August 28, 2008

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, August 28th, 2008:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

A lone SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) was over Seguin on August 27th.

Not expected in the fall, a female BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (Dendroica fusca) was studied in a south Austin backyard on August 25th.

A SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus) was an exceptionally early find at Commons Ford Park on August 24th. The park is in west Austin off of Commons Ford Road.

Granger Lake held a REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) and a LAUGHING GULL (Larus atricilla) on August 22nd.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) continues on Canyon Lake as of August 19th. First discovered on Augus 8th, the bird has been frequenting coves along the Canyon Park causeway.

A single LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) has been present on the ponds at Hornsby Bend for several weeks, last reported on August 19th.

The Schaezler's Warbler Woods property in Cibolo has been hosting up to 2 LESSER NIGHTHAWKS (Chordeiles acutipennis) and a LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre), both reported as recently as August 12th.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

Two BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS (Vermivora pinus) were along the West Bouldin Creek in Austin on August 19th.

A lingering GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER (Dendroica chrysoparia) was along Stillhouse Hollow Lake as late as August 14th.

A late NORTHERN PARULA (Parula americana) was singing at Commons Ford Park on the west side of Austin on August 10th.

A REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) was studied along the Guadalupe River, just upstream from Gruene, on August 9th.

--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society

August 21, 2008

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, August 21st, 2008:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

Two BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS (Vermivora pinus) were along the West Bouldin Creek in Austin on August 19th.

A lingering GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER (Dendroica chrysoparia) was along Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir as late as August 14th.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) continues on Canyon Lake as of August 19th. First discovered on Augus 8th, the bird has been frequenting coves along the Canyon Park causeway.

A single LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) has been present on the ponds at Hornsby Bend for several weeks, last reported on August 19th.

The Schaezler's Warbler Woods property in Cibolo has been hosting up to 2 LESSER NIGHTHAWKS (Chordeiles acutipennis) and a LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre), both reported as recently as August
12th.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A late NORTHERN PARULA (Parula americana) was singing at Commons Ford Park on the west side of Austin on August 10th.

A REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens) was studied along the Guadalupe River, just upstream from Gruene, on August 9th.

-- Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society

November 1, 2007

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, November 1st, 2007:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

A female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Dendroica caerulescens) discovered at the West Bouldin Greenbelt in Austin on October 30th was still present on October 31st. It was near the entrance at 1200 S. 6th
Street, at the intersection of the entrance trail and the trail that parallels the railroad tracks.

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) was at the Rocky Hill Ranch near Bastrop State Park on October 30th.

At Union Grove WMA on Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir on October 27th, a heard-only KING RAIL (Rallus elegans) was in marshy area around the lake and there was an AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) flushed near a group of willow trees.

A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) was in far eastern Travis County near Webberville Park on October 27th.

Another AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) was northwest of the Arboretum in northwest Austin on October 26th.

A late WILSON'S WARBLER (Wilsonia pusilla) was at a private residence near Utley on October 25th.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

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 October 31st.

BALD EAGLES (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have been seen on-and-off at Lake Belton (Bell County) with the latest report of one bird seen on October 22nd.

The first sightings of BURROWING OWLS (Athene cunicularia) in the Granger area this fall came on October 14th with 2 birds at locations where birds spent the winter last year. One bird was along CR 124 on October 21st.

LESSER NIGHTHAWKS (Chordeiles acutipennis) have been reported at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo, with the most recent sightings as of October 15th.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) was flushed at a private residence near Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir on October 23rd.

A BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), a BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus), and a MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa) were near Utley (w. Bastrop County) on October 22nd.

A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) was photographed on private property near Utley (w. Bastrop County) on October 21st.

A partial specimen of an AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) was picked up near Utley on October 20th.

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) was flushed near the Balcones Canyonland NWR Headquarters near Lago Vista on October 16th.

The first GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus satrapa) of the fall was seen at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on October 15th.

--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society

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