November 12, 2009

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, November 12th, 2009:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) was flushed on private property near Utley on November 11th.

A LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) was along Lindemann Road southwest of Holland on November 8th.

An OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) was present on private property near Utley on November 7th and 8th.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

RINGED KINGFISHERS (Megaceryle torquatus) have been present at a few spots around Austin. Individual birds have been present along the river at Hornsby Bend and also along the river at Commons Ford Park (in west Austin off Commons Ford Rd which runs off of Cuernavaca about 1/2 mile from its intersection with Bee Caves/2244) on-and-off for the past few weeks. Another one was seen along the river at Reimer's Ranch Park (off of Hamilton Pool road). There has also been one seen around (Big) Webberville Park.

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 31st). It can be looked for attending to the lone hummingbird feeder and also perched up high in the nearby oaks.

A COMMON MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) has been lingering at the pond in the Triangle delevopment area near the northwest corner of 45th and Guadalupe Streets in Austin. It has been seen at least through October 31st.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) was at a private residence near Spring Branch (Blano County near the Comal County line) on November 1st.

A lingering ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens) was at the Canyon of the Eagles park on Lake Buchanan on October 31st.

An AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla) was a nice find on October 27th along the West Bouldin Creek greenbelt in south Austin. It was still in the area as of November 2nd.

A SAGE THRASHER (Oreoscoptes montanus) was studied on October 23rd along the rocks on the Dam at Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir (Bell County), roughly 100 yards north of the spillway.

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

October 30, 2009

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, October 30th, 2009:

--- Exceptional Sightings---

A juvenile RED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus fulicarius) was discovered on Pond 2 at Hornsby Bend on October 17th. This great find has been photographed and viewed by many through at October 22nd. There are precious few area records and this is the first for Travis County since 1980.

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

An AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla) was a nice find on October 27th along the West Bouldin Creek greenbelt in south Austin.

A SAGE THRASHER (Oreoscoptes montanus) was studied on October 23rd along the rocks on the Dam at Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir (Bell County), roughly 100 yards north of the spillway.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

RINGED KINGFISHERS (Megaceryle torquatus) have been present at a few spots around Austin. Individual birds have been present along the river at Hornsby Bend and also along the river at Commons Ford Park (in west Austin off Commons Ford Rd which runs off of Cuernavaca about 1/2 mile from its intersection with Bee Caves/2244) on-and-off for the past few weeks. Another one was seen along the river at Reimer's Ranch Park (off of Hamilton Pool road).

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 14th). It can be looked for attending to the lone hummingbird feeder and also perched up high in the nearby oaks.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A COMMON MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) has been lingering at the pond in the Triangle delevopment area near the northwest corner of 45th and Guadalupe Streets in Austin. It has been seen at least through October 19th.

A WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis) was at the Little River crossing along Sunshine Road, between Holland and Rogers in Bell County on October 18th. As many as three birds had been seen in the same general area on October 3rd.

An immature BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) was seen again on October 17th on the northern portions of Lake Buchanan.

A PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) was seen migrating over Sequin on October 16th.

A migrating FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis) was studied on October 16th as it flew over Nolanville (Bell County).

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

October 8, 2009

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

October 1, 2009

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, October 1st, 2009:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

A ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) was along Cypress Creek just off Hamilton Pool Road near the Blanco/Travis county line on September 30th.

--- 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 September 27th). 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 September 26th.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

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).

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 continued at the ponds thru at least September 17th, 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 eastern 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.

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