Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae) by Barry Noret

This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert. This update is as of 4/9/2015. Send interesting sightings – complete with species name, LOCATION, and contact information – to Nathan McGowan at natemcgowanbirds@gmail.com.

Exceptional Birds in the Circle

• A STRIPED SPARROW was photographed and audio recorded at CR 428 east of CR 361, Williamson, 1/11. The most recent positive report is from 4/7. This is a potential first ABA record, although provenance has been questioned.
• A BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was a stunning find at a Williamson County feeder, 4/3. The bird was well photographed, but has not been seen since.

Rarities Found This Week

• A WOOD STORK was a great find flying over a north central Austin home, Travis, 4/7.
• A BROWN PELICAN was photographed at Lake Somerville, Burleson, 4/2.
• SCOTT’S ORIOLES were well represented this week, with a singing male at private property off RR 3232 near Pedernales SP, Blanco, 4/7, and a second year bird at a west Travis private residence, 4/4.
• A SNOWY PLOVER was photographed at Hornsby Bend, Travis, 4/6.
• A COUCH’S KINGBIRD was very well described at Fort Hood, Bell, 4/8. Vocalizations were recorded.
• An EASTERN TOWHEE was reported from St. Edward’s Park, Travis, 4/5.
• A RINGED KINGFISHER was a great find at Slough Pond, Bell, 4/5.
• HUTTON’S VIREOS were reported from St. Edward’s Park, Travis, 4/7.

Continuing Birds from Previous Weeks

• A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continued at Alum Creek near Bastrop SP, Bastrop, 4/7.
• Two YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS continued at Commons Ford, Travis, 4/4.
• An EASTERN TOWHEE continued at Warbler Woods, Guadalupe, 4/8.

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. 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 natemcgowanbirds@gmail.com.

Nate McGowan
Rare Bird Alert Compiler
Travis Audubon Society

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