This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert. This update is as of 4/21/2016. Send interesting sightings, complete with species name, location, and contact information to Arman Moreno at armanmorenobirds@gmail.com.

Rarities found this week

• A BROWN PELICAN was photographed at a private marina near the Cypress Creek arm of Lake Travis, Travis. The bird was photographed earlier this week, but the exact date is still being determined.
• A WHITE-TAILED KITE was found at Hornsby Bend, Travis, on 4/21. The bird was observed kiting and hunting over the field just north of the CER, to the right of the last drying basin. The bird then perched on the north – south fence line separating the drying basins from the field, where it remained for close to an hour.
• A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was reported flying over Bullock Hollow Rd adjacent to the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, Travis. The sighting occurred earlier this week, but the exact date is still being determined.
• A PURPLE GALLINULE was found at Slough Pond SW of Temple, Bell, on 4/19. This is located east of I-35 and north of E 6th Ave. The bird has not been relocated.
• A PIPING PLOVER was photographed at Belton Lake (Temple Lake Park), Bell,  on 4/17. The bird was banded with a yellow tag labeled “F06”. A different bird without bands was photographed at the same location on 4/21. Another 5 birds were photographed at Stillhouse Hollow Lake (Dana Peak Park), Bell, on 4/20. A Piping Plover was also found at Hornsby Bend, Travis, on 4/21 in the drying basin adjacent to the NE corner of Pond 1W. Later in the day, a group of 4 Piping Plovers were photographed in a different basin, bringing the total to 5 birds.
• Five HUDSONIAN GODWITs were found off Shallow Ford Rd in Temple, Bell, on 4/17. A group of 15 were photographed circling over Pond 1 West at Hornsby Bend, Travis, on 4/17. 10 more birds were flyovers off of Kellam Rd in SE Austin, Travis, on 4/21.
• Two LAUGHING GULLs were flyovers at Hornsby Bend, Travis, on 4/17.
• Two GREAT KISKADEEs were found at Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake east of Austin, Travis, on 4/19. The birds were observed and photographed displaying courtship behavior. The birds continued through 4/20 when they were observed building a nest.
• Three HUTTON’S VIREOs were found (one photographed) at Lone Man Overlook in Wimberley, Hays, on 4/14.
• A WOOD THRUSH was well described at Eastwoods Park on the University of Texas Campus in Austin, Travis, on 4/18.
• A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was photographed and recorded singing also at Eastwoods Park, Travis, on 4/19.
• A male CERULEAN WARBLER was photographed at Mills Pond in NW Austin, Travis, on 4/18.
• A SWAINSON’S WARBLER was photographed at Booty’s Road Park, Williamson, on 4/19. The bird continues through 4/21.
• A window-killed WORM-EATING WARBLER was found on 4/20 in Driftwood, Hays.
• A male LAZULI BUNTING was photographed at a private residence, Gonzales, on 4/20. Another bird was photographed, again at a private residence, in Leander, Williamson, on 4/17.

Continuing Birds from Previous Weeks

• A BLACK PHOEBE continues at the Luling Wastewater Treatment Plant, Caldwell, 4/16.
• A GREAT KISKADEE continues at Berry Springs Park, Williamson, last reported on 4/20.
• At least one PYRRHULOXIA continues in the Xeric Area of Platt Lane, Austin, Travis, on 4/14. A male was photographed at the Triangle Pond in North Central Austin, Travis, on 4/17. A male continues on Sayersville Rd, Bastrop, on 4/16.
• A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK continues at Warbler Woods, Guadalupe, on 4/15.

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. When documentation or photographs were provided, 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 email to armanmorenobirds@gmail.com.

Arman Moreno
Rare Bird Alert Compiler
Travis Audubon Society

To view our archive of previous RBA reports, click here.