MARCH 2014 BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS With 0.17 inches of rain in Lubbock during the month, far below the average March total of 0.76 inches, we are now at 0.33 inches for the year and sliding ever deeper into drought, now 1.64 inches below the average year-to-date total of 1.97 inches. We are 28 inches off of the average expected rainfall of 58 inches for January 2011 through March 2014 and are down to artificially-maintained or spring-fed bodies of water in the region. Even the local media, now that local lakes are going, going fast, or gone, have taken notice. Water birds are increasingly difficult to find in good numbers though rarities continue to be concentrated nicely - from a birder's point of view - and anything dependent on vegetation, seeds, berries, fruits, invertebrates, or vertebrates as a prey base is in sorry shape. The combination of intense observer efforts at some locations and the increase in data due to e-bird has made it more difficult to separate individual sightings - the algorithm I am using is relatively conservative and I am willing to share it with anybody who is interested. As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity. SNOW GOOSE: 3-5 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) through 3/8/14 (CC,. SC, AnH, AP, JP, NP, DW), 37 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 40 near Crosbytong (Crosby) on 3/8/14 (AP, JP), and 50 near Lockney (Floyd) on 3/8/14 (CA, MA) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS AND AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION. ROSS'S GOOSE: 1-6 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) through 3/8/14 (CC, AnH, PKe, AP, JP, TT), 14 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS AND AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION. CACKLING GOOSE and CANADA GOOSE - our dark geese were in very poor numbers, at the few remaining sites in the region, through the period and these sites were few and far between - LOW NUMBERS AND AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION. TRUMPETER SWAN: The immature swan continued at two sites in Lubbock (Lubbock) through 3/14/14 (CC, SC, AnH, PKe, KL, ML, AP, JP, NP, RR, CR, FR, TT, DW) and persisted in showing traits consistent with Trumpeter Swan while stubbornly refusing to develop traits consistent with Tundra Swan - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; A CONTINUATION OF OUR 7th RECORD. WOOD DUCK,GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL: Though findable at the remaining bodies of water in the region, water is scarce enough that Wood Duck and 'dabbler' numbers were - LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, LOW, LOW, EXTRAORDINARILY LOW, and VERY LOW RESPECTIVELY BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 14 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 6 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 2 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 3/25/14 (AB), 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 3/26/14 (SC, EFD), 2 in Plainview (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP), and 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/31/14 (CC) the only reports - RIGHT ON TIME BUT A TAD LOW. CINNAMON TEAL: 1 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 3/10/14 (CC) and 7 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only reports - THEY ARRIVED ON TIME THIS YEAR BUT NUMBERS ARE VERY LOW. RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK: Though findable at the remaining bodies of water in the region, water is scarce enough that our 'diving duck' numbers were - VERY LOW, LOW, LOW, LOW, and VERY LOW RESPECTIVELY. CANVASBACK: 10 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC), 1 female at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 4 in Plainview (Hale) on 3/6/14 (NP), 2-4 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 3/6/14 and 3/7/14 (AnH, NP), 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/8/14 (PKe), 12 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/8/14 (PKe), 20 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock)on 3/10/14 (CC), 6 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 7 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 10 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 2 in Plainview (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP) - THOUGH NUMBERS WERE UNIMPRESSIVE THE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS WAS QUITE GOOD CONSIDERING THE INTENSITY OF OUR ONGOING DROUGHT. REDHEAD: 15 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC), 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock)on 3/6/14 (DW), 50 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock)on 3/8/14 (PKe), 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/13/14 (SC, EFD), 3 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - THOUGH NUMBERS WERE UNIMPRESSIVE THE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS WAS QUITE GOOD CONSIDERING THE INTENSITY OF OUR ONGOING DROUGHT. COMMON MERGANSER: 3-6 remained at Lake Six (Lubbock) through 3/3/14 (AnH, JM), 38 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (CC), 12 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 7 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON - ONE WONDERS WHAT OTHER LAKES IN THE REGION HAVE LENT US THEIR MERGANSERS. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 remained at Lake Six (Lubbock) through 3/3/14 (AnH, JM), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. NORTHERN BOBWHITE: Numbers appear to be declining rapidly throughout the region .. though the species is not yet rare enough to track individual sightings - LOW. SCALED QUAIL: 17 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR) the only report - INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION; INDIVIDUAL SIGHTINGS CALL FOR TRACKING. RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 near Petersburg (Hale) on 3/11/14 (NP), 1 in (Bailey) on 3/15/14 (GB), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR - Hale (Hale) on 3/15/14 (NP) the only reports - INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION; INDIVIDUAL SIGHTINGS CALL FOR TRACKING. EARED GREBE: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/25/14 (DK) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS; WE CAN ONLY HOPE FOR THE USUAL APRIL BUMP. AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 9 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC) had dropped down to 4 by 3/25/14 (DK) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR OUR REGION - POSSIBLY FROM LAKES IN VERY POOR CONDITION IN SURROUNDING REGIONS AS THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT TYPICAL FOR EVEN OUR BEST LAKES. SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 3/27/14 (SC) and 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only reports - NONE WINTERED AND THESE ARE RIGHT ON TIME FOR SPRING ARRIVALS IN A NON-WINTERING YEAR. GREEN HERON: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only report - LATE TO ARRIVE AND LOW IN NUMBERS - SO FAR. OSPREY: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/27/14 (SC, EFD) the only report - RIGHT ON TIME BUT NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF NUMBERS YET. SWAINSON'S HAWK: 1 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/25/14 (DK), 1 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/29/14 (AnH), and 1 near Ropesville (Hockley) on 3/30/14 (SC) the only reports - A TAD LATE THIS YEAR AND, THUS FAR, LOW IN NUMBERS. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 3/1/14 (KH), 1 in northern (Hale) on 3/26/14 (CA, MA), and 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 3/31/14 (KH) the only reports - NOT BAD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SPECIES' SEASON FOR OUR REGION. VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE BY CONTEMPORARY, DROUGHT-RIDDEN STANDARDS. SORA: 1 at Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) and 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE BY CONTEMPORARY, DROUGHT-RIDDEN STANDARDS. BLACK-NECKED STILT: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 1-5 daily at Dupree Park (Lubbock) from 3/25/14 through 3/31/14 (SC, EFD, AnH), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) from 3/25/14 through 3/31/14 (SC, AnH), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/26/14 (NP), 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP), and 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 3/31/14 (CC, KM) - RIGHT ON TIME AND EXPECTED NUMBERS AT THE FEW SITES LEFT IN THE REGION - OVERALL, THOUGH - DUE TO ONGOING DROUGHT - LOW. AMERICAN AVOCET: 1- 3 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) from 3/14/14 though 3/27/14 (TmD), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) from 3/22/14 through 3/31/14 (CC, AnH, PKe), 1 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 3/25/14 (AB), 2--3 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) from 3/25/14 through 3/30/14 (SC, SFD, AnH), 9 at the Houston School Playa (Hale) on 3/26/14 (NP), 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14, and 3 at the Houston School Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP) - RIGHT ON TIME AND EXPECTED NUMBERS AT THE FEW SITES LEFT IN THE REGION - OVERALL, THOUGH - DUE TO ONGOING DROUGHT - LOW. GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Eleven reports of 1-4 birds and one report of 17 birds at nine sites in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock, Motley) during the period (AB, CC, TmD, DH, AnH, PKe, NP) - NOT TOO BAD, CONSIDERING THE DROUGHT, BUT, BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS, LOW NUMBERS. LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 3/25/14 (SC), and 4 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; A VERY RARE WINTERING SPECIES AND TYPICALLY SCARCE THIS EARLY IN MIGRATION. LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 1 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 3/25/14 (AB) and 11 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THESE SIGHTINGS ARE OF WINTERING BIRDS. LEAST SANDPIPER: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 2 at the Matador Sewage Ponds (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/26/14 (NP) - LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT THIS WINTER WAS A BIT OF A BOOGER AND THESE ARE QUITE POSSIBLY EARLY MIGRANTS. WESTERN SANDPIPER: 5 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 3/25/14 (AB) the only reports - A TAD EARLY BUT THE SPECIES DOES SEEM TO BE MOVING INTO THE REGION IN MARCH MORE REGULARLY THAN IT USED TO. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (JM), 2-9 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) from 3/10/14 through 3/27/14 (SC, EFD, DH, AnH, PKe), 14 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 1 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 3/25/14 (AB), and 4 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) - IN ALL HONESTY, GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER BY CURRENT DROUGHT-RIDDEN STANDARDS. WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only report - VERY LOW - BUT VERY LITTLE OF THE REGION'S WATER IS UP AND INTO THE VEGETATION LINE, MAKING FOR VERY LITTLE SNIPE HABITAT IN THE REGION. BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1 adult winter bird at Lake Six/Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only report - A TAD LATE BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT MARCH REPORTS SEEM TO BE ON THE INCREASE IN THE REGION. LAUGHING GULL: 1 adult bird was tracked from Guy Park (Lubbock) on 3/9/14 (PKe, CC, SC) to Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 3/9/14 (RR, AnH, PKe, SC) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; THE 7th RECORD FOR THE REGION. FRANKLIN'S GULL: 2 at Lake Six/Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only report - RIGHT ON TIME; HERE'S HOPING FOR AN APRIL SURGE. INCA DOVE: 2 near 78th and Flint (Lubbock) on 3/10/14 (AnH) and 1 in the Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 3/11/14 (CC) the only reports - DECLINING RAPIDLY THROUGHOUT THE REGION. LONG-EARED OWL: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR) the only report - HARD TO FIND THIS YEAR - THIS REMAIN'S THE REGION'S MOST DEPENDABLE SITE FOR THIS SPECIES AS WELL AS FOR THE SHORT-EARED OWL. BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male hit the feeders at a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 3/28/14 through 3/31/14 (AnH) - FORMERLY CASUAL THIS EARLY IN THE YEAR; WE NOW EXPECT THE FIRST ARRIVALS TO OCCUR IN LATE MARCH. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 near Ballard Creek (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only reports - VERY SCARCE IN THE REGION THIS WINTER; LOW. MERLIN: 2 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC), 1 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 3/24/14 (DK), 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) from 3/25/14 through 3/30/14 (SC, AnH), and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTERING SPECIES. PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 3/1/14 (DJ0 and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) the only reports - MAY HAVE BAILED FROM THE REGION A BIT EARLY THIS YEAR. MONK PARAKEET: 1 bird persisted at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) through 3/28/14 (NP) - A VERY LONELY PARAKEET, METHINKS. EASTERN PHOEBE: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 1 at Muleshoe NWR - Hale (Hale) on 3/15/14 (NP), 2 near Roaring Springs (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 2 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - A NICE REBOUND FROM A VERY POOR WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION. SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 3/1/14 thoguh 3/3/14 (KH), 1 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 3/10/14 (CC), 1 near Plainview (Hale) on 3/11/14 (NP), 1 near South Plains (Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR - Hale (Hale) on 3/15/14 (NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR WINTER/EARLY SPRING - FAIRLY DROUGHT-RESISTANT THOUGH ONE WONDERS WHAT THESE BIRDS ARE EATING. ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER - 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only report - RUNNING LATE THIS YEAR. WESTERN KINGBIRD - 1 in the Rush neighborhood (Lubbock)on 3/31/14 (AnH) the only report - FORMERLY CASUAL THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT OUR FIRST LUBBOCK KINGBIRDS DURING THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH COMMON RAVEN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through at least 3/19/14 (KH), 3 near Post (Garza) on 3/2/14 (MG), 2 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/4/14 (KH), 1 at the CR 209 Playa (Crosby) on 3/5/14 (KH), 1 at the Ralls Playa (Crosby) on 3/6/14 (KH), and 2 near Flomot (Motley) on 3/8/14 (CA, MA) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW-DENSITY RESIDENT OF BRUSHY AREAS BELOW THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT. PURPLE MARTIN: 3 in Plainview (Hale) on 3/1/14 (NP), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 3 males in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/13/14 (GJ), 2 pairs at the same yard (Lubbock) on 3/14/14 (GJ), and 1 at Higginbotham Park (Lubbock)on 3/29/14 (AnH) - A TAD LOW BUT NOT TOO BAD GIVEN THE ONGOING DROUGHT AND ITS IMPACT ON INSECT POPULATIONS. TREE SWALLOW: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only report - CASUAL THIS EARLY IN MIGRATION; LUBBOCK'S CANYON LAKES MIGHT WELL BE THE PLACE TO BE FOR SWALLOWS THIS SPRING. CLIFF SWALLOW: 5 in east Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) and 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/31/14 (KH) the first of the season - A TAD LATE THIS YEAR AND, THUS FAR, LOW NUMBERS. CAVE SWALLOW: 7 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/31/14 (KH) - ONE OF VERY FEW MARCH REPORTS FOR THE REGION - THOUGH THE SPECIES HAS BEEN ARRIVING EARLIER AND DEPARTING LATER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR. BARN SWALLOW: 11 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the first report for the season - popped up, in low numbers, throughout the region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the remainder of the period (CC, SC, EFD, KH, AnH, PKe, NP) - ARRIVED ON TIME BUT NUMBERS SEEMED A TAD LOW AT THE END OF THE MONTH. MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; THE 4th RECORD FOR THE REGION; THE FIRST RECORD SINCE 1978. BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 2 near Matador (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) and 1 near Whiteflat (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only report - OUR WOODED AREAS ARE IN INCREASINGLY ROUGH SHAPE, DUE TO DROUGHT, AND THIS SPECIES SEEMS TO BE DECLINING OF LATE. VERDIN: 2 in Whiteflat (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only report - ANOTHER SPECIES THAT MAY BE DECLINING THROUGHOUT THE REGION; IT DEFINITELY HAS BECOME NOTEWORTHY. BUSHTIT: 6 at the CR 2009 crossing of the Pease River (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only report - ANOTHER SPECIES THAT MAY BE DECLINING THROUGHOUT THE REGION; IT DEFINITELY HAS BECOME NOTEWORTHY. BROWN CREEPER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (CC), 1 near 78th and Flint (Lubbock) on 3/10/14 (AnH), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - VERY SCARCE THIS WINTER; THESE MIGHT WELL BE SPRING PASSAGE BIRDS. ROCK WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (CC), 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (RR, AnH), 1 at the Highway 207 crossing of the White River (Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 1 at East Mound Cemetery (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - A LOW DENSITY RESIDENT AT AREAS IN THE REGION THAT POSSESS RIM-ROCK - THESE SIGHTING ARE ALL CONSISTENT WITH PERMANENT RESIDENTS. CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) thorugh the period (CC, PKe) - ANOTHER LOW DENSITY DENIZEN OF THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DEPENDABLE SITES IN THE REGION FOR THE SPECIES. WINTER WREN: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) - VERY HARD TO FIND THIS WINTER; THIS IS PROBABLY A CONTINUING RECORD AT THIS SITE. CAROLINA WREN: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 1 at the CR 2009 crossing of Turkey Creek (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only reports - UNTIL RECENTLY THIS SPECIES APPEARED TO BE SPREADING RAPIDLY WESTWARD INTO THE REGION; THAT SPREAD MAY HAVE BEEN SLOWED BY THE DROUGHT. BEWICK'S WREN: 1 in (Motley) on 3/5/14 (CR), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH), 1 at Ballard Creek (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 2 near Whiteflat (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP) the only reports - FORMERLY FAIRLY EASY TO FIND THROUGHOUT THE REGION; APPEARS TO BE DECLINING - ESPECIALLY IN OUR CENTRAL COUNTIES - OF LATE. CACTUS WREN: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR) - A VERY REPORT OF THE SPECIES FOR THE REGION - I HAVE SEEN MORE DEAD CACTUS WRENS (ALL DROWNED IN STOCK TANKS) AT THIS SITE THAN LIVER CACTUS WRENS. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/6/14 (NP) the only reports - GIVEN THAT THE SPECIES WAS VIRTUALLY ABSENT FROM THE REGION DURING WINTER, THESE MAY WELL BY BIRDS OF THE SPRING PASSAGE. EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 north of Dickens (Dickens) on 3/15/14 (AnH) and 2 near Matador (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW. WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 4 at the Morton Cemetery (Cochran) on 3/9/15 (AnH) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: Six reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-25 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Lamb, Lynn) during the period (CA, MA, JB, CC, AnH, KH) - A DECENT NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS BUT NUMBERS REMAINED A BIT THIN. TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the period (SB, CC, SC, JD, TmD, TnD, EFD, AnH, AvH, DJ, PKe, PR, TT), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 3/7/14 (NP), 1 at the Morton Cemetery (Cochran) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR), 1 at Muleshoe NWR - Hale (Hale) on 3/15/14 (NP), 1 near Petersburg (Hale) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 3/15/14 (CC) - NOT THE BANG-UP NUMBERS OF AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR BUT SURPRISINGLY CLOSE. CURVE-BILLED THRASHER: Twelve reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Floyd, Lamb, Lubbock, Motley) during the period (CC, AnH, KH, PKe, RR) - THIS SPECIES HAS BECOME SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND DURING RECENT YEARS. BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) throughout the period (CC, PKe), 1 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/6/14 (Di), and 1 in Whiteflat (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) - UNTIL RECENTLY THIS SPECIES APPEARED TO BE SPREADING RAPIDLY WESTWARD INTO THE REGION; THAT SPREAD MAY HAVE BEEN SLOWED BY THE DROUGHT. SAGE THRASHER: 1 in (Bailey) on 3/10/14 (CC), 1 at Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/25/14 (AB), and 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) from 3/26/14 though 3/27/14 (SC, EFD) - A NICE SPRING BOUNCE AFTER A VERY POOR WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION. AMERICAN PIPIT: 4 at the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) no 3/1/14 (CC), 1 near Needmore (Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw), and 1 along Bole's Lake Road (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) - INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN OUR REGION IN RECENT YEARS. CEDAR WAXWING: 10 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (PKe) and 9 in a draw in (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC) the only reports - A VERY POOR WINTER FOR THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION AND SPRING IS LOOKING NONE TOO PROMISING. PHAINOPEPLA: 1 gorgeous male in the vicinity of 78th and Flint (Lubbock) from 3/9/14 though 3/11/14 (RL, CC, SC, AnH, PKe) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 20th RECORD. CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 2 at the Western Water Pond (Dickens) on 3/8/14 (AP, JP), 35 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 20 near Needmore (Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw), and 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw) the only reports - A SHABBY END TO A SHABBY WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION. MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 3 near Plainview (Hale) on 3/11/14 (NP) and 45 near Needmore (Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw) the only reports - A SHABBY END TO A SHABBY WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 3/25/14 (NP) - A TAD EARLY BUT, GIVEN THAT THE SPECIES HAS WINTERED IN THE REGION BEFORE, NOT TOO SURPRISING. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 3/4/14 through 3/6/14 (KD), 1-3 near 78th and Flint (Lubbock) on 3/10/14 (SC, AnH), 1 at the TTU Gardens (Lubbock) on 3/27/14 (SC), 1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 3/28/14 (NP), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only reports - A BIT OF A REBOUND FROM WINTER PROPER; WE MAY BE SEEING A BIT IN THE WAY OF REGIONAL NORTHWARD MOVEMENT. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH) and 1 singing male at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only reports - VERY SPARSE IN THE REGION DURING THIS SOMEWHAT RUGGED WINTER. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: Usually quite common in the region throughout the winter, the species was - HARD TO FIND AND IN ATYPICALLY LOW NUMBERS THIS WINTER. SPOTTED TOWHEE, FIELD SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, LARK BUNTING, SAVANNAH SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO - Our normal wintering contingent of sparrows was, to a species, uniformly difficult to find and low in numbers this grueling winter - VERY LOW, LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, LOW, and VERY LOW IN NUMBERS RESPECTIVELY DURING THIS MONTH. CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 2 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 7 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/31/14 (CC) the only reports - A TAD LATE AND A TAD LOW THIS YEAR. LARK SPARROW: 1 at the CR 152 Prairie Dog Town (Crosby) on 3/21/14 (KH) - ON TIME THIS YEAR BUT, WOW, TALK ABOUT LOW NUMBERS. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/31/14 (CC) - AN EXCELLENT SIGHTING; THIS SPECIES HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO FIND IN LUBBOCK COUNTY DURING RECENT YEARS. FOX SPARROW: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 1 at the Highway 207 crossing of White River (Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 1 at Whiteflat (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 3/27/14 through 3/30/14 (SC, EFD, AnH) - A BIT BETTER THAN FEBRUARY BUT STILL QUITE LOW IN TERMS OF NUMBERS. SWAMP SPARROW: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 1 at the CR 2009 crossing of Turkey Creek (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 3 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only reports - NOTEWORTHILY LOW NUMBERS. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1-2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) throughout the period (CC, SC, EFD, AnH), 1 in central Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/6/14 (Di), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 3/15/14 (KH), amd 1 at the CR 2009 crossing of the Pease River (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) - THOUGH THE SPECIES WAS MUCH MORE COMMON THAN THIS HISTORICALLY, THIS IS NOT SO SHABBY FOR A CONTEMPORARY MARCH. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 3/15/14 (KH), 3 at Fiddlewood x CR 2900 (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 1 near Needmore (Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR OUR ANNUAL RAMP-UP TO THE APRIL PEAK. RUSTY BLACKBIRD: 1 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BE A LOW-DENSITY WINTER RESIDENT THROUGHOUT THE REGION. PINE SISKIN: 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 5 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/25/14 (SC), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/28/14 (SC) - VIRTUALLY ABSENT DURING THE WINTER PROPER, THESE SIGHTINGS COULD WELL BE PART OF A SPRING MOVEMENT FROM POINTS SOUTH. LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 3/9/14 to 3/10/14 (TT) the only report - A VERY RARE WINTER RESIDENT IN THE REGION IN RECENT YEARS. EVENING GROSBEAK: 1 female persisted at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 3/1/14 (DJ, PKe) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; A CONTINUATION OF THE REGION'S 3rd RECORD SINCE 2005. OBSERVERS: CA=Connie Andrus, MA=Marlin Andrus, SB=Susan Bergeson, GB=Grant Beauprez, JB=Jeff Boatright, AB=Andrew Burnett, CC=Cameron Carver, SC=Steve Collins, JD=Jeanne Davis, KD=Ken Dixon, TmD= Tom Dolan, TnD=Toni Dolan, EFD= Elizabeth Farlye-Dawson, DH=Danny Hancock, DHw=Dave Hawksworth, AnH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, Di=Donn ianuziDJ=Dan Jones, GJ=George Jury, PKe=Peter Keyel, DK=Douglas Klein, KL=Kristen Linner, ML=Mark Lockwood, JM=Jennifer Miller, KM=Kevin Morris, AP=Amy Packer, JP=Jay Packer, NP=Nily Pyeatt, PR=Paula Richardson, RR=Ross Rickett, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, CR=Christopher Rustay, TT=Tess Trost, DW=Debra Whitecotton. Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson terrverts@xxxxxxxxx Bird Records Compiler, Llano Estacado Audubon Society www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org