(The Austin area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 8:50 on December 22, 2011. Send interesting sightings–complete with species name, location, and contact information–to Kenny Anderson.)
Rarities Found This Week
Tundra Swan (found on 12/17) on Salt Lake- in the southern part of the circle (Guadalupe County) is an incredible find! The bird has been relocated on 12/20. All updates on this hard-to-see in the circle, would be appreciated. A Roseatte Spoonbill was present on the initial find.
A Rough-legged Hawk was seen near East Travis Street in Holland on 12/17.
Whooping Cranes, 6 of them, are being seen at Granger Lake in Williamson County. They are seen from the Dam and several surrounding parks. 4 adults and 2 juveniles (1 banded) last seen 12/21.
Mountain Bluebirds are having their 15 minutes. Waiting for the CBC spotlight, they highlighted the Austin CBC (male @ Hornsby photo’d), Balcones CBC, and Westcave reported 2 FLOCKS!
A Common Merganser found in a small residential water-quality pond on 12/4 has been pond-hoping southern Williamson County. Next stop…Lake Pfluggerville?
Common Merganser was reported from the Westcave CBC; the bird was reported from one of the 2 ponds on a Bells Spring Road about 1 mile from Hamilton Pool Road in Hays County 12/20. Details awaiting.
A Hutton’s Vireo was carefully studied at McKinney Falls near the Lower Falls on the Austin CBC 12/17. The bird was relocated in the flock around the parking area most recent report 12/22. (Photos)
A Black Phoebe was in Salado Creek in williamson County at least since 12/20. I need to get a better handle on Bell County.
An American Bittern was seen on Mueller Austin’s Anchor pond 12/17.
A Surf Scooter was photographed on Pond 2 at Hornsby Bend on 12/16.
Western Grebe has been seen at Lake Georgetown’s Overlook Park 12/16-18.
2 Green-tailed Towhees were photographed on River Road in western Travis County on 12/21. Green-tailed Towhees made a strong early showing-but have not been reported recently.
Long-billed Thrasher was reported from McKinney Falls on the Austin CBC on 12/17. The bird was on the Homestead Trail in the southeastern portion of the park.
Rusty Blackbirds, what can I say, what a year:
4 on the Hornsby CBC 12/17-up to 10 on the 19.
1 Commons Ford on12/23.Lark Buntings, irruptive:
1 Hornsby Bend 12/17,18
1 Austin Mueller (Austin Travis County)12/17
2 Pace Bend (Travis County) 12/21
1 Craddock Lane in San Marcos (Hays County)Sage Thrasher was also a nice find, as most have passed through. Craddock Lane in San Marcos 12/20.
Common Nighthawk was seen near 51st and Airport in Austin 12/17.
2+ Ross’s Geese were seen in flyover flocks of Snow Geese at hornsby Bend on 12/21.
A Black-bellied Plover was studied at Granger Lake from the dam 12/21.
1 Tri-colored Heron remains below Mansfield Dam in Travis County 12/20.
Reports for the Austin area RBA cover a 60 mile radius, centered from the Capitol in downtown Austin. The circle extends north to Belton (Bell County), south to Leesville (Gonzales County), east to Somerville WMA (Lee Burleson County), and west to Blumenthal (Gillespie County). Bird sightings mentioned here have been filtered and scrutinized by the compiler and are believed to be genuine. When documentation or photographs were provide, that is mentioned along with the other information about the bird(s) being seen.
For questions or updates about birds mentioned here or to report rare or unusual bird sightings in the Austin area, please send an e-mail to nollanderson@sbcglobal.net.
-Kenny Anderson, Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
To view our archive of previous RBA reports, click here.
