Heart of Texas (Central Brazos Valley) RBA
December 8, 2004
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 07:32:35 -0600
Reply-To: Bert Frenz <bert@BAFRENZ.COM>
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From: Bert Frenz <bert@BAFRENZ.COM>
Subject: RBA Heart-of-Texas 12/08/04
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- RBA
* Texas
* Heart-of-Texas
* December 8, 2004
* TXHE0412.08
- Birds mentioned
Common Nighthawk
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Couch's Kingbird - new county record
Cliff Swallow
- Transcript
Number: None
Compiler: Bert Frenz, mailto:bert2@bafrenz.com
Coverage: Central Brazos Valley, 14 counties near College Station
Transcriber: Bert Frenz
RBA web site: http://birdingonthe.net/hotmail.html
This is the Heart-of-Texas Rare Bird Alert updated as of Wednesday,
December 8.
The Heart-of-Texas RBA covers 15 counties surrounding College Station
(Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Grimes, Lee,
Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Waller, Washington).
This is part of the Central Oaks & Prairies region.
Common Loon - David Phalen saw the Common Loon at Gibbons Creek
Reservoir again on 4 December.
Common Nighthawk - Cathy Liles saw and heard a very late nighthawk
on 2 December above University Drive near Texas Roadhouse and Scott
and White. Within the RBA area, this is the second latest record,
the previous one being seen on 14 December 2002 on the College
Station CBC.
Anna's Hummingbird - This morning, Bert Frenz and Kitty Anding
identified the "mystery" hummingbird that has been visiting the
Anding's feeders in Enchanted Oaks subdivision, College Station.
It is an immature male Anna's, a very rare hummingbird for this area.
Only two previous records exist for the RBA area: one was in Bryan
from late October to mid December 1995. Another was in Brenham for
four weeks of December 1999. Bert took dozens of photographs, two
of which are on his website at:
http://www.bafrenz.com/birds/AnHuX05.htm
http://www.bafrenz.com/birds/AnHuX06.htm
Kitty and Jim invite birders to see the Anna's Hummingbird. Please
call (979-776-8381) or e-mail (kittyoncole@msn.com) beforehand.
Their address is in the footer below.
Rufous Hummingbird - An adult male is also at the Anding's, having
arrived 7 December.
Couch's Kingbird - David Phalen found a calling Couch's Kingbird in
a remote area of Gibbons Creek Reservoir on 4 December. This is a
first county record for Grimes Co. The area on the northeast side
of the lake can only be reached by boat.
Cliff Swallow - On 26 November David found very late Cliff Swallows
that had been around the Gibbons Creek Reservoir for past weeks.
This late date beats the previous record of 21 November set in 1969
and also 2000. The swallow was identified by call.
Purple Finch - More reports have come in on these finches. Darrell
Vollert banded one of the four visiting his Chappell Hill feeders
on 5 December.
Since our last list of arrival dates for wintering species, we
can add: Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet, both on 26
November by Mary Dabney Wilson. We have received no reports yet
of Marsh Wren or Spotted Towhee.
The "Checklist and Seasonal Distribution - Birds of the Central Brazos
Valley, Texas" is available. Send $1.00 and a self-addressed stamped
(37 cents) business envelope to Jim Anding, Rio Brazos Audubon Society
5060 Cole Lane, College Station, TX 77845
Descriptions and directions to most birding sites are on the Texas
Oaks & Prairies web site.
- End Transcript
---------------------------------
Bert Frenz
mailto:bert2@bafrenz.com
Birds of Texas Oaks & Prairies web site: http://www.bafrenz.com/birds/