Lubbock received 2.39 inches of rain during October, well above the
expected total for the month of 1.53 inches, leaving us with 13.36
inches for the year; well below the average year-to-date total of
16.78 inches. According to the US Drought Monitor, 33% of our
fifteen-county region is now in moderate drought, 53% is in severe
drought, and 14% is in extreme drought; an improvement over recent
conditions but still far from ideal. There seems to be a bit of an
irruptive event going on with regards to bluebirds and some finches
and, thus far, this event has a western flavor – it will be
interesting to see what late fall and early winter bring.
Regional summaries of eBird data cannot be acquired in a timely
fashion. As a result, records submitted to eBird may not appear in
this report. Reports from the region that are submitted to the
texbirds or leasbirds listservs can be reviewed in a timely fashion
and should appear. Due to the abundance of records now supported by
photographs, I only report photographs for exceptional birds.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned
by virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity. Water
Treatment Ponds have come to feature so prominently in these reports
that they will, henceforth, be referred to as WTP.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 49 at the Wheeler Ranch (Crosby) on
10/15/22 (ML) and 26 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/18/22 (ML) –
VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
WOOD DUCK: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/9/22 (ML), 1 at the
FedEx Playa (Lubbock) on 10/28/22 (SA), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 10/31/22 (AH) the only reports received directly – A BIT LOW.
CANVASBACK: 2 at the Shallowater WTP (Lubbock) on 10/29/22 (SA) the
only report directly received – LOW.
REDHEAD: Three reports of 2-8 birds and five reports of 11-24 birds in
the region (Bailey, Crosby, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, ML,
AR) and an exceptional report of 200 at the Excel Energy Ponds
(Lubbock) on 10/26/22 (GK) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD
NUMBERS FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
RING-NECKED DUCK: 31 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 10/29/22 (SA) – HIGH
NUMBERS FOR A SINGLE SITE THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
LESSER SCAUP: 2 near Enochs (Bailey) on 10/13/22 (SA) – A BIT EARLY BY
RECENT YEARS’ STANDARDS.
BUFFLEHEAD: 4 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/22 (SA) – POSSIBLY
RUNNING A TAD EARLY.
SCALED QUAIL: 9 at the Wheeler Ranch (Crosby) on 10/15/22 (ML) and 17
in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/20/22 (GK) – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS
BUT GOOD NUMBERS PER REPORT.
EARED GREBE: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/16/22 (JG, HW) the only
report received directly – LOW.
WESTERN GREBE: 1-2 at White River Lake (Crosby) from 10/9/22 through
10/18/22 (ML) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
INCA DOVE: 5 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/18/22 (JoC) the only
report received – STILL HANGING ON.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 20-40 birds at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/15/22 (HB,
JG, HW) the last large numbers reported for the season that I am aware
of – DPEARTURE CAME A BIT EARLY THIS YEAR.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/21/22 (JCr) and
1-2 at the TTU Horticultural Gardens (Lubbock) from 10/23/22 through
10/27/22 (SA, BD, AH, LH, AR, MW) – THIS WAS A BIT LOW; WE GENERALLY
SEE A BIT OF A PEAK IN OCTOBER.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 adult male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
10/2/22 (AH), 1 immature bird in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/4/22
and 10/5/22 (JM), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/28/22 (JCr)
– VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR LATE IN THE SEASON BUT IT HAS BEEN A
REMARKABLY MILD FALL THUS FAR.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
10/24/22 (JCr) and 1 at the TTU Horticultural Gardens (Lubbock)
10/27/22 (BD, KM, BP) and on 10/30/22 (SA, AH) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS SPECIES WHICH, RARELY, PERSISTS INTO WINTER.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/21/22 and on
10/24/22 (JCr) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SPECIES WHICH ALSO, RARELY,
PERSISTS INTO WINTER.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/4/22
(JM) – VERY UNUSUAL THIS LATE IN FALL.
SORA: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/29/22 (TD, JG, HW) the only report
received directly – VERY LOW; WE GENERALLY SEE A FALL PEAK AT ABOUT
THIS TIME OF YEAR.
SANDHILL CRANE: 25 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/7/22 (DD, JAM) – BY
CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS A TAD EARLY FOR THE ARRIVAL OF FLOCKS OF THE
SPECIES.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Five reports of 2-10 birds and three reports of 30-42
birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (JoC, JrC, WC,
TD, ML, KM, BSc, BSh) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE FALL TAPERING OFF OF
THIS SPECIES.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER: 1-2 at the 130th Street x MLK Boulevard Playa
(Lubbock) from 10/14/22 (SA) through 10/22/22 (SA, JBo, JOC, JrC, WC,
JG, AH, JM, KM, BSc, BSh, HW) and 1 near Ralls (Crosby) on 10/20/22
(ML) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR THE REGION BY
RECENT STANDARDS.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: 1 at the CR 173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on
10/1/22 (BSh, JoC, TD, GK, ML) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE
MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION.
STILT SANDPIPER: 40-69 at the CR 173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on 10/1/22
(BSh, JoC, TD, ML) – LARGE NUMBERS FOR A SINGLE SITE THIS LATE IN THE
SEASON.
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: 1 at the CR 173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on 10/1/22
(ML) – A RATHER LATE REPORT FOR THE REGION.
LEAST SANDPIPER: Seven reports of 1-9 birds, one report of 17 birds in
the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, JBo, JG, JM, KM,
ML, BSh, HW) as well as remarkable reports of 75-200 birds at the CR
173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on 10/1/22 (JoC, TD, ML, BSh) – VERY GOOD
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND REMARKABLE NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 2 at the CR 173 x MF 40 Playa (Crosby) on 10/1/22
(ML) and 2 near Ralls (Crosb) on 10/1/22 (ML) – RUNNING A BIT LATE.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 1 at the CR 173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on
10/1/22 (ML) – RUNNING A TAD LATE.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 4 at the CR 173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on 10/1/22
(ML) – A BIT LATE FOR A ‘FLOCK’ HOWEVER SMALL.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 10-40 at the CR 173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on
10/1/22 (JoC, TD, ML, BSh) and 18 near Ralls (Crosby) on 10/20/22 (ML)
– AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT BETTER THAN AVERAGE NUMBERS PER
REPORT.
WILSON’S SNIPE: Five reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Lamb,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, HB, AH, KM, BSh) – MOVING IN A BIT
SLOWLY THIS YEAR.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Three reports of single birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock) through 10/18/22 (SA, JG, AH, ML, HW) – VERY LOW; A
BIT OF AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION … UNLESS MORE PUSH THROUGH
LATE IN THE SEASON.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 at Gillham-Howell Park (Terry) on 10/3/22 (SA)
the only report received – LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2-5 at the CR 173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on 10/1/22
(TD, ML, BSh) and 1 at Gillham-Howell Park (Terry) on 10/3/22 (SA) the
only reports received – LOW AND A SOMEWHAT EARLY DEPARTURE BY RECENT
YEARS’ STANDARDS.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Twelve reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lamb, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, JBo, JoC, JG, LEAS Trip,
ML, JM, HW) – AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR THE MONTH BUT LOW NUMBERS.
WILSON’S PHALAROPE: 4 at the CR 173 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on 10/1/22
(ML) and 1 near Enochs (Bailey) on 10/13/22 (SA) the only reports
received – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
GREAT EGRET: 1 over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/2/22 (AH) and 1 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/23/22 (TD, JG, HW) the only
reports directly received – VERY LOW.
SNOWY EGRET: Five reports of 1-9 birds at various sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (SA, JBo, JG, AH, BSh, HW) the only reports received
– A BIT LOW.
CATTLE EGRET: 13 at the 130th Street x MLK Boulevard Playa (Lubbock)
on 10/14/22 (SA) the only report received – LOW.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/1/22 (JCr)
and on 10/12/22 (SA, AH) – LOW BY RECENT YEARS’ STANDARDS.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 5 near Enochs (Bailey) on 10/13/22 (SA) the only
report received – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
TURKEY VULTURE: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/23/22 (TD,
JG, HW) was the latest report I received directly – A SOMEWHAT EARLY
DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION THIS YEAR.
OSPREY: Thirteen reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (SA, TD, GE, JG, AH, MH, LEAS Trip, ML, BSh,
HW) – VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS.
BALD EAGLE: 1 adult at/near City Farms (Lubbock) on 10/23/22 (TD, JG,
HW) and on 10/30/22 (JG) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
MISSISSIPPI KITE: 1 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/3/22 (SA) and 1 at
Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/4/22 (SA) – THE SPECIES IS
PERSISTING A BIT LATER THAN IT USED TO; PARTICULARLY DURING MILD
FALLS.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 at the Brownfield Cemetery (Terry) on 10/16/22
(AR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/17/22 (AR, BSh), and 1 at Tahoka
Lake (Lynn) on 10/29/22 (TD, JG, HW) the only reports received – A BIT
LOW BY RECENT YEARS’ STANDARDS.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 at Gillham-Howell Park (Terry) on 10/3/22 (SA)
and 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/4/22 (SA) the only reports
received – LOW BY RECENT YEARS’ STANDARDS.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 10/13/22
(ML) and 1 was near Afton (Dickens) on 10/19/22 (ML) the only reports
received – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER: 1 at the Denver City Nature Trail (Yoakum) on
10/4/22 (SA) and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/11/22 (ML) and
on 10/18/22 (ML) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN PASSAGE FOR THE
SPECIES.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: Four reports of single birds in the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SA, AH, ML) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
MERLIN: Six reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey, Lubbock)
during the period (JCr, BD, JG, AH, BSc, BSh, AW) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
A FALL MONTH.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Gillham-Howell Park (Terry) on 10/3/22 (SA) and
1 on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/7/22 (JoC) – LOW.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/7/22 (DD, JAM) the
only report received – A TAD LOW.
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Brazos River crossing of FM 1081
(Kent) on 10/1/22 (SA, AH) – RUNNING A BIT LATE.
COUCH’S KINGBIRD: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/11/22 (ML) –
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; ONE OF LESS THAN A HANDFUL OF REPORTS FOR
THE ENTIRE REGION – CERTAINLY A CANDIDATE FOR SIGHTING OF THE MONTH.
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD: 1 at the CR 217 x FM 54 Playa (Bailey) on 10/9/22
(AR) and 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 10/12/22 (JCr, AR,
BSh) – A BIT LOW; WE GENERALLY SEE A BIT MORE OF A PEAK FOR THIS
SPECIES IN OCTOBER.
WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 at Swenson Park (Dickens) on 10/20/22 (ML) – A
VERY LATE REPORT FOR THE REGION.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/8/22 (BSh) –
A VERY LATE SIGHTING.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at Caprock Trailways (Floyd) 10/2/22 (AR), 1 on
the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/3/22 (JB, BSh) and on 10/6/22 (AH),
and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/12/22 (JM) – LATE TO VERY LATE
DATES FOR THE SPECIES TO BE FOUND IN THE REGION.
BLACK PHOEBE: 1 at Gillham-Howell Park (Terry) o 10/3/22 (SA) –
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW CLOSING IN ON ANNUAL.
EASTERN PHOEBE: Sixteen reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey,
Crosby, Dickens, Kent, Lamb, Lubbock,) during the period (SA, DD, AH,
ML, JAM, BSh, AW) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS, SEEMS TO
BE RECOVERING.
SAY’S PHOEBE: 1 at Caprock Trailways (Floyd) on 10/2/22 (AR), 1 at
City Farms (Lubbock) on 10/7/22 (SA), and 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on
10/29/22 (SA) – A TAD LOW; WE GENERALLY SEE A BIT OF A PEAK DURING
OCTOBER.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 female at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/29/22 (SA,
BK) – FORMERLY CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW ANNUAL WITH LITTLE EVIDENCE
OF SEASONALITY.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO: Seven reports of single birds in the region
(Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (JoC, JrC, JG, LH, ML,
BSc, BSh) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS … FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN MANY YEARS.
PHILADELPHIA VIREO: 1 at the Girard Watering Station (Kent) on 10/1/22
(SA, AH) and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/18/22 (BH, LH, BSh) –
FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; CLOSING IN ON CASUAL AT
THIS POINT.
WARBLING VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/22 (SA, AH) the
only report received – VERY LOW.
RED-EYED VIREO: 1 at the Girard Watering Station (Kent) on 10/1/22
(SA, AH) – FORMERLY CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW CLOSING IN ON ANNUAL.
WOODHOUSE’S SCRUB JAY: 1 near the Girard Park/Picnic Area (Kent) on
10/1/22 (SA, AH) – FORMERLY REGULAR THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
REGION; NOW VERY HARD TO FIND.
COMMON RAVEN: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Floyd, Kent) during the period (SA, AH, ML, AR) – AVERAGE
NUMBERS IN EXPECTED LOCALES; NO EVIDENCE OF A PUSH ATOP THE CAPROCK
YET THIS SEASON.
BANK SWALLOW: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/16/22 (JG, HW) – A RATHER
LATE REPORT.
TREE SWALLOW: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/25/22 (ML) – LOW
GIVEN THE NUMBERS THAT WERE BEING REPORTED FROM POINTS NORTH UP TO
THIS DATE.
BARN SWALLOW: 500 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/22 (JCr) and 26 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/25/22 (ML) – BOTH VERY HIGH NUMBERS
FOR THE DATE ON WHICH THE SIGHTING OCCURRED.
CAVE SWALLOW: 5 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/22 (JCr) – RATHER LATE
IN THE SEASON FOR THIS SPECIES TO PERSIST.
BUSHTIT: 12 at Caprock Trailways (Floyd) on 10/2/22 (AR) – FORMERLY
REGULAR IN JUNIPER-COVERED CANYON CUTS IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
REGION; NOW VERY HARD TO FIND.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: Six reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Bailey,
Lubbock, Yoakum) during the first half of the period (SA, AH, BSh) – A
SLOW START THIS YEAR BUT NUMBERS STARTED BUILDING TO NORMAL DURING THE
SECOND HALF OF THE MONTH.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region
(Bailey, Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SA, HB, JoC, JrC, JG,
AH, ML, MS, AW, HW) – GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER; HISTORICALLY THE
SPECIES WAS PRETTY REGULAR IN THE REGION; BY CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS
THIS SEEMS IRRUPTIVE.
CEDAR WAXWING: 8 at the TTU Horticultural Gardens (Lubbock) on
10/12/22 (AR), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/13/22 (SA), 3 were
near Afton (Dickens) on 10/13/22 (ML), twenty-three reports of 8-150
birds were found, with numbers varying daily, at the TTU Horticultural
Gardens (Lubbock) from 10/23/22 through 10/30/22 (SA, JoC, JrC, JrC,
AD, TD, BD, GE, JG, AH, LH, JM, KM, BP, AR, BSc, PS, BSh, MW, HW), and
12 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/31/22 (AH) – VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME; IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THIS IS A SOLID
IRRUPTIVE EVENT.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: Nine reports of 1-2 birds in the region
(Dickens, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, JrC, AH, ML, JMa, JM,
AR) – GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND GOOD NUMBERS; COULD LEAD TO A SOLID
WINTER FOR THE SPECIES.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Ribble Park (Lubbock) from 10/29/22 (HB,
JoC, JrC, AR) through 10/31/22 (SA, HB, JG, BSh, HW) – A BIT EARLY.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: Seven reports of single birds in the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Kent, Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, JG, AH,
LEAS Trip, BSh) – CONTINUING LOW NUMBERS DURING WHAT IS USUALLY PEAK
SEASON FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION.
ROCK WREN: Nine reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Bailey, Floyd,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, JCr, TD, JG, AR, BSh, HW) – GOOD
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND SCATTER; CONSISTENT WITH OUR TYPICAL OCTOBER
PEAK FOR THE SPECIES.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 10/31/22 (SA) the only
report received – LOW; REBOUNDING VERY SLOWLY FROM THE HARD WINTER A
COUPLE YEARS BACK.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 10/5/22 through 10/9/22
(SA, JOC, AH, BSh) – THE ONLY REPORTS THAT WERE – BORDERLINE – ATOP
THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
HOUSE WREN: Nineteen reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Bailey,
Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, JB, JCr, DD,
AH, PKe, ML, JAM, AR, BSh) – A GOOD REBOUND FROM THE POOR SEPTEMBER
SHOWING; ALMOST UP TO OUR NORMAL FALL PEAK.
WINTER WREN: 1 at the Brownfield Cemetery (Terry) on 10/16/22 (AR) and
1 at the TTU Horticultural Gardens (Lubbock) on 10/25/22 (SA, JG, BSh)
– RUNNING A BIT EARLY.
GRAY CATBIRD: Five reports of single birds in the region (Bailey,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, AH, BSh) – ABOUT AVERAGE; BETTER
NUMBERS AND SCATTER FROM THE PANHANDLE PROPER TO THE NORTH; NOVEMBER
COULD BE INTERESTING IF MOVEMENT IS STILL UNDERWAY.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Zion Cemetery (Terry) on 10/2/22 (BSh) and 1-2 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) from 10/7/22 through 10/29/22 (DD, JAM, AR, AW)
– REPORTS FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT ALWAYS NOTEWORTHY.
SAGE THRASHER: Five reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, JCr, AH, ML) – LOW; WE GENERALLY SEE A
STRONGER MOVEMENT DURING OCTOBER.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: Eight reports of 1-7 birds in the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, BD, ML) – ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR OUR RESIDENT BLUEBIRD SPECIES.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 4 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 10/28/22 (SA)
had increased to 11 at the same site on 10/30/22 (SA, AH) – AS
NUMEROUS REPORTS WERE COMING IN FROM THE PANHANDLE TO THE NORTH, THIS
COULD WELL BE AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR FOR THE SPECIES.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/25/22 (ML), 1
at Ribble Park (Lubbock) on 10/29/22 (SA) and on 10/30/22 (SA, AH),
and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 10/30 22 (SA, AH) – AS
NUMEROUS REPORTS WERE COMING IN FROM THE PANHANDLE TO THE NORTH, THIS
COULD WELL BE AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR FOR THE SPECIES.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE: Twelve reports of 1-2 birds in the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, DD,
GE, JG, AH, ML, JMa, JM, JAM, KM, AR, BSc, BSh, MW) – A VERY GOOD
START TO THE SEASON; IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THIS TURNS INTO
A SOLID WINTER.
SWAINSON’S THRUSH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/9/22 (LH) and 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/17/22 (GE) the only reports received –
LOW.
HERMIT THRUSH: Eleven reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey,
Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, AH, MH, ML, JMa, AR, BSh,
AW) – AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR THE MONTH BUT LOW NUMBERS.
EVENING GROSBEAK: 1 male found at the TTU Horticultural Gardens
(Lubbock) on 10/23/22 (TD) remained present at the site through
10/26/23 (SA, HB, JoC, JrC, AD, TD, GE, JG, AH, LH, BSc, PS, BSh, MW,
HW) – FORMERLY REGULAR IN THE REGION DURING WINTER-SPRING, THEN BECAME
ACCIDENTAL TO THE ENTIRE STATE; NOW VERGING ON ANNUAL IN OUR REGION.
PINE SISKIN: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/9/22 (AR), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/20/22 (JoC), 7 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
10/25/22 (ML), and 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/29/22 (TD, JG, HW)
the only reports directly received – A BIT LOW.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: Eighteen reports of 1-10 birds in the region
(Dickens, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, JoC, JrC, TD, BD, GE,
JG, AH, ML, KM, BP, AR, BSc, BSh, HW) – HISTORICALLY, THESE WOULD HAVE
ALL BEEN LATE RECORDS – WE NOW EXPECT THE SPECIES TO PERSIST IN THE
REGION INTO EARLY WINTER.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: Five reports of 1-2 birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (JG, AH, LH, BSh) – ALL RUNNING A BIT LATE
FOR THE REGION.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW: 1 near O’Donnell (Lynn) on 10/30/22 (BSc) –
FORMERLY REGULAR TO OUR SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES; NOW NOTEWORTHY ANYWHERE
IN THE REGION.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Thirty-three reports of 1-10 birds and three reports
of 12-15 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Dickens, Lamb, Lubbock,
Terry) during the period (SA, JoC, JCr, TD, DD, GE, AH, LH, ML, JAM,
KM, BP, AR, BSh, AW) – BETTER THAN SEPTEMBER BUT STILL A BIT LOW – IT
WAS MORE OF A CHIPPING SPARROW THAN A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW FALL
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Twenty-six reports of 1-9 birds and one report
of 40 birds in the region (Bailey, Lamb, Lubbock, Terry) during the
period (SA, JoC, JCr, TD, BD, GE, AH, LH, LEAS Trip, AR, BSc, BSh, AW,
MW) – A SOMEWHAT POOR OCTOBER SHOWING FOLLOWING A POOR SEPTEMBER
SHOWING.
BREWER’S SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/22 (SA, AH) – WAS
RUNNING A BIT LATE.
FOX SPARROW: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/25/22 (ML) – WAS
RUNNING A TAD EARLY BY CURRENT STANDARDS.
DARK-EYED JUNCO: 1 at the TTU Horticultural Gardens (Lubbock) on
10/12/22 (AR), 1 at the Wheeler Ranch (Crosby) on 10/15/22 (ML), and 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/15/22 (HB, BSc) the only received
reports from the first half of the month – ARRIVALS DURING THE FIRST
HALF OF OCTOBER SEEM, THESE DAYS, TO BE EARLY.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW:1 at the Brownfield Cemetery (Terry) on
10/16/22 (AR), 1 near Afton (Dickens) on 10/19/22 (ML), 1-2 at the TTU
Horticultural Gardens (Lubbock) from 10/24/22 through 10/30/22 (SA,
JoC, BD, JG, AH, PKe, KM, BSh, MW), 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
10/25/22 (ML), several on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/25/22
(LH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/28/22 (AH), 2 at Clapp Park
on 10/30/22 (SA, AH) and on 10/30/22 (AH), and 1 at the Lubbock
Cemetery (Lubbock) on 10/30/22 (SA, AH) – BY CURRENT STANDARDS, A
REMARKABLE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN
THE SEASON.
SWAMP SPARROW; 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/29/22 (SA) – PERHAPS A TAD EARLY.
CANYON TOWHEE: 3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/13/22 (SA) and 1 at
the Littlefield Cemetery (Lamb) on 10/13/22 (SA) – A LITTLE NORTHWEST
OF THEIR NORMAL RANGE IN THE REGION.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/22 (SA, AH)
the only report – VERY LOW.
SPOTTED TOWHEE: 1 at the Zion Cemetery (Terry) on 10/2/22 (BSh), 1 on
the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/6/22 (AH), and 1 at the TTU HSC
Farms Playa (Lubbock) on 10/12/22 (SA) – REPORTS FROM THE FIRST HALF
OF OCTOBER HAVE BECOME NOTEWORTHY FOR THIS SPECIES.
EASTERN TOWHEE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/25/22 (ML) – VERY
RARE THIS FAR WEST.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/1/22 (JCr) –
RUNNING A BIT LATE THOUGH PASSAGE SEEMS TO BE GETTING LATER FOR THIS
SPECIES.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 9 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/16/22 (JG, HW)
and 8 at the 130th Street x MLK Boulevard Playa (Lubbock) on 10/17/22
(JM) – A TAD LOW.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 4 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/27/22 (JoC)
and 1 male at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 10/29/22 (JoC, JrC) – GOOD REPORTS
FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/5/22 (JM), 1
below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/9/22 (JoC) and on 10/10/22 (GE), 1 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/9/22 (SA, AH), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby)
on 10/11/22 (ML), and 1 at the TTU Horticultural Gardens (Lubbock) on
10/25/22 (JG, KM, BSc, BSh) – A REMARKABLE NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR THIS
RARE MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION; THE REPORTS WERE ALSO AT THE LATE END
OF THE MOVEMENT FOR THE SPECIES.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Fifty-three reports of 1-10 birds and six
reports of 12-20 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd,
Hale, Kent, Lamb, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, JoC, JCr, GE,
JG, AH, LH, ML, KM, NP, AR, BSc, BSh, WW, HW) as well as a remarkable
report of 73 birds from Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/9/22 (SA, AH) – ONE
OF THE MOST REMARKABLE SEASONS WE HAVE HAD FOR THE SPECIES SINCE MY
ARRIVAL IN 1998!
NASHVILLE WARBLER: Twenty-one reports of 1-8 birds, one report of 10
birds, and one report of 11 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd,
Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SA, JoC, JCr, GE, AH, LH, GJ, PJ,
ML, AR, BSc, BSh, WW) – OUTSANDING NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS!
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: Four reports of single birds in the region
(Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SA, TD, JG, AH, HW) – SOMEWHAT LOW.
MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER: Four reports of single birds in the region
(Hale, Lubbock) during the first ten days of the month (SA, JoC, GE,
AH, NP) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 at Zion Cemetery (Terry) on 10/2/22 (BSh) and 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/17/22 (GE) – ONE LATE AND ONE VERY LATE
REPORT FOR OUR REGION.
NORTHERN PARULA: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/9/22 (AR) – ANOTHER
LATE REPORT FOR THE REGION.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER: 1 on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) from 10/3/22 (AR,
SA, JB, HB, TD, AH, PKe, JMa, BSh) through 10/7/22 (JoC, JCr, AH, LH)
and 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) on 10/4/22 (SA) – TWO MORE RATHER
LATE WARBLER REPORTS.
YELLOW WARBLER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/1/22 (LEAS Trip)
and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/8/22 (SA, AH) – LATE AND LATER
REPORTS FOR THE REGION.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: Twenty-two reports of 1-10 birds, four reports
of 15 to 52 birds, and a remarkable report of 81 birds in the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Dickens, Hale, Kent, Lamb, Lubbock, Terry, Yoakum)
during the first half of the period (SA, JoC, JCr, GE, AH, LEAS Trip,
ML, NP, AR, BSh) – A VERY STRONG RAMP UP IN NUMBERS FOR SO EARLY IN
THE PERIOD.
PALM WARBLER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/8/22 (SA, AH) – CASUAL
TO THE REGION WITH LATE FALL A NOT PARTICULARLY UNUSUAL PERIOD FOR
VISITS.
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/18/22
(JoC, JrC, JG, BSh) and on 10/20/22 (HB) and 1 near Afton (Dickens) on
10/19/22 (ML) – RATHER LATE REPORTS OF A RARE MIGRANT.
WILSON’S WARBLER: Twenty-two reports of 1-5 birds in the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Kent, Lubbock, Terry, Yoakum) with the
last report coming in on 10/13/22 (SA, JB, HB, JCr, TD, AH, LH, LEAS
Trip, JM, NP, AR, BSh) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS.
SUMMER TANAGER: 1 female at the Girard Watering Station (Kent) on
10/1/22 (AH) and 1 at the Littlefield Cemetery (Lamb) on 10/9/22 (BSh)
– MORE LATE REPORTS FOR A MIGRANT SONGBIRD.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/9/22 (LH)
and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 10/11/22 (ML) – VERY LATE
REPORTS FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/10/22 (GE) – A TAD LATE.
BLUE GROSBEAK: 1 at the Brownfield Cemetery (Terry) on 10/16/22 (AR) –
THE ONLY REPORT FROM THE LATTER HALF OF THE MONTH; WHEN THE SPECIES IS
DEFINITELY NOTEWORTHY.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/9/22 (AR, BSh) – WAS
RUNNING MORE THAN A BIT LATE.
DICKCISSEL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/8/22 (BSh) and 1 at the
TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) on 10/15/22 (GE) – FINISHING OFF THE LIST WITH
TWO MORE LATE SONGBIRD REPORTS.
OBSERVERS: SA=Sheri Anderson, JB=Joel Buford, JBo=Justin Bosler,
HB=Holly Bundock, JoC=Joe Cochran, JrC=Jordan Cochran, WC=Whitney
Cochran, JCr=Jim Crites, AD=Andrea Dangremond, TD=Tucker Dangremond,
DD=David Davis, BD=Betty Dunn, GE=Grant Ellis, JG=Joe Girgente,
AH=Anthony Hewetson, LH=Len Hovey, MH=Melody Huffman, GJ=George Jury,
PJ=Pat Jury, BK=Barry Keith, GK=Glenda Kelly, PKe=Peter Keyel, LEAS
Trip (Sheri Anderson, Lorena Burkett, Tucker Dangremond, Joe Heppert,
Kathy Heppert, Anthony Hewetson, Glenda Kelly, Cindy Lewis Jessica
Lewis, Nancy McIntyre, Brad Shine, Matt Smith, Natasha Van Gestal,
Lena Zappia), ML=Mark Lockwood, JMa=Joseph Manthey, JM=Jennifer
Miller, JAM=JoAnn Mills, KM=Kassie Moore, BP=Barbara Pankratz,
NP=Niler Pyeatt, AR=Ari Rice, BSc=Bobby Schat, PS=Paul Sellin,
BSh=Brad Shine, AW=Amanda Walker, WW=William Wenthe, MW=Mike
Williams, HW=Hannah Wojo.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock
