[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for December - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2013 13:57:23 -0800 (PST)
DECEMBER 2012 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS:
With
0.72 inches of rain during the month (A TAD over the average December rainfall
of 0.67 inches) and 11.55 inches for the year,
Lubbock finished out 7.14 inches below the average annual total of 18.69
inches. As the drought continues throughout the region, waterfowl are becoming
increasingly concentrated. As anticipated, area Christmas Bird Counts -
centered on some of the few remaining damp riparian areas in the region -
kicked out the bulk of the interesting sightings and this was aided, to a large
extent, by the presence of so many different groups of irruptive species. The
combination of intense
observer effort at some locations and the increase in data due to
e-bird has made it somewhat more difficult to separate individuals
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.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: Fourteen reports of 1-12 birds throughout the
region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (SB, JB, CC, CrC, SC, AnH, AK,
PK, RK, RL, KL, ML), 134 at the FM 54 x CR T Playa (Hale) on 12/22/12 (ML), and
172 just south of Hale Center (Hale) on 12/28/12 (AnH, RK) - SURPRISINGLY GOOD
NUMBERS, GIVEN THE DROUGHT, BUT EXTREMELY CONCENTRATED.
SNOW GOOSE: Nineteen reports of 1-16 birds throughout the region (Lubbock,
Lynn, Terry) during the period (SB, CC, SC, MDL, AnH, AvH, GJ, AK, PK, KL, CR,
JS, ST, WW) and one report of 90 just south of Hale Center (Hale) on 12/28/12
(AnH, RK) - LOW NUMBERS, OVERALL, AND PRETTY MUCH RESTRICTED TO IN-TOWN PLAYAS.
ROSS'S GOOSE: Thirteen reports of 1-5 birds at various in-town playas in
Lubbock (Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, EFD, AnH, AvH, AK, PK, KL, WW) and
one report of 36 just south of Hale Center (Hale) on 12/28/12 (AnH, RK) - LOW
NUMBERS, OVERALL, AND PRETTY MUCH RESTRICTED TO IN-TOWN PLAYAS.
WOOD DUCK: 27 to 55 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the month (SB,
CC, SC, AnH, ST), 2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 12/9/12 (AnH), 20 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 12/14/12 (CC), 2 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 12/15/12
(AnH), 3 at Hillcrest Golf Course (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (RL), 2 at Guy Park
(Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (AvH, WW), 2 in Shallowater (Lubbock) on 12/16/12 (AnH),
and 20 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 12/28/12 (AnH, RK) - A VERY GOOD
SHOWING, GIVEN THE DROUGHT.
CANVASBACK: 48-60 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) from 12/4/12 through
12/15/12 (CC, SC), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/8/12 (EFD), 1 at Tahoka Lake
(Lynn) on 12/13/12 (MDL), 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 12/22/12 (GJ), and
7 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (SB, JB, AK, PK, RK, RL) the only
reports - VERY LOW.
REDHEAD: 6-20 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) from 12/4/12 through 12/15/12
(CC, SC), 3 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 12/13/12 (MDL), 55 at Hillcrest Golf
Course (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (RL), and 9 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/29/12 (SB, JB, AnH, RK, RL) the only reports - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW AND
CONCENTRATED.
GREATER SCAUP: 2 at the Lubbock Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (AnH) the
only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE OR UNDER-REPORTED WINTER VISITOR.
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER:1 first winter male at White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/29/12 (SB, JB, RL, photographs) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 9th RECORD
... AND THE FIRST REPORT SINCE 2008.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 15 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (SB, JB, AnH, RL)
the only report - GOOD NUMBERS BUT FEW REPORTS.
COMMON MERGANSER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/12/12 (CC), 1 at Leroy
Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (SB, ST), 1 female at Abernathy City Park
(Hale) on 12/28/12 (AnH, RK), and 181 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/29/12
(SB, JB, AnH, AK, PK, RK, RL) - GOOD NUMBERS BUT FEW REPORTS.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CG) and 1
female at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (SB, JB, RL) - NOT BAD FOR A
VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR.
EARED GREBE: 1-3 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) throughout the month (SB, CC,
EFD, AnH, ST), 2-7 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) from 12/4/12 through
12/15/12 (CC, SC), 1 at Casey Park (Lubbock) on 12/8/12 (AnH, AvH), 1 at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 12/9/12 (SC), and 5 at the Lubbock Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on
12/15/12 (AnH) the only reports - A DECENT NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT LOW NUMBERS.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) from 12/4/12 through 12/24/12
(CC, CrC, GJ, AK, PK, KL, ML) the only report - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (SB, JB,
AnH, AK, PK, RK, RL) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE VISITOR TO THE REGION.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Casey Park (Lubbock) on 12/8/12 (AnH, AvH0 and 1 near Maxey
Park (Lubbock) on 12/18/12 (AnH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR WINTERING
ATTEMPTS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 12/8/12 and 12/9/12 (AnH,
AvH), 1 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 1/15/12 (AnH), and 3 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 12/24/12 (AnH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS.
GREEN HERON: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 12/15/12 through 12/31/12 (AK,
PK, KL, CR) - A VERY RARE WINTER RESIDENT IN SOME MILD YEARS.
OSPREY: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 12/7/12 though 12/20/12 (CC, SC, PK)
- VERY RARE AS A LINGERER INTO EARLY WINTER.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: Eighteen reports of 1-3 birds scattered across fifteen
sites through the region (Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SB, JB, CC,
CrC, SC, MDL, AnH, AvH, KH, AK, PK, RK, RL, KL, JS, WW) - ABOUT AVERAGE; A NICE
RECOVERY FROM LOW NUMBERS DURING FALL.
COOPER'S HAWK: Sixteen reports of 1-2 birds scattered across twelve sites
through the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SB, JB, CC, CrC, CCl,
JCl, SC, MDL, CG, AnH, AvH, KH, RK, RL,WW) - ABOUT AVERAGE; A NICE RECOVER FROM
LOW NUMBERS DURING FALL.
HARRIS'S HAWK: 3 adult birds at/near the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) throughout the
period (SB, CC, AnH) and 1 on TTU's main campus (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CCl,
JCl) - NOW A REGULAR RESIDENT, ALBEIT IN SMALL NUMBERS AND MOSTLY AT ONE SITE,
IN LUBBOCK COUNTY.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) through 12/20/12 (CC, SC, AK,
PK, KL) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; OUR 21st RECORD.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: Fifteen reports of single birds throughout the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, CrC, SC, TD, MDL,
AnH, KH, RK, RL) - MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS;
BORDERING ON IRRUPTIVE.
GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 adult at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CG), 1 adult at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/16/12 (AnH), and 1 adult near Hale Center (Hale) on
12/28/12 (AnH, RK) - MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS; DID
THEY RIDE IN WITH THE ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS?
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/16/12 (AnH) the only report -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE LINGERER INTO WINTER.
SORA: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 12/7/12 (CR) and 1 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 12/16/12 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE LINGERER INTO WINTER.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 12/22/12 (GJ) - ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION THIS LATE IN THE YEAR; OUR 3rd DECEMBER RECORD.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Nine reports of 1-11 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock)
during the period (SB, JB, CC, MDL, AnH, AvH, AK, PK, RK, SM, JS, ST, WW) -
SURPRISINGLY GOOD NUMBERS FOR DECEMBER; AN ARTIFACT OF CONCENTRATION?
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at Ribble Park (Lubbock) on 12/8/12 (AnH, AvH), 2 near
Olive Street (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (AnH), and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/29/12 (SB, JB, RL) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD FOR DECEMBER.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 6 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 12/8/12 (AnH, AvH), 17 in
southeast Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (MDL, JS), 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)
on 12/16/12 (SB, SC, MDL, CG, AnH, CR), and 23 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/29/12 (SB, JB, AK, PK, RL) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD FOR DECEMBER.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (AnH) the only report -
VERY LOW.
AMERICAN WOODCOCK: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) through 12/15/12 (CC,
CrC) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; A CONTINUATION OF OUR 7th RECORD.
HERRING GULL: 1 adult winter bird over Andrews Park and Huneke Park (Lubbock)
on 12/8/12 (AnH) the only report - LOW?
INCA DOVE: 4-9 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) through the period (CC, CG), 2 at Maxey
Park (Lubbock) on 12/9/12 (AnH), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
12/15/12 (CC, CrC), and 4 near Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (SB, ST) the
only reports - VERY LOW - DESPITE WELL-FOCUSED AND INTENSE EFFORT DURING THE
CBCx.
LONG-EARED OWL: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/16/12 (CC, CrC, SC, MDL, PK)
and 2 along the White River (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (RK) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
RARE WINTER VISITOR.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 near Robertson (Crosby) from 11/5/12 thoguh 12/26/12
(ML) - VERY RARE AS A WINTER LINGERER IN THE REGION; ONLY A HANDFUL OF DECEMBER
RECORDS FOR THE REGION.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: Eight reports of single birds throughout the region
(Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, CrC, CCl, JCl, SC, MDL,
CG, AnH, AK, PK, RL) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD - WE ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE MORE OF
THESE IN GOOD NUTHATCH YEARS.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 12/15/12 through 12/18/12
(CC, AK, PK, KL, CR) and 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 12/15/12 through
12/18/12 (SC, AK, PK, KL) - A TAD LOW.
MERLIN: Eleven reports of single birds throughout the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, CCl, JCl, SC, TD, MDL, AnH, KH,
CR) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD.
PEREGRINE FALCON: Seven reports of single birds at different sites in Lubbock
(Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, EFD, AnH, GJ) - A GOOD NUMBER OF
SIGHTINGS; APPARENTLY AT LEAST FOUR BIRDS PRESENT IN THE CITY THIS WINTER.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 12/15/12 though 12/23/12
(CC, CrC, AK, PK, KL) and 1 near Kalgary (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (AnH) the only
reports - LOW AND THIS IS, GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF ONGOING DROUGHT, NOT
SURPRISING.
SAY'S PHOEVE: 1 near the Becton Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/1/12 (SC) and 1 near
Kalgary (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (AnH) the only reports - LOW.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 12/15/12 through
12/23/12 (CC, CrC, SC, CR) - A VERY RARE VISITOR TO THE REGION.
NORTHERN SHRIKE: 1 first winter bird near the Becton Cemetery (Lubbock) from
12/1/12 through 12/12/12 (CC, CrC, SC, KH, DJ, CR, HT, MY) and 1 first winter
bird near Kalgary (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (AnH) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR
21st and 22nd RECORDS.
COMMON RAVEN: 1-2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) throughout the period (KH), 7 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/16/12 (PA, SB, DB, JCr, CG, AnH, CR, ST),
2 near Post (Garza) on 12/19/12 (SC), 5 along the White River (Crosby) on
12/29/12 (RK), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (AK, PK), 4 along Red
Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/29/12 (AnH), 2 near Kalgary (Crosby) on 12/29/12
(AnH), and 3 at Coyote Lake (Bailey) on 12/31/12 (SB) - ABOUT AVERAGE;
INCREASING IN THE REGION WITH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS SUSPECTED AS THE SOURCE FOR
SOME OF THE WESTERN BIRDS.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 5-6 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) throughout the
period (CC, SC, ML), 1-2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) throughout the period
(SC, CR), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CC, CrC), 2 in the
Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CCL, JCl), 1 in the Rush
neighborhood (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (SB, ST), and 1 near Red Mud (Dickens) on
12/29/12 (AnH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD - DEFINITELY AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR FOR
THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1-2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) throughout the period
(CC, CrC, SC, AK, PK, KL, CR), 3 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/2/12
(CC), 4 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 12/2/12 (CC), 1 at Mae Simmons Park
(Lubbock) on 12/10/12 (PK), 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CC, CrC,
SC), and 3 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CCl, JCL) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SPREAD - DEFINITELY AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 At Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 12/2/12 (CC), 1 at Mae
Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 12/7/12 (CR), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/15/12
(CG), 2 in Tahoka (Lynn) on 12/27/12 (MDL), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/29/12 (AK, PK), and 1 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/29/12 (AnH) - GOOD
NUMBERS AND GREAT SPREAD - DEFINITELY AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR FOR THIS SPECIES.
WINTER WREN: Eight reports of 1-2 birds at various sites in (Lubbock) during
the period (CC, CrC, SC, CG, AnH, CR) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE IN TERMS OF
NUMBERS.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CC,
CrC) the only report - LOW.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1-2 at the Lubbock Cemetery from 12/2/12 through
12/15/12 (CC, SC, 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 12/14/12 (CC, CrC), 2 at the V8
Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (CC, CrC, SC), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock)
on 12/15/12 (CC, CrC), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (AK, PK,
KL) the only reports - IF ANYTHING, A TAD LOW.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: Six reports of 2-9 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens,
Lubbock) during the period (SB, JB, CC, CrC, SC, AnH, AK, PK, RL, KL) - ABOUT
AVERAGE ... SO FAR.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 11 at the Campbell Rest Area (Motley) on 12/7/12 (CC), 4 at
the Reed Farm (Crosby) on 12/19/12 (KH), 7 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on
12/29/12 (AnH), and 4 near Jayton (Kent) on 12/30/12 (RK) the only report -
DEFINITELY NOT IRRUPTING SO FAR THIS SEASON.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 12/1/12 thoguh 12/15/12
(CC, CrC, AnH, AvH, CR, WW), 1 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/29/12 (AnH),
and 1 near White Rive Lake (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (AnH) - AVERAGE, AT BEST - THIS
SPECIES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE IRRUPTING INTO THE REGION THIS YEAR ... YET.
HERMIT THRUSH: Six reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during
the period (CC, CrC, CG, AnH, AvH, AK, PK, RK, KL) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 just west of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (AnH) the
only report - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 12/14/12 (CC, CrC), 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/5/12 (KD), and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock)
on 12/15/12 (SC) the only sightings above the Caprock Escarpment - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR WINTER WANDERING.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR: Eight reports of 1-10 birds, six reports of 11 to 100 birds,
two reports of 200 birds, and one report of 350+ birds throughout the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Dickens, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, CrC, SC,
TD, MDL, CG, AnH, KH, RK, SM, CR) - THE BEST YEAR, BY FAR, IN A VERY LONG TIME
- PART OF A GENERALIZED LONGSPUR IRRUPTION INTO THE REGION.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: Nine reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 20
birds in the region (Baily, Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (PA, SB,
DB, CC, CrC, SC, JCr, TD, MDL, AnH, KH, CR, ST) - A GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT
NUMBERS, OVERALL, SEEM A TAD LOW COMPARED THE OTHER TWO IRRUPTORS.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: Six reports of 1-10 birds, fourteen reports of 11-100
birds, and one report of 150+ birds throughout the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Hale, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (PA, SB, DB, CC, CrC, SC, JCr, TD, MDL,
CG, AnH, KH, RK, SM, CR, ST) - THE BEST YEAR, BY FAR, IN A VERY LONG TIME -
PART OF A GENERALIZED IRRUPTION OF LONGSPURS INTO THE REGION THIS WINTER.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Six reports of single birds in (Lubbock) during the
period (CC, CrC, CCl, JCl, SC) - VERY POOR NUMBERS AND ABYSMAL SCATTER -
EVIDENTLY ONLY VISIBLE TO PEOPLE WHOSE SURNAMES BEGIN WITH A 'C'.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on12/15/12 (JCl) - ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION IN WINTER; THE REGION'S 4th DECEMBER RECORD.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) throughout the month (SC,
AnH, CR) and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/16/12 (AnH) the only reports - A
TAD LOW.
PALM WARBLER: 1 western bird at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 12/18/12-1/5/13
(CC, SC, AnH, CR) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; THE REGION'S 3rd
DECEMBER RECORD.
EASTERN TOWHEE: 1 just west of Red Mud (Dickens) on 12/29/12 (AnH) the only
report - RARE, BUT ANNUAL, IN THE REGION DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at East Mound Cemetery (Motley) on 12/8/12 (CC), 12 just
west of Red Mud (Dickens) on 12/29/12 (AnH), and 2 near Kalgary (Crosby) on
12/29/12 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/16/12 (PK, RL) and 1
along the White River (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (RK) - VERY RARE BUT APPROACHING
'ANNUAL' STATUS AS A WINTER VISITOR.
SAGE SPARROW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/16/12 (PA, SB, DB, JCr, ST, pix)
- CLOSING IN ON ANNUAL AS A WINTER LINGERER IN OUR WESTERN COUNTIES.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 just west of Red Mud (Dickens) on 12/29/12 (AnH) the
only report - A TAD LOW FOR THIS RARE, BUT REGULAR, WINTERER.
LE CONTE'S SPARROW: 1 along the White River (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (RK) - RARE,
ALMOS ANNUAL, AS A WINTER VISITOR TO THE REGION.
FOX SPARROW: Eight reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, CC, AnH, AK, PK, CR) were ABOUT AVERAGE
but 29 along the White River (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (RK) was A TRULY STARTLING
NUMBER; REMINISCENT OF HISTORICAL RECORDS.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1-4 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 12/7/12 through
12/9/12 (SC, CR), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (SC), 2 at the
Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 12/28/12 (AnH, RK), 10 along the White
River (Crosby) on 12/29/12 (RK), and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 12/30/12
(KH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
HARRIS'S SPARROW: 3 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 12/28/12 (AnH,
RK) and 1 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/29/12 (AnH) the only reports - A
TAD LOW; ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF BOTH WHITE-THROATED AND
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS THIS WINTER.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 immature male was at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale)
on 12/28/12 (AnH, RK) - THE BIRD OF THE MONTH; THE ONLY WINTER RECORD FOR THE
REGION SO FAR AS I KNOW.
RED CROSSBILL: 7 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 12/8/12 (AnH, AvH), 3 near Olive
Street (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (AnH), 15 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on
12/15/12 (SC), 9 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (AvH, WW, AnH), 17 near
Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (SB, ST, pix), 4 at the Lubbock Cemetery
(Lubbock) on 12/16/12 (SB, SC, MDL), and 6-11 at the Tech Soccer Complex
(Lubbock) on 12/18/12 (CC, CR) - THE IRRUPTION, WHICH BEGAN IN NOVEMBER,
CONTINUES - THE BEST YEAR SINCE 2007-2008.
PURPLE FINCH: 1 male near Olive Street (Lubbock) on 12/15/12 (AnH) the only
report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR TO THE REGION.
PINE SISKIN: Ten reports of 1-10 birds and four reports of 11-20 birds in the
region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (SB, JB, CC, CCl, JCl, SC,
AnH, AvH, KH, RK, RL) - SOME EVIDENCE OF A SMALL IRRUPTIVE EVENT IN THE REGION;
NOT EARTH-SHAKING BUT BETTER NUMBERS THAN WE HAVE HAD IN SEVERAL YEARS.
OBSERVERS: PA=Pam Allison,
SB=Susan
Bergeson, JB=Jim Bertrand, DBÚna Boswell, CCÊmeron Carver,
CrC=Craig Carver, CClÊnony Clark, JCl=Jeremy Clark, SC=Steve
Collins, JCr=Jim Crites, TD=Tripp Davenport, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon,
EFD=Elizabeth Farley-Dawson, CG=Charles Grair, AnH=Anthony
Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson,
KH=Kelly Himmel, DJÚn Jones, GJ=George Jury, AKªron Kite, PK=Phillip Kite,
RK=Rich Kostecke, RL=Rob
Lee, KL=Kristen Linner, ML=Mark Lockwood, SM=SoEtta Moss, CR=Clayton Rickett,
JS=Juan Saenz, ST=Susan Thomspon, HT=Heidi Trudell, WW=William Wenthe,
MY=Matthew York.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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