This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert and has been updated through 4/23/2017. 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@gmail.com. If submitting a bird sighting, please include species name, location details, and contact information.

Rarities Found This Week

• A WHITE-TAILED KITE was found off Earhardt Rd just off FM 969 in Bastrop County on 4/16.
• A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was reported flying over Hornsby Bend, Travis County, on 4/15.
• A HARRIS’S HAWK was reported 1/2 mile N of Hwy 87 and CR 219 in Gonzales County on 4/20.
• A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was reported from Little Webberville Park off FM 969 just west of the town of Webberville, Travis County, on 4/20.
• A PIPING PLOVER was found at Hornsby Bend, Travis County, on 4/22. The bird was seen in the northwest corner of Pond 1 West.
• A LAUGHING GULL was photographed off of Toll Bridge Rd near IH 35 South of Belton, Bell County, on 4/10. The bird was likely encountered along the Lampasas River. Another bird was photographed flying over Lake Travis at Windy Point Park, Travis County, on 4/11.
• A RINGED KINGFISHER was reported from LBJ State Park & Historic Site in Gillespie County on 4/22.
• A HUTTON’S VIREO was photographed at an inaccessible tract of land on the Balcones Canyonlands NWR northwest of Austin, Travis County, on 4/18 and continues through 4/22. A pair of birds were photographed off Lime Creek Rd in Volente, Travis County, on 4/20.
• A WOOD THRUSH was heard and recorded on private property across from St. Edwards Park, Travis County, on 4/18. Another bird was reported from Warbler Woods in Guadalupe County on 4/12.
• A WORM-EATING WARBLER was reported off Cow Creek Rd in NW Travis County on 4/22. This is in the vicinity of the Balcones Canyonlands NWR. Another bird was photographed at a private residence off FM 466 in Gonzales County on 4/15.
• A LAZULI BUNTING was found on a private tract of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) off of FM 620 and FM 2222 in west Austin, Travis County, on 4/20. The bird was in with a group of Indigo Buntings.

• Two LEAST GREBEs continue in Williamson County through 4/16 off Parksville Way and Fairweather Way. Another Grebe was found off Witter Lane in Bell County on 4/22.
• An over-wintering BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD continues at a private residence in South Austin, Travis, on 4/20.
• At least one GREAT KISKADEE continues at a private residence off Dickerson Rd in Caldwell County on 4/20. Another bird continues at Decker Lake of Decker Ln in East Austin, Travis County, on 4/13.
• A HUTTON’S VIREO continues at Warbler Woods, Guadalupe County, on 4/20.
• The long-staying WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH continues at Riverview Park in Seguin, Guadalupe County, on 4/21. The bird was last reported near the main pavilion.

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.