The Austin Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of November 8, 2012. Send interesting sightings–complete with species name, LOCATION, and contact information–to Kenny Anderson at kennya290@gmail.com.
Rarities Found This Week:
Two Surf Scoters were reported from a Williamson County pond; they were seen from Devine Lake Park on 11/5,6.
An remarkably cooperative and photogenic American Bittern is being seen at Lake Creek Trail in Williamson County on 11/4-8.
A Zone-tailed Hawk was viewed from a Bastrop County home on 11/3.
A male Red-naped Sapsucker was photographed on Carlson Lane in northeast Travis County on 11/3.
A visit to Canyon Lake’s Canyon Park yielded a Reddish Egret and two Common Loons on 11/3.
An immature Vermilion Flycatcher continues at and near Slough Pond in Bell County. If it is not seen at the pond a search along Shallow Ford Road from Slough Pond toward Temple Lions Park to the north has been productive.
A sub-adult Yellow-headed Blackbird was viewed in a mega-flock of blackbirds at Hornsby Bend on 11/3.
Four Wilson’s Phalaropes were at Hornsby Bend on 11/2.
Red-breasted Nuthatches are being reported at multiple locations, with multiple birds (up to 4) at several locations.
Over 50 Pine Siskins were at Commons Ford Park on 11/4.
Reports for the Austin area RBA cover a 60 mile radius, centeredfrom the Capitol in downtown Austin. The circle extends north to Belton (Bell County), south to Leesville (Gonzales County), east to SomervilleWMA (Lee Burleson County), and west to Blumenthal (Gillespie County).Birdsightings 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 kennya290@gmail.com.
-Kenny Anderson, Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
To view our archive of previous RBA reports, click here.
