This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert and has been updated through
4/21/2016. 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 *BROWN PELICAN* was photographed at a private marina near the Cypress
Creek arm of Lake Travis, *Travis.* The bird was photographed earlier this
week, but the exact date is still being determined.
A *WHITE-TAILED KITE* was found at Hornsby Bend, *Travis*, on 4/21. The
bird was observed kiting and hunting over the field just north of the CER,
to the right of the last drying basin. The bird then perched on the north â
south fence line separating the drying basins from the field, where it
remained for close to an hour.
A *SWALLOW-TAILED KITE* was reported flying over Bullock Hollow Rd adjacent
to the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, *Travis.* The sighting occurred
earlier this week, but the exact date is still being determined.
A *PURPLE GALLINULE* was found at Slough Pond SW of Temple, *Bell*, on
4/19. This is located east of I-35 and north of E 6th Ave. The bird has not
been relocated.
A *PIPING PLOVER* was photographed at Belton Lake (Temple Lake Park), *Bell*,
on 4/17. The bird was banded with a yellow tag labeled "F06". A different
bird without bands was photographed at the same location on 4/21. Another 5
birds were photographed at Stillhouse Hollow Lake (Dana Peak Park), *Bell*,
on 4/20. A Piping Plover was also found at Hornsby Bend, *Travis*, on 4/21
in the drying basin adjacent to the NE corner of Pond 1W. Later in the day,
a group of 4 Piping Plovers were photographed in a different basin,
bringing the total to 5 birds.
Five *HUDSONIAN GODWITs* were found off Shallow Ford Rd in Temple, *Bell*,
on 4/17. A group of 15 were photographed circling over Pond 1 West at
Hornsby Bend, *Travis*, on 4/17. 10 more birds were flyovers off of Kellam
Rd in SE Austin, *Travis*, on 4/21.
Two *LAUGHING GULLs* were flyovers at Hornsby Bend, *Travis*, on 4/17.
Two *GREAT KISKADEEs* were found at Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake east of
Austin, *Travis*, on 4/19. The birds were observed and photographed
displaying courtship behavior. The birds continued through 4/20 when they
were observed building a nest.
Three *HUTTON'S VIREOs* were found (one photographed) at Lone Man Overlook
in Wimberley, *Hays*, on 4/14.
A *WOOD THRUSH* was well described at Eastwoods Park on the University of
Texas Campus in Austin, *Travis*, on 4/18.
A *BLUE-WINGED WARBLER* was photographed and recorded singing also at
Eastwoods Park, *Travis*, on 4/19.
A male *CERULEAN WARBLER* was photographed at Mills Pond in NW Austin,
*Travis*, on 4/18.
A *SWAINSON'S WARBLER* was photographed at Booty's Road Park, *Williamson*,
on 4/19. The bird continues through 4/21.
A window-killed *WORM-EATING WARBLER* was found on 4/20 in Driftwood, *Hays*
.
A male *LAZULI BUNTING* was photographed at a private residence, *Gonzales*,
on 4/20. Another bird was photographed, again at a private residence, in
Leander, *Williamson*, on 4/17.
-Continuing birds from previous weeks-
A *BLACK PHOEBE* continues at the Luling Wastewater Treatment Plant,
*Caldwell*, 4/16.
A *GREAT KISKADEE* continues at Berry Springs Park, *Williamson*, last
reported on 4/20.
At least one *PYRRHULOXIA* continues in the Xeric Area of Platt Lane,
Austin, *Travis, *on 4/14. A male was photographed at the Triangle Pond in
North Central Austin, *Travis*, on 4/17. A male continues on Sayersville
Rd, *Bastrop*, on 4/16.
A *BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK* continues at Warbler Woods, *Guadalupe*, on 4/15.
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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