The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, February 7, 2008:
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was observed on the east side of the old Robert Mueller Airport in Austin on February 6th.
A PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) is being seen in downtown Austin at the southeast corner of Congress and 6th street as of February 4th.
In the northeast corner of Travis County on Febuary 4th, there was both a BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) along Werchan Lane and a SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) along Melber Lane.
A PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) discovered along Cow Creek Road in w. Travis County on February 2nd was still present as of February 3rd. It has been seen near the south end of the road, between the first and second water crossings.
A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was in far northwest Austin on February 3rd.
Two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS (Spizella pallida) were present (and photographed) in eastern Burnet County at Peaceful Springs Nature Preserve on February 2nd & 3rd.
--- 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 January 28th. The park is off of 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 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 6th. It reappeared on November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) continue at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo with two birds present as of January 27th.
A GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) first noted at the Shaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on January 13th was still being seen as of Febuary 3rd.
A few CAVE SWALLOWS (Petrochelidon fulva) are lingering in our area with several reports at different locations, with recent reports of a five birds in northeast Austin, several birds seen at Shipp Lake near Smithville on January 20th, and 50+ birds over Lake Bastrop on January 24th.
Recent wintering WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus) sightings include a handful of other sightings around Austin during the month of January.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
An adult CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) was studied at the BFI Landfill (viewed from Blue Goose Road) in northeast Austin on January 30th.
A VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) was photographed at Austin's The Colony on January 27th.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) was in Pflugerville at Gilleland Creek Park on January 27th, and is a bird that has likely been present all winter.
The Granger area was productive on January 27th with the following highlights: two BURROWING OWLS (Athene cunicularia) with one along CR 124 & another on CR 354, and a SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) along CR 438.
A good number of geese were near Rogers on January 26th, including 63 CACKLING GEESE (Branta hutchinsii) and a lone ROSS'S GOOSE (Chen rossii).
On January 26th, 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES (Bucephala clangula) were at the sewage lagoons south of Rogers on FM 437, while another one was at the Holland sewage ponds.
A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) was photographed at Comal Park on the south side of Canyon Lake on January 26th. The park is officially closed for the winter.
A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was along Lake Lady Bird near Shoal Creek on January 26th.
A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was studied at Commons Ford Park on January 26th.
A PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus) was along Powell Road near Bastrop & Buescher State Park on January 24th. A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendroica virens) was studied along Austin's Lake Lady Bird near Shoal Creek on January 21st.
A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was in northeast Travis County on January 19th. The bird was present off Skog Ln., 0.5 miles north of Lund Carlson Rd.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) was on Shipp Lake near Smithville on January 20th.
A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was observed on the east side of the old Robert Mueller Airport in Austin on February 6th.
A PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) is being seen in downtown Austin at the southeast corner of Congress and 6th street as of February 4th.
In the northeast corner of Travis County on Febuary 4th, there was both a BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) along Werchan Lane and a SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) along Melber Lane.
A PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) discovered along Cow Creek Road in w. Travis County on February 2nd was still present as of February 3rd. It has been seen near the south end of the road, between the first and second water crossings.
A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was in far northwest Austin on February 3rd.
Two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS (Spizella pallida) were present (and photographed) in eastern Burnet County at Peaceful Springs Nature Preserve on February 2nd & 3rd.
--- 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 January 28th. The park is off of 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 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 6th. It reappeared on November 21st after not having been seen since November 2nd.
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) continue at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo with two birds present as of January 27th.
A GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) first noted at the Shaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on January 13th was still being seen as of Febuary 3rd.
A few CAVE SWALLOWS (Petrochelidon fulva) are lingering in our area with several reports at different locations, with recent reports of a five birds in northeast Austin, several birds seen at Shipp Lake near Smithville on January 20th, and 50+ birds over Lake Bastrop on January 24th.
Recent wintering WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus) sightings include a handful of other sightings around Austin during the month of January.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
An adult CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) was studied at the BFI Landfill (viewed from Blue Goose Road) in northeast Austin on January 30th.
A VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) was photographed at Austin's The Colony on January 27th.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) was in Pflugerville at Gilleland Creek Park on January 27th, and is a bird that has likely been present all winter.
The Granger area was productive on January 27th with the following highlights: two BURROWING OWLS (Athene cunicularia) with one along CR 124 & another on CR 354, and a SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) along CR 438.
A good number of geese were near Rogers on January 26th, including 63 CACKLING GEESE (Branta hutchinsii) and a lone ROSS'S GOOSE (Chen rossii).
On January 26th, 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES (Bucephala clangula) were at the sewage lagoons south of Rogers on FM 437, while another one was at the Holland sewage ponds.
A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) was photographed at Comal Park on the south side of Canyon Lake on January 26th. The park is officially closed for the winter.
A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was along Lake Lady Bird near Shoal Creek on January 26th.
A PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum) was studied at Commons Ford Park on January 26th.
A PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus) was along Powell Road near Bastrop & Buescher State Park on January 24th. A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendroica virens) was studied along Austin's Lake Lady Bird near Shoal Creek on January 21st.
A SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) was in northeast Travis County on January 19th. The bird was present off Skog Ln., 0.5 miles north of Lund Carlson Rd.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) was on Shipp Lake near Smithville on January 20th.
-- Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
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