This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert. This update is as of 1/1/2016. 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 12/26.

Rarities found this week

• A FERRUGINOUS HAWK was photographed on CR 232 in Gonzales, Gonzales, 12/27.
• A HORNED GREBE was photographed on Horizon Park Blvd in Leander,Williamson, 12/26.
• A WESTERN SANDPIPER was photographed at Hornsby Bend, Travis, 12/25.
• A SAY’S PHOEBE was described on CR 428, Milam, 12/29.
• A HUTTON’S VIREO was described from Warbler Woods, Guadalupe, 12/25.
• There are many PYRRHULOXIAS in the circle. Individual birds were seen at the West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt, Travis, 12/30, on CR 428 in Williamson, 12/26, and at McKinney Roughs Park, Bastrop, 12/25.

Continuing Birds from Previous Weeks

• A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD continued on York Creek Rd., Hays, 12/31.
• An ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD continued at a private residence in west Austin,Travis, 12/30.
• RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continued at Hornsby Bend, Travis, 12/29 and Earhardt Rd., Bastrop, 12/29.
• A RINGED KINGFISHER continued at Ink Lake Natl. Fish Hatchery, Burnet, 12/28.
• A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continued near Alum Creek at Bastrop State Park, Bastrop, 12/29.

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.