Lubbock received 1.05 inches of rain during the month, well below the
average September total of 1.70 inches, and is now at 12.27 inches for the
year, falling even further behind the average year-to-date total of 17.30
inches. Thanks to higher rainfall totals in surrounding areas many
regional playas remain in surprisingly good shape, however, and have
continued to kick out interesting waterbird sightings. As regards
songbirds, migration - in the absence of bird-stalling weather events - was
a bit of a bust this fall, with the single positive note being the early,
and widespread, arrival of all three species of bluebirds to the region.
Regional summaries of eBird data can not be acquired in a timely fashion.
As a result, records submitted to eBird may not appear in this report.
Reports from the region that are submitted to the texbirds or leasbirds
listserve can be reviewed in a timely fashion and should appear.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK: 14 were seen at the Plainview Duck Pond
(Hale) on 10/12/16 (NP, photographs) and 13 were still present at the site
on 10/22/16 (PKe, photographs) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; NOW REPORTED ANNUALLY - THIS IS A RECORD NUMBER, BY FAR, FOR A
SINGLE SIGHTING IN THE REGION.
WOOD DUCK: 3 at the FM 789 Wetlands (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP) the only report
- VERY LOW.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds, seven reports of 11-25
birds, two reports of 26-50 birds, two reports of 51-100 birds, and one
report of 152 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during
the period (AH, KH, PKe, AL, NP) - REMARKABLY HIGH NUMBERS AND GOOD
SCATTER; THE BEST MIGRATORY SEASON ARCHIVED FOR THE REGION. HOPEFULLY SOME
WILL PERSIST INTO WINTER.
CINNAMON TEAL: Eight reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (AH, KH, AL, NP) - SURPRISINGLY GOOD
NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
CINNAMON TEAL: Seven reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley,
Lynn) during the period (JB, AH, NP) - VERY SOLID NUMBERS FOR OUR FALL
MOVEMENT.
CANVASBACK: 2 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/14/16 (AH) and 3 at the FM 789
Wetlands (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP) the only reports - A TAD LOW SO FAR THIS
YEAR.
REDHEAD: Eight reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 12 birds in the
region (Bailey, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (AH, KH, NP) - A
GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS THOUGH NUMBERS ARE A TAD LOW.
RING-NECKED DUCK: Ten reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (AH, KH, PKe, NP) - LATE TO ARRIVE THIS
SEASON AND LOW IN NUMBER THUS FAR.
LESSER SCAUP: 12 at Becton Cemetery Playa (Lubbock) on 10/18/16 (KH), 8 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/26/16 (KH), 6 in Abernathy (Hale) on 10/30/16
NP), and 2 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) the only reports -
LATE AND LOW.
SCALED QUAIL: 45 near Post (Garza) on 10/16/16 (JB), 18 south of Sundown
(Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), and 2 near Grassland (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) -
GOOD NUMBERS; THIS SPECIES HAS REALLY BOUNCED BACK FROM RECENT YEARS OF
DROUGHT.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: Eleven reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Hale,
Hockley) during the period (AH, NP) - SAME STORY AS THE QUAIL - GOOD
NUMBERS SUGGESTIVE OF DROUGHT RECOVERY.
HORNED GREBE:1 southwest of Pep (Hale) on 10/1/16 (AH, photographs) and 1
at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/26/16 (KH) - EARLY IN THE SEASON FOR THIS
RARE WINTER VISITOR; MIGHT BE A GOOD SIGN FOR THE CBCs.
EARED GREBE: 2 north of Levelland (Hockley) on 10/14/16 (AH), 1 at the Hale
Center WTP (Hale) on 10/22/16 (PKe), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/26/16
(KH), and 1 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SCATTER FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
INCA DOVE: 1 near Seth Ward (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP) the only report - SLIP,
SLIDING AWAY.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 near Smyer (Hockley) on 10/5/16 (DH, AH), 2 in northeast
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/5/16 (JC), 1 in northeast Lubbock (Lubbock) on
10/9/16 (TC), 1 in southeast Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/9/16 (JC), 2 on the
TTU HSC campus (Lubbock) on 10/10/16 (AH), 1 in northeast Lubbock (Lubbock)
on 10/11/16 (JC), 2 on the TTU HSC campus (Lubbock) on 10/13/16 (AH), and 1
at the FM 789 Wetlands (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER
FOR THIS MOST LIKELY UNDER-REPORTED SPECIES.
CHIMNEY SWIFT: 2 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/2/16 (AH) the only report
received - AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 immature male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
10/1/16 (AH), 1 immature female and 1 immature male in the same yard on
10/2/16 (AH), 1 adult female in the same yard from 10/3/16 through 10/8/16
(AH), 1 immature male in the same yard on 10/9/16 (AH), 1 adult male in the
same yard on 10/10/16 (AH), and 1 on the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/15/16
(KH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN OCTOBER; NOW TO BE LOOKED FOR
THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male in Levelland (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH) and 1
immature female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/23/16 (AH) the only
reports - VERY LOW; OCTOBER CAN BE A GOOD MONTH FOR THE SPECIES IN THE
REGION AND SOME WILL WINTER.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 2 near Grassland (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) the only report -
VERY LOW.
SORA: no reports at all - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
SANDHILL CRANE: 2 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/12/16 (EH) were the first
reported. Elsewise, six reports of 1-10 birds, seven reports of 11-100
birds, one report of 109 birds, and one report of 600 birds in the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the latter half of the
period (JB, AH, KH) - A BIT LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR AND NUMBERS SEEMED A
BIT LOW, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 4 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 1 in
south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/1/16 (AL), 2 near Whitharral (Hockley) on
10/14/16 (AH), 2 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 1 at Becton
Cemetery Playa (Lubbock) on 10/18/16 (KH), and 1 at the Sundown WTP
(Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR OCTOBER; GIVEN THE MILD
CONDITIONS, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF ANY PERSIST INTO NOVEMBER.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Two reports of 1-10 birds, nine reports of 11-25 birds,
and three reports of 26-50 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley) during the
period (AH, NP) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE PERIOD.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 2 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 48-51 at
Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 47 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
10/22/16 (AH), and 14 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) - GOOD
NUMBERS BUT POOR SCATTER FOR THIS STILL POORLY UNDERSTOOD FALL MIGRANT?
AND?OR WINTER VISITOR?
STILT SANDPIPER: 20 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/14/16 (AH, photographs),
2 in Slaton (Lubbock) on 10/17/16 (JB), 13 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/24/16
(JB), and 2 at the I 27 x FM 54 Playa (Hale) on 10/30/16 (NP) - GOOD
NUMBERS; PARTICULARLY FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/26/16 (KH) - AN
UNUSUALLY LATE REPORT FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
LEAST SANDPIPER: Ten reports of 1-10 birds, three reports of 11-25 birds,
and one report of 120 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Hockley,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, AH, KH, NP) - GOOD NUMBERS AND GREAT
SCATTER; HOPEFULLY SOME WILL PERSIST INTO THE CBC SEASON.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 2 north of Levelland (Hockley) on 10/14/16 (AH,
photographs) and 1 in Slaton (Lubbock) on 10/17/16 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 3 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 2
south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 28 north of Levelland (Hockley)
on 10/14/16 (AH), 12 north of Levelland (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 6 in
Slaton (Lubbock) on 10/17/16 (JB), 4 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
10/24/16 (KH), and 4 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE
BUT A VAST IMPROVEMENT OVER RECENT, DROUGHT YEARS.
WILSON'S SNIPE: Seven reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Hockley, Lynn)
during the period (JB, AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 2 south of
Smyer (Hockley) on10/9/16 (AH), 1 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/14/16
(AH), and 1 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) the only reports
received - LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Twenty-one reports of 1-10 birds, three reports of
11-25 birds, and one report of 36 birds in the period (Bailey, Crosby,
Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, AH, KH, PKe, NP) -
GIVEN THE LOW NUMBER REPORTED IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THIS SEEMS TO A
RATHER LATE AND RATHER STRONG MIGRATORY PULSE.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 38 birds,
and one report of 44 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Hockley,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, KH, NP) - GIVEN THE LOW NUMBER REPORTED
IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THIS SEEMS TO A RATHER LATE AND RATHER STRONG
MIGRATORY PULSE.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 2 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH) and 1 at the
Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 10/22/16 (PKe, photographs) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
RING-BILLED GULL: 2 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) the first
report of the season away from Lubbock city playas - LATE AND LOW.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 2 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH) and
1 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) the only reports away from
Lubbock city playas - LOW.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/23/16 (AH), 1 at Miller
Park (Lubbock) on 10/23/16 (AH), 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/24/16 (JB), and
1 at Brashears Park (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) - LOW NUMBERS BUT GOOD
SCATTER.
SNOWY EGRET: 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/23/16 (AH) and 1 near
Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/24/16 (JB) the only reports - VERY LOW.
CATTLE EGRET: 5 in Hale Center (Hale) on 10/23/16 (NP), 19 near Tahoka
(Lynn) on 10/24/16 (JB), and 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
GREEN HERON: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/23/16 (AH) the only
report - LOW; THIS SPECIES HAD A SURPRISINGLY POOR YEAR IN THE REGION.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at Roundup Play (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH) -
THE ONLY REPORT AWAY FROM LUBBOCK; VERY LATE TO BE AT AN OUTLYING SITE.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 2 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH) and 2 south
of Smyer (Hockley)on 10/9/16 (AH) the only reports - LOW; AS REPORTED IN
SEPTEMBER WADERS, OVERALL, LEFT THE REGION EARLY THIS YEAR.
TURKEY VULTURE: 54 near Post (Garza) on 10/16/16 (JB) - THE LAST REPORT OF
THE SEASON; AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION WITH LITTLE KETTLING OR
ROOSTING REPORTED.
OSPREY: 1 in Hale Center (Hale) on 10/23/16 (NP) and 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 10/29/16 (DH, JJ, JW) the only reports - LOW.
MISSISSIPPI KITE: 2 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/2/16 (AH) the last report
- ANOTHER SOMEWHAT EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION.
WHITE-TAILED KITE: 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/24/16 (JB) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW AN ANNUAL VISITOR AND VERY RARE BREEDER.
SWAINSON'S HAWK: 1 near Post (Garza) on 10/16/16 (JB), 1 in Smyer (Hockley)
on 10/22/16 (AH), and 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) the only
reports from the latter half of the period - LOW WITH NOT KETTLING REPORTED
DURING THE MONTH.
FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1 along FM 2646 (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH) and 3 southeast
of Pep (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH) - THE ONLY REPORTS FROM THE FIRST HALF OF
THE PERIOD - A TAD LOW.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/18/16 (KD)
and 2 in the same yard on 10/29/16 (KD) - ABOUT AVERAGE; NOTHING LIKE THE
INVASION OF LAST YEAR.
MERLIN: Six reports of single birds in the region (Crosby, Hockley,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, KH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN
THE SEASON.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH) and 1 near
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/23/16 (AH) the only reports - A TAD LOW,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THEIR ABUNDANCE EARLIER IN THE SEASON.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/1/16 (AL), 1 near Seth
Ward (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP), 1 near Opdyke West (Hockley) on 10/31/16
(AH), and 1 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH, photographs) - GOOD
NUMBERS AND SCATTER FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 1 along FM 2646 (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; WE NOW EXPECT AN OCTOBER REPORT OR TWO.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 1 west of Anton (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR OCTOBER.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 south of Whitharral (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH) - RATHER
LATE; MOST OCTOBER REPORTS ARE FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH.
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER: 1 southwest of Pep (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH,
photographs) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO
BE AN ANNUAL MIGRANT WITH A TENDENCY TO LINGER IN WARM YEARS.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1-2 in Pep (Hockley) through the period (AH) and 1 west of
Anton on 10/9/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE FALL LINGERER/ WINTER
VISITOR.
EASTERN PHOEBE: Seven reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (JB, AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; ANOTHER SPECIES SHOWING
RECOVERY FROM THE DROUGHT.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER:1 in Anton (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 1 at the
Foster x Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 2 along FM 2646
(Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 2 west of Ropesville (Hockley) on 10/22/16
(AH), and1 near Grassland (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE
LATTER HALF OF OCTOBER; NO LONGER CONSIDERED NOTEWORTHY DURING THE FIRST
HALF.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/2/16 (DH) - A GREAT
SIGHTING DURING WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY POOR SEASON FOR VIREOS IN OUR REGION.
COMMON RAVEN: 4 near Post (Garza) on 10/16/16(JB), 5 near Tahoka Lake
(Lynn) on 10/22/16 (JB), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/24/16 (KH),
and 1 near Grassland (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH)
the only report for the month - LOW.
BARN SWALLOW: 28 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 2 at Smyer
Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 6 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/16/16
(AH), 20 in Slaton (Lubbock) on 10/17/16 (JB), and 14 near Grassland (Lynn)
on 10/25/16 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE LATTER HALF OF OCTOBER; NO LONGER
CONSIDERED NOTEWORTHY DURING THE FIRST HALF.
VERDIN: 2 near Post (Garza) on 10/16/16 (JB) - DECLINING THROUGHOUT THE
REGION; FORMERLY ENCOUNTERED, IN SMALL NUMBERS, THROUGHOUT THE REGION - NOW
NOTEWORTHY ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE REGION.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 10/26/16
(NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
ROCK WREN: 1 near Plainview (Hale) on 10/6/16 (NP) and 3 near Post (Garza)
on 10/16/16 (JB) - A TAD LOW; WE GENERALLY SEE A MIGRATORY PEAK FOR THIS
SPECIES IN OCTOBER.
MARSH WREN: 4 at the FM 789 Wetlands (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP) the first
report of the season - VERY LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR AND, SO FAR, VERY LOW
IN NUMBER.
HOUSE WREN: Twenty-one reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Garza, Hockley,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, AH) - A VERY GOOD SEASON, BY THE
NUMBERS AT ANY RATE, FOR THIS MIGRANT.
BEWICK'S WREN: 1 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 2 at Smyer
Playa (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 1 near Grassland (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB),
1 at the Foster x Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH), and 1 at
Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) - FORMERLY COMMON THROUGHOUT THE
REGION, THIS SPECIES HAS DECLINED TO RARE OR VERY RARE THROUGHOUT.
CACTUS WREN: 2 near Post (Garza) on 10/16/16 (B) - FORMERLY MORE COMMON IN
THE REGION; NOW RESTRICTED TO THE SOUTHERNMOST PORTIONS OF OUR SOUTHERNMOST
COUNTIES.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 2 at Anton Ponds (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 1 at the
Foster x Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 1 at Smyer Playa
(Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), and 2 at Anton Ponds (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH)
- A VERY LOW; WE GENERALLY SEE A PRONOUNCED MIGRATORY PEAK FOR THIS SPECIES
IN OCTOBER.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 5 near Sudan (Lamb) on 10/15/16 (DHw), 4 at the Estacado
Cemetery (Lubbock) on 10/18/16 (KH), 1 immature male in Pep (Hockley) on
10/22/16 (AH), 1 in Hale Center (Hale) on 10/23/16 (NP), 1 near Tahoka
(Lynn) on 10/24/16 (JB), 1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 10/26/16
(NP), and 1 male south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) - UNUSUALLY HIGH
NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON AND, FOR THE MOST PART, FURTHER WEST
IN THE REGION THAN EXPECTED.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 8 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/15/16 (DHw), 13 near
Post (Garza) on 10/16/16 (JB), 2 at the Estacado Cemetery (Lubbock) on
10/18/16 (KH), 9 in Pep (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 4 southwest of Pep
(Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 4 at Sundown Golf Course (Hockley) on 10/22/16
(AH), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/26/16 (KH) - UNUSUALLY HIGH
NUMBERS FOR THE REGION AND, IN SOME CASES, FURTHER EAST IN THE REGION THAN
EXPECTED.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 3 in Pep (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 5 near Post (Garza)
on 10/16/16 (JB), 1 near Petit (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 1 in Pep
(Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 2 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 2
southeast of Pep (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 6 southwest of Pep (Hockley)
on 10/22/16 (AH), 2 west of Ropeville (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), and 2 at
Ropesville Cemetery (Hockley) on 10/31/16 (AH) - UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBERS FOR
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 1 near Petit (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH) the only report
- VERY LOW; GENERALLY PEAKS IN OCTOBER.
HERMIT THRUSH: Nine reports of single birds in the region (Hockley,
Lubbock) during the period (AH) - LOW; NOT A VERY GOOD THRUSH SEASON.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at the Foster x Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH),
1 at the same site on 10/9/16 (AH, photographs), 1 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 10/14/16 (GJ), and 1 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH)
- ABOUT AVERAGE FOR OCTOBER.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/1/16 (AL) the only atop the
escarpment report received - LOW.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 southeast of Pep (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 1 at Roundup
Playa (Hockley) on 10/14/16 (AH), 1 southeast of Pep (Hockley) on 10/22/16
(AH), and 1 near Seth Ward (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP) - A TAD LOW; WE
GENERALLY SEE A BIGGER SPIKE IN OCTOBER.
CEDAR WAXWING: 16 near Reese Center (Lubbock) on 10/22/16 (AH) the first
report of the season - RIGHT ON TIME AND GOOD-SIZED FLOCK FOR OCTOBER.
AMERICAN PIPIT: Nine report of 1-10 birds in the region (Hockley, Lynn)
during the period (JB, AH) - AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS; LOW NUMBERS.
SPRAGUE'S PIPIT: 1 near Post (Garza) on 10/17/16 (JB), 1 near Tahoka (Lynn)
on 10/24/16 (JB), and 2 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL MIGRANT.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/2/16 (AH) and 2 near
Grassland (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) - A TAD LATE; THIS SPECIES BECOMES
NOTEWORTHY IN OCTOBER.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/2/16 (DH) the
only report - A TAD LOW BUT IT WAS A VERY POOR SEASON FOR MIGRANT WARBLERS.
TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/1/16 (WW) and 1 in
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/16/16 (GJ, PJ) - BOTH REPORT WERE A BIT LATE;
THIS SPECIES USUALLY PEAKS IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Thirty-four reports of 1-6 birds in the region
(Garza, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH) - THE EXCEPTION TO THE
RULE; THE REGION SAW A VERY GOOD MOVEMENT OF THIS WARBLER!
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 at Anton Ponds (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 1 at the
West x 13th Playa in Levelland (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 1 at the Foster x
Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 1 south of Roundup (Hockley) on
10/16/16 (AH), and 1 south of Whitharral (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR OCTOBER.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER:1 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH) the only
report - INCREDIBLY LOW; THIS SPECIES USUALLY PEAKS DURING THE LAST WEEK OF
SEPTEMBER AND FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 male west of Anton (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: No reports at all - VERY LOW.
WILSON'S WARBLER: Ten reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Hockley) during
the period (AH) - LOW, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE GOOD NUMBERS REPORTED IN
SEPTEMBER.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at the Foster x Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on
10/9/16 (AH) - THE ONLY REPORT OF THE ENTIRE FALL SEASON - LOW!
SPOTTED TOWHEE: 1 at the Foster x Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on 10/9/16
(AH) and 10/14/16 (AH) and 10/16/16 (AH), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike
Trail (Lubbock) on 10/13/16 (JB) - WHILE THE SPECIES ARRIVED ON TIME THIS
SEASON, NUMBERS ARE LOW.
CASSIN'S SPARROW: 1 at Sundown Golf Course (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH) the
only report - THIS SPECIES CAN BE ABSENT TO COMMON THIS TIME OF YEAR;
HAVING BUT A SINGLE REPORT BODES ILL FOR WINTER SIGHTINGS.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Twelve sightings of 1-10 birds, one sighting of 12 birds,
and one sighting of 20 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (JB, AH, KH, NP) - A TAD LOW BUT, AS EXPECTED, CHIPPING
SPARROWS MOVED THROUGH IN BETTER NUMBERS THAN CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS LATE IN
THE SEASON.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Ten reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
OCTOBER WHEN, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, THEY
GENERALLY DROP BELOW CHIPPING SPARROWS IN NUMBER.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 2 in Pep (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 2 southwest of Pep
(Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 2 in Pep (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH), 2 in Hale
Center (Hale) on 10/23/16 (NP), 2 near Plainview (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP),
and 3 near Seth Ward (Hale) on 10/29/16 (NP) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER,
ESPECIALLY FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
FIELD SPARROW: 2 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 10/30/16 (NP) the only
report - RUNNING LATE AND RUNNING LOW.
LARK SPARROW: 1 south of Whitharral (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH) and 3 south
of Hale Center (Hale) on 10/30/16 (NP) - SIGHTINGS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE
MONTH ARE NOT PARTICULARLY NOTEWORTHY BUT THIS IS GOOD FOR THE LATTER HALF
OF OCTOBER.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW: 4 near Post (Garza) on 10/16/16 (JB) - ACCIDENTAL
TO MOST OF THE REGION; IN GARZA AND KENT COUNTIES THE SPECIES IS MERELY
VERY RARE.
DARK-EYED JUNCO: 3 west of Anton (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 3 at the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 10/13/16 (JB), 1 at the Himmel Farm
(Crosby) on 10/15/16 (KH), and 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/15/16
(AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH; SIGHTINGS DURING THE
LATTER HALF OF OCTOBER ARE NOT NOTEWORTHY.
NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1 along FM 2646 (Hockley) on 10/22/16 (AH, photographs)
- SIGHTINGS WEST OF A LINE CONNECTING FLOYD, LUBBOCK, AND TERRY COUNTIES
ARE RARE.
PYRRHULOXIA: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/13/16 (CL, RL) and 1 near
Grassland (Lynn) on 10/25/16 (JB) - SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ATOP THE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT ARE RARE.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 near Plainview (Hale) on 10/6/16 (NP) - THIS IS
FAIRLY LATE IN THE YEAR FOR THIS SPECIES TO BE MOVING THROUGH OUR REGION;
NEAT SIGHTING.
BLUE GROSBEAK: 1 female at the Foster x Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on
10/1/16 (AH) was the last report of the season - THIS SPECIES USUALLY
PERSISTS A LITTLE MORE STRONGLY INTO EARLY OCTOBER; AN EARLY DEPARTURE.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 4 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH), 5 at
Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 8 south of Roundup (Hockley) on
10/9/16 (AH), 22 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 2 west of Anton
(Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 2 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/14/16 (AH), 2
at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/16/16 (AH), 8 at Roundup Playa (Hockley)
on 10/22/16 (AH), and 1 male at Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/24/16 (KH) - A
RATHER PROLONGED MOVEMENT, WITH RELATIVELY LOW NUMBERS, THROUGH THE REGION
THIS YEAR.
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD: 18 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on10/1/16 (AH), 20 at
Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH), 24 south of Roundup (Hockley) on
10/9/16 (AH), and 4 west of Anton (Hockley) on 10/9/16 (AH) - SURPRISINGLY
SPARSE DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH BUT NUMBERS RAMPED UP RAPIDLY
DURING THE SECOND HALF.
COMMON GRACKLE: 14 at the Foster x Hawk Roads Playa (Hockley) on 10/9/16
(AH) - GENERALLY NOT SEEN AWAY FROM WHAT ARE, BY OUR STANDARDS, WOODED
AREAS.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 2 males at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 10/1/16 (AH) and 32
(mostly males) in Brownfield (Terry) on 10/1/16 (PKe, photographs) - THE
LAST REPORTS OF THE SEASON - AN EARLY DEPARTURE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS
and THE HIGHEST NUMBER EVER REPORTED AT A SINGLE SITE IN OUR REGION!
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, JC=Jennifer Coulson, TC=Tom Coulson, KD-Ken
Dixon, DH=Drew Harvey, DHa=Dave Hawksworth, AH=Anthony Hewetson, EH=Ellen
Hildebrandt, KH=Kelly Himmel, JJ=Jan Jannett, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury,
PKe=Peter Keyel, CL=Carol Lee, RL=Rob Lee, AL=Alan Livingston, NP=Niler
Pyeatt, WW=William Wenthe, JW=Janice Whittington.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
