This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert and has been updated through 2/16/2017. 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 YELLOW RAIL was a very nice Central Texas find, seen briefly along the western border of the wetland marsh of Slough Pond, Bell County, on 2/5. This is on the east side of the levee on the far side of the main lake. The wetland border contains dense grass right up to the water’s edge. The bird flushed briefly and despite effort, was not relocated.
• Three WHITE-FACED IBIS were photographed at Lake Buchanan, Llano County, on 2/12. The birds were located near the inlet on FM 261. While not entirely rare in our area, this is out of range this early in the year.
• A SAY’S PHOEBE was found off Harry Lind Rd about 0.4 miles south of the junction of Harry Lind Rd and Lund Carlson in NE Travis County on 2/12.
• A HUTTON’S VIREO was photographed on the Ridgeline Trail of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, Travis County, on 2/11.
• A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was found at Warbler Woods, Guadalupe County, on 2/12. This is out of range for this early in the year.

• A COMMON MERGANSER continues through 2/13 in the NE portion of Pace Bend Park. Look for the signs indicating Mudd Cove/Mesquite Point. The bird has been hanging around Hagwood Cove all the way into Mudd Cove near the campground areas and all the way down to Tournament Point.
• A LEAST GREBE was reported from Park View Park in Marble Falls, Burnet County, on 1/30 and continues through 2/12. The park is located NE of town near the intersection of Mormon Mill Rd & Park Ridge Dr and was last spotted at the south end of the pond.
• A ZONE-TAILED HAWK continues at Booty’s Road Park south of Lake Georgetown Dam, Williamson County, on 2/11. The bird continues to perch along the San Gabriel River across from the star-gazing area.
• A male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD continues at a private residence in SW Austin, Travis, on 2/14. Another bird continues at a private residence in Williamson County, most recently reported on 2/12.
• A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD continues at a private residence in New Braunfels, Comal County, through 2/11. A BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD continues at the same residence on 2/11.
• Up to two VERMILLION FLYCATCHERs continue at Pace Bend Park, Travis, near Mudd Cove/Mesquite Point, most recently on 2/13. Another male was photographed at Refuge Headquarters of Balcones Canyonlands NWR, Travis County, on 2/16.
• Three GREAT KISKADEEs continue at a private residence off Dickerson Rd in Caldwell County on 2/11.
• A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK continues at Warbler Woods in Guadalupe County, last reported on 2/16.

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.