This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert and has been updated through 1/6/2017. 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 COMMON MERGANSER was found on 1/4 at Pace Bend Park near the Mudd Cove area in SW Austin, Travis County. The bird continues through 1/6 and was seen near the parking area for Mesquite Cove/Hagwood Cove. On 1/6, Another(?) bird was photographed at Jones Brothers Park in Jonestown, Travis. This is possibly a second bird given the distance between the two sightings on Lake Travis.
• A LEAST GREBE was found on 1/1 at Pedernales Falls State Park in Blanco County at the Duck Pond, which is near the bird blind. It continues through at least  1/5.
• A WHITE-TAILED HAWK was observed near CR 238 and SH 142 SW of Maxwell, Caldwell County, on 1/5. This area is just north of where two birds have been hanging out but this could represent another individual.
• A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was photographed off Youngsford Rd during the New Braunfels CBC on 12/31. This is in Guadalupe County.
• A SAY’S PHOEBE was observed in NE Travis County Farmland off Sandeen Rd on 1/3. The bird was perched on a wire near the intersection of Brita Olson Rd.
• A WESTERN TANAGER was found near CR 46 & Thunder Valley Rd, Kendall County, during the Boerne CBC on 1/2. Not sure if this is public access. Another Western Tanager continues at a private residence in Austin, Travis, on 1/3.
• A female PYRRHULOXIA was photographed at the RV dump area near the entrance of Pace Bend Park on 1/4.

• A COMMON MERGANSER continues at Tejas Camp along the north fork of the San Gabriel River in Williamson County on 1/2. 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.
• Two LEAST GREBES continue in Cedar Park, Williamson County, at a small retention pond off Parksville Way, most recently on 1/5.
• At least one WHITE-TAILED HAWK continues near Old Bastrop Rd in Comal County on 1/5. There have been two birds present in this area (both birds reported as recently as 1/2) and have been sighted in both Hays and Comal Counties.
• A ZONE-TAILED HAWK continues at the Inks Lake National Fish Hatchery in Burnet County on 1/2.
• A male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD continues at a private residence in SW Austin, Travis, on 1/4. Another bird continues at a private residence in Williamson County, most recently reported on 1/6.
• A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD continues at a private residence in New Braunfels, Comal, on 1/6. Also present was a BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD.
• Two GREAT KISKADEEs continue at Berry Springs Park in Georgetown, Williamson, most recently observed on 12/31. The pair off Dickerson Rd in Caldwell County continue through 1/1. This is east of the town of Martindale.
• At least 3 PYRRHULOXIAs continue at Reimer’s Ranch in southwest Travis County off Hamilton Pool Rd on 12/31. The birds were off the Wild Turkey Loop Trail.

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.