The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, April 16th, 2009:
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
LAZULI BUNTINGS (Passerina amoena) made a strong showing this past week. There were at least 7 separate sightings of individual birds April 11th thru April 15th scattered thru the western half of the checklist area. Nearly all these sightings involved birds coming into bird feeders or water features and in some cases the bird lingered for a few days.
A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora pinus) was present at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on April 13th and another one was photographed there on April 15th.
A male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii) frequented (and was photographed) a private residence in Liberty Hill on April 13th and 14th.
A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora pinus) was studied on The Nature Conservancy's Barton Creek Habitat Preserve in southwest Austin on April 14th.
Union Grove WMA along Stillhouse Hollow Lake was productive on April 12th with 2 COMMON LOONS (Gavia immer) lingering, a SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius alexandrinus), and the first HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Limosa haemastica) report for our area this spring.
A SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius alexandrinus) was at the San Gabriel WMA where the river mouth meets Granger Lake on April 11th.
Two lingering HARRIS'S SPARROWS (Zonotrichia querula) were in western Milam county north of Thorndale on April 12th.
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.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
Up to 34 WESTERN GREBES (Aechmophorus occidentalis) are present on Lake Buchanan. They are mostly being seen from Black Rock Park - first noted on March 15th, still being seen as of March 29th.
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) are frequently seen at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. Up to 2 birds have been present as of late, with the most recent report from April 15th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) are not expected during the spring. Two adults were at Hornsby Bend on April 2nd, while an adult and an immature bird were present there on April 5th.
The first area reports of PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) and DICKCISSEL (Spiza americana) come from the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on April 4th.
A late EASTERN TOWHEE (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) was northwest of Harwood in southern Caldwell County on April 4th.
A WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) was photographed near the demonstration gardens at the
Mueller Development (the old airport site) on the east side of Austin on April 2nd.
A male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) was photographed at a private residence two miles east of Elgin on April 2nd.
A late HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus) was at Hornsby Bend on April 2nd.
A male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) visited a south Austin residence on March 29th.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler,
Travis Audubon Society
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
LAZULI BUNTINGS (Passerina amoena) made a strong showing this past week. There were at least 7 separate sightings of individual birds April 11th thru April 15th scattered thru the western half of the checklist area. Nearly all these sightings involved birds coming into bird feeders or water features and in some cases the bird lingered for a few days.
A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora pinus) was present at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on April 13th and another one was photographed there on April 15th.
A male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii) frequented (and was photographed) a private residence in Liberty Hill on April 13th and 14th.
A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora pinus) was studied on The Nature Conservancy's Barton Creek Habitat Preserve in southwest Austin on April 14th.
Union Grove WMA along Stillhouse Hollow Lake was productive on April 12th with 2 COMMON LOONS (Gavia immer) lingering, a SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius alexandrinus), and the first HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Limosa haemastica) report for our area this spring.
A SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius alexandrinus) was at the San Gabriel WMA where the river mouth meets Granger Lake on April 11th.
Two lingering HARRIS'S SPARROWS (Zonotrichia querula) were in western Milam county north of Thorndale on April 12th.
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.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
Up to 34 WESTERN GREBES (Aechmophorus occidentalis) are present on Lake Buchanan. They are mostly being seen from Black Rock Park - first noted on March 15th, still being seen as of March 29th.
LONG-BILLED THRASHERS (Toxostoma longirostre) are frequently seen at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo. Up to 2 birds have been present as of late, with the most recent report from April 15th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus) are not expected during the spring. Two adults were at Hornsby Bend on April 2nd, while an adult and an immature bird were present there on April 5th.
The first area reports of PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) and DICKCISSEL (Spiza americana) come from the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on April 4th.
A late EASTERN TOWHEE (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) was northwest of Harwood in southern Caldwell County on April 4th.
A WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) was photographed near the demonstration gardens at the
Mueller Development (the old airport site) on the east side of Austin on April 2nd.
A male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) was photographed at a private residence two miles east of Elgin on April 2nd.
A late HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus) was at Hornsby Bend on April 2nd.
A male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) visited a south Austin residence on March 29th.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler,
Travis Audubon Society
Posts
