[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for August - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2013 11:50:28 -0700 (PDT)
AUGUST 2013 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS
With 1.32 inches of rain in Lubbock during the month, well below the average
August total of 2.35 inches, we were at 9.78 inches for the year - EVEN FURTHER
BELOW the average year-to-date total of 13.33 inches. A few of the region's
playas had dried down enough to allow for some shorebird sightings towards the
end of the period (heavy rains in July had eliminated shorelines and
shorebirds, making a hash of the first half of our fall shorebird season) and
the usual waterfowl were pouring in, the expected migrant songbirds arrived
(albeit late and in low numbers), and local birders made do. 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.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1-2 persisted at Lake Six (Lubbock) through the period (AnH,
PK), 1 persisted at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period (AnH, PK),
2-6 persisted at Maxey Park (Lubbock) through the month (AnH, PK), and 2 were
seen at Jennings Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) - THE TYPICAL PATTERN OF A
SMALL NUMBER OF 'WHITE-CHEEKED' GEESE, USUALLY INJURED, SUMMERING IN THE REGION.
CANADA GEESE: 5-9 persisted at Lake Six (Lubbock) through the period (CC, SC,
AnH, P), 1 persisted at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period (AnH)
PK), 1-5 persisted at Maxey Park (Lubbock) through the period (AnH, PK) - THE
TYPICAL PATTERN OF A SMALL NUMBER OF 'WHITE-CHEEKED' GEESE, USUALLY INJURED,
SUMMERING IN THE REGION. 73 birds seen at Jennings Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13
(AnH) and 38 birds seen at/near the playa at Slide x 1585 (Lubbock) on 8/31/13
(AnH) - MORE LIKELY SOME OF OUR FIRST MIGRANTS.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK: 2 birds visited various spots in Lubbock
(MacKenzie
Park, Clapp Park) from 7/12/13 through 7/15/13 (CR, CC, CrC, AnH) -
ACCIDENTAL; THE REGION'S 7th RECORD.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the month (SC,
AnH), 3 at Earl Crow Park (Lubbock) on 3/28/13 (AnH), and 1 at Mae Simmons
Park (Lubbock) on 3/28/13 (AnH) - ALL PART OF THE WOUNDED WARRIOR
CONTINGENT THAT SUMMERS IN LUBBOCK DURING MOST YEARS.
WOOD DUCK: 1 male persisted at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the month
(AnH, PK) - THIS BIRD HAS BEEN WITH US ALL SUMMER AND MAY WELL BE PART OF THE
WOUNDED WARRIOR COMPLEX OF WATERFOWL THAT SUMMER IN LUBBOCK. A female joined
this bird and remained at the site from 8/17/31 to the end of the period (PK,
AnH) - THIS BIRD HAD NOT BEEN REPORTED EARLIER IN THE SUMMER AND PROBABLY
REPRESENTS AN EARLY MIGRANT INTO THE REGION.
GADWALL: 3 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC), 2 near Lorenzo (Lubbock)
on 8/3/13 (CC, SC), and 2 at Jennings Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only
reports - THE FIRST TWO SIGHTINGS ARE PROBABLY PART OF THE SMALL BREEDING
POPULATION THAT REMAINS IN THE AREA DURING MOST SUMMERS THOUGH NO EVIDENCE OF
SUCCESSFUL BREEDING WAS NOTED; THE LAST SIGHTING COULD HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY
OVERLOOKED SUMMERING BIRD OR EARLY MIGRANTS.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Small numbers of this local breeder were spotted at sites
throughout (Lubbock) during the period CC, SC, AnH, PK) - PART OF THE BREEDING
CONTINGENT. A large flock of 122 south of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) -
EITHER A PRE-MIGRATORY GATHERING OF LOCAL BREEDERS OR A GROUP OF BONA FIDE
MIGRANTS PASSING THROUGH.
CINNAMON TEAL: 4 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC), and 8 south of
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only reports - LOW; NO EVIDENCE OF
BREEDING IN THE REGION THIS YEAR.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/11/13 (AnH), 1 at 19th x
Quaker (Lubbock) on 8/13/13 (AnH), and 6 south of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13
(AnH) the only reports - LOW; NO EVIDENCE OF BREEDING IN THE REGION THIS YEAR.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 18 south of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only
report - LATE AND VERY LOW; GENERALLY THEY START POURING IN DURING THE LAST
WEEK OF AUGUST.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 3 at Slide x 1585 (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) and 8 south of
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only reports - NO EVIDENCE OF BREEDING
IN THE REGION THIS YEAR AND MIGRANTS LATE AND EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
REDHEAD: 1 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC) and 12 near Lorenzo
(Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC) the only reports - VERY LOW; ONE CAN ONLY HOPE
THAT SOME BREEDING OCCURRED IN THE REGION THIS YEAR.
GREATER SCAUP: 1 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC, photographs) - WOW -
PROBABLY THE BIRD OF THE MONTH - VERY RARE IN THE REGION AT ANY TIME OF YEAR,
THIS REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE REGION'S FIRST SUMMER RECORD OF THE SPECIES.
LESSER SCAUP: 1 near Idaolou (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC, photographs) - CASUAL
IN THE REGION DURING SUMMER BUT NO SUMMER RECORDS DURING THE LAST DECADE OR SO.
RUDDY DUCK1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 8/11/13 (AnH) and 1 at the Skeen
Playa (Lynn) on 8/30/13 (SC) the only reports - NO EVIDENCE OF BREEDING IN THE
REGION THIS SUMMER AND SUMMERING NUMBERS WERE AS LOW AS EVER THEY HAVE BEEN.
PIED-BILLED GREBE: 1 at 19th x Quaker (Lubbock)on 8/13/13 (AnH) and 1 at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 8/24/13 (AnH) - THE UNBIRD OF THE MONTH - ASTONISHINGLY LOW
NUMBERS OF THIS GENERALLY RELATIVELY EASY TO FIND LOCAL BREEDER!
EARED GREBE: 1 at Givens Park (Hale) on 8/11/13 (NP) and 1 south of Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) - LOW ... BUT PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME IN THE
REGION'S BIRDING HISTORY THAT THE NUMBER OF EARED GREBES REPORTED EQUALED THE
NUMBER OF PIED-BILLED GREBES REPORTED.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 persisted at parks along Quaker Avenue (Lubbock) through
the period (AnH, PK) - A CONTINUATION OF THIS YEAR'S SUMMERING POPULATION.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: Up to 18 persisted at parks along Quaker Avenue
(Lubbock) through the period (CC, AnH, PK), up to 3 persisted at Lake Six
(Lubbock) through the period (AnH), and 1 was seen in Plainview (Hale) on
8/9/13 (NP) - THE NOW EXPECTED SMALL SUMMERING POPULATION JOINED, PERHAPS, BY A
FEW MIGRANTS TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH.
GREAT EGRET: 1-6 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the month (CC, AnH, PK), 1-5
at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) from 8/10/13 through the end of the month (AnH,
GJ), and 1 along the Canyon Lakes (Lubbock) from 8/15/13 through 8/18/13 (AnH,
PKi) the only reports - AN IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST MONTH BUT LOW BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS.
SNOWY EGRET: 24-47 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (CC,
AnH, GJ, PK), 5-17 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the first half of the period
(AnH, PK, NP), 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) during the latter half of the period
(AnH, PK), 1-14 at Lake Six (Lubbock) through the period (CC, AnH, PK, PKi,
NP), 8-15 below Lake Six (Lubbock) through the period (AnH, PK, PKi), 1-7 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) throught the period (CC, AnH, PK, PKi), 1-3 at Maxey
Park (Lubbock) through the period (AnH, PK), 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock)
through 8/10/13 (CC, PK), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC,
SC), 1-4 at Givens Park (Hale) from 8/9/13 through 8/23/13 (NP, RR), 2-5 at
Thunderbird Playa (Hale) from 8/17/13 through 8/23/13 (NP, RR), 1 at Mae
Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH), 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13
(AnH) - THOUGH COVERAGE WAS LIMITED, GOOD NUMBERS WERE PRESENT IN THE REGION
AND THERE WAS CAUSE TO SUSPECT GOOD SPREAD.
TRICOLORED HERON: 1 immature bird wandered widely in Lubbock (Lubbock) through
the period (CC, AnH, GJ, PK, NP - ACCIDENTAL; A CONTINUATION OF THE
REGION'S 15th RECORD.
CATTLE EGRET: Eighteen reports of 1-10 birds from (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn
during the period (CC, SC, MDL, AnH, KH, PK, PKi, RR), five reports of 11-50
birds from (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (SC, KH, NP), 62-127 at
Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period (AnH, PK), and 93 at Givens Park
(Hale) on 8/25/13 (RR) - GOOD NUMBERS AND REASON TO EXPECT GOOD SPREAD - STILL
LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the period (CC,
AnH, PK) the only reports - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' AND BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS;
NO EVIDENCE OF SUCCESSFUL BREEDING THIS YEAR.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 1-8 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the month (AnH,
PK), 2-3 at Guy Park (Lubbock) from 8/2/13 through 8/7/13 (CC, PK), 70 at
Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 8/17/13 (RR), 7 at Givens Park (Hale) on 8/18/13
(NP), 24 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 8/23/13 (NP), 12 at FM 1767 Playa
(Hale) on 8/25/13 (RR), 2 at Givens Park (Hale) on 8/25/13 (RR), 28 near
O'Donnell (Lynn) on 8/30/13, and 4 south of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH)
the only reports - DECENT SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' AND BY
HISTORICAL STANDARDS.
NORTHERN HARRIER: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/25/13 (KH) 1 south of
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only reports - RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW
NUMBERS.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at Givens Park (Hale) on 8/9/13 (NP) - CASUAL IN THE REGION
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; ONE OF A HANDFUL OF RECORDS FOR HALE COUNTY.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Twenty reports of 1-10 birds, four reports of 11-50 birds,
and one report of 63 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during
the period (CC, SC, AnH, KH, PK, NP, RR - DECENT SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS; MOST
EXPECTED WATER IN THE REGION IS EITHER ABSENT OR TOO HIGH FOR SHOREBIRDS OF ANY
SORT.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Nine reports of 1-10 birds and six reports of 11-29 birds in
the region (Bailey, Crosby, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (CC, SC, AnH, KH,
PK) the only reports - DECENT SCATTER BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS; MOST EXPECTED WATER
IN THE REGION IS EITHER ABSENT OR TOO HIGH FOR SHOREBIRDS OF ANY SORT.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 8/7/13 (PK), 1 at Givens Park
(Hale) on 8/11/13 (NP), 1 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on8/11/13 (RR), 2 at
Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 8/11/13 (AnH), 1-2 at Tokio Playa (Terry) on 8/11/13
(CC, SC), 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 8/17/13 (PK), 6 at Givens Park
(Hale) on 8/23/13 (NP), 2 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/13 (AnH), and 1
at K Mart Playa (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE BUT THIS IS A
SHOREBIRD THAT THRIVES UNDER HIGH WATER CONDITIONS.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 3-4 at the Tokio Playa (Terry) on 8/11/13 (CC, SC), 1 near
Brownfield (Terry) on 8/17/13 (CC), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/20/13
(KH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/13 (AnH), and 1 near O'Donnell (Lynn)
on 8/30/13 (SC) - A TAD LOW BUT BETTER THAN EXPECTED GIVEN CONDITIONS AND OTHER
SMALL SHOREBIRD NUMBERS.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Thirteen reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale,
Lubbock, Lynn, Terry) during the period (CC, SC, AnH, PK, NP, RR) - VERY LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC), 2 at the Tokio
Playa (Terry) on 8/11/13 (SC), 2 near Brownfield (Terry) on 8/17/13 (CC), 6 at
Givens Park (Hale) from 8/23/13 through 8/25/13 (NP, RR), and 1 near Petersburg
(Hale) on 8/24/13 (SC) the only reports - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1-4 almost daily at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) during the
period (KH); six other reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock, Lynn)
during the period (CC, SC, MDL, AnH, NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE; PROBABLY
UNDER-REPORTED BASED ON THE EASE WITH WHICH THEY CAN BE HEARD OVERFLYING THE
REGION DURING THE MIGRATORY PERIODS.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 3 in (Lynn) on 8/17/13 (MDL), 1 in (Lynn) on 8/18/13
(MDL), and 5 in (Hale) on 8/31/13 (NP) the only reports - VERY LOW.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 2 north of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) THE ONLY
REPORT - EXTRAORDINARILY, ASTONISHINGLY, LOW!
LEAST SANDPIPER: 1 at the Tokio Playa (Terry) on 8/11/13 (CC), 2 in (Lynn) on
8/17/13 (MDL), 2 near Brownfield (Terry) on 8/17/13 (C), 2 in (Lynn) on 8/18/13
(MDL), and 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 824/13 (AnH) - EXTRAORDINARILY,
BEYOND ASTONISHINGLY, LOW.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: Eleven reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Lubbock, Lynn,
Terry) during the month (CC, SC, MDL, AnH, PK) - LOW, BUT BY THIS YEAR'S
STANDARDS, A SHOREBIRD SUCCESS STORY!
STILT SANDPIPER: 1 near Brownfield (Terry) on 8/17/13 (CC) and 3 south of
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only reports - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at the Slide x 1585 playa (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) and
1 southeast of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
WILSON's SNIPE: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/16/13 (KH) was a surprising
report - ACCIDENTAL THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; ONE OF HANDFUL OF AUGUST RECORDS.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: Eight reports of 4-25 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale,
Lubbock, Terry) during the period CC, SC, AnH, KH) the only reports - ABYSMALLY
LOW.
BLACK TERN: 3 at the Tokio Playa (Terry) on 8/12/13 (PK) the only report - VERY
LOW.
FORSTER'S TERN: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/24/13 (PK, SC, AnH) the only
report - LOW.
INCA DOVE: 2 in the Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 7/28/13 (JD, AvH), 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/11/13 (AnH), and 8 in the Tech Terrace
neighborhood (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (JD, AvH, TT) the only reports - DISAPPEARING
RAPIDLY FROM THE REGION, LONG-TERM OUTLOOK NOT GOOD.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH) the only
report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW; THIS SPECIES CRASHED, ESSENTIALLY, THROUGHOUT OUR
REGION THIS YEAR.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH) the only report -
VERY LOW; USUALLY QUITE A FEW REPORTS OF POST-BREEDING/MIGRATORY BIRDS MOVING
ABOUT.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 8/2/13 (MDL) and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 8/27/13 (CC) - OUR TYPICAL SPIKE, ALBEIT SLIGHT, OF
POST-BREEDING/MIGRATORY SIGHTINGS FOR THE REGION.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: 1 adult female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/11/13 (AnH)
the only report - A TAD LOW; AUGUST BEING OUR PEAK MONTH FOR THE SPECIES.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: Six reports of single birds in the region (Crosby,
Hale, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (AnH, KH, NP, AR) - ABOUT AVERAGE;
NUMBERS PEAK FOR THIS SPECIES, DURING FALL PASSAGE, DURING THE LAST HALF OF
AUGUST AND FIRST HALF OF SEPTEMBER.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: Ten reports of single birds, mostly male, in the region
(Crosby, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, AnH, KH, PK, AR) - A
TAD LOW BUT NUMBERS COULD STILL PEAK IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 in Levelland (Hockley) on 8/2/13 (SC) the only report
- THIS IS AN UNUSUAL SIGHTING AS IT IS FAR WEST OF THE USUAL HAUNTS OF THIS
SPECIES IN OUR REGION. THERE WAS NO COVERAGE OF OUR EASTERN COUNTIES THIS
MONTH; EXPECTED NUMBERS NOT REPORTED.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/28/13 (KH) - FITS IN WITH
EARLY FALL ARRIVAL.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/13 (AnH) and 1 in
a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 8/24/13 (AnH) the only reports - LATE AND VERY LOW.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: Nine reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Hale, Lubbock) during the period (SC, AnH, KH, PK, PKi, NP, RR) - LATE AND VERY
LOW.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/10/13 (PK), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/18/13
(AnH), 1 at the Petersburg Cemetery (Hale) on 8/24/13 (SC), and 2 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only reports - AT LEAST A TAD LOW.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/13 (AnH) and 2 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 8/26/13 (NP) - DEFINITIVELY LATE AND LOW.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/4/13 (KH) the only report -
LOW; BREEDING SITES WERE HARD TO COME BY IN THIS DROUGHT-AFFLICTED YEAR.
EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 at CR Y x CR X (Lynn) on 8/31/13 (PK) - VERY RARE IN OUR
REGION DURING PASSAGE SEASONS.
BELL'S VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/11/13 (AnH) the only report -
INCREASING, THOUGH STILL RARE, AS A BREEDER IN THE REGION - THIS BIRD WAS MORE
LIKELY A MIGRANT.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through the period (KH) the only
reports - LOW BY RECENT SUMMERS' STANDARDS.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the
only report - VERY LOW.
PURPLE MARTIN: 6 in Plainview (Hale) on 8/3/13 (RR) - SOME, AT LEAST, PERSIST
IN OUR REGION THROUGH EARLY AUGUST.
TREE SWALLOW: 2 t the CR O Playa (Lynn) on 8/18/13 (MDL) the only report - LOW;
HOPEFULLY A FEW MORE WILL SHOW UP IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
BANK SWALLOW: 1-3 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/5/13 and 8/6/13 (KH) the
only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE; NUMBERS SHOULD PICK UP IN SEPTEMBER.
CAVE SWALLOW: 1-2 at the Himmerl Farm (Crosby) from 8/6/13 to 8/26/13 (KH) and
3 near Plainview (Hale) on 8/31/13 (NP) - A TAD LOW BUT MANY OF THE FAVORED
SITES WERE NOT VISITED DURING THE MONTH.
HOUSE WREN: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) - MOST LIKELY A MIGRANT
AS THIS IS WELL WEST OF THE SPECIES' BREEDING RANGE IN OUR REGION.
BEWICK'S WREN: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH) the only report -
THIS SPECIES, FORMERLY UNCOMMON TO COMMON THROUGHOUT THE REGION, IS BECOMING
MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND.
CAROLINA WREN: 3 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC) and 1 at
Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH) - THIS SPECIES, FORMERLY VERY RARE
(EXCEPT IN THE WOODED REGIONS OF OUR EASTERN COUNTIES), IS BECOMING EASIER TO
FIND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 8/7/13 (SC) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE
REGION DURING SUMMER; ONE OF A HANDFUL OF AUGUST RECORDS.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the first of
the season - A TAD EARLY; THERE IS A TREND FOR AUGUST WATERTHRUSHES IN OUR
REGION TO BE OF THE MORE 'CAJUN' SPECIES.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH) and 1
male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only reports - LOW BUT SOME
OF THE BETTER BREEDING SITES WERE NOT VISITED DURING THE MONTH.
YELLOW WARBLER: Thirteen reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale,
Lubbock, Yoakum) during the last half of the period (CC, SC, AnH, KH, PK) - A
TAD LATE AND MORE THAN A TAD LOW - BUT THERE WAS ALMOST NOTHING IN THE WAY OF
MIGRANT-STALLING WEATHER DURING THE MONTH.
WILSON' S WARBLER:1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/26/13 (KH) and 2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 8/31/13 (AnH) the only reports - A TAD LATE AND A TAD LOW -
SEE WEATHER COMMENTS FOR YELLOW WARBLER.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH) the only
report - AS THIS IS A RECENTLY DOCUMENTED BREEDING SITE FOR THE SPECIES, I
SUSPECT THESE BIRDS WERE LINGERING BREEDERS AS OPPOSED TO EARLY MIGRANTS.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/10/13 (PK), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 8/14/13 (CC), and 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/31/13 (KH)
the only reports - ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS.
LARK BUNTING: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/7/13 and 8/8/13 (KH) and 40 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/10/13 (PK) the only reports - FEW LINGERED IN THE
REGION THIS SUMMER AND, SO FAR, THEY HAVE BEEN LATE TO ARRIVE AND LOW IN
NUMBERS.
DICKCISSEL: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/25/13 (KH) and 3 in Plainview
(Hale) on 8/27/13 (NP) the only reports - THIS SPECIES, ESSENTIALLY, HAS
CRASHED AS A BREEDER IN THE REGION DURING THE PAST 2-3 YEARS AND IS EVEN
BECOMING DIFFICULT TO PICK UP DURING PASSAGE.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 2 immature males south of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 8/31/13
(AnH) the only report - LOW.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/4/13 (KH), 2 males at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 8/11/13 (AnH), 4 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 8/16/13 (CC), 1
male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH), 1 female and 2 males at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/13 (AnH), and 3 males and 2 immatures in Littlefield
(Lamb) on 8/28/13 (AR) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED SPECIES.
ORCHARD ORIOLE: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 8/3/13 (CC, SC), 3 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/11/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/14/13
(CC), and 4 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/18/13 (AnH) the only reports - VERY
LOW NUMBERS AND A SEEMINGLY EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION.
OBSERVERS: CCÊmeron Carver, SC=Steve Collins, JD=Jeanne Davis, MDL=Manuel De
Leon, AnH=Anthony Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George
Jury, PK=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, NP=Niler Pyeatt, RR=Robert Rios,
AR=Anona Roberts, TT=Tess Trost.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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