[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Highlights for April - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 17 May 2014 17:55:12 -0500
With 0.57 inches of rain in Lubbock during the month, far below the average
April total of 1.29 inches, we are now at 0.90 inches for the year and
sliding ever deeper into drought, now 2.36 inches below the average
year-to-date total of 3.26 inches. We are 29 inches off of the average
expected rainfall of 59 inches for January 2011 through April 2014 and are
starting to loses even some of the artificially-maintained or spring-fed
bodies of water in the region. 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: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/17/14 (SC, EFD, TG) the only
sighting for the month - THE SPECIES PULLED OUT EARLY AND THOROUGHLY THIS
YEAR.
CACKLING GOOSE: Fourteen reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-15
birds at roughly a dozen sites spread throughout the region (Hale, Hockley,
Lubbock, Terry) during the period (JB, CC, SC, EFD, TG, CG, AnH, AK, PKe,
NP) - ALSO A RELATIVELY EARLY, THOUGH NOT SO THOROUGH, PULLOUT FROM THE
REGION.
WOOD DUCK: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CC), 3 at
Gillham/Howell Park (Terry) on 4/13/14 (AnH), and 1-2 at the Plainview Duck
Pond (Hale) from 4/18/14 to 4/20/14 (NP) the only reports - MORE THAN A TAD
LOW BY RECENT SPRINGS' STANDARDS.
CINNAMON TEAL: 6-7 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 4/5/14 (CS, PKe), 1
at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), 2 at the Houston School
Playa (Hale) on 4/8/14 (NP), 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/12/14
(AnH), and 4 males at Post City Park (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH) the only
reports - A TAD LOW, GIVEN THAT APRIL IS TYPICALLY MIDPEAK FOR THIS SPECIES
SPRING MOVEMENT INTO AND THROUGH THE REGION.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 2 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 4/5/14 (SC)
the only report - VERY LOW; PULLOUT FROM THE REGION MAY WELL BE TOTAL THIS
BREEDING SEASON>
CANVASBACK: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (CC) and 1 at
the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 4/20/14 (NP) the only reports - LOW.
REDHEAD: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CC) and 1 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (CC) the only reports - VERY LOW.
RING-NECKED DUCK: 16 a the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 4/5/14 (SC),
1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/17/14 (SC, EFD, TG), and 3 at Yoakum County
Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS RARE SPRING LINGERER.
LESSER SCAUP: 8 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/14 (AnH), 14 at the Hale
Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 4/5/14 (SC), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), and 5 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
4/10/14 (CC) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
BUFFLEHEAD: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG) the only
report - VERY LOW; ANOTHER EARLY AND THOROUGH PULLOUT.
NORTHERN BOBWHITE: Twelve reports of 1-8 birds at seven sites scattered
across the region (Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB,
CC, SC, AnH, KH, PKe) the only reports - NUMBERS HAVE PLUMMETED TO THE
EXTENT THE SPECIES HAS BECOME, FOR AT LEAST THE TIME BEING, NOTEWORTHY.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2 at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/5/14 (SC) and 1
in (Hale) on 4/20/14 (NP) the only reports - DROUGHT, IN MY OPINION, IS
MAKING THIS SPECIES VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION.
EARED GREBE: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), 3 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (CC), and 1 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW FOR THE PEAK MONTH OF
MIGRATORY MOVEMENT THROUGH THE REGION.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 24-25 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14
(CC, CG) and 8 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH) - VERY HIGH
NUMBERS FOR OUR REGION; ONE CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHERE THINGS HAVE DRIED
DOWN TO THE EXTENT THAT THESE CRITTERS ENDED UP IN OUR REGION.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/12/14 (AnH) and 1 over Stanford
Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (RD, AnH, RR, PS, EW) the only reports - VERY LOW
BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
SNOWY EGRET: Twenty-seven reports of 1-6 birds at sixteen sites scattered
across the region (Cochran, Garza, Hale, Lubbock, Terry) during the period
(SB, JB, CC, SC, JD, EFD, TmD, CG, AnH, AvH, PKe, NP, PR, TT) as well as a
report of 17 at the Leroy Elmore Park roost (Lubbock) on 4/22/14 (SC) -
ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS; GOOD SHOWING WHEN COMPARED TO
GREAT EGRET.
TRICOLORED HERON: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (RR) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW AN ANNUAL SPRING-AUTUMN VISITOR.
CATTLE EGRET: Twelve reports of 1-9 birds at nine sites scattered across
the region (Crosby, Garza, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, QE,
EFD, CG, AnH, PKe, NP) as well as a peak number at the Leroy Elmore Park
roost (Lubbock) of 24 on 4/19/14 (AnH) - LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; CLOSE
TO AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (JB)
and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (SC, EFD) the only reports - LATE
AND LOW IN NUMBER THUS FAR.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 2 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/14 (SC, TmD), 4 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH), and 7 over southeast Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 4/19/14 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
OSPREY: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) from 4/6/14 through 4/10/14
(CC, CG), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/14 (AnH, GJ), 1 near
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 4/17/14 (AnH, WW), 1 at McAlister Park
(Lubbock) on 4/20/14 (NP), 1 at the Tokio Playa (Terry) on 4/20/14 (AnH), 1
at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/21/14 (CC), and 1 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) - GIVEN THE DROUGHT, SURPRISINGLY GOOD
NUMBERS - DUE, PERHAPS, TO CONCENTRATION AT EASILY-BIRDED SITES.
MISSISSIPPI KITE:1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/30/14 (AnH) and 2 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (RR) the first and only reports of the
season so far - BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS, A TAD LATE AND MORE THAN A TAD
LOW.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: Seven reports of single birds at seven sites scattered
across the region (Crosby, Dickens, Lamb, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the
period (CC, SC, CG, AnH, KH) - ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
COOPER'S HAWK: Six reports of single birds at five sites scattered across
the region (Crosby, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, QE, TG, CG,
KH) - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 at the Tahoka Cemetery (Lynn) on 4/13/14 (AnH) and 1
at Coleman Park (Terry) on 4/13/14 (AnH) was the full extent of the April
migration - LOW.
FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 3 along Bole's Lake Road (Lubbock) on 4/7/14 (CC, SC, CG)
were the last reported for the season - AN EARLY AND THOROUGH PULLOUT FROM
THE REGION.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (CC) and 2 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/21/14 (CC) the only reports - LOW AND
EXTREMELY LOCALIZED.
SORA: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), 2 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (CC), and 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/21/14 (CC) the only reports - LOW AND EXTREMELY LOCALIZED.
COMMON GALLINULE: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/14 (SC, TG), 1 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/12/14 (AnH), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on
4/23/14 (JB) the only reports - AS USUAL, RESTRICTED TO A FEW SITES ALONG
THE LUBBOCK CANYON LAKES.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Twenty-five reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 11
birds at roughly twenty sites scattered across the region (Cochran, Crosby,
Floyd, Garza, Hale, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SB, CC, SC, JD, TmD,
EFD, TG, AnH, AvH, AK, PKe, RM, NP, PR, TT) - GOOD NUMBERS WHERE WATER
PERSISTS BUT, DUE TO DROUGHT, LOW NUMBERS OVERALL.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Twenty-six reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 11 birds,
and one report of twenty birds at roughly twenty sites scattered across teh
region (Cochran, Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Lubbock, Terry) during the
period (CC, SC, TmD, EFD, TG, AnH, AK, PKe, NP) - GOOD NUMBERS WHERE WATER
PERSISTS BUT, DUE TO DROUGHT, LOW NUMBERS OVERALL.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) o 4/19/14 (AnH) the
only report - A TAD LOW.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/12/14 (AnH), 1 at
Gillham/Howell Park (Terry) on 4/13/14 (AnH), and 1 at Mae Simmons Park
(Lubbock) on 4/24/14 (SC, EFD, TG) the only reports - VERY LOW.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe)
and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock)on 4/23/14 (JB) the only reports - LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/4/14 (AK, NP), 1 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CC), 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on
4/12/14 (AnH), 2 at Post City Park (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH), 1 at Crosbyton
City Park (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH), 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
4/19/14 (AnH), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/22/14 (KH), and 1 at the
Lockney Sewage Ponds (Floyd) on 4/26/14 (AK, NP) the only reports - VERY
LOW; THIS SPECIES GENERALLY PEAKS AS A MIGRANT DURING APRIL.
WILLET: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) the only report - A
VERY SCARCE MIGRANT; ALWAYS A NOTEWORTHY EVENT.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/4/14 (AK, NP), 1 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), 1 at the Tokio Playa
(Terry) on 4/13/14 (AnH), 1 at the Whiteface Sewage Ponds (Cochran) on
4/19/14 (SC, PKe), and 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/21/14 (CC)
the only reports - VERY LOW; THIS SPECIES GENERALLY PEAKS AS A MIGRANT
DURING APRIL.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 6 at the Lamb County Sandhills Historical Marker (Lamb)
on 4/8/14 (CG) and 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/16/14 (KH) the only
reports - VERY LOW; ANOTHER SHOREBIRD THAT SHOULD PEAK IN APRIL.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) the only
report - WOW, RIDICULOUSLY LOW!
LEAST SANDPIPER: 1 at the Houston School Playa (Hale) on 4/12/14 (NP), 10
at Post City Park (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH), and 3 at Dupree Park (Lubbock)
on 4/24/14 (SC, EFD, TG) the only reports - WOW, RIDICULOUSLY LOW!
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) the
only report - WOW, RIDICULOUSLY LOW!
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 7 at Post City Park (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH) and 11 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (RR) the only reports - WOW -
RIDICULOUSLY LOW!
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 6 at the Tokio Playa (Terry) on 4/13/14 (AnH), 34 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH), and 4 at Dupree Park
(Lubbock)on 4/24/14 (SC, EFD, TG) the only reports - WOW, RIDICULOUSLY LOW!
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 near Matador (Motley) on 4/1/14 (MDL), 1 at the FM 789
Wetland (Hale) on 4/4/14 (AK, NP), and 2 at Post City Park (Garza) on
4/13/14 (AnH) the only reports - LOW.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 7 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH), 1 at
the Whiteface Sewage Ponds (Cochran) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe), 6 at Dupree Park
(Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (SC), 250 at the Lockney Sewage Ponds (Floyd) on
4/27/14 (AK, NP), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) the
only reports - A VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND, ASIDE FROM THE ONE REPORT,
VERY LOW NUMBERS.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock)on 4/10/14 (CC) -
ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON BUT NOT ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED THIS YEAR
WITH LOTS OF LINGERING BIRDS TO THE EAST.
LAUGHING GULL: 1 adult at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 4/4/14 (AK, NP)
- ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; EITHER THE EIGHTH RECORD FOR THE REGION OR, IF
THIS BIRD WAS THE ONE SEEN IN LUBBOCK IN EARLY MARCH, A CONTINUATION OF THE
SEVENTH RECORD FOR THE REGION.
FRANKLIN'S GULL: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/2/14 (SC), 22 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 5/2/14 (JC), 5-7 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/14 (AnH, PKe),
5 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 4/4/14 (AnH), 4 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) 4/10/14 (CC), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/21/14
(CC), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (JB) - GIVEN THE ONGOING
DROUGHT, NOT TOO SHABBY IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS OR OVERALL NUMBERS.
LEAST TERN: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on4/23/14 (SC, PKi) - ACCIDENTAL FOR
THE REGION; OUR 29th RECORD.
INCA DOVE: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (PKe), 1 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 4/8/14 (CR, FR), 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/8/14 (AC),
2 near Coleman Park (Terry) on 4/13/14 (AnH), and 1 in a Litttlefield yard
(Lamb) on 4/15/14 (AR) the only reports - AN ENCOURAGING NUMBER OF REPORTS
THOUGH NUMBERS REMAIN TERRIBLY LOW.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 flushed below Lake Six (Lubbock)on 4/12/14 (AnH) the
only report - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
CHIMNEY SWIFT: 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/17/14 (SC, EFD, TG) the
first report of the season - RIGHT ON TIME BUT NUMBERS WERE SLOW TO PICK UP
THIS YEAR.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/20/14 (SC)
the only report - A TAD LOW.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 female and 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)
on 4/22/14 (KD) the only report - A TAD LOW.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: No reports at all - LOW.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 2 in Afton (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH) the only
report - RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW IN NUMBER DESPITE CONSIDERABLE TIME SPENT IN
THE RIGHT COUNTIES.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/10/14
(CC) the only report - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION IN APRIL; MOST APRIL
SAPSUCKERS ARE OF THE RED-NAPED SPECIES.
MERLIN: 1 at Lubbock City Farm (Lubbock) on 4/7/14 (CC, SC, CG) and 1 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/29/14 (KH) - TWO FAIRLY LATE REPORTS FOR THE
REGION.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/5/14 (SC), 1 in
(Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (CC), 1 at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/12/14 (NP),
1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/18/14 and 4/19/14 (NP), and 1 north
of Petersburg (Hale) on 4/21/14 (NP) - PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS LATE IN THE
SEASON, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE EARLY DEPARTURE FROM LUBBOCK SITES IN MARCH.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/1/14 (KH)m, 1 in
(Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (JB), and 1 at the Houston School Playa (Hale) on
4/18/14 (NP) - A DECENT BOUT OF LATE SEASON REPORTS.
MONK PARAKEET: 1 at the Wayland Baptist Campus (Hale) throughout the period
(NP) - ONE LONELY, LITTLE QUAKER IN A SEA OF BAPTISTS:)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: No reports at all - VERY LOW.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
4/12/14 (AnH) and 1 just west of Post (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH) the only
reports - VERY LOW.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: No reports at all - VERY LOW.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/18/14 (NP) the
only report - VERY LOW.
GRAY FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/10/14
(SC, EFD, QE, TG) and 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (CC) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE SPRING MIGRANT.
EASTERN PHOEBE: Eight reports of 1-3 birds at seven sites in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock, Terry) during the period ( CC, CG, AnH, KH) - A TAD LOW
BUT NOT SURPRISING GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE ONGOING DROUGHT.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 near Matador (Motley) on 4/1/14 (MDL), up to 5 at/near the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) daily from 4/9/14 through 4/13/14 (CC,
SC, EFD, QE, TG, AnH) 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (CC),
1 at the CR 152/209 Playa (Crosby) on 4/11/14 (KH), 1 near Post (Garza) on
4/13/14 (AnH), 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 4/13/14 (AnH), 1 at the Thunderbird
Playa (Hale) on 4/18/14 and 4/19/14 (NP), 1 at Cochran County Park
(Cochran) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 4/20/14 (PKe), 1 near Plains (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (AnH), 2 near
Petersburg (Hale) on 4/21/14 (NP), and 1 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 4/22/14
(JB) - ATYPICALLY HIGH NUMBERS; THIS SPECIES FAIRS MUCH BETTER WITH DROUGHT
THAN ITS EASTERN CONGENER.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 male near Post (Garza) on 4/2/14 (DS) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/14 (AvH, SB, JD, TmD, PR, TT) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW ANNUAL WITH NO DETECTABLE PATTERN OF
SEASONALITY.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD: 1 on the TNC property in NW (Yoakum) on 4/13/14 (AnH)
and 1 near Petersburg (Hale) on 4/21/14 (NP) the only reports - A TAD LOW,
NO MIGRATORY STALLS FOR THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION THIS SPRING.
EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 in Afton (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH) - VERY RARE, BUT
ANNUAL, IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES.
BELL'S VIREO: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (QE) and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (RR) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE BUT ANNUAL
SPRING MIGRANT/BREEDER.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/12/14
(SC, AnH) and 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (AnH, RR) - NOT TOO
BAD FOR SO EARLY IN THE 'SOLITARY' VIREO SEASON.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 at the CR 152 Prairie Dog Town (Crosby) on 4/8/14 (KH), 1
at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/17/14 (KH), and 1 in South Plains (Floyd)
on 4/26/14 (AK, NP) - A TAD LOW FOR THIS RE-ESTABLISHING SPECIES.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: Seven reports of 1-2 birds at seven sites in
the region (Crosby, Garza, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, MDL,
EFD, TG, KH, PKe) - BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS LOW; BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS
ABOUT AVERAGE.
PURPLE MARTIN: Thirteen reports of 1-4 birds at eleven sites scattered
across the region (Crosby, Dickens, Garza, Lubbock, Terry) during the
period (JB, CC, MDL, QE, AnH, KH, GJ) - BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS LOW; BY
RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS ABOUT AVERAGE.
BANK SWALLOW: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/14 (AnH), 3 at Reese
Center (Lubbock) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock)
on 4/21/14 (CC), and 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) -
ABOUT AVERAGE..
TREE SWALLOW: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/14 (SC, TG), 2 at the
Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 4/5/14 (SC), 8 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock)
on 4/6/14 (CC), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 4/8/14 (NP),
1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/17/14 (SC, EFD, TG), and 1 at White River
Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
CAVE SWALLOW: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), 4 near
Post (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH), 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on
4/19/14 (AnH), and 4 near Dickens (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH) - COMPARED TO
RECENT YEARS A BIT LATE TO ARRIVE AND SLOW TO BUILD NUMBERS.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 4/7/14
(KH), and 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH) the only reports
- INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION.
VERDIN: 2 at Post City Park (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH) the only report -
INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION.
BUSHTIT: 4 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH) the only report -
INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/6/14 (RS, CW), 1 at
Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (CC) and 4/20/14 (MA, RD, AnH, BP, RR,
PS, EW) - CASUAL DURING EARLY APRIL; ACCIDENTAL DURING LATE APRIL - A GREAT
FIND.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 in the Rush Neighborhood (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CC) -
ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
ROCK WREN: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/31/14 (WW), 1 at Lubbock Lake
Landmark (Lubbock) on 4/5/14 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
4/10/14 (CC) and 4/21/14 (CC), and 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on
4/19/14 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SPARSE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT RESIDENT.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/16/14 (SC) and on 4/17/14 (SC,
EFD), 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH), and 1 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SCARCE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT RESIDENT.
HOUSE WREN: Fourteen reports of 1-3 birds from eleven sites scattered
across the region (Dickens, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn, Yoakum) during the period
(MA, CC, SC, RD, EFD, QE, CG, AnH, PKe, BP, NP, PS, EW) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THE PEAK OF SPRING MIGRATION.
CAROLINA WREN:1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), 1-3 at
the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/12/14 (SC, AnH), 1 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/14 (SC), 1 at Dickens Springs
(Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH), 2 near Afton (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH), and 1
in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/19/14 (JC) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
SCARCE, BUT INCREASING, RESIDENT.
BEWICK'S WREN: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG) and
4/10/14 (CC), 2 in (Kent) on 4/13/14 (BS), 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area
(Crosby)on 4/19/14 (AnH), 2 near Afton (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH), and 2 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/21/14 (CC) the only reports - THIS
SPECIES MAY BE DECLINING IN OUR REGION; IT IS CERTAINLY NOT AS EASY TO FIND
AS IT ONCE WAS.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: Seventeen reports of 1-7 birds at ten sites
scattered across the region (Bailey, Cochran, Dickens, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn,
Yoakum) during the period (CC, SC, RD, QE, EFD, CG, AnH, PKe, NP, RR, PS,
EW) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE APRIL MIGRATORY PEAK.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 2 near Dickens (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH) the only report
- A VERY RARE BREEDER IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF OUR REGION; THESE BIRDS FIT.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CC), 1 at
Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/6/14 (RS, CW), 1 at the Thunderbird Playa
(Hale) on 4/18/14 (NP), 2 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (MA, RD,
AnH, BP, RR, PS, EW), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (JB) -
ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; AN UNPRECEDENTED SPATE OF
APRIL SIGHTINGS.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/19/14 (NP) and 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (RR) the only reports for the month - A
TAD LOW.
HERMIT THRUSH: Twenty-three reports of 1-6 birds at fifteen sites scattered
across the region (Cochran, Crosby, Garza, Hockley, Lubbock, Terry, Yoakum)
during the period (MA, CC, SC, RD, EFD, QE, TG, AnH, PKe, BP, RR, PS, RS,
EW, CW) - PRETTY GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND OVERALL NUMBERS, PARTICULARLY
GIVEN THE DROUGHT.
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER: Over thirty reports of 1-3 birds at seventeen sites
scattered across the region (Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Garza, Lamb,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (CC, SC, MDL, EFD, CG, AnH, KH, PKe, AR) -
THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT THIS SPECIES WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO FIND IN
THE REGION; THAT ILLUSION HAS, I THINK, BEEN DISPELLED.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Itty Bitty Acres (Hockley) on 4/12/14 (TW) was the
sole sighting from above the Caprock Escarpment - ABOVE THE CAPROCK
EXPANSION SEEMS TO HAVE STALLED A BIT.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 near Tokio (Terry) on 4/13/14 (AnH) the only report - A
TAD LOW.
AMERICAN PIPIT: 1 along Bole's Lake Road (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (PKe) the only
report - VERY LOW; PULLOUT FROM THE REGION WAS EARLY AND THOROUGH.
CEDAR WAXWING: 7 in Post (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH), 25 near Ralls (Crosby)
on 4/19/14 (AnH), 19 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH), and 8
at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (AnH, RR) - THE USUAL SPRING SPIKE -
AT THE USUAL TIME.
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/12/14 (AnH) the only
report for the season - A TAD LOW.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at Gillham/Howell Park (Terry) on 4/13/14 (An)
and 1 at the Denver City Recreational Trail (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR APRIL PORTION OF MIGRATION.
TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe) and on
4/20/14 (MA, AnH, RR) the only report for the month - A TAD LOW BY
HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT CONSISTENT WITH SCARCITY DURING RECENT MIGRATIONS.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Twenty reports of 1-6 birds at fourteen sites
scattered across the region (Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Garza, Hale,
Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (MA, SB, CC, SC, RD, JD, TmD, QE, CG,
AnH, AvH, PKe, BP, NP, PR, RR, PS, RS, TT, EW, CW) - PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS
AND SCATTER GIVEN THE GENERAL QUALITY OF THIS MIGRATORY SEASON.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH), 2-5 at
Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (CC, SC, PKe), 1 at Yoakum County Park
(Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe), 1 at the Tokio Playa (Terry) on 4/20/14
(AnH), 3 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (MA, RD, AnH, BP, RR, PS,
EW), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) - A TAD LOW.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER:1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/21/14 (CC),
1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 4/24/14 (NP), 1 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD), and 1 at the TTU Gardens (Lubbock) on
4/30/14 (SC) - ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS EARLY IN SPRING MIGRATION.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), 1
at the TTU Gardens (Lubbock) on 4/18/14 (SC), 1 near Afton (Dickens) on
4/19/14 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/21/14 (CC), and 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (RR) - A TAD LOW BUT THIS PARTICULAR
MIGRANT WOULD BE STRONGLY AFFECTED BY DROUGHT.
YELLOW WARBLER: 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe) and 1
at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) the only reports for the
month - VERY LOW.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (CC,
SC, PKe) and 2-3 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (MA, RD, AnH, BP, RR,
PS, EW) - CASUAL, AT BEST, IN THE REGION BUT WE MIGHT DO BETTER IF WE SPENT
MORE TIME IN OUR WESTERN COUNTIES.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (CC, SC, PKe)
and 2 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (MA, RD, AnH, BP, RR, PS, EW) -
RARE BUT ANNUAL IN THE REGION DURING SPRING MIGRATION - SPARSE SO FAR THIS
YEAR.
WILSON'S WARBLER: Thirty-five reports of 1-10 birds at twenty-two sites
scattered across the region (Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Garza, Lubbock,
Lynn, Terry, Yoakum) during the period (MA, JB CC, SC, JC, RD, QE, EFD, TG,
AnH, BP, RR, PS, EW) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS, GENERALLY OUR MOST ABUNDANT,
SPRING MIGRANT.
SLATE-THROATED REDSTART: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe,
many pictures) - AS ACCIDENTAL AS YOU CAN GET WITH, NOW, ONE RECORD FOR THE
ENTIRE REGION - WHAT ARE THE ODDS: THESE GUYS - THIS SITE - SAME DAY!
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/12/14 (PKe) and 2 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (RR) - A SLOW START BUT NUMBERS OF THIS
SPECIES GENERALLY BUILD IN MAY.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Forty-six reports of 1-10 birds, fourteen reports of
11-25 birds, seven reports of 26-50 birds, and three reports of 51-100
birds at roughly forty sites scattered across the region (Bailey, Cochran,
Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, Yoakum)
during the period (MA, SB, CC, SC, JC, JD, KD, TmD, TG, CG, AnH, KH, Di,
AK, PKe, BP, NP, RR, PR, AR, PS, RS, IS, TT, EW, CW) - TYPICALLY ABUNDANT
BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS AS WAS THIS SPECIES MASSIVE OUTNUMBERING OF
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Fifteen reports of 1-10 birds at about ten sites
scattered across the region (Bailey, Crosby, Garza, Hale, Lubbock) during
the period (JB, CC, SC, EFD, TG, AnH, KH, PKe, NP) - AVERAGE NUMBERS BY
HISTORICAL STANDARDS WITH THE ONCE EXPECTED MASSIVE OUTNUMBERING BY
CHIPPING SPARROWS.
BREWER'S SPARROW: Fifteen reports of 1-4 birds at roughly ten sites
scattered across our western counties (Cochran, Hale, Lubbock, Terry,
Yoakum) during the period (CC, SC, QE, CG, AnH, PKe, NP, RR) - BY
HISTORICAL STANDARDS, A VERY GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND GOOD NUMBERS -
THIS SPECIES APPEARS TO HAVE BECOME AN EXPECTED SPRING MIGRANT.
FIELD SPARROW: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/20/14
(PKe) and 2 near Petersburg (Hale) on 4/21/14 (NP) the only reports - VERY
LOW.
BAIRD'S SPARROW: 1 at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/4/14 (AK, NP) -
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; THE REGION'S 26th RECORD, THE FIRST RECORD FOR
THE COUNTY, AND THE FIRST RECORD SINCE 2006.
SWAMP SPARROW: 2 at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/5/14 (SC), 4 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) 4/6/14
(PKe), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/10/14 (CC), and 2 at the FM
789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/12/14 (NP) - A GOODLY NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR SO LATE
IN THE SEASON.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/6/14 (CG),
3 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/12/14 (AnH), and 1 at the Tahoka Cemetery
(Lynn) on 4/13/14 (AnH) - FORMERLY CASUAL, AT BEST, THIS LATE IN THE SEASON
THE SPECIES IS NOW ENCOUNTERED THROUGH AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF APRIL
ANNUALLY.
HARRIS'S SPARROW: 1 near Afton (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; NOW CLOSE TO ANNUAL IN
APRIL.
SUMMER TANAGER: 1 first spring male at White River Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14
(AnH) - A TAD EARLY BUT THE SPECIES NOW BREEDS AT THIS SITE.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/18/14 (SC) and 1
male at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
RARE SPRING MIGRANT.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) the
only report for the month - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE SPRING MIGRANT,
NUMBERS GENERALLY PEAK IN MAY.
BLUE GROSBEAK: 2 males west of Dickens (Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH) and 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) the only reports - STRAGGLING IN
A BIT LATE THIS YEAR.
LAZULI BUNTING: 1 female at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (AnH), 1 male
at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/21/14 (CC), and 1 at MacKenzie Park
(Lubbock) on 4/23/14 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE SPRING MIGRANT.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/16/14 (AnH), 1 at
Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe), and 1 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/30/14 (SC, EFD) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE SPRING MIGRANT
AND BREEDER THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: Twenty-five reports of 1-10 birds, eight reports
of 11-50 birds, four reports of 51-100 birds, and four reports of 101-250
birds in the region (Crosby, Hockley, Lubbock, Terry) (CC, SC, AlC, QE, CG,
AnH, KH, AK, PKe, bm, NP, WW) - GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE ONGOING DROUGHT
IT SEEMS LIKE AN ODD YEAR FOR THIS SPECIES TO BE MOVING THROUGH IN SUCH
GOOD NUMBERS.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/18/14 (NP), 1 male
at White River Lake (Crosby) on 4/19/14 (AnH), 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum)
on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe), and 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/24/14 (SC, EFD, TG)
the first reports of the year - ABOUT AVERAGE.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: 1 male in Post (Garza) on 4/13/14 (AnH) was the first of
the season - THE HORDES POURED IN, IN GOOD NUMBERS, THEREAFTER.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 at the Tahoka Cemetery (Lynn) on 4/13/14 (AnH), 2 at
Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 4/19/14 (SC, PKe), 1 near Dickens
(Dickens) on 4/19/14 (AnH), and 2 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 4/20/14 (RD,
AnH, RR, PS, EW) the only reports for the month - BUILDING A BIT SLOWLY
THIS YEAR.
OBSERVERS: MA=Mary Anderson, SB=Susan Bergeson, GB=Grant Beauprez, JB=Jeff
Boatright, CC=Cameron Carver, SC=Steve Collins, AC=Anita Cooper, AlC=Alice
Costello, JC=Jim Crites, RD=Richard Damron, JD=Jeanne Davis, MDL=Manuel De
Leon, KD=Ken Dixon, TmD= Tom Dolan, QE=Quinn Emmering, EFD= Elizabeth
Farley-Dawson, TG=Tyler Gonzales, CG=Caleb Gordon, AnH=Anthony Hewetson,
AvH=Aveline Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, Di=Donn ianuzi, GJ=George Jury,
AK=Andrew Kasner, PKe=Peter Keyel, bm=brittny martin, RM=Rachel Murphy,
BP=Barrett Pierce, NP=Niler Pyeatt, PR=Paula Richardson, RR=Ross Rickett,
AR=Anona Roberts, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Roberston, PS=Paul Sellin,
RS=Ryan Shaw, IS=Ian Smith, BS=Brady Surber, TT=Tess Trost, EW=Ed Weitzel,
TW=Trish Wells, WW=William Wenthe, CW=Charlie Wright.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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