This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert and has been updated through 1/12/2017. 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 HAWK was observed off of Interstate 10 west of Schulenburg, Fayette County, on 1/7.
• A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was reported flying with some vultures north of Crescent Bend Nature Park in Cibolo, Guadalupe County, on 1/11. Another bird was reported flying over Hornsby Bend, Travis County, on 1/12.
• A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was photographed at a private residence off Deer Ridge Rd near Jacob’s Well Natural Area in Hays County on 1/12. It flew off after a brief stop at the water feature and has not been seen since.
• A female PYRRHULOXIA was photographed off Sayersville Rd in Bastrop County on 1/8. This is north of Old Sayers Rd.
• A male SCOTT’S ORIOLE was photographed at a feeder on private property in Bastrop County, just north of Lake Bastrop. This is unusual not only because of time of year, but also how far east the location is.

• A COMMON MERGANSER continues at Tejas Camp along the north fork of the San Gabriel River in Williamson County on 1/9. The bird was most recently viewed from the trail about a 1/2 mile from the parking lot. It has been hanging around a domestic white duck so locating that bird first may help you spy the merganser.
• The Travis County COMMON MERGANSER continues through 1/12 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.
• Two LEAST GREBES continue in Cedar Park, Williamson County, at a small retention pond off Parksville Way, most recently on 1/8.
• At least two WHITE-TAILED HAWKs continues near Old Bastrop Rd in Hays County on 1/8. The birds have been sighted in both Hays and Comal Counties so driving the roads in the immediate area should pay off.
• A male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD continues at a private residence in SW Austin, Travis, on 1/12. Another bird continues at a private residence in Williamson County, most recently reported on 1/8.
• A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD continues at a private residence in New Braunfels, Comal, on 1/8. A BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD also continues at the same residence.
• VERMILLION FLYCATCHERs continue at several different locations in Travis County. At least two birds are present in Pace Bend Park near Mudd Cove/Mesquite Point, most recently on 1/12. Another bird continues at Decker Lake (Walter E. Long) on 1/11.
• A female PYRRHULOXIA continues at Pace Bend Park, Travis County, near the entrance at the RV dump station turnout on 1/8.

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.