[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for October - longish

From: Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>, ellen hildebrandt <hildeef2@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:32:31 -0600
With 0.38 inches of rain in September, well below the average October total
of 1.70 inches, Lubbock remained slightly above average for the year with
19.22 inches of rain compared to the average year-to-date total of 17.30
inches.  The region remains in drought but there is more water about than
there has been for several years and fall waterbirds should have good
habitat when and if fall begins.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.

CACKLING GOOSE:  8-10 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) from 10/11/14
through 10/15/14 (AK, NP) and 6 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/14
(AH) - A TAD LOW, TYPICAL OF WATERFOWL WAITING ON WINTER WEATHER.

WOOD DUCK: 2 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 10/11/14 (NP), 6 at
Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 10/16/14 (NP), 6 at Leroy Elmore Park
(Lubbock) on 10/18/14 (PKe), and 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/26/14
(KH) - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.

CINNAMON TEAL: 2-6 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 10/4/14 through
10/26/14 (KH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH) the only reports
- A TAD LOW.

RING-NECKED DUCK: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/4/14 (AH), 4 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH), 7 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/31/14 (JB), and 2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/14 (AH) the
only reports - TRICKLING IN PRETTY SLOWLY SO FAR THIS YEAR - LOW.

LESSER SCAUP: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/14 (JB) the only report -
VERY LOW.

HOODED MERGANSER: 3 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/14 (AH) the only
report - LATE AND LOW.

SCALED QUAIL: 2 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 10/30/14 (JB) the only report -
FORMERLY MORE COMMON THROUGHOUT THE REGION; NOW PATCHY AND SCARCE.

RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/26/14 (KH) the
only report - FORMERLY MORE COMMON THROUGHOUT THE REGION; NOW VERY HARD TO
FIND.

LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN: 1 in (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH) the only report -
THREATENED ENOUGH IN THE REGION THAT I NOW REPORT SIGHTINGS ONLY TO THE
COUNTY LEVEL.

EARED GREBE: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH) the only report -
LOW.

AMERICAN BITTERN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (KH) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION, NOW KNOWN TO BE A NEAR-ANNUAL MIGRANT.

GREAT EGRET: 1-2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/4/14 (AH, PKe), 6 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 10/5/14 (GJ, PJ), and 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock)
on 10/20/14 (SC) the only reports - TAPERING OFF PRETTY QUICKLY THIS YEAR;
OVERWINTERING ATTEMPTS SEEM UNLIKELY.

SNOWY EGRET: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) from 10/2/14
thorugh 10/3/14 (NP, KS), 11 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/4/14
(AH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/16/14 (AK, NP), 1 at Post City Park
(Garza) on 10/20/14 (SC), 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/26/14
(AH), and 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/14 (AH) -  A DECENT
NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT NUMBERS DROPPING RAPIDLY ENOUGH THAT OVERWINTERING
ATTEMPTS SEEM UNLIKELY.

CATTLE EGRET: 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (MDL), 5 in
(Crosby) on 10/4/14 (KH), 2-9 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/4/14
(AH, PKe), 27 at Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 10/7/14 (SC), 1 in (Crosby)
on 10/16/14 (KH), 18 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/18/14 (PKe), 1 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/24/14 (KH), 5 in (Crosby) on 10/26/14 (KH),
and 5 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/26/14 (KH) - A GOOD NUMBER OF
REPORTS AND SOME GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

GREEN HERON: 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/14 (AH) was the only
report from the latter half of the month - A FAIRLY THOROUGH DEPARTURE FROM
THE REGION; WINTERING ATTEMPTS SEEM UNLIKELY.

WHITE-FACED IBIS: 16 in (Crosby) on 10/4/14 (KH), 9 near Tahoka (Lynn) on
10/4/14 (SC), 22 near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/5/14 (CA, MA), 23 in (Crosby)
on 10/12/14 (KH), 8 at the Ralls Playa (Crosby) on 10/16/14 (AK, NP), 16 at
the Ralls Playa (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (PKe), and 2 in (Crosby) on 10/26/14
(KH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

OSPREY: 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (MDL), 1 at Leroy Elmore
Park (Lubbock) on 10/4/14 (AH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 10/5/14
through 10/16/14 (CC, SC, LD, TmD, TnD, AK, PKe, NP, JW), 1 at Hale Center
(Hale) on 10/6/14 (CC), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/25/14
(MW), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 10/25/14 thoguh 10/29/14 (PKi,
KM) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SPARSE FALL MIGRANT AND OCCASIONAL WINTERER.

GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/11/14 (NP, KS) -
INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION; SEVERAL RECORDS ALREADY THIS
FALL THOUGH.

MISSISSIPPI KITE: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/16/14 (AK, NP) the only
report from the second half of the month - A SOMEWHAT EARLY AND VERY
THOROUGH DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION.

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: Five reports of single birds in the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (CC, AH, KH, WZ) seems a bit
low - LATE AND LOW.

COOPER'S HAWK: Four reports of single birds in the region (Lubbock, Yoakum)
during the period (CC, MDL, AH, AK, NP) seems even worse - LATE AND VERY
LOW.

BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 2 adults and 1 immature at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum)
on 10/5/14 (AH) the only report - LOW, GIVEN THAT OCTOBER IS GENERALLY OUR
PEAK MONTH FOR THIS SPECIES.

FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1 at Lubbock City Farm (Lubbock) on 10/1/14 (KH), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) from 10/18/14 through 10/31/14 (JB, DH, MBS) and 1
near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 10/30/14 (JB) the only reports so far - RIGHT ON
TIME BUT A LITTLE BIT LOW.

SANDHILL CRANE: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/10/14 (KH) were the
first reported; from that point on trickled in steadily but slowly - ON
TIME, CLOSE TO NORMAL NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.

BLACK-NECKED STILT: 4 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 10/4/14 (KH) and 4 near
Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/4/14 (SC) the last reports of the season - A LITTLE LOW
BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS; WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT LINGERERS THROUGH
MID-MONTH.

AMERICAN AVOCET: Ten reports of 1-10 birds, three reports of 11-25 birds,
and one report to 30 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Floyd, Garza,
Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (CA, MA, SC, AH, KH, AK, PKe, NP,
MBS) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER WITH THE LATEST REPORT COMING FROM THE LAST
WEEK OF THE MONTH - NOVEMBER REPORTS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION.

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER: 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/14 (JB) - A VERY
LATE REPORT, PARTICULARLY FOR A 'FLOCK'.

SNOWY PLOVER: 5 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/14 (JB) - VERY GOOD
NUMBERS FOR SO LATE IN THE SEASON BUT THIS WAS A GREAT YEAR FOR THE SPECIES
ON THE REFUGE.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) and 1
at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 10/15/14 (AK, NP) the only reports -
VERY LOW NUMBERS; AN EARLY AND THOROUGH DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION.

SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/3/14
(NP), 16 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/4/14 (KH), and 1 at the
Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 10/15/14 (AK, NP) - NICE TO HAVE THESE IN THE
REGION THIS LATE AND A FLOCK OF SIXTEEN WOULD BE ASTONISHING EVEN AT THE
PEAK OF MIGRATION.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 12
birds in the region (Crosby, Garza, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Yoakum)
during the period (SC, AH, KH, AK, PKe, NP, KS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
TIME OF YEAR WHICH IS GOOD CONSIDERING THE ONGOING DROUGHT.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Seven report of 1-10 birds and one report of 18 birds in
the region (Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Lynn) during the period (CA, MA,
SC, KH, AK, NP, KS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR WHICH IS GOOD
CONSIDERING THE ONGOING DROUGHT.

STILT SANDPIPER: 4 at the 669 Playa (Garza) on 10/4/14 (SC) 2 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 10/12/14 (KH), 1 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on
10/15/14 (AK, NP), 45 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (KH), 50 near
Ralls (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (PKe), and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
10/31/14 (KH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SURPRISINGLY LATE PERSISTENCE IN THE
REGION.

SANDERLING: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/14 (JB) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; OUR 21st RECORD - ALSO A RECORD LATE DATE FOR THE REGION

LEAST SANDPIPER: 4 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/3/14 NP),
55 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/12/14 (KH), 27 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH), 55 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (KH),
40 near Ralls (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (PKe), 4 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
10/21/14 (CC), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/24/14 (KH), and 10 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/14 (JB) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER FOR THIS
LATE IN THE SEASON.

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 at the 669 Playa (Garza) on 10/4/14 (SC) and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH) the only reports - FAIRLY LOW;
GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED THROUGH MID-OCTOBER IN GOOD NUMBERS.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 5 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 1012/14 (KH) and
55 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (KH) the only reports - GOOD
NUMBERS BUT FEWER REPORTS THAN NORMAL FOR THE MONTH.

WESTERN SANDPIPER: 9 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/12/14 (KH), 3 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH), adn 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/31/14 (JB) the only reports - A TAD LOW BUT THE LAST REPORT WAS
INTERESTINGLY LATE.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at the 669 Playa (Garza) on 10/4/14 (SC) the only
report - A TAD LOW.

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 17 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/4/14 (KH), 12
near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/4/14 (SC) and 36 near Ralls (Crosby) on 10/16/14
(AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT GOOD NUMBERS.

WILSON'S SNIPE: 17 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (AH), 4 at the 669
Playa (Garza) on 10/4/14 (SC), 2 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH),
2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/27/14 (KM), 15 at MacKenzie Park
(Lubbock) on 10/29/14 (PKi), and 8 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/30/14
(KM) - AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS BUT GOOD NUMBERS.

WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/3/14
(NP), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/4/14 (KH), 1 at the 669 Playa
(Garza) on 10/4/14 (SC), 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/4/14 (SC), 3 at the
Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 10/11/14 (NP), 1 near Springlake (Lamb) on
10/12/14 (PKe), 1 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 10/15/14 (AK, NP),
and 3 near Ralls (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (PKe) - A STUNNING NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR SO LATE IN THE SEASON.

INCA DOVE: 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (MDL) was the only
report - VERY LOW EVEN BY CURRENT STANDARDS.

GREATER ROADRUNNER: 1 in an urban Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/17/14 (KD)
was - NOT REGIONALLY SURPRISING BUT A STARTLING LOCATION.

COMMON POORWILL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (CC, AH), 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (WW), 7 at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock)
on 10/6/14 (AH), 2 at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock)on 10/9/14 (AH), and 4 at
the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/12/14 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE
TO UNCOMMON FALL MIGRANT.

CHIMNEY SWIFT: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/1/14 (KH), 2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (AH), and 2 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14
(AH) the only reports - AN EARLY DEPARTURE AND NONE OF THE LARGE
ASSEMBLAGES WE SOMETIMES SEE EARLY IN THE MONTH.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 immature female was in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)
on 10/6/14 (KD) - THE BIRD OF THE MONTH - THE FIRST RECORD OF THE SPECIES
FOR OUR REGION.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/5/14 (PKe) -
THIS RATHER LATE RECORD ROUNDED OFF A VERY GOOD FALL SEASON FOR THE SPECIES.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH) the
only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.

RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER: 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) the
only report - SOMEWHAT LOW; OCTOBER IS GENERALLY THE PEAK MONTH FOR THIS
SPECIES IN OUR REGION.

MERLIN: 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 10/15/14 (NP), 1 in Dickens (Dickens) on
10/16/14 (AH), and 1 near Sudan (Lamb) on 10/30/14 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.

PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at the Old Dairy Place (Crosby) on 10/15/14 (KH) the
only report - A TAD LOW SO FAR THIS SEASON.

PRAIRIE FALCON: Six reports of single birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Lamb) during the period (KH, AK, PKe, NP, MBS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
EARLY IN THE SEASON.

WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) the last of
the season - ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN FALL MIGRATION.

GRAY FLYCATCHER: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) - GENERALLY
THE LATEST OF OUR MIGRANT EMPIDS SO NOT TERRIBLY OUTRAGEOUS.

EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/10/14 (AH), 1 at
Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 10/18/14 (DH), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 10/20/14 (MBS) - LOW NUMBERS BUT INTERESTING SCATTER WITH TWO
OF THE THREE RECORDS IN OUR DRY COUNTIES.

SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 10/16/14 (KH) and 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH) the only reports - LOW; OCTOBER IS USUALLY
ONE OF THE BETTER MONTHS FOR PASSAGE BIRD.

VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 10/22/14 (PKi)
- FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW ANNUAL WITH REPORTS SCATTERED
RATHER EVENLY ACROSS THE CALENDAR.

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO: 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH,
photos) - CASUAL, CLOSING ON ANNUAL, IN THE REGION - OUR 27th RECORD.

COMMON RAVEN: 1 near Ralls (Crosby) on 10/10/14 (WZ), 1 near Dickens
(Dickens) on 10/10/14 (WZ), and 2 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on
10/16/14 (NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE; THE ANNUAL RAMPUP TO A ROBUST WINTERING
POPULATION SHOULD START ABOUT NOW.

TREE SWALLOW: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/4/14 (KH), 10 near Earth
(Lamb) on 10/12/14 (PKe), and 20 near Springlake (Lamb) on 10/12/14 (PKe) -
OCTOBER IS ONE OF THE BETTER MONTHS FOR PASSAGE BIRDS; ABOUT AVERAGE.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (AH), 1 in
Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/2/14 (AR), 11 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14
(AH), 4 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH), 1 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 10/7/14 (AH), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/9/14 (WW), 1
in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/11/14 (SC), 3 at Cochran County Park
(Cochran) on 10/18/14 (DH), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/25/14 (JC),
and 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/27/14 (KD) - PRETTY CONVINCING
EVIDENCE THAT THIS COULD BE AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR FOR THE SPECIES - AT LEAST AS
A PASSAGE BIRD THROUGH WEST TEXAS>

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/12/14 (AH) the
only report - A FAIRLY EXCITING SIGHTING THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.

BROWN CREEPER: 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/14/14 (RR) the only
report - PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.

ROCK WREN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/2/14 (KH) adn at least 1 at
Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 10/16/14 (NP) - PRETTY LOW FOR A PEAK
MONTH.

CANYON WREN: 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 10/16/14 (AH) and 1 at
Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 10/16/14 (NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE AND TWO OF
THE MORE RELIABLE SITES.

HOUSE WREN: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH), 1 near Meadow
(Terry) on 10/5/14 (AH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/10/14 (AH),
and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/29/14 (JB) the only reports - AGAIN,
LOW FOR A PEAK MONTH.

CAROLINA WREN: 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/2/14 (NP, KS) - THE
ONLY ATOP-THE-CAPROCK SIGHTING - LOW.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (AH) the only
report - VERY LOW FOR WHAT IS USUALLY A PEAK MONTH IN OUR REGION.

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS: 1 at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/13/14 (AH)
and 5 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 10/25/14 (TmD, TnD, LD, JW) the only
reports - AN INTERESTING START FOR AN INTERESTING WINTER?

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 10/16/14 (KH) and 1 at the
Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/21/14 (CC) the only reports - EITHER ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THE MONTH OR A SLOW START TO AN IRRUPTIVE EVENT.

SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 2 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) and 1
on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/6/14 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW

HERMIT THRUSH: 1-9 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (CC, AH, PKe), 1 at
Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa
(Hale) on 10/11/14 (NP), 2 at Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 10/18/14
(DH), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/26/14 (KD) - ABOUT AVERAGE.

GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (AH) and 1 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 1031/14 (AH) the only reports - LOW.

BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 10/16/14 (NP) - THE
CLOSEST WE HAD TO AN ATOP-THE-CAPROCK REPORT.

AMERICAN PIPIT: 4 near Dickens (Dickens) on 10/16/14 (AH), 2 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 10/29/14 (JB), and 12 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/14
(JB) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS - LATE AND
LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS.

SPRAGUE'S PIPIT: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) from 10/18/14 though 10/20/14
(DH, MBS) - CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION - THE 20th and 21st RECORDS
FOR THE REGION;  THIS YEAR SEEMS TO HAVE SEEN CONSIDERABLE MOVEMENT THROUGH
THE PANHANDLE AS WELL.

CEDAR WAXWING: 5 at Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 10/7/14 (SC) and 12 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/26/14 (KD) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE,
LOW, HIGH - WHO CAN SAY WITH THIS UNPREDICTABLE SPECIES.

CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 1 at Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 10/18/14
(DH), 3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/20/14 (MBS) and on 10/31/14 (JB) -
CASUAL, AT BEST, THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) the
only report - CASUAL IN THE REGION THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Nineteen reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 11
birds in the region (Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn,
Yoakum) during the period (JB, CC, SC, JC, KD, DH, AH, KH, AK, PKe, NP,
MBS, MW) - VERY GOOD SCATTER AND REASONABLY GOOD NUMBERS; HOPEFULLY WE
WON'T SEE A REPEAT OF LAST WINTER.

NASHVILLE WARBLER: 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (CC, AH), 1 at the
Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/21/14 (CC), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)on
10/25/14 (JC) the only reports - A TAD LOW.

MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) the
only report - VERY LOW NUMBERS FOR THIS, OUR MOST COMMON LATE MIGRANT.

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (AH) and 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/6/14 (KH) the only reports - LOW.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 1 immature at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (CC,
AH) - CLOSE TO ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; OUR 22nd RECORD.

BLACKPOLL WARBLER: 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; NOW CLOSE TO ANNUAL AS A
SPARSE MIGRANT; THE REGION'S 31st RECORD.

WILSON'S WARBLER: Eight reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 13 birds, and
one report of 16 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock, Terry, Yoakum) during
the period (CC, SC, AH, PKe, NP) - VERY LOW NUMBERS; GENERALLY COMMON TO
ABUNDANT THROUGH AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH.

GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 near Plains (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH) the only report
- VERY LOW.

CASSIN'S SPARROW: 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/3/14
(NP) and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/20/14 (MBS) the only reports - A
VERY EARLY AND VERY THOROUGH WITHDRAWAL FROM THE REGION.

CHIPPING SPARROW: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds, two reports of 11-50
birds, and one report of 55 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hale,
Lubbock, Lamb, Lynn, Yoakum) during the period (CC, SC, DH, AH, KH, PKe,
NP, MBS, KS) - VERY LOW NUMBERS; A FITTING CONCLUSION TO A VERY POOR SEASON
FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION.

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 18 birds,
one report of 108 birds, and one report of 140 birds in the region (Crosby,
Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (CC, SC, AH, KH, PKe, NP, KS) - A
BIT BETTER THAN CHIPPING SPARROWS BUT STILL A POOR FINISH AND A POOR SEASON.

BREWER'S SPARROW: 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/2/14 (NP, KS), 9
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (CC), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/18/14 (DH) - ACTUALLY NOT BAD FOR THIS POSSIBLY PREVIOUSLY OVERLOOKED
SPECIES.

FIELD SPARROW: 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/2/14 (NP, KS), 1 at
Ransom Canyon (Lubbock) on 10/16/14 (SK, NP), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH) the only reports - RIGHT ON TIME BUT VERY LOW
NUMBERS SO FAR THIS SEASON.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/1/14 (CC), 8-17 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (CC, AH), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
10/4/14 (KH),. and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/18/14 (KH) - FAIRLY
GOOD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

SONG SPARROW: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 10/16/14 (NP), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/20/14 (MBS), and 5 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/29/14 (JB) the only
reports - A LATE ARRIVAL AND VERY LOW NUMBERS SO FAR THIS SEASON.

SWAMP SPARROW: No reports by the end of the month - LATE TO ARRIVE THIS
YEAR.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/29/14 (JB) the
only report - RIGHT ON TIME BUT WEIRDLY WEST FOR A TYPICAL FIRST OF THE
SEASON REPORT.

DARK-EYED JUNCO: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 10/16/14 (NP) and
10 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/29/14 (JB) the only reports - LATE AND
VERY LOW NUMBERS SO FAR THIS SEASON.

SUMMER TANAGER: 1 female and 1 male at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on
10/5/14 (AH, photos) - ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; OUR 4th OCTOBER
RECORD.

WESTERN TANAGER: 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 10/4/14 (SC) and 1 female in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/20/14 (WW) - ALSO ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN
OCTOBER; OUR 7th AND 8th OCTOBER RECORDS.

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 4 in a Tahoka yard (Lynn) on 10/1/14 (MDL), 11 at
Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (MDL), 25 just north of Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (WW), 3 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/4/14 (KH),
and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/10/14 (KH) the only reports - A
SLUGGISH FINISH TO WHAT HAD BEEN A GOOD FALL SEASON FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR
REGION.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 10/16/14 (NP) -
UNPRECEDENTED THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; OUR REGION'S VERY FIRST OCTOBER
RECORD!

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/2/14 (KH), 1 at
Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (MDL), 3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/20/14 (MBS), 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/21/14 9KH), and 8 at
Tech Terrace Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/14 (JB) the only reports - LATE TO
ARRIVE THIS YEAR AND STUNNINGLY LOW NUMBERS SO FAR THIS SEASON.

PINE SISKIN: 15 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/17/14 (KH) and 8 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/14 (DH) the only reports - RIGHT ON TIME BUT
LOW NUMBERS SO FAR.

LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 at the Tahoka Cemetery (Lynn) on 10/4/14 (SC) and 7 at
Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 10/16/14 (NP) the only reports - SEEM TO
BE DEPARTING ON SCHEDULE.

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 2 at the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) on 10/2/14 (EC), 1 at
Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 10/5/14 (AH), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/18/14 (DH) and 5 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)on 10/25/14 (JC) the only
reports - ARRIVING ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS SO FAR.

OBSERVERS:  CA=Connie Andrus, MA=Marlin Andrus, JB=Justin Bosler,
CC=Cameron Carver, SC=Steve Collins, EC=Emily Conant, JC=Jim Crites,
MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon, TmD=Tom Dolan, TnD=Toni Dolan, LD=Laura
Duffie, DH=Dave Hawksworth, AH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel,
GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, AK=Andrew Kasner, PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip
Kite, KM=Kevin Morris, NP=Niler Pyeatt, RR=Ross Rickett, AR=Anona Roberts,
CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, MBS=Mary Beth Stowe, KS=Kevin
Sweeney, WW=William Wenthe, JW=Janice Whittington, MW=Martin Wilson,
WZ=William Zwartjez.

Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock


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[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for October - longish

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