American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert. This update is as of 12/25/2015. Send interesting sightings, complete with species name, location, and contact information to Nate McGowan at natemcgowanbirds@gmail.com.

Exceptional birds in the RBA circle

• A juvenile BROWN BOOBY continued at Windy Point on Lake Travis, Travis. The bird has been perched on a buoy between Bob Wentz County Park and Mansfield Dam; it was most recently reported 12/24.

Rarities found this week

• A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was photographed off of York Creek Rd., Hays, 12/17.
• A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE was photographed at The River Farm of on the Lost Pines CBC, Bastrop, 12/19.
• AN AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at Lake Pflugerville, Travis, 12/24.
• Multiple LARK BUNTINGS were photographed at The River Farm on the Lost Pines CBC, Bastrop, 12/19.
• An ANHINGHA was well described on Nixon Lane, Travis, 12/19.
• Ten NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were well described from Platt Lane, Travis, 12/19.
• An EASTERN TOWHEE was photographed on Nixon Lane, Travis, 12/19.
• A SAY’S PHOEBE was seen in northeast Travis, 12/19.
• Two GREATER SCAUP were seen at Salt Lake, Guadalupe, 12/21.
• RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen on the Lost Pines CBC, Bastrop, 12/20, Lower Elgin Rd., Bastrop, 12/20, Earhart Rd., Bastrop, 12/22, and Hornsby Bend, Travis, 12/19.
•  There are many PYRRHULOXIAS in the circle. Individual birds were seen on the Georgetown CBC, Williamson, 12/17, the Lost Pines CBC, Bastrop, 12/20, Roy Guerrero Park, Travis, 12/19, a private office near Bee Caves, Travis, 12/16. Multiple birds were at Hornsby Bend, Travis, through 12/21, and CRs 361 and 363, Williamson, 12/20.

Continuing Birds from Previous Weeks

• A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD continued at a private residence in New Braunfels, Comal, 12/24.
• A BLACK PHOEBE continued at Barkley Meadows in Austin, Travis, 12/18.
• A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continued near Alum Creek at Bastrop State Park,Bastrop, 12/22.

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.