This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert and has been updated through
11/10/2016. To report rare or unusual bird sightings in the Austin
area, provide
recent sighting updates, or inquire about location details on birds listed
below, please send an email to armanmorenobirds@xxxxxxxxx. If submitting a
bird sighting, please include species name, location details, and contact
information.
-Rarities found this week-
A LONG-TAILED DUCK was an awesome find at Walter E. Long Park (Decker
Lake), just NE of Austin, Travis, on 11/10. The bird was initially spotted
from the boat ramp directly NW (towards the power plant). The bird flew
closer towards the SW arm of the lake just off the boat ramp and remained
back by the reeds with a group of Ruddy Ducks and Coots. It seemed wary of
boat traffic and flew a short distance more towards the middle of the lake,
directly north of the boat ramp. The bird was quite a distance away and a
scope is best. It continues through at least the evening.
Another great find on the same day, a female-type SURF SCOTER was found
at Hornsby Bend in Austin, Travis, on 11/10. The bird was observed on the
western portion of Pond 2, where most of the diving ducks hang out. The
bird continued through the evening and was relocated in roughly the same
spot.
On the morning of 11/10, a WHOOPING CRANE was photographed flying overhead
with a flock of Sandhill Cranes in Muldoon, Fayette, which is SE of Bastrop.
A male RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was found at Benbrook Ranch Park in Leander,
Williamson, on 11/5. This is near the intersection of CR 279 and Halsey Dr,
which is west of Hwy 183. The observer noted that the bird "was in an
American Elm to the south of the baseball fields, just east of the walking
bridge at the soccer fields on the gravel trail". No recent reports.
This might be another good winter for PYRRHULOXIAs in our area. A female
was photographed at Warbler Woods in Cibilo/Schertz, Guadalupe Co, on 11/6.
Two other birds were found at Reimer's Ranch Park in SW Travis County (off
Hamilton Pool Rd) on 11/5. One of the birds was along the fence line off
the gravel road just east of the Climber's Canyon and south of the old barn
that borders the main road. The other was in the far NW corner of the park,
off the Turkey Loop, which borders the Pedernales River.
-Continuing bird(s) from previous week-
At least one GREAT KISKADEE continue at Berry Springs Park in Georgetown,
Williamson, most recently observed on 11/8.
Arman Moreno
Austin, TX
_________________________________________________________________
*Reports for the Austin area RBA cover a 60-mile radius, centered on the
Capitol in downtown Austin. Bird sightings mentioned here have been
filtered and scrutinized by the compiler and are believed to be genuine.
Photo or audio documentation for species with challenging IDs will be
mentioned if they are known to exist. *
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