Last Update: June 25th, 2009 at 9 a.m.
Rare Bird Alert Compiler: Eric Carpenter

--- Rarities found this past week---

A visit to the Gonzales area on June 23rd was very productive with the following highlights: 1 Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), 2 early Wood Storks (Mycteria americana), 1 Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis), 4 Couch's Kingbirds (Tyrannus couchii), 3 Brown-crested Flycatchers (Myiarchus tyrannulus), 1 heard-only Long-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma longirostre) and a Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica).

A small number of Bullock's Orioles (Icterus bullockii) appear to be summering around the community of Turnersville between Buda and Creedmore. At least 2 adult males and 1 first-year male have been seen in the area as recently as June 21st, with the first-year male having constructed a nest. The birds should be looked for along N. Turnersville Road (Hays County) and nearby areas.

Also near the Turnersville community, 2 early immature Roseate Spoonbills (Platalea ajaja) were present on June 20th and June 21st in the pond along FM 2001 just northwest of where that road intersects Williamson Road.

An Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) has been seen sporadically at Hornsby Bend, with the most recent sightings on June 20th and June 22nd.

--- Continuing birds from previous weeks ---

A Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) has been present May 18th thru at least June 8th at the pond in the Triangle devleopment area near the northwest corner of 45th and Guadalupe Streets in Austin.

A Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis) has been present near Rosanky for several months, most recently seen as of June 18th.

An immature White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) was seen at Hornsby Bend on May 27th and was still present as of June 13th.

--- Rare sightings from previous weeks ---

A Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) was heard calling on June 13th at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo.

A Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus) was photographed on June 13th near Utley in western Bastrop County. A Cassin's Sparrow (Aimophila cassinii) was also found in the western Bastrop/eastern Travis county area that day.

A male Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) has been present and singing in a sw. Copperas Cove neighborhood as late as June 12th.

A rather vocal American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) was heard and seen near the power plant off of Holly Street in east Austin on June 11th.

Two Fulvous Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna bicolor) were present in the middle of Pond 1West at Hornsby Bend on June 10th.

An Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) was seen over the ponds at Hornsby Bend on June 9th.

A late Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) visited a west Austin yard near Commons Ford Park on June 6th.

Late migrants seen at Hornsby Bend include 3 Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) on June 5th and 4 Franklin's Gulls(Leucophaeus pipixcan) there on June 6th.