[leasbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summar for March - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 13:47:04 -0700 (PDT)
MARCH 2014 BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS
With
0.17 inches of rain in Lubbock during the month, far below the average March
total of 0.76 inches, we are now at 0.33 inches for the year and sliding ever
deeper into drought, now 1.64 inches below the average year-to-date total of
1.97 inches. We are 28 inches off of the average expected rainfall of 58
inches for January 2011 through March 2014 and are down to
artificially-maintained or spring-fed bodies of water in the region. Even the
local media, now that local lakes are going, going fast, or gone, have taken
notice. Water birds are increasingly difficult to find in good numbers though
rarities continue to be concentrated nicely - from a birder's point of view -
and anything dependent on vegetation, seeds, berries, fruits, invertebrates, or
vertebrates as a prey base is in sorry shape. The
combination of intense observer efforts at some locations and the
increase in data due to e-bird has made it more difficult to separate
individual sightings - the algorithm I am using is relatively
conservative and I am willing to share it with anybody who is
interested.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are
mentioned by virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical
scarcity.
SNOW GOOSE: 3-5 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) through 3/8/14 (CC,. SC, AnH, AP,
JP, NP, DW), 37 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 40 near Crosbytong
(Crosby) on 3/8/14 (AP, JP), and 50 near Lockney (Floyd) on 3/8/14 (CA, MA) the
only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS AND AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION.
ROSS'S GOOSE: 1-6 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) through 3/8/14 (CC, AnH, PKe,
AP, JP, TT), 14 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) the only reports - LOW
NUMBERS AND AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION.
CACKLING GOOSE and CANADA GOOSE - our dark geese were in very poor numbers, at
the few remaining sites in the region, through the period and these sites were
few and far between - LOW NUMBERS AND AN EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION.
TRUMPETER SWAN: The immature swan continued at two sites in Lubbock (Lubbock)
through 3/14/14 (CC, SC, AnH, PKe, KL, ML, AP, JP, NP, RR, CR, FR, TT, DW) and
persisted in showing
traits consistent with Trumpeter Swan while stubbornly refusing to develop
traits consistent with Tundra Swan - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; A CONTINUATION
OF OUR 7th RECORD.
WOOD DUCK,GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN
PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL: Though findable at the remaining bodies of water
in the region, water is scarce enough that Wood Duck and 'dabbler' numbers were
- LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, LOW, LOW, EXTRAORDINARILY LOW, and VERY LOW
RESPECTIVELY
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 14 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 6
at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 2 near Littlefield (Lamb) on
3/25/14 (AB), 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 3/26/14 (SC, EFD), 2 in Plainview
(Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP), and 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/31/14 (CC) the only
reports - RIGHT ON TIME BUT A TAD LOW.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 3/10/14 (CC) and 7 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only reports - THEY ARRIVED ON TIME THIS YEAR BUT
NUMBERS ARE VERY LOW.
RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK:
Though findable at the remaining bodies of water in the region, water is scarce
enough that our 'diving duck' numbers were - VERY LOW, LOW, LOW, LOW, and VERY
LOW RESPECTIVELY.
CANVASBACK: 10 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC), 1 female at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 4 in Plainview (Hale) on 3/6/14 (NP), 2-4 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 3/6/14 and 3/7/14 (AnH, NP), 3 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 3/8/14 (PKe), 12 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/8/14 (PKe), 20 at the
TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock)on 3/10/14 (CC), 6 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
3/12/14 (CC), 7 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 10 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 2 in Plainview (Hale) on
3/29/14 (NP) - THOUGH NUMBERS WERE UNIMPRESSIVE THE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS WAS
QUITE GOOD CONSIDERING THE INTENSITY OF OUR ONGOING DROUGHT.
REDHEAD: 15 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC), 1 at Whisperwood Pond
(Lubbock)on 3/6/14 (DW), 50 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock)on 3/8/14 (PKe), 3 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/13/14 (SC,
EFD), 3 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 1 at Ransom
Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - THOUGH NUMBERS WERE UNIMPRESSIVE THE
NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS WAS QUITE GOOD CONSIDERING THE INTENSITY OF OUR ONGOING
DROUGHT.
COMMON MERGANSER: 3-6 remained at Lake Six (Lubbock) through 3/3/14 (AnH, JM),
38 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (CC), 12 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
3/12/14 (CC), 7 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 1
at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE
IN THE SEASON - ONE WONDERS WHAT OTHER LAKES IN THE REGION HAVE LENT US THEIR
MERGANSERS.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 remained at Lake Six (Lubbock) through 3/3/14 (AnH,
JM), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC,
PKe) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
NORTHERN BOBWHITE: Numbers appear to be declining rapidly throughout the
region .. though the
species is not yet rare enough to track individual sightings - LOW.
SCALED QUAIL: 17 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR) the only report -
INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION; INDIVIDUAL SIGHTINGS CALL FOR
TRACKING.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 near Petersburg (Hale) on 3/11/14 (NP), 1 in (Bailey)
on 3/15/14 (GB), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR - Hale (Hale) on 3/15/14 (NP) the only
reports - INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION; INDIVIDUAL SIGHTINGS
CALL FOR TRACKING.
EARED GREBE: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) and 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/25/14 (DK) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS; WE
CAN ONLY HOPE FOR THE USUAL APRIL BUMP.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 9 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC) had
dropped down to 4 by 3/25/14 (DK) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR OUR REGION - POSSIBLY
FROM LAKES IN VERY POOR CONDITION IN SURROUNDING REGIONS AS THESE NUMBERS ARE
NOT TYPICAL FOR EVEN
OUR BEST LAKES.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 3/27/14 (SC) and 1 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only reports - NONE WINTERED AND THESE ARE RIGHT
ON TIME FOR SPRING ARRIVALS IN A NON-WINTERING YEAR.
GREEN HERON: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only report - LATE TO
ARRIVE AND LOW IN NUMBERS - SO FAR.
OSPREY: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/27/14 (SC, EFD) the only report - RIGHT
ON TIME BUT NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF NUMBERS YET.
SWAINSON'S HAWK: 1 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/25/14 (DK), 1 over Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 3/29/14 (AnH), and 1 near Ropesville (Hockley) on 3/30/14 (SC) the
only reports - A TAD LATE THIS YEAR AND, THUS FAR, LOW IN NUMBERS.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 3/1/14 (KH), 1 in northern
(Hale) on 3/26/14 (CA, MA), and 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 3/31/14 (KH)
the only reports - NOT BAD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SPECIES' SEASON FOR OUR
REGION.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the
only report - ABOUT AVERAGE BY CONTEMPORARY, DROUGHT-RIDDEN STANDARDS.
SORA: 1 at Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) and 1 at Buffalo Springs
Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE BY
CONTEMPORARY, DROUGHT-RIDDEN STANDARDS.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe),
1-5 daily at Dupree Park (Lubbock) from 3/25/14 through 3/31/14 (SC, EFD, AnH),
2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) from 3/25/14 through 3/31/14 (SC, AnH), 1 at the
Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/26/14 (NP), 2 at the Plainview
Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP), and 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on
3/31/14 (CC, KM) - RIGHT ON TIME AND EXPECTED NUMBERS AT THE FEW SITES LEFT IN
THE REGION - OVERALL, THOUGH - DUE TO ONGOING DROUGHT - LOW.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 1- 3 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) from 3/14/14 though
3/27/14 (TmD), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) from 3/22/14 through 3/31/14 (CC,
AnH, PKe), 1 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 3/25/14 (AB), 2--3 at Dupree Park
(Lubbock) from 3/25/14 through 3/30/14 (SC, SFD, AnH), 9 at the Houston School
Playa (Hale) on 3/26/14 (NP), 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
3/29/14, and 3 at the Houston School Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP) - RIGHT ON
TIME AND EXPECTED NUMBERS AT THE FEW SITES LEFT IN THE REGION - OVERALL, THOUGH
- DUE TO ONGOING DROUGHT - LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Eleven reports of 1-4 birds and one report of 17 birds at
nine sites in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock, Motley) during the
period (AB, CC, TmD, DH, AnH, PKe, NP) - NOT TOO BAD, CONSIDERING THE DROUGHT,
BUT, BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS, LOW NUMBERS.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 1 at Dupree
Park (Lubbock) on 3/25/14 (SC), and 4 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14
(AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; A
VERY RARE WINTERING SPECIES AND TYPICALLY SCARCE THIS EARLY IN MIGRATION.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 1 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 3/25/14 (AB) and 11 at City
Farms (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY
THAT THESE SIGHTINGS ARE OF WINTERING BIRDS.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 2 at the
Matador Sewage Ponds (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 1 at the Plainview
Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/26/14 (NP) - LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT THIS
WINTER WAS A BIT OF A BOOGER AND THESE ARE QUITE POSSIBLY EARLY MIGRANTS.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 5 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 3/25/14 (AB) the only reports -
A TAD EARLY BUT THE SPECIES DOES SEEM TO BE MOVING INTO THE REGION IN MARCH
MORE REGULARLY THAN IT USED TO.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (JM), 2-9 at Dupree
Park (Lubbock) from 3/10/14 through 3/27/14 (SC, EFD, DH, AnH, PKe), 14 at
White River Lake (Crosby)
on 3/12/14 (CC), 1 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 3/25/14 (AB), and 4 at Leftwich
Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) - IN ALL HONESTY, GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER BY
CURRENT DROUGHT-RIDDEN STANDARDS.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the
only report - VERY LOW - BUT VERY LITTLE OF THE REGION'S WATER IS UP AND INTO
THE VEGETATION LINE, MAKING FOR VERY LITTLE SNIPE HABITAT IN THE REGION.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1 adult winter bird at Lake Six/Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on
3/30/14 (AnH) the only report - A TAD LATE BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT MARCH
REPORTS SEEM TO BE ON THE INCREASE IN THE REGION.
LAUGHING GULL: 1 adult bird was tracked from Guy Park (Lubbock) on 3/9/14 (PKe,
CC, SC) to Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 3/9/14 (RR, AnH, PKe, SC) - ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION; THE 7th RECORD FOR THE REGION.
FRANKLIN'S GULL: 2 at Lake Six/Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the
only report - RIGHT ON TIME;
HERE'S HOPING FOR AN APRIL SURGE.
INCA DOVE: 2 near 78th and Flint (Lubbock) on 3/10/14 (AnH) and 1 in the Tech
Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 3/11/14 (CC) the only reports - DECLINING
RAPIDLY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
LONG-EARED OWL: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR) the only report
- HARD TO FIND THIS YEAR - THIS REMAIN'S THE REGION'S MOST DEPENDABLE SITE FOR
THIS SPECIES AS WELL AS FOR THE SHORT-EARED OWL.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male hit the feeders at a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)
from 3/28/14 through 3/31/14 (AnH) - FORMERLY CASUAL THIS EARLY IN THE YEAR; WE
NOW EXPECT THE FIRST ARRIVALS TO OCCUR IN LATE MARCH.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 near Ballard Creek (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the
only reports - VERY SCARCE IN THE REGION THIS WINTER; LOW.
MERLIN: 2 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC), 1 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on
3/24/14 (DK), 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) from 3/25/14 through 3/30/14 (SC,
AnH), and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTERING SPECIES.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 3/1/14 (DJ0 and 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) the only reports - MAY HAVE BAILED FROM THE REGION A
BIT EARLY THIS YEAR.
MONK PARAKEET: 1 bird persisted at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) through
3/28/14 (NP) - A VERY LONELY PARAKEET, METHINKS.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 1 at Muleshoe
NWR - Hale (Hale) on 3/15/14 (NP), 2 near Roaring Springs (Motley) on 3/15/14
(AnH), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 2 in
Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - A NICE REBOUND FROM A VERY
POOR WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 3/1/14 thoguh 3/3/14 (KH), 1
near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 3/10/14 (CC), 1 near Plainview (Hale) on 3/11/14
(NP), 1 near
South Plains (Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR - Hale (Hale) on
3/15/14 (NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR WINTER/EARLY SPRING - FAIRLY DROUGHT-RESISTANT
THOUGH ONE WONDERS WHAT THESE BIRDS ARE EATING.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER - 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only
report - RUNNING LATE THIS YEAR.
WESTERN KINGBIRD - 1 in the Rush neighborhood (Lubbock)on 3/31/14 (AnH) the
only report - FORMERLY CASUAL THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT
OUR FIRST LUBBOCK KINGBIRDS DURING THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH
COMMON RAVEN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through at least 3/19/14 (KH), 3
near Post (Garza) on 3/2/14 (MG), 2 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/4/14 (KH),
1 at the CR 209 Playa (Crosby) on 3/5/14 (KH), 1 at the Ralls Playa (Crosby) on
3/6/14 (KH), and 2 near Flomot (Motley) on 3/8/14 (CA, MA) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS LOW-DENSITY RESIDENT OF BRUSHY AREAS BELOW THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
PURPLE MARTIN: 3 in
Plainview (Hale) on 3/1/14 (NP), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14
(CC), 3 males in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/13/14 (GJ), 2 pairs at the same
yard (Lubbock) on 3/14/14 (GJ), and 1 at Higginbotham Park (Lubbock)on 3/29/14
(AnH) - A TAD LOW BUT NOT TOO BAD GIVEN THE ONGOING DROUGHT AND ITS IMPACT ON
INSECT POPULATIONS.
TREE SWALLOW: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only
report - CASUAL THIS EARLY IN MIGRATION; LUBBOCK'S CANYON LAKES MIGHT WELL BE
THE PLACE TO BE FOR SWALLOWS THIS SPRING.
CLIFF SWALLOW: 5 in east Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) and 2 at Silver
Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/31/14 (KH) the first of the season - A TAD LATE
THIS YEAR AND, THUS FAR, LOW NUMBERS.
CAVE SWALLOW: 7 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/31/14 (KH) - ONE OF
VERY FEW MARCH REPORTS FOR THE REGION - THOUGH THE SPECIES HAS BEEN ARRIVING
EARLIER AND DEPARTING LATER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.
BARN
SWALLOW: 11 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the first
report for the season - popped up, in low numbers, throughout the region
(Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the remainder of the period (CC, SC, EFD, KH,
AnH, PKe, NP) - ARRIVED ON TIME BUT NUMBERS SEEMED A TAD LOW AT THE END OF THE
MONTH.
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR) - ACCIDENTAL
FOR THE REGION; THE 4th RECORD FOR THE REGION; THE FIRST RECORD SINCE 1978.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 2 near Matador (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) and 1 near
Whiteflat (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only report - OUR WOODED AREAS ARE IN
INCREASINGLY ROUGH SHAPE, DUE TO DROUGHT, AND THIS SPECIES SEEMS TO BE
DECLINING OF LATE.
VERDIN: 2 in Whiteflat (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only report - ANOTHER
SPECIES THAT MAY BE DECLINING THROUGHOUT THE REGION; IT DEFINITELY HAS BECOME
NOTEWORTHY.
BUSHTIT: 6 at the CR 2009 crossing of the Pease River
(Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only report - ANOTHER SPECIES THAT MAY BE
DECLINING THROUGHOUT THE REGION; IT DEFINITELY HAS BECOME NOTEWORTHY.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (CC), 1 near 78th and Flint
(Lubbock) on 3/10/14 (AnH), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe)
- VERY SCARCE THIS WINTER; THESE MIGHT WELL BE SPRING PASSAGE BIRDS.
ROCK WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (CC), 4 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 3/9/14 (RR, AnH), 1 at the Highway 207 crossing of the White River
(Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 1 at East Mound Cemetery (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH),
and 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) - A LOW DENSITY
RESIDENT AT AREAS IN THE REGION THAT POSSESS RIM-ROCK - THESE SIGHTING ARE ALL
CONSISTENT WITH PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) thorugh the period (CC, PKe) - ANOTHER
LOW DENSITY DENIZEN OF THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
DEPENDABLE SITES IN THE REGION FOR THE SPECIES.
WINTER WREN: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) - VERY HARD TO
FIND THIS WINTER; THIS IS PROBABLY A CONTINUING RECORD AT THIS SITE.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 1 at the CR
2009 crossing of Turkey Creek (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 2 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only reports - UNTIL RECENTLY
THIS SPECIES APPEARED TO BE SPREADING RAPIDLY WESTWARD INTO THE REGION; THAT
SPREAD MAY HAVE BEEN SLOWED BY THE DROUGHT.
BEWICK'S WREN: 1 in (Motley) on 3/5/14 (CR), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
3/9/14 (AnH), 1 at Ballard Creek (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 2 near Whiteflat
(Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC,
PKe) and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/29/14 (NP) the only
reports - FORMERLY FAIRLY EASY TO FIND THROUGHOUT THE REGION; APPEARS TO BE
DECLINING -
ESPECIALLY IN OUR CENTRAL COUNTIES - OF LATE.
CACTUS WREN: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR) - A VERY REPORT OF
THE SPECIES FOR THE REGION - I HAVE SEEN MORE DEAD CACTUS WRENS (ALL DROWNED IN
STOCK TANKS) AT THIS SITE THAN LIVER CACTUS WRENS.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH) and 1
at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 3/6/14 (NP) the only reports -
GIVEN THAT THE SPECIES WAS VIRTUALLY ABSENT FROM THE REGION DURING WINTER,
THESE MAY WELL BY BIRDS OF THE SPRING PASSAGE.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 north of Dickens (Dickens) on 3/15/14 (AnH) and 2 near
Matador (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 4 at the Morton Cemetery (Cochran) on 3/9/15 (AnH) the only
report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: Six reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-25 birds
in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Dickens,
Floyd, Lamb, Lynn) during the period (CA, MA, JB, CC, AnH, KH) - A DECENT
NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS BUT NUMBERS REMAINED A BIT THIN.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the period (SB, CC, SC,
JD, TmD, TnD, EFD, AnH, AvH, DJ, PKe, PR, TT), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on
3/7/14 (NP), 1 at the Morton Cemetery (Cochran) on 3/9/14 (AnH, RR), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR - Hale (Hale) on 3/15/14 (NP), 1 near Petersburg (Hale) on 3/15/14
(AnH), and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 3/15/14 (CC) - NOT THE
BANG-UP NUMBERS OF AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR BUT SURPRISINGLY CLOSE.
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER: Twelve reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Bailey,
Crosby, Floyd, Lamb, Lubbock, Motley) during the period (CC, AnH, KH, PKe, RR)
- THIS SPECIES HAS BECOME SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND DURING RECENT YEARS.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) throughout the period (CC, PKe), 1
in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/6/14 (Di), and 1 in Whiteflat
(Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) - UNTIL RECENTLY THIS SPECIES APPEARED TO BE
SPREADING RAPIDLY WESTWARD
INTO THE REGION; THAT SPREAD MAY HAVE BEEN SLOWED BY THE DROUGHT.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 in (Bailey) on 3/10/14 (CC), 1 at Cedar Hill (Floyd) on
3/15/14 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/25/14 (AB), and 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) from
3/26/14 though 3/27/14 (SC, EFD) - A NICE SPRING BOUNCE AFTER A VERY POOR
WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
AMERICAN PIPIT: 4 at the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) no 3/1/14 (CC), 1 near
Needmore (Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw), and 1 along Bole's Lake Road (Lubbock) on
3/30/14 (AnH) - INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN OUR REGION IN RECENT YEARS.
CEDAR WAXWING: 10 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/1/14 (PKe) and 9 in a draw in
(Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC) the only reports - A VERY POOR WINTER FOR THIS SPECIES
IN OUR REGION AND SPRING IS LOOKING NONE TOO PROMISING.
PHAINOPEPLA: 1 gorgeous male in the vicinity of 78th and Flint (Lubbock) from
3/9/14 though
3/11/14 (RL, CC, SC, AnH, PKe) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 20th RECORD.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 2 at the Western Water Pond (Dickens) on 3/8/14
(AP, JP), 35 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 20 near Needmore
(Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw), and 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw) the
only reports - A SHABBY END TO A SHABBY WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 3 near Plainview (Hale) on 3/11/14 (NP) and 45 near Needmore
(Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw) the only reports - A SHABBY END TO A SHABBY WINTER
FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 3/25/14 (NP)
- A TAD EARLY BUT, GIVEN THAT THE SPECIES HAS WINTERED IN THE REGION BEFORE,
NOT TOO SURPRISING.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 3/4/14 through 3/6/14 (KD), 1-3 near 78th and Flint
(Lubbock) on 3/10/14 (SC,
AnH), 1 at the TTU Gardens (Lubbock) on 3/27/14 (SC), 1 at Wayland Baptist
University (Hale) on 3/28/14 (NP), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14
(AnH) the only reports - A BIT OF A REBOUND FROM WINTER PROPER; WE MAY BE
SEEING A BIT IN THE WAY OF REGIONAL NORTHWARD MOVEMENT.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH) and 1
singing male at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/30/14 (AnH) the only reports -
VERY SPARSE IN THE REGION DURING THIS SOMEWHAT RUGGED WINTER.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: Usually quite common in the region throughout the
winter, the species was - HARD TO FIND AND IN ATYPICALLY LOW NUMBERS THIS
WINTER.
SPOTTED TOWHEE, FIELD SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, LARK BUNTING, SAVANNAH SPARROW,
SONG SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO - Our
normal wintering contingent of sparrows was, to a species, uniformly difficult
to find and low in numbers this grueling winter -
VERY LOW, LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, VERY LOW, LOW, and VERY
LOW IN NUMBERS RESPECTIVELY DURING THIS MONTH.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 2
in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 7 below Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 3/31/14 (CC) the only reports - A TAD LATE AND A TAD LOW THIS YEAR.
LARK SPARROW: 1 at the CR 152 Prairie Dog Town (Crosby) on 3/21/14 (KH) - ON
TIME THIS YEAR BUT, WOW, TALK ABOUT LOW NUMBERS.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/31/14 (CC) - AN EXCELLENT
SIGHTING; THIS SPECIES HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO FIND IN LUBBOCK COUNTY DURING
RECENT YEARS.
FOX SPARROW: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 1 at the Highway
207 crossing of White River (Floyd) on 3/15/14 (AnH), 1 at Whiteflat (Motley)
on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 3/27/14 through 3/30/14
(SC, EFD, AnH) - A BIT BETTER THAN FEBRUARY BUT STILL QUITE LOW IN TERMS OF
NUMBERS.
SWAMP SPARROW: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/14 (AnH), 1 at the CR
2009 crossing of Turkey Creek (Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH), and 3 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe) the only reports - NOTEWORTHILY LOW
NUMBERS.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1-2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) throughout the period (CC,
SC, EFD, AnH), 1 in central Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/6/14 (Di), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 3/15/14 (KH), amd 1 at the CR 2009 crossing of the Pease River
(Motley) on 3/15/14 (AnH) - THOUGH THE SPECIES WAS MUCH MORE COMMON THAN THIS
HISTORICALLY, THIS IS NOT SO SHABBY FOR A CONTEMPORARY MARCH.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC), 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 3/15/14 (KH), 3 at Fiddlewood x CR 2900 (Lubbock) on
3/22/14 (CC, PKe), and 1 near Needmore (Bailey) on 3/23/14 (DHw) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR OUR ANNUAL RAMP-UP TO THE APRIL PEAK.
RUSTY BLACKBIRD: 1 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 3/1/14 (SC) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL
TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BE A LOW-DENSITY WINTER RESIDENT THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.
PINE SISKIN: 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/14 (CC), 1 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/22/14 (CC, PKe), 5 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
3/25/14 (SC), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/28/14 (SC) - VIRTUALLY
ABSENT DURING THE WINTER PROPER, THESE SIGHTINGS COULD WELL BE PART OF A SPRING
MOVEMENT FROM POINTS SOUTH.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 3/9/14 to 3/10/14 (TT) the
only report - A VERY RARE WINTER RESIDENT IN THE REGION IN RECENT YEARS.
EVENING GROSBEAK: 1 female persisted at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 3/1/14
(DJ, PKe) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; A CONTINUATION OF THE REGION'S 3rd RECORD
SINCE 2005.
OBSERVERS: CA=Connie Andrus, MA=Marlin Andrus, SB=Susan Bergeson, GB=Grant
Beauprez, JB=Jeff Boatright, AB=Andrew Burnett, CC=Cameron
Carver, SC=Steve Collins, JD=Jeanne Davis, KD=Ken Dixon, TmD= Tom Dolan,
TnD=Toni Dolan, EFD= Elizabeth Farlye-Dawson, DH=Danny Hancock,
DHw=Dave Hawksworth, AnH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, Di=Donn
ianuziDJ=Dan Jones, GJ=George Jury, PKe=Peter Keyel, DK=Douglas Klein,
KL=Kristen Linner, ML=Mark Lockwood, JM=Jennifer Miller, KM=Kevin Morris,
AP=Amy Packer, JP=Jay Packer, NP=Nily Pyeatt, PR=Paula Richardson, RR=Ross
Rickett, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, CR=Christopher Rustay,
TT=Tess Trost, DW=Debra Whitecotton.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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- » [leasbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summar for March - Long - Anthony Hewetson
