This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert and has been updated through 9/2/2016. 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 SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was photographed over a private residence in West Austin, Travis, on 8/29. Very nice yard bird for our area!
• A SNOWY PLOVER was photographed at Hornsby Bend, Travis, on 8/28 in the drying basins near the main entrance.
• A PRAIRIE WARLER was observed on private property south of Belmont,  Gonzales, on 8/31.
• A TOWNSEND’S WARBLER was photographed at Landa Park in New Braunfels, Comal, on 8/31. The bird was reported from the Panther Canyon Nature Trail. Not many western warblers get reported in Central Texas so this is a very nice find.
• A male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was a great find at a private residence in Round Rock, Williamson, on 8/28.

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.