(The Austin area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 4:15 on August 18, 2011. Send interesting sightings–complete with species name, location, and contact information–to Kenny Anderson.)
Rarities Found This Week
A Black-headed Grosbeak was photographed at a Hays County residence on the Blanco River between Whimberley and Blanco on 8/13
A Prairie Warbler was photographed by a motion detection wildlife camera at an Utley residence on 8/15.
A White-tailed Kite was seen working the mowing at Hornsby Bend on 8/11 and 8/13
A white form Reddish Egret was seen from the dam at Granger Lake on 8/17. White morphs are rarely seen in the circle.
A document photograph of the male Western Tanager reported 8/11 from a Webberville home was received.
5 Mottled Ducks were seen on the Hornsby Bend survey on 8/13. 2 of the ducks were photographed.
A Mottled Duck was seen in the Tow area of the western side of Lake Buchanan 8/14
2 Peregrine Falcons were seen combating at Cedar Point Recreational Area at Lake Buchanan 8/13
An early Ring-billed Gull was at Black Rock Recreation Area in Llano County 8/11
A male Yellow-headed Blackbird was observed at a Sunset Valley retention pond behind Petsmart 8/13
A Long-billed Curlew was photographed on the ground at Hornsby Bend for the monthly survey, this species usually turns its bill up at the Hornsby ponds and keeps on flying. 8/13
2 Cinnamon Teal were at Hornsby on 8/13, one bird remained on Pond 3 as of 8/16
A Black-throated Green Warbler was observed along the Brushy Creek Trail in Williamson County on 8/14
Continuing Birds for Previous Weeks
A Reddish Egret (dark form) continues in Llano County. The bird is being seen at Cedar Point Recreation Area. Seen 8/11 and 8/13
A Yellow-throated Warbler remains along the Colorado River near the Pennybacker Bridge (Highway 360) 8/11
A Least Grebe still is being seen at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos 8/14
Couch’s Kingbirds are being seen at and between Little and Big Webberville Parks in Travis County 8/11 and 8/17
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
