May 10th.
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) are seen often at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. The most recent report of one there is from May 20th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A male WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana) was a great find on May 14th along Lazy River Road off of FM 969 near the Travis/Bastrop County line.
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) continue to be a story this spring with regular reports of 1 adult and 1 immature at Hornsby Bend. Of special interest is 2 adults seen coming into a large Cattle Egret colony just to the left of the entrance to (Big) Webberville Park. Folks should keep an eye out for possible nesting at this location as White Ibis are not known to breed in the checklist area.
Three reports of MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (Oporornis tolmiei) this week with one along Lost Creek near Barton Creek Blvd in west Austin on May 9th and 2 reports at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on May 8th and May 12th.
CASSIN'S SPARROWS (Aimophila cassinii) continue to make news this week with several sightings. On May 9th, one was just east of the town of Webberville and 3 others were in fields in the northeast corner of Travis County. On May 10th, another was found at Pace Bend Park (w. side of Travis County) and one was nearby at the corner or Old Ferry and River Roads. Yet another individual was seen on May 11th between Niederwald and Lockhart.
A fantastic find was a male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Dendroica caerulescens) photographed at a private residence near Utley (western Bastrop County) on May 12th.
A male TROPICAL PARULA (Parula pitiayumi) was well-studied on May 10th at the Bamberger Ranch in Blanco County.
A SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) was seen near the intersection of Old Ferry and River roads near Pace Bend Park in far western Travis County on May 10th.
A TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor) was in Landa Park in New Braunfels on May 9th.
A visit to the Granger Lake area on May 8th yielded a late HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus) and an immature BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) that was first found there on May 2nd.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) was seen soaring over the Oak Hill area (far southwest Austin) on May 5th.
Getting quite late, single SPRAGUE'S PIPITS (Anthus spragueii) were found in Temple on May 3rd and May 5th.
A BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Dendroica striata) was studied at Temple Lions Park on May 3rd.
A WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) and a COUCH'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus couchii) were at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos on May 3rd.
The Granger Lake area was productive on May 2nd with the following highlights: an immature BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) on the lake, an immature WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) at Willis Creek Park, a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus erythrophthalmus) at San Gabriel WMA, and a CASSIN'S SPARROW (Aimophila cassinii) along Harber Rd north of Bartlett.
Still more WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) reports, with 8 adults seen at McKinney Falls State Park on May 2nd.
Another CASSIN'S SPARROW (Aimophila cassinii) was in Round Rock on May 2nd.
Still more CASSIN'S SPARROWS (Aimophila cassinii) were found near Shipp Lake in eastern Bastrop County on May 2nd. Up to 4 territorial birds were heard singing along the Loop Rd just north of Shipp Lake and HWY 71.
A kayaking trip between (Big) Webberville Park and the FM 969 bridge near Utley yielded one TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor) on May 2nd.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A female GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora chrysoptera) was studied at Nicholas Dawson Park in south Austin on May 21st.
An immature WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) was in Temple on May 21st.
A lingering ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) has been present along Brushy Creek in Round Rock, with the latest sighting on May 20th.
Up to 6 CASSIN'S SPARROWS (Aimophila cassinii) have been seen/heard in the Mueller Development area (Austin), north and northwest of the old air traffic control tower as recently as May 19th.
A PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinica) has been present May 18th thru at least May 20th at the pond in the Triangle devleopment area near the northwest corner of 45th and Guadalupe Streets in Austin.
A SANDERLING (Calidris alba) was photographed at the ponds at Hornsby Bend on May 17th and was still present as of May 19th.
A TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor0 was seen at Hornsby Bend on May 19th.
A BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Dendroica striata) was present at a private residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood in Austin on May 18th. Another one was seen that same day in far nw. Austin near Anderson Mill and Hwy 183.
A late HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) was at a private residence in far w. Austin between Commons Ford and Emma Long Parks on May 18th.
Quite an outstanding number for the spring, 25 WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) were at Shipp Lake in eastern Bastrop County on May 17th.
On May 17th, Temple Park on Belton Lake held 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) and 7 SANDERLINGS (Calidris alba).
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus erythrophthalmus) was a great find in far nw. Austin on May 16th.
A LEAST TERN (Sternula antillarum) stopped over in Temple at Slough pond on May 16th.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) was found along Smith School Road north of the TPWD Headquarters in far south Austin on May 6th. It was seen again at nearby McKinney Falls State Park on May 11th, just a bit northeast of the lower falls.
Two MOTTLED DUCKS (Anas fulvigula) were photographed on the ponds at Hornsby Bend on April 30th and were still present there as of May 16th.
Quite surprising is a LEAST BITTERN (Ixobrychus exilis) that has been hiding out in the limited vegetation around the Turtle Pond on the University of Texas campus in Austin. The bird was first found/photographed on April 21st and was seen thru at least May 2nd though it can remain remarkably well hidden. The UT Turtle Pond/Tower Garden is immediately to the north of the UT Tower just to the southeast of the intersection of Guadalupe and 24th street. It has been mostly lurking deep in the clump of grass near the lower end of the pond.
A VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) was near the intersection of Old Ferry and River roads in far western Travis County (near Pace Bend Park) on April 12th and was stil in the same location as of May 10th.
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) are seen often at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. The most recent report of one there is from May 20th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A male WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana) was a great find on May 14th along Lazy River Road off of FM 969 near the Travis/Bastrop County line.
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) continue to be a story this spring with regular reports of 1 adult and 1 immature at Hornsby Bend. Of special interest is 2 adults seen coming into a large Cattle Egret colony just to the left of the entrance to (Big) Webberville Park. Folks should keep an eye out for possible nesting at this location as White Ibis are not known to breed in the checklist area.
Three reports of MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (Oporornis tolmiei) this week with one along Lost Creek near Barton Creek Blvd in west Austin on May 9th and 2 reports at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on May 8th and May 12th.
CASSIN'S SPARROWS (Aimophila cassinii) continue to make news this week with several sightings. On May 9th, one was just east of the town of Webberville and 3 others were in fields in the northeast corner of Travis County. On May 10th, another was found at Pace Bend Park (w. side of Travis County) and one was nearby at the corner or Old Ferry and River Roads. Yet another individual was seen on May 11th between Niederwald and Lockhart.
A fantastic find was a male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Dendroica caerulescens) photographed at a private residence near Utley (western Bastrop County) on May 12th.
A male TROPICAL PARULA (Parula pitiayumi) was well-studied on May 10th at the Bamberger Ranch in Blanco County.
A SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) was seen near the intersection of Old Ferry and River roads near Pace Bend Park in far western Travis County on May 10th.
A TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor) was in Landa Park in New Braunfels on May 9th.
A visit to the Granger Lake area on May 8th yielded a late HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus) and an immature BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) that was first found there on May 2nd.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) was seen soaring over the Oak Hill area (far southwest Austin) on May 5th.
Getting quite late, single SPRAGUE'S PIPITS (Anthus spragueii) were found in Temple on May 3rd and May 5th.
A BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Dendroica striata) was studied at Temple Lions Park on May 3rd.
A WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) and a COUCH'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus couchii) were at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos on May 3rd.
The Granger Lake area was productive on May 2nd with the following highlights: an immature BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) on the lake, an immature WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) at Willis Creek Park, a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus erythrophthalmus) at San Gabriel WMA, and a CASSIN'S SPARROW (Aimophila cassinii) along Harber Rd north of Bartlett.
Still more WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) reports, with 8 adults seen at McKinney Falls State Park on May 2nd.
Another CASSIN'S SPARROW (Aimophila cassinii) was in Round Rock on May 2nd.
Still more CASSIN'S SPARROWS (Aimophila cassinii) were found near Shipp Lake in eastern Bastrop County on May 2nd. Up to 4 territorial birds were heard singing along the Loop Rd just north of Shipp Lake and HWY 71.
A kayaking trip between (Big) Webberville Park and the FM 969 bridge near Utley yielded one TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor) on May 2nd.
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
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