The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, September 17th, 2009:
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Stellula calliope) was discovered (and photographed) on September 16th on the northwest side of the Garden Center building at Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin (see http://www.zilkergarden.org/about/index.html). It can be looked for attending to the lone hummingbird feeder and also perched up high in the nearby oaks.
Two juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPES (Phalaropus lobatus) were found (and photographed) on September 12th on Pond 2 (the biggest pond) at Hornsby Bend. One of these birds continues at the ponds thru at least September 16th, alternating between Pond 2 and Pond 1East (the first pond as you enter).
A male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) has been frequenting feeders at private residence near Lake Austin, upstream from Commons Ford Park since September 13th (last reported September 16th).
A WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) was seen September 15th along Post Oak Road in far western Travis County. This area is off of FM 969 just before you reach (Big) Webberville Park.
An early MOUNTAIN PLOVER (Charadrius montanus) was found on September 12th at the County Road 352 "megafield" north of Granger Lake.
A CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia) and an early LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) were seen on September 12th at Union Grove WMA on Stillhouse Hollow Lake (Bell County).
A juvenile REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) was discovered on September 12th a couple miles south of San Marcos, near the Hays/Guadalupe County line. It was seen at a pond on the east side of Old Bastrop Highway after it crosses CR 266 and before you reach Hwy 123. It was reported there again on September 13th.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) are being seen regularly at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. The most recent report is from August 30th.
Two MOTTLED DUCKS (Anas fulvigula) have been present on-and-off on the ponds at Hornsby Bend since the spring. The most recent sighting was from September 16th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia yucatanensis) put in an appearance on September 7th at a private residence near Commons Ford Park in far west Austin.
A MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa) was studied on September 7th along the upper reaches of Lake Buchanan, from both Canyon of the Eagles and also from the Cedar Park Recreational area near Tow.
The REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) found a couple weeks ago at Granger Lake was seen again on September 5th and September 10th. It has been seen out on a spit that can be seen with a scope from either Friendship Park or the dam.
A LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla) was present on Granger Lake September 5th and was still there on September 7th.
Another REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) was near the causeway at Canyon Lake on September 5th.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Seiurus noveboracensis) was near the Riata Pond area in far northwest Austin on September 1st.
A MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa) (Willis Creek Park), a LEAST TERN (Sternula antillarum) (near Friendship Park), and a BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) (San Gabriel WMA) were reported from the Granger Lake area on August 29th.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) was reported near Brodie Lane and William Cannon Drive in south Austin on August 29th.
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Stellula calliope) was discovered (and photographed) on September 16th on the northwest side of the Garden Center building at Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin (see http://www.zilkergarden.org/about/index.html). It can be looked for attending to the lone hummingbird feeder and also perched up high in the nearby oaks.
Two juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPES (Phalaropus lobatus) were found (and photographed) on September 12th on Pond 2 (the biggest pond) at Hornsby Bend. One of these birds continues at the ponds thru at least September 16th, alternating between Pond 2 and Pond 1East (the first pond as you enter).
A male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) has been frequenting feeders at private residence near Lake Austin, upstream from Commons Ford Park since September 13th (last reported September 16th).
A WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) was seen September 15th along Post Oak Road in far western Travis County. This area is off of FM 969 just before you reach (Big) Webberville Park.
An early MOUNTAIN PLOVER (Charadrius montanus) was found on September 12th at the County Road 352 "megafield" north of Granger Lake.
A CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia) and an early LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) were seen on September 12th at Union Grove WMA on Stillhouse Hollow Lake (Bell County).
A juvenile REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) was discovered on September 12th a couple miles south of San Marcos, near the Hays/Guadalupe County line. It was seen at a pond on the east side of Old Bastrop Highway after it crosses CR 266 and before you reach Hwy 123. It was reported there again on September 13th.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) are being seen regularly at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. The most recent report is from August 30th.
Two MOTTLED DUCKS (Anas fulvigula) have been present on-and-off on the ponds at Hornsby Bend since the spring. The most recent sighting was from September 16th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia yucatanensis) put in an appearance on September 7th at a private residence near Commons Ford Park in far west Austin.
A MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa) was studied on September 7th along the upper reaches of Lake Buchanan, from both Canyon of the Eagles and also from the Cedar Park Recreational area near Tow.
The REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) found a couple weeks ago at Granger Lake was seen again on September 5th and September 10th. It has been seen out on a spit that can be seen with a scope from either Friendship Park or the dam.
A LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla) was present on Granger Lake September 5th and was still there on September 7th.
Another REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) was near the causeway at Canyon Lake on September 5th.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Seiurus noveboracensis) was near the Riata Pond area in far northwest Austin on September 1st.
A MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa) (Willis Creek Park), a LEAST TERN (Sternula antillarum) (near Friendship Park), and a BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) (San Gabriel WMA) were reported from the Granger Lake area on August 29th.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) was reported near Brodie Lane and William Cannon Drive in south Austin on August 29th.
--------------
Reports for the Austin area RBA cover a 60-mile radius centered in downtown Austin. This circle extends north to Belton Lake (Bell County), south to Leesville (Gonzales County), east to Somerville WMA (Lee/Burleson County), and west to Blumenthal (Gillespie County).
Bird sightings mentioned here have been filtered & scrutinized by the compiler and are believed to be genuine. When documentation or photographs were provided, that is mentioned along with the other information about the bird(s) being seen.
The most recent update can always be found at:
http://www.travisaudubon.org/rba.html
Visit Travis Audubon online at:
http://www.travisaudubon.org
--------------
For questions or updates about birds mentioned here or to report rare or unusual bird sightings in the Austin area, please send an e-mail to
ecarpe@gmail.com.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds
Reports for the Austin area RBA cover a 60-mile radius centered in downtown Austin. This circle extends north to Belton Lake (Bell County), south to Leesville (Gonzales County), east to Somerville WMA (Lee/Burleson County), and west to Blumenthal (Gillespie County).
Bird sightings mentioned here have been filtered & scrutinized by the compiler and are believed to be genuine. When documentation or photographs were provided, that is mentioned along with the other information about the bird(s) being seen.
The most recent update can always be found at:
http://www.travisaudubon.org/rba.html
Visit Travis Audubon online at:
http://www.travisaudubon.org
--------------
For questions or updates about birds mentioned here or to report rare or unusual bird sightings in the Austin area, please send an e-mail to
ecarpe@gmail.com.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds
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