The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, October 8th, 2009:
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
(Big) Webberville Park in far eastern Travis County was productive on October 7th with a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Vireo flavifrons), a BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana) and a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Dendroica dominica).
An immature BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) was photographed on October 3rd on Lake Buchanan from CR 225/Shaw Island Road.
Three WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES (Sitta carolinensis) were studied on October 3rd along Sunshine Road, between Holland and Rogers in Bell County. Two of the birds were at the Little River crossing and one more was about a mile west of that location.
A RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus) was spotted at Commons Ford Park on October 3rd. The park is in far west Austin off of Cuernavaca about a half-mile from its intersection with Bee Caves/2222.
Another RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus) was seen along the river at Hornsby Bend on October 3rd.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
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) and has been seen sporadically there since then (last report on October 6th). It can be looked for attending to the lone hummingbird feeder and also perched up high in the nearby oaks.
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) are being seen regularly at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. The most recent report is from September 26th.
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 October 4th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) was along Cypress Creek just off Hamilton Pool Road near the Blanco/Travis county line on September 30th.
A RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus) was spotted at Commons Ford Park on September 20th. The park is in far west Austin off of Cuernavaca about a half-mile from its intersection with Bee Caves/2222.
Another RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquatus) was seen along the river at Hornsby Bend on September 19th.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) was over Lake Austin between Emma Long and Commons Ford Parks on September 19th and 20th.
A trip to Lake Buchanan on September 19th was productive with a MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa) seen from Paradise Point plus an early WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and a ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) seen from County Road 225/Shaw Island Road.
A SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus) was seen on September 19th in far northwest Austin (near 620 & 183).
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
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