Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus) from the archive of Nate McGowan

This is the Austin Area Rare Bird Alert. This update is as of 11/27/2015. 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 11/26.

Rarities Found This Week

• A LARK BUNTING was photographed at Hornsby Bend, most recently 11/25.
• A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE was described from a private residence in Lago Vista, Travis, 11/20.
• A LONG-BILLED CURLEW was well described from Pace Bend Park, Travis, 11/20.
• A SAY’S PHOEBE was photographed in NE Travis, 11/22.
• A PAINTED BUNTING was reported from Hornsby Bend, Travis, 11/22.
• A HARLAN’S RED-TAILED HAWK was photographed on Sayersville Rd., Bastrop, 11/22.
• A COMMON LOON was seen at Granger Lake, Williamson, 11/22.
• ZONE-TAILED HAWKS were seen at Webberville Park, Travis, 11/23 and in East Austin near 5th and Tillery, Travis, 11/19.
• There are many PYRRHULOXIAS in the circle. Individual birds were seen at Commons Ford, Travis, 11/25, the city of Manchaca, Travis, 11/23, Pace Bend Park, Travis, 11/23, the McNeil/Howard area, Travis, 11/22, and Warbler Woods,Guadalupe, 11/22.Ttwo birds were seen at the Capitol Metro ponds in Leander,Williamson, most recently 11/26, and three birds were seen at Hornsby Bend, Travis, 11/24.

Continuing Birds from Previous Weeks

• A RED-THROATED LOON continued on private property in Bell County, 11/23.
• A BLACK PHOEBE continued at Barkley Meadows on Onion Creek, Travis, 11/24.
• A HORNED GREBE continued at Lake Pflugerille, Travis, on 11/25.
• A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continued at Bastrop State Park, Bastrop, 11/23.
• A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD continued at a private residence in New Braunfels, Comal, 11/24.
• A GREAT KISKADEE continued at Berry Springs Park in Georgetown, Williamson, 11/23.

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.