Last Update: February 4th, 2010 at 9 p.m.
Rare Bird Alert Compiler: Eric Carpenter

--- Rarities found this past week---

A Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens) was discovered on January 30th at John Stokes San Marcos River Park in San Marcos. It has been seen near the big cypress tree on the Thompson Island side of the park. The bird has been photographed and continues to be seen as of February 2nd.

A Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) was photographed on February 2nd at a private gated community two miles west of the Doeskin Ranch section of Balcones Canyonland N.W.R. It has not been seen since.

Two different Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) were in the Granger area on January 31st. One was seen along CR 124 and the other was along Chandler Road at the first culvert west of the FM 1660 intersection (between Hutto and Jonah).

A male Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) was seen at Meadow Lake in Round Rock on January 31st.

--- Continuing birds from previous weeks ---

An immature male Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) was discovered on January 17th at Walter E. Long Lake on the east side of Austin. It continues to see regularly from the boat ramp and close to shore between there and the dam through at least January 31st. The boat ramp area is accessed from the south side of the lake via Blue Bluff Road north of Decker Lake Road; there is an entrance fee to enter the park.

A Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) was found on January 19th near the swimming area at Canyon Park on Canyon Lake. It continues with a number of Common Loons through January 31st. Canyon Park is on the ne. portion of Canyon Lake and the swimming area and associated cove where the loons have been seen is on the south side of Canyon Park Road about 0.8 miles from its intersection with FM 306.

An unseasonal Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) discovered at private residence in central Austin on January 7th was still present as of January 26th.

Another Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is present at a private residence in Travis Country (subdivision) in sw. Austin (last reported on January 31st).

Small numbers of Couch's Kingbirds (Tyrannus couchii) are wintering in the area. As many as 9 birds have been seen at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos (last reported January 24th). Four or more birds are along the Colorado River between Longhorn Dam and Hornsby Bend (last reported January 18th). A pair of birds has also been seen along the Colorado River at Riverbend Park (Hwy 71) in Smithville, as recently as January 2nd, and 2 birds were at Little Webberville Park on January 20th. One or more have also been seen near McKinney Falls State Park (last reported January 20th), and one bird was near the pond at Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Pond on January 21st.

Two Green Herons (Butorides virescens) are also wintering at Aquarena Springs (last report as of January 12th).

A Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is wintering at the pond at The Triangle development in Austin at Guadalupe & 45th (last reported January 29th)

Ringed Kingfishers (Megaceryle torquatus) have been present at a few spots around Austin. Individual birds have been present along the river at Hornsby Bend and also along the river at Commons Ford Park (in west Austin off Commons Ford Rd which runs off of Cuernavaca about 1/2 mile from its intersection with Bee Caves/2244) on-and-off for the past few weeks. Another one was seen along the river at Reimer's Ranch Park (off of Hamilton Pool road) and, more recently, closer to Hamilton Pool. There has also been one seen around (Big) Webberville Park.

As has been the trend in recent years, small number of Little Blue Herons (Egretta caerulea) and Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) are lingering into the winter. Both species have been reported at Hornsby Bend, the Montopolis Bridge area, below Longhorm Dam, and elsewhere along the Colorado River, as recently as January 16th, and at the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant pond, as recently as January 10th.

Small numbers of Cave Swallows (Petrochelidon fulva) are also around this winter. They can be found regularly at Hornsby Bend and should be looked for at other area ponds and lakes.

--- Rare sightings from previous weeks ---

A Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) was studied at Canyon Lake on January 26th. It was seen from the south end of the dam.

A couple of Common Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) and a pair of Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) were seen on January 24th in a pond along CR 225 on the Lllano County side of Lake Buchanan.

A Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) was seen along the rocky shoreline just south of the swimming/beach area at Canyon Park on Canyon Lake on January 23rd.

A Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) was seen on January 23rd at Hornsby Bend, near the northeast corner of Pond 1West.

A White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) was seen at Southeast Metropolitan Park off of HWY 71 on January 18th.

Two Cassin's Sparrows (Aimophila cassinii) were studied on January 18th in far se. Austin off of Kellam Road (a dead-end road off of Elroy Road).

As many as 22 Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and one adult California Gull (Larus californicus) (photographed) were seen from Black Rock Park on Lake Buchanan on January 17th. Also around the lake was a female Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) on a small pond south of the park and east of Hwy 261, and a male Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) along CR 225.

Also on January 17th, the Granger Lake area held a Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) on Willis Creek WMA and a Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) along CR 124.