Lubbock received 2.99 inches of rain during July, well above the
expected total for the month of 1.96 inches, bringing the year’s total
to 15.08 inches, well above the average to-date total of 11.04 inches.
Thanks to widespread rainfall, according to the US Drought Monitor,
none of our fifteen-county region remains in drought (for the second
month in a row!) and, assuming the birds did well enough to the north,
we should have enough water for a good fall shorebird and songbird
migration. Wildflowers continue strong and insects are starting to
make a recovery (from the winter weather event in February) –also
promising signs for a strong fall season.
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.
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.
WOOD DUCK: 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/15/21 (SA) the only report
received – LOW BY RECENT JULYS’ STANDARDS.
REDHEAD: 1 at the Cone Playa (Crosby) on 7/9/21 (SA, AH), 2 at the CR
124 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on 7/9/21 (SA, AH), and 10 just north of
Abernathy (Hale) on 7/16/21 (JCR) the only reports – A TAD LOW BY
RECENT YEARS’ STANDARDS; WATER IS EASY TO COME BY BUT CAME LATE IN THE
SEASON; NOT IDEAL TIMING TO TEMPT BREEDING DUCKS.
RUDDY DUCK: 3 at the 103rd Street x Chicago Avenue Playa (Lubbock) on
7/2/21 (SA) the only report received - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS’
STANDARDS; WATER IS EASY TO COME BY BUT CAME LATE IN THE SEASON; NOT
IDEAL TIMING TO TEMPT BREEDING DUCKS.
SCALED QUAIL: 1 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 7/11/21 (AH) and 6
in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/15/21 (GK) the only reports received
– A BIT LOW.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/14/21 (fide HJ)
the only report received – LOW.
INCA DOVE: 1 in the Afton area (Dickens) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH) and 3 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/21/21 (NN) – ABOUT AVERAGE THESE DAYS -
FORMERLY COMMON; NOW ON THE VERGE OF ELIMINATION FROM THE REGION.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 female in a Lubbock yard from 7/25/21
through 7/29/21 (AH) – FORMERLY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN REGARDED AS AN
EARLY RECORD; WE NOW EXPECT THE SPECIES TO SHOW UP IN LATE SUMMER.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/6/21
(AH), 1 male at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/13/21 (KH), 2 females
at the Lockwood Farm (Crosby) on 7/26/21 (ML), 1 female at the
Lockwood Farm (Crosby) on 7/28/21 (ML), 1 male in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 7/29/21 (AH), and 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
7/30/21 (JCr) – A VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE
SEASON.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male at the Lockwood Farm (Crosby) from
7/26/21 through 7/28/21 (ML) – FORMERLY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN REGARDED
AS EARLY BUT WE NOW EXPECT THE START OF THE MIGRATORY HUMMINGBIRD
MOVEMENT IN MID- TO LATE JULY.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 56
birds in the region (Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the
period (SA, JB, JCr, DD, AH, JK, LEAS trip, JM) – LOW NUMBER OR
REPORTS AND LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTING – DUE TO THE TIMING OF SPRING
RAINS, IT WAS A POOR YEAR FOR BREEDING SHOREBIRDS.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Eleven reports of 2-6 birds, three reports of 15-16
birds, and one report of 48 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) – LOW NUMBER OR REPORTS AND LOW NUMBER OF
SIGHTING – DUE TO THE TIMING OF SPRING RAINS, IT WAS A POOR YEAR FOR
BREEDING SHOREBIRDS.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1 at the Lockwood Farm (Crosby) on 7/28/21 (ML) the
only report received – A BIT LOW BUT IT IS STILL EARLY IN THE SEASON.
STILT SANDPIPER: 6 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 7/24/21 (SA, AH) and 3
south of Slaton (Lubbock) on 7/31/21 (JK, JM) the only reports – A BIT
LOW.
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: 12 south of Slaton (Lubbock) on 7/31/21 (JK, JM)
the only report – A BIT LOW.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 1 at the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa (Crosby) on 7/9/21
(SA, AH) and 11 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 7/24/21 (SA, AH) the only
reports received – A BIT LOW.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 1 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 7/24/21 (SA,
AH) the only report received – A BIT LOW.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 flyover at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on
7/11/21 (SA, AH) the only report received – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
EARLY iN THE SEASON.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 10 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 7/24/21 (SA,
AH) and 2 south of Slaton (Lubbock) on 7/31/21 (JK, JM) – A BIT LOW
BUT IT IS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 7/24/21 (SA, AH)
and 1 south of Slaton (Lubbock) on 7/31/21 (JK, JM) – ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at the CR 124 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on 7/9/21
(SA, AH) and 3 at the CR EE Wetlands (Lynn) on 7/24/21 (SA, AH) the
only reports received – A TAD LOW.
WILSON’S PHALAROPE: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/2/21 (JB, DD), 7
at the CR 124 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on 7/9/21 (SA, AH), 12 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/17/21 (JS), 3 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on
7/24/21 (SA, AH), and 11 south of Slaton (Lubbock) on 7/31/21 (JK, JM)
– A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 7/18/21 (SA, AH)
and 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 7/20/21 (AH) – FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW A PERMANENT, SOMEWHAT UNDER-REPORTED
RESIDENT.
BROWN PELICAN: 1 immature bird continued at Ransom Lake (Lubbock)
through at least 7/20/21 (SA, JOC, JH, BSc) – ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; EVEN MORE UNLIKELY FOR AN IMMATURE BIRD TO BE REPORTED THIS
FAR OUT OF RANGE THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
LEAST BITTERN: At least 1 was at Lake Six (Lubbock) throughout the
period (SA, JG, AH) – A RARE SUMMER RESIDENT AT THIS SINGLE SITE IN
THE REGION; HAS BRED AT THE SITE BEFORE.
GREAT EGRET: Nine reports of 1-10 birds and two reports of 11-17 birds
at various sites in (Lubbock) during the period (SA, AH, GK, BSc, LZ)
– LOW NUMBERS AND VERY POOR SCATTER BUT FEW REPORTS RECEIVED FROM
FAVORED SITES.
SNOWY EGRET: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 14 birds,
and one report of 42 birds at various sites in (Lubbock) during the
period (SA, JCr, JG, AH, HJ, GK, JK, JM, BSc, LZ) – LOW NUMBERS AND
VERY POOR SCATTER BUT FEW REPORTS RECEIVED FROM FAVORED SITES.
CATTLE EGRET: Eight reports of 1-10 birds, six reports of 11-100
birds, and two reports of 213-265 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, JCR, AH, LEAS trip, MO) as well
as counts of 2472-2908 birds at the roost/rookery southwest of Slaton
(Lubbock) during the period (SA, AH, GK, LZ) – THE SPECIES STARTED OUT
SLOW THIS YEAR IN THE REGION BUT SEEMS TO HAVE PICKED UP THE SLACK
TOWARDS THE END OF SUMMER.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 7/2/21
(SA) and 1 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 7/4/21 (SA, AH) the only
reports received – LOW.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: Two reports of 1-10 birds, four reports of 13-20
birds, and six reports of 30-77 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens,
Hale, Lubbock) the only reports received – LOW NUMBERS BUT SCATTER
IMPROVING AS SUMMER MOVES ON.
COOPER’S HAWK: 1 near Afton (Dickens) on 7/8/21 (SL) and 2 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 7/22/21 (ML) – FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL
TO THE REGION IN SUMMER BUT NOW REGARDED AS A REGULAR
LINGERER/BREEDER?
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 2 at the Camp Rio Blanca Crossing (Crosby) on
7/7/21 (SA, AH), 8 in the Afton area (Dickens) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), 3
near Roaring Springs (Motley) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), 4 south of Roaring
Springs (Dickens) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), 2 at the Tongue River crossing
of Highway 70 (Dickens) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), and 4 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/22/21 (ML) – A REGULAR BUT RARE BREEDER IN OUR EASTERN
COUNTIES BUT THIS WAS A PHENOMENAL YEAR FOR THE SPECIES.
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 2 just south of Roaring Springs (Motley) on
7/7/21 (SA, AH) and 2 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 7/15/21 (SK) – A
RARE AND IRREGULAR BREEDER IN OUR EASTERN TIER OF COUNTIES.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/30/21 (ML) –
WAS RUNNING A BIT EARLY.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 2 at the Camp Rio Blanca crossing (Crosby) on 7/7/21
(SA, AH), 3 at the Tongue River x Highway 70 crossing (Motley) on
7/7/21 (SA, AH), 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 7/9/21 (AH),
and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/30/21 (ML) – A POOR SHOWING
THIS YEAR; RESTRICTED MORE THAN USUAL TO OUR EASTERN COUNTIES.
BELL’S VIREO: 1 persisted in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) through at
least 7/17/21 (SA, JoC, JCr, AH, BSc), 2 just south of Roaring Springs
(Motley) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/30/21 (ML) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW AN ESTABLISHED
BREEDER, MOVING FURTHER NORTH AND WEST INTO THE PANHANDLE PROPER AND
PERSISTING A BIT LATER EACH YEAR.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), 6 at
Roaring Springs (Motley) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), 2 at Yellowhouse Canyon
(Lubbock) on 7/11/21 (SA, AH), and 1 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on
7/15/21 (SK) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RE-ESTABLISHING BREEDING
SPECIES; THE LUBBOCK COUNTY REPORT WAS THE MOST NOTEWORTHY.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/18/21 (SA,
AH), 2 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 7/18/21 (SA,AH), 1 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 7/22/21 (ML), and 2 in southwest Crosby County
(Crosby) on 7/31/21 (JoC) – A RARE SUMMER RESIDENT; RESTRICTED TO OUR
CANYON COUNTIES WITH BIRDS OCCASIONALLY WANDERING ALONG RIPARIAN
CORRIDORS.
PURPLE MARTIN: 7 pairs produced at least 15 young in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) during the period (GJ, PJ), 13 in the Afton area (Dickens)
on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), 12 at the Matador Cemetery (Motley) on 7/7/21
(SA, AH), 1 over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/8/21 (AH), 3 at
McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 7/18/21 (SA, AH), 16 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/22/21 (ML), 3 at the CR 25 x FM 1054 Woodlot (Lynn) on
7/24/21 (SA, AH), 4 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/25/21 (GB), and 2
at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/30/21 (ML) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND AVERAGE NUMBERS; SURPRISING GIVEN THE SOMEWHAT SLOW RECOVERY OF
INSECTS IN THE REGION.
CAVE SWALLOW: 5 just south of Roaring Springs (Motley) on 7/7/21 (SA,
AH) – REGULAR IN THE REGION BUT STILL NOTEWORTHY IN OUR EASTERN TIER
OF COUNTIES.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 2-9 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) throughout
the period (SA, JCr, AH, BSc) – 2-4 FAMILY UNITS WERE REPORTED AT THIS
SITE; QUITE GOOD FOR THIS FAR WEST BY CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS.
ROCK WREN: 2-4 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) throughout the period
(SA, AH), 1 was at the Tongue River x Highway 70 crossing (Motley) on
7/7/21 (SA, AH), and 1 was at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/16/21 (JoC) –
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE BREEDING SPECIES, FOUND ONLY IN OUR CANYON
COUNTRY.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 3 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 7/7/21 (SA,
AH) and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/25/21 (SA, AH) – ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS RARE SUMMER RESIDENT.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: Two pairs and at least one fledgling were noted at
Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) during the month (SA, JoC, JCr, AH, BSc),
1 at the Ballard Creek Ponds (Motley) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), 1 at the
Matador Cemetery (Motley) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH), and 2-7 were at White
River Lake (Crosby) from 7/22/21 through 7/30/21 (ML) – GOOD NUMBERS
AND BREEDING SUCCESS FOR THE REGION.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 7/1/21 (JB, DD) – A
WELL OUT OF RANGE REPORT; PARTICULARLY THIS FAR TO THE WEST.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 in the Afton area (Dickens) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH) and
2 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 7/7/21 (SA, AH) – REGULAR IN SUMMER
TO LUBBOCK AND CROSBY COUNTY; A BIT MORE RARE IN OUR EASTERN AND
NORTHERN TIERS OF COUNTIES.
FIELD SPARROW: 6-7 at White River Lake (Crosby) during the period (ML)
– OUR ONE PERSISTING BREEDING SITE FOR THIS SPECIES, WELL, PERSISTS.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 5-12 at White River Lake (Crosby) during the
period (ML), 1 just south of Roaring Springs (Motley) on 7/7/21 (SA,
AH), and 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/25/21 (SA, AH) – BIRDS
PERSIST AT AT LEAST SOME OF OUR REGULAR BREEDING SITES.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 26 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/2/21 (JG), 1 at
the CR 124 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on 7/9/21 (SA, AH), 2 at the Slaton
Roost (Lubbock) on 7/15/21 (SA, AH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
7/18/21 (SA, AH), and 1 at the CR 25 x FM 1054 Woodlot (Lynn) on
7/24/21 (SA, AH) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS FOR A SUMMER
MONTH.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/17/21 (BSc), 1 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/18/21 (SA, AH), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 7/18/21 (SA, AH) the only reports – A TAD LOW GIVEN THE MORE
PROMISING NUMBERS REPORTED DURING JUNE.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/1/21 (DH), 2-4 at
Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 7/7/21 through 7/21/21 (TA, JA, JCr,
HP), 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/18/21 (AH) and 7/23/21 (SA), 1
female and 1 male at the CR EE Wetlands (Lynn) on 7/24/21 (SA, AH),
and 1 female and 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/25/21 (SA, AH) –
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS PATCHILY-DISTRIBUTED BREEDER.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 female at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock)on 7/4/21 (SA,
AH), 9 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/22/21 (ML), and 2 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 7/30/21 (ML) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE
BREEDER; RESTRICTED TO OUR MORE HEAVILY-WOODED SITES.
OBSERVERS: JA=Jayna Adams, TA=T. Jay Adams, SA=Sheri Anderson,
GB=Gail Barnes, JB=John Berner, JoC=Joe Cochran, JCr=Jim Crites,
DD=Drew Dickert, JG=Joe Girgente, DH=Drew Harvey, AH=Anthony
Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, HJ= Heather Jenkins, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat
Jury, SK=Stephen KasperGK=Glenda Kelly, JK=Jim Kringle, (LEAS
trip=Sheri Anderson, Gail Barnes, Larry Barnes, Joe Cochran, Whitney
Cochran, Jim Crites, Mary Crites, Tucker Dangremond, Heather Jenkins,
Jim Kringle, Peter Laverty, James Leatherwood, Jennifer Miller,
Clarice Robertson, Floyd Robertson, Charlotte Sanders, Jay Sanders,
Matt Smity, Lena Zappia), ML=Mark Lockwood, SL= Scotty Lofland,
JM=Jennifer Miller, NN=Nancy Neill, MO=Melba Olsen, HP=Holly Perry,
BSc=Bobby Schat, JS=Jeff Sims, LZ=Lena Zappia.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock
