Commons Tern (Sterna hirundo) from the archive of Nate McGowan

***The Austin Area RBA will be on a brief hiatus next week***

This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert. This update is as of 5/21/2015. Send interesting sightings, complete with species name, location, and contact information to Nate McGowan at natemcgowanbirds@gmail.com.

Rarities Found This Week

• A COMMON TERN was photographed at Hornsby Bend, Travis, 5/15.
• A COUCH’S KINGBIRD was photographed at Belton Lake, Bell, 5/19.
• A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was photographed at Mills Pond, Travis, 5/17.
• A LAUGHING GULL was photographed at Windy Point on Lake Travis, Travis, 5/17.
• A SNOWY PLOVER was seen at Hornsby Bend, Travis, 5/14.
• GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS were seen at Mills Pond, Travis, 5/18 and at a private residence in the Travis Heights neighborhood of Austin, Travis, 5/14.
• A LEAST TERN was photographed at Windy Point on Lake Travis, Travis, 5/17.
• A GREAT KISKADEE was photographed near Jonah, Williamson, 5/17. The bird is reported as being resident for several years.
• HORNED LARKS were seen in Northeast Travis County, 5/14 and 5/15..

Continuing Birds from Previous Weeks

• A GREAT KISKADEE continued at Berry Springs Park in Georgetown, Williamson, 5/21.
• A HUTTON’S VIREO continued at Warbler Woods, Guadalupe, 5/17.
• At least one, and maybe two YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS continued at Commons Ford, Travis, 5/19.

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.