[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for April - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 13:06:33 -0700 (PDT)
APRIL 2013 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS:
With 0.04 inches of rain during
the month, far below the average rainfall
for the month of 1.29 inches, Lubbock is now at 2.27 inches for the year, well
off the average year-to-date total of 3.26 inches. Drought monitors still have
the bulk of the region in the two worst drought categories and long range
forecasts are not promising. April highlights were an interesting mix of
lingering winter birds (especially in the kinglet-solitaire cluster) and the
typical mix of eastern and western migrant songbirds the region is blessed with
- albeit, more concentrated at the few remaining riparian areas than is
typical. The combination
of intense
observer effort at some locations and the increase in data due to
e-bird has made it somewhat more difficult to separate individuals
sightings - the algorithm I am using is relatively conservative and I am
willing to share it with anybody who is interested.
As always the county follows the site in () and birds
are mentioned by virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical
scarcity.
SNOWY PLOVER: 4 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/30/13 (MDL) - POSSIBLY THE SAME
BIRDS THAT WERE PRESENT AT THE SITE EARLIER IN THE MONTH.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/30/13 (MDL) - A VERY EARLY
SIGHTING FOR THE REGION.
WOOD DUCK: 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/4/13 (SC, QE, KL, NM), 6 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 4/4/13 (AnH), 8 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on
4/7/13 (AnH), 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/13 (AnH), 2 at the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/9/13 (CC, CR), 4 at Leroy Elmore Park
(Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC, CrC), 4 at Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (AnH,
CR), 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/16/13 (CR), and 2 at Leroy Elmore Park
(Lubbock) on 4/29/13 (CC) - BETTER THAN EXPECTED THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
CINNAMON TEAL: Fourteen reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Lubbock, Lynn)
during the period (CC, CrC, SC, QE, MDL, AnH, NM, NP, CR) - BETTER THAN AVERAGE
AT THE
FEW REMAINING BODIES OF WATER; AN ARTIFACT OF CONCENTRATION?
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 1-3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/3/13 through 4/10/13 (CC,
SC, AnH, CR) and 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/13/13 (CC, CrC) - OF THE
DABBLING DUCKS, THIS SPECIES SHOWED THE MOST PRECIPITOUS DROP FROM MARCH TO
APRIL; DEPARTURE WAS ON TIME BUT MUCH MORE ABRUPT THAN USUAL FOR THIS SPECIES.
CANVASBACK: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/3/13 (MDL), 2 at Whisperwood Pond
(Lubbock) on 4/4/13 (AnH), 3 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC),
and 1 at the Dickens Sewage Ponds (Dickens) on 4/21/13 (AP, JP) were the only
reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS; ANOTHER EARLY AND ABRUPT DEPARTURE.
REDHEAD: 6 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/3/13 (MDL), 6 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/13/13 (CC,
CrC) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS; THIS LOW DENSITY BREEDER MAY GIVE THE
REGION A MISS THIS YEAR.
RING-NECKED
DUCK: Six reports of 1-9 birds at various water spots
in (Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, EI, NP, CR, JT, PT) -
ACTUALLY A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; CONCENTRATION?
GREATER SCAUP: 1 photographed at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/16/13 (CR) - POSSIBLY
THE SAME BIRD THAT WAS SEEN AT THE SITE IN LATE MARCH.
LESSER SCAUP: Nine reports of 1-19 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (SB, CC, SrC, SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM, CR) - NOT ALL THAT BAD,
IN TERMS OF NUMBER AND SCATTER, FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
BUFFLEHEAD: Six reports of 2-4 birds at various water spots in (Lubbock)
during the period (CC, SC, QE, CR) - LOW NUMBERS AND POOR SCATTER - THE POSTER
DUCK FOR DROUGHT IN THE REGION THIS SEASON.
HOODED MERGANSER: 3 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (CR) the only report - THE
LAST OF THE SEASON AND FEEBLE LAST GASP AT THAT.
LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN: 4 near Plains (Yoakum) on 4/12/13 (DB, MLo) the only
report for the
season - HARD TO FIND AND, MOST SUSPECT, RAPIDLY DECLINING IN THE REGION -
DROUGHT-INDUCED FORAGE FAILURE IS NOT HELPING.
EARED GREBE: Nine reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Garza, Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (SB, CC, CrC, QE, EI, PK, KL, NM, CR) - STILL A BIT LOW BUT
QUITE A BIT BETTER THAN LAST MONTH, CONSISTENT WITH APRIL AS OUR PEAK MONTH FOR
EARED GREBE PASSAGE.
CLARK'S GREBE: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (NP) dropped to 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (CC, CrC, AnH, CR) - ACCIDENTAL, BUT INCREASING, IN THE
REGION - OUR 14th RECORD.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1-2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) from 4/21/13 through
4/29/13 (CC, SC, QE, AnH) - ACCIDENTAL, BUT INCREASING, IN THE REGION - OUR
11th RECORD.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/13 (AnH), 3 over the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (AnH, CR), and 1 at Leroy Elmore Park
(Lubbock) on 4/22/13 (AnH) - QUITE LOW BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS, PARTICULARLY IN COMPARISON TO THE MORE EXPECTED NUMBERS AND NUMBER
OF REPORTS OF SNOWY EGRETS.
SNOWY EGRET: Twenty-eight reports of 1-9 birds spread across twelve (Lubbock)
hotspots and one site in (Lamb) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, QE, AnH, PK,
NM, NP, CR, AR, JT, PT) - THOUGH SOME OF THESE REPORTS WERE PROBABLY OF THE
SAME BIRDS SHIFTING SITES WITHIN LUBBOCK, THE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND OVERALL
NUMBER OF BIRDS IS TYPICAL OF THE INCREASE SHOWN BY THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION
DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS.
LITTLE BLUE HERON: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 4/18/13 through 4/30/13 (QE,
AnH, CR) - RARE, BUT ANNUAL, IN THE REGION WITH REPORTS INCREASING DURING THE
LAST DECADE.
CATTLE EGRET: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 (CR), 2 at Maxey
Park (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (NP), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/20/13 (CC), 1-16
at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) from 4/21/13 thoguh 4/30/13 (CC, SC, QE) the
only reports - FORMERLY
THE MOST COMMON OF OUR 'WHITE' EGRETS NUMBERS AND NUMBER OF REPORTS HAVE
REALLY TAPERED OFF DURING THE CURRENT DROUGHT PERIOD.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 4/4/13 through
4/24/13 (QE, PK, NM), 2-5 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) from
4/9/13 through 4/21/13 (CC, CR, ANH, QE, SC), and 1 at Mae Simmons Park
(Lubbock) from 4/12/13 through 4/18/13 (CC, SC, CR) - THIS SPECIES WAXES AND
WANES IN THE REGION, WITH COLONIES OF VARYING SIZES ALONG THE CANYON LAKES OF
LUBBOCK - CURRENTLY RATHER LOW IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 and 4/12/13
(CrC, CR), 4 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (AnH), 1 at the Himmel Farm
(Crosby) on 4/14/13 (KH), 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/13 (QE), and
1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/22/13 (SC) the only reports - LOW NUMBER OF
REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS; GETTING OFF TO A SLOW START THIS
YEAR.
OSPREY: Eight reports of 1-2 birds from six sites within the region (Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, DH, GJ, PK, NP, CR) - ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THE PEAK OF SPRING MIGRATION THROUGH OUR REGION.
MISSISSIPPI KITE: 1 near TTU HSC (Lubbock) on 4/5/13 (AnH), 2 at Leroy Elmore
Park (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (SC), 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (CC), 14
over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/22/13 (AnH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 4/30/13 (CC) - ASIDE FROM THE FIRST 'SCOUT' A BIT LATE THIS YEAR AND STILL
IN LOW NUMBERS BY THE END OF THE PERIOD.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/1/13 through 4/21/13
(CC, CrC, SC, AnH, CR), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/8/13 (CR), 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/11/13 (KH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
4/12/13 (CC), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (CC,
CrC), and 1 along the Canyon Lakes (Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (PK) - GOOD NUMBERS
AND SCATTER COMPARED TO LAST MONTH - BETTER COVERAGE OR A MIGRATORY BURST?
COOPER'S HAWK: 1 at the Ralls Sewage Pond (Crosby) on 4/5/13 (KH), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on from 4/5/13 through 4/10/13 (CC, SC, AnH), 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (NP), 1 at the Plainview Apartments (Hale) on 4/20/13
(RR), and 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/20/13 (WW) - PERSISTING BETTER THAN
USUAL FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON - SAME NUMBERS AS LAST MONTH.
HARRIS'S HAWK: 4 adults persisted near TTU HSC and on the TTU Rangeland
(Lubbock) through the month (CC, AnH) - THE BREEDING 'COLONY' CONTINUES.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/10/13 (CC, SC, CR), 1 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike
Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (AnH, CR), 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/13/12
(CC, CrC), 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/15/13 (CR), 1 at the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/19/13 (SC), 1
in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/20/13 (WW), 1 over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
4/21/13 (JC), 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/27/13 (JC, AnH, TT, WW) - WOW -
VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR SPRING PASSAGE THROUGH OUR REGION.
FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1 -2 near City Farms (Lubbock) from 4/6/13 through 4/30/13
(CC, CrC, SC, CR) and 1 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (CR) - LOW
NUMBERS; A FAIRLY EARLY DEPARTURE THIS YEAR.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1-2 at the Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) from 4/12/13 through 4/14/13
(CC, CrC, AnH, CR) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW DENSITY WINTER
RESIDENT AND MIGRANT.
SORA: 1 -2 at the Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (AnH, CR0 the only report
- LOW.
SANDHILL CRANE: 3 near Plainview (Hale) on 4/13/13 (NP) the only report - LOW;
ANOTHER EARLY DEPARTURE.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/13 and 4/8/13 (CC, QE,
CR) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION AT THIS POINT; OUR 26th
RECORD.
SNOWY PLOVER: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/4/13 (JT, PT) the only report -
VERY LOW AND MOST RECENT BREEDING SITES RECEIVED AT LEAST SOME COVERAGE DURING
THE MONTH.
BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: numerous reports of
average numbers for these three shorebirds in the region - THE ONLY SHOREBIRDS
AT NORMAL OR NEAR NORMAL NUMBERS SO FAR THIS SPRING.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/13 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 and 4/12/13 (CC, CR), 1 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (NP), 1-2 near the Lake Six spillway (Lubbock) from
4/16/13 through 4/21/13 (CC, SC, QE, AnH), 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
4/20/13 (SB), 1 at the Dickens Sewage Ponds (Dickens) on 4/21/13 (AP, JP), 1-2
at Reese Center (Lubbock) from 4/22/13 though 4/25/13 (SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM),
and 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/13 (AnH, CR) - NORMAL NUMBERS BUT
BETTER THAN AVERAGE NUMBER OF
SITES - POSSIBLY DUE TO EXPOSURE OF FAVORED HABITAT BY
RAPIDLY DRYING WATER SPOTS.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley)on 4/13/12 (CC, CrC), 1 below
Lake Six (Lubbock) from 4/21/13 through 4/28/13 (CC, QE, AnH, CR), 2 at Reese
Center (Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (QE), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/31/13 (CC)
- DECENT NUMBERS FOR EARLY IN THE MIGRATORY SEASON.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 1-4 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/3/13 through 4/5/13 (CC,
AnH, CR), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 4/5/13 (AnH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
4/7/13 (AnH), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC, SC), 1 at the
Smyer Playa (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (Cc, CrC), 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on
4/22/13 (AnH), and 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (QE) the only reports
- VERY LOW.
WILLET: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/22/13 (SC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
4/23/13 (SC), and quite possibly a different bird at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
4/28/13 (SC) - FORMERLY CASUAL IN THE REGION, NOW ANNUAL - ALBEIT
IN LOW NUMBERS - DURING SPRING PASSAGE.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (CR), 1 at Leftwich Park
(Lubbock) on 4/7/13 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 (CR),
1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/13/13 (CC, CrC), 1-2 at Reese Center
(Lubbock) from 4/19/13 through 4/25/13 (SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM, CR), 1 at Guy Park
(Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (CC), 1 at Post City Park (Garza) on 4/26/13 (SC, QE, KL,
NM), and 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 4/29/13 (CC) - A SOLID NUMBER OF REPORTS
BUT OVERALL NUMBERS LOW.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: NO REPORTS AT ALL - RIDICULOUSLY LOW.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 (CR) and 2 at
Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/23/13 (AnH) the only reports - RIDICULOUSLY LOW.
LEAST SANDPIPER: Thirteen reports of 1-7 birds in the region (Garza, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM, NP, CR, RR) - NOT A
BAD NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT NUMBERS
VERY LOW.
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER: 2 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/23/13 (AnH) were
somewhat early - OUR 9th APRIL RECORD.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (SC, QE, NM), 1 at
Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/13 (AnH), and 4 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 4/29/13
CC) the only reports - RIDICULOUSLY LOW.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) from 4/19/13 through 4/25/13
(SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM) - VERY LOW - ASSUMING THAT ALL REPORTS WERE OF THE SAME
BIRD.
STILT SANDPIPER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments (Hale) on 4/20/13 (RR) and 1 at
Reese Center (Lubbock) from 4/22/13 through 4/24/13 (SC, QE, AnH, NM) -
EXTRAORDINARILY LOW - ASSUMING ALL REPORTS WERE OF THE SAME BIRD.
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER: 1 bird probably of this species was seen at Reese
Center (Lubbock) on 4/19/13 (SC, CR) - EITHER GENUINELY RARE IN OUR REGION
DURING MIGRATION OR TRAGICOMEDICALLY UNDER-REPORTED.
WILSON'S
SNIPE: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/1/13 (KH), 2 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 1/13/13 (NP), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) n 4/28/13 (AnH,
CR) - VERY LOW.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 16 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/13/13 (CC, CrC), 1 at
the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (CR), 90 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley)
on 4/20/13 (SB), 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (CC), 12 at the Dickens
Sewage Ponds (Dickens) on 4/21/13 (AP, JP), 15 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on
4/22/13 (QE), 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/22/13 (SC) steadily rose to 30
at Reese Center (Lubbock) through 4/25/13 (SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM) - GENERALLY LOW
NUMBERS AT RELATIVELY FEW SITES.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1-3 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC, CrC,
SC) - ACCIDENTAL IN OUR AREA DURING SPRING MIGRATION.
FRANKLIN'S GULL: 6 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (CR), 16 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/8/13 (CR), 6-10 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
4/11/13 and 4/12/13 (CC, SC, CR), 8 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (AnH), 75
at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/15/13 (CR), 2 at the Lake Six spillway
(Lubbock) on 4/28/13 (AnH, CR) - GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND EXCELLENT NUMBERS
FOR OUR REGION.
LEAST TERN: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 and 4/14/13 (CC, QE, AnH, NP,
CR) - CASUAL IN THE REGION DURING SPRING MIGRATION, POSSIBLE CLOSING IN ON
ANNUAL.
INCA DOVE: 1-5 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) during the entire month (CC, CrC, JC,
AnH, CR, TT, WW) (CR), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/13 (AnH), and 1 in
Littlefield on 4/12/13 and 4/25/13 (AR, JR) the only reports - STILL HANGING ON
IN THE REGION - BARELY.
LONG-EARED OWL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/10/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 3 at
the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, CR), and
2 near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CRu, LS) - FORMERLY CASUAL IN APRIL, NOW
JUST AS LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN
APRIL AS ANY 'WINTER' MONTH.
SHORT-EARED OWL: 1-4 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/13
(CC, CrC, AnH, CR) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION DURING SPRING MOVEMENTS; OUR 7th
APRIL RECORD.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 at the Plainview Apartments (Hale) on 4/14/13 (RR), 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 and 4/15/13 (CC, AnH, CR), 1 at the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) from 4/19/13 through 4/21/13 (CC, SC, QE), and 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/13 (CC) - A GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS FOR ATOP
THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/22/13
(AnH) the only report - CASUAL AS AN OVERSHOOT TO OUR REGION IN SPRING.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 4/14/13 (AR, JR), 1 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 4/16/13 (JD), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/21/13
and 4/22/13 (SC) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW DENSITY SPRING MIGRANT.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1
persisting near Robertson (Crosby) through 4/12/13 (MLo) - THIS WINTERING BIRD
SHOULD BE JOINED BY SOME COMPANIONS SOONISH.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/4/13 (SC, QE, KL, NM) and
1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 4/18/13 thorugh 4/23/13 (SC, QE) -VERY LATE FOR
WINTERING BIRDS; THESE SITES SHOULD BE WATCHED CLOSELY AS THE SPECIES HAS BRED
JUST ONE COUNTY TO THE EAST.
MERLIN: 1 at Blackwater Draw (Lubbock) on 4/5/13 (KH), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/5/13 (CC), and 1 at Dairy Place (Crosby) on 4/11/13 (KH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER RESIDENT/SPRING MIGRANT.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 in central Lubbock (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (CC, CrC) and 1 at
the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/19/13 (QE) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
SPRING SIGHTINGS OF THIS POORLY UNDERSTOOD WINTER RESIDENT/MIGRANT/VERY
OCCASIONAL BREEDER.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (SC) - THE
TYPICAL LAST SIGHTING
OF THE SEASON - IN MID APRIL.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) from
4/13/13 through 4/15/13 (CC, CrC, QE, AnH, CR) the only report - VERY LOW.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: NO SIGHTINGS - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: NO SIGHTINGS - VERY LOW.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/28/13 (AP, JP) the only
report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 (CR) was
photographed on 4/12/13 (CC, CrC, SC) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION - OUR 16th
RECORD.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/13 (CC), 1-2 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 and 4/12/13 (CC, CR), 1 in Dumont (Dickens)
on 4/13/13 (AP, JP), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/15/13 (AnH) the only
reports - LOW - CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL THAT DROUGHT IS HAVING A DECIDED IMPACT ON
THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
SAY'S PHOEBE: Seventeen
reports of 1-4 birds spread across a dozen sites in the region (Bailey,
Cochran, Lubbock) during the period (GB, SB, CC, CrC, SC, QE, DHw, AnH, KL, NM,
CR, CRu, LS) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS AND EXCELLENT SPREAD - HERE IS A SPECIES THAT
IS NOT PUT OFF BY A LITTLE DROUGHT!
EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/23/13 (SC) - VERY RARE AS A
SPRING OVERSHOOT ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/13
(AnH) - ANNUAL AS A LOW DENSITY SPRING MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION - GENERALLY
REPORTED DURING THE SECOND AND THIRD WEEKS OF APRIL FROM OUR WESTERN-MOST
COUNTIES.
WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/10/13 (SC,
QE, NM) was the first report of the year - there were numerous sightings
throughout the region thereafter - THIS IS THE LATEST 'ARRIVAL' DATE IN WELL
OVER A DECADE - THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE FEATURED WESTERN KINGBIRD ARRIVAL IN
LATE
MARCH.
WHITE-EYED VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/20/13 (CC, SC, QE) -
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 13th RECORD.
BELL'S VIREO: 1 near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CR, LS) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGON, NOW ANNUAL AND SPREADING EVEN INTO OUR WEST-MOST
COUNTIES.
CASSIN'S VIREO: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/21/13 (AP, JP) the only
report so far this season - AN ANNUAL, ALBEIT VERY RARE, STRAY TO THE REGION.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/27/13 (AnH) the only report so
far this season - AN ANNUAL, ALBEIT RARE, MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/16/13 (JH) and 1 at Plains
Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/27/13 (AK, NP) the only reports so far this
season - AN ANNUAL, ALBEIT RARE, MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION.
WARBLING VIREO: 1 at Rannsom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/13 (CC, SC) the only report
so far this season - A TAD LOW.
COMMON
RAVEN: 1-2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through the
month (KH), 1 at the ponds just west of Lorenzo (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 (KH), 1
near Post (Garza) on 4/13/13 (SC), 2 near Lakeview (Floyd) on 4/20/13 (KH), 1
near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CRu, LS) - THE LATTER MIGHT BE A WANDERER
FROM NEW MEXICO.
TREE SWALLOW: 4-8 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (CR, JT, PT), 4 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/5/13 CC), 1 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/13 (AnH), 2 at
Buffalo Springs Lake on 4/11/13 and 4/12/13 (CC, CrC, SC, CR), 3 at Reese
Center (Lubbock) on 4/19/13 (SC, CR), 9 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/23/13 (SC),
1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/23/13 (AnH), 2 along the Canyon Lakes
(Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (PK) - GOOD NUMBERS AND A GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS, GIVEN
THE DROUGHT.
BANK SWALLOW: 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/5/13 (AnH), 2 at the Smyer Playa
(Hockley) on 4/13/13 (CC, CrC), 1-8 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (CC, CrC,
CR), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/19/13 (QE), 2 at
Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/19/13 (SC, CR), 1 at the Dickens Sewage Ponds
(Dickens) on 4/21/13 (AP, JP), 9 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/23/13 (SC), 1 at
Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (SC, QE, NM), and 1 along the Canyon Lakes
(Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (PK) - GOOD NUMBERS AND A GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, GIVEN
THE DROUGHT.
CAVE SWALLOW: 1 at the Dickens Sewage Ponds (Dickens) on 4/21/13 (AP, JP) and1
in Post (Garza) on 4/26/13 (SC) the only reports - LOW; CHECKED FOR AT SEVERAL
REGULAR SITES AND NOT FOUND, THIS ABSENCE POSSIBLY DUE TO IMPACT OF DROUGHT ON
THEIR PREY BASE?
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through 4/17/13 (KD), 1
at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/8/13 (CR), 3 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/8/13
(CC), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 (CR), and 1 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (JC) - CASUAL, AT BEST, THIS LATE IN THE SEASON - A
MIXTURE OF LINGERING WINTER BIRDS AND PASSERS-BY FROM THE
SOUTH.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/21/13 and 4/28/13 (AP, JP) the
only report - THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE SITES FOR BREEDING
CANYON WRENS IN THE REGION - NICE TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE STILL THERE.
HOUSE WREN: Fifteen reports of 1-5 birds at twelve sites in the region
(Bailey, Cochran, Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, DHw, AnH, AP,
JP, CR, CRu, LS) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE THOUGH THIS COULD BE AN ARTIFACT
OF CONCENTRATION AT WELL-BIRDED RIPARIAN AREAS.
CAROLINA WREN: 1-2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) through at least 4/15/13 (CC,
CR), 1-3 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) through at least 4/19/13
(CC, CrC, SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM, CR), and 1-2 in Tech Terrace through at least
4/21/13 (CC) - MORE GOOD REPORTS FROM ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (SC, QE, NM), 5
at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (CR),
1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 4/7/13 through 4/9/13 (AnH, CR), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/8/13 (CC, CR), 1-4 at the Purina Mountain Bike Traile (Lubbock)
from 4/9/13 through 4/12/13 (CC, SC, QE, KL, NM, CR), 2-4 at Buffalo Springs
Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 and 4/12/13 (CC, CR), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
4/12/13 (DB, MLo), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC, CrC), 2 at Mae
Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC), 3-5 at the upper end of the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (CC, CrC, SC), 7-10 at the lower end
of the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (QE, AnH, KL, CR), 9 at
the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (CC, CrC), 4 at Mae Simmons
Park (Lubbock) on 4/15/13 (CR), 15 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock)
on 4/15/13 (QE), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/16/13 (CR), 3 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock)on 4/17/13 (CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/18/13 (CR), 9 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 4/19/13 (SC), 5 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/20/13 (DHw), 1 at
Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 4/20/13 (DHw), 4 at Plainview Apartments
(Hale) on 4/20/13 (RR), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
4/21/13 (QE), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock)on 4/23/13 (SC), and 1 at MacKenzie Park
(Lubbock) on 4/28/13 (AnH) - EVEN WITH, PROBABLY, LESS THAN 100% TURNOVER AT
SOME SITES, FROM VISIT TO VISIT, THIS IS THE MOST REMARKABLE SPRING I HAVE EVER
SEEN IN THE REGION FOR THIS SPECIES.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (CR) and 1 at
the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/10/13 and 4/11/13 (SC, QE, KL,
NM) - ACCIDENTAL IN APRIL; OUR 3rd and 4th APRIL RECORDS.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/13 (CR) - RARELY SEEN THIS
FAR WEST IN THE REGION DURING THE BREEDING SEASON.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) from 4/12/13 through 4/20/13 (DB,
DHw, MLo) - ACCIDENTAL IN
OUR REGION DURING APRIL; OUR 2nd APRIL RECORD.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/5/13 (CC) and 1 in east
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 (CR) - ACCIDENTAL IN OUR REGION DURING APRIL - OUR
5th and 6th APRIL RECORDS.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 persisted at a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through
4/20/13 (KD) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION DURING APRIL; OUR 4th APRIL
RECORD.
HERMIT THRUSH: Twenty-six reports of 1-7 birds spread across 13 sites in the
region (Bailey, Cochran, Dickens, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (GB, SB, CC,
CC, SC, QE, DHa, AnH, CR, CRu, LS) - MUCH BETTER THAN THE LAST FEW APRILS; MORE
LIKE THE EARLY SPRING MOVEMENTS OF THE SPECIES DURING THE LATE 90s and EARLY
00s.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 and
4/14/13 (CC, CrC, QE, AnH, CR) the only report - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
BROWN THRASHER: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the month (CC, SC, AnH,
CR), 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on from 4/8/13 through 4/10/13 (CC), and 1 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/23/13 (SC) the above the Caprock Escarpment reports for
the month - STILL DOING WELL ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; A RECENT PHENOMENON.
AMERICAN PIPIT: 100 from Bole's Road (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC) - A REMARKABLY
LARGE GROUP FOR THE REGION; ESPECIALLY THIS LATE IN THE
SEASON!
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 4 near Plains (Yoakum) on 4/11/13 (DB, MLo) and 1
along FM 400 (Hale) on 4/13/13 (NP) - CASUAL, AT BEST, THIS LATE IN THE SEASON
- MUST HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE VISUAL TREATS!
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/7/13 (AnH) the only
report - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/27/13 (AnH) and 1-3 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/13 (CC, SC, CR) the only reports so far - LOW.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/17/13 (CR) and 1-3 at
Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/27/13 (AK, NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
RARE BUT REGULAR SPRING MIGRANT.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER - our three
most numerous April warblers were in fine form during their expected portions
of the month WITH YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER NOTABLY PERSISTENT IN LARGE NUMBERS
THROUGH THE END OF THE
MONTH.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: Seventeen reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Bailey,
Cochran, Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (DB, CC, SC, QE, DHw, AnH, MLo,
NM, AP, JP, CR) - QUITE A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE; A NICE RECOVERY FROM LAST
YEAR'S RATHER DISMAL SPRING PASSAGE.
KENTUCKY WARBLER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/13 (CR) - ACCIDENTAL FOR
THE REGION; OUR 14th RECORD.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) through 4/15/13 (CR), 1-2
below Lake Six (Lubbock) through 4/28/13 (AnH, CR), and1 at Erskine Marsh
(Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (AnH, CR) the only reports - THESE ARE ALL PROBABLY
LINGERING WINTER BIRDS; NO REAL EVIDENCE OF PASSAGE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 first spring male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/15/13
(AnH) the only report - A BIT EARLY; GENERALLY A LATE APRIL THROUGH MID MAY
MIGRANT.
NORTHERN PARULA: 1 first spring female (?) below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/15/13
and 4/16/13
(AnH, CR) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE BUT ANNUAL SPRING MIGRANT.
YELLOW WARBLER: 1 at Plainview Apartments (Hale) on 4/20/13 (RR), 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/13 (AnH), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on
4/28/13 (AnH, CR), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/13 (CC) the only reports -
LOW; SHOULD PICK UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN MAY.
PALM WARBLER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/13 (AnH, CR) - CASUAL DURING
APRIL; CLOSE ENOUGH TO MAY THAT THIS BIRD WAS PROBABLY A MIGRANT AS OPPOSED TO
AN OVERWINTERING BIRD.
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) from 4/21/13 through
4/24/13 (SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 11th RECORD.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER: 1 near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CRu, LS) - A
CASUAL VISITOR TO THE REGION; FORMERLY MORE OF A FALL MIGRANT.
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (CR) and 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (NP) - IN
THEORY, THE BEST WARBLERS OF THE MONTH AS THESE BIRDS REPRESENT THE - FIRST
and SECOND APRIL RECORDS FOR THE REGION.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 in Littlefieled (Lamb) on 4/18/13 (LM), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/18/13 and 4/20/13 (SC, CR), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/30/13 (CC) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE BUT ANNUAL SPRING
MIGRANT.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Forty-six reports of 1-10 birds, twenty reports of 11-50
birds, six reports of 51-100 birds, and one report of 104 birds scattered
across twenty-four sites in the region (Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale,
Lamb, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, JC, KD, QE, DHw, AnH,
EI, KH, KL, NM, AP, JP, NP, CR, RR, AR, JR, CRu, LS) - CHIPPING SPARROWS WERE
RUNNING A BIT LATE THIS YEAR BUT WHEN THEY SHOWED UP - THEY REALLY SHOWED UP!
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Twenty-six reports of 1-10 birds and two reports of 11-25
birds scattered across thirteen sites in
(Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, KL, NM, AP, JP, CR) -
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS WERE ALSO RUNNING A BIT LATE THIS YEAR, FINALLY SHOWED
UP, AND - THIS YEAR - WERE IN THEIR EXPECTED PROPORTIONS WITH RELATION TO THE
GENERALLY FAR MORE COMMON CHIPPING SPARROWS.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/7/13 (KH), 2 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 4/9/13 (CC, CR), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13
and 4/12/13 (SC, CR), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/12/13 (DB, MLo), 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/13/12 (KH), 3-8 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, CR), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
4/14/13 (KH), 2 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (CR), 4 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 4/16/13 (CR), 10 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
4/19/13 (SC), 1 near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CRu, LS), and 1 elsewhere
near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CRu, LS) - A VERY GOOD
SHOWING FOR THIS SPECIES WHICH IS EITHER INCREASING IN OUR REGION, AS A
MIGRANT, OR WAS SEVERELY OVERLOOKED FOR FIFTY OR SO STRAIGHT YEARS.
FIELD SPARROW: 1-2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) from 4/1/13
through 4/16/13 (CC, CrC, SC, QE, AnH, NM, CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/21/13 (CC), and 1 in (Hale) on 4/24/13 (NP) the only reports - CURRENTLY
DECLINING IN THE REGION.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
4/16/13 (QE) - A LOW DENSITY SPRING OVERSHOOT ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; HAS
BRED AT SIMILAR SITES IN THE REGION.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC, CrC), 1 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) from 4/13/13 through 4/19/13 (CC, QE, AnH,
CR), 1 in (Hale) on 4/15/13 (NP), 1-2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 4/21/13
through 4/28/13 (KH), 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/23/13 (AnH), and 1 at
Reed Farm (Crosby) on 4/27/13 (KH) - ABOUT AVERAGE
BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS - A BIT OFF THE HISTORICAL NORM.
SWAMP SPARROW: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/13 (CR), 1 below Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 4/9/13 (CC), 1-7 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/11/13 and
4/12/13 (CC, CrC, CR), 1-2 at the Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 4/13/13 (AnH, CR),
2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/15/13 (CR), and 1 along the Canyon Lakes
(Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (PK)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1-3 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) through 4/15/13 (CC,
CR), 1 near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CRu, LS), 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock)
on 4/21/13 (CC), and 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/21/13
(QE) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; THIS SPECIES IS BECOMING
LESS A WINTER RESIDENT AND MORE A BIRD OF FALL AND SPRING PASSAGE.
SUMMER TANAGER: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (QE) -
CASUAL AS A SPRING MIGRANT IN APRIL, MORE LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN
MAY.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/29/13 (JD) the
only report - RIGHT ON TIME; OUR ANNUAL APRIL REPORT OR TWO OF THIS SPECIES.
BLUE GROSBEAK: 1 in (Lynn) on 4/25/13 (MDL) and 1 male at Dickens Springs
(Dickens) on 4/28/13 (AP, JP) the first and only reports so far this season - A
TAD LOW; USUALLY MORE MOVEMENT INTO THE REGION DURING THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL.
LAZULI BUNTING: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 415/13 (CR), 1 male below Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 4/16/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (CC), 1 in
Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (CC), and 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/27/13 (AnH) - GOOD NUMBERS; ESPECIALLY FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/16/13 (CR), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/18/13 (CR), 1 near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CRu, LS), 1
male in Littlefield (Lamb) on 4/24/13 (AR), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on
4/30/13 (SC, CR) -
MORE GOOD BUNTING NUMBERS; ESPECIALLY FOR SO EARLY IN THE
SEASON.
PAINTED BUNTING: 1 male in Dickens (Dickens) on 4/28/13 (MLe) the only report
for the season so far - THIS BUNTING, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS RUNNING A LITTLE
LATE AND LOW.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/13 (AnH), 4 at Lake Six
(Lubbock0 on 4/23/13 (SC), 1 along the Canyon Lakes (Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (PK),
2 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 4/24/13 (AR), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/30/13 (CC) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
ORCHARD ORIOLE: 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/15/13 (AnH), 3 males below
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/13 (AnH, CR), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on
4/30/13 (CR) - RIGHT ON TIME THOUGH NUMBERS SEEMED A BIT LOW RELATIVE TO RECENT
YEARS.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: 1-5 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on from 4/15/13 to 4/30/13 (QE,
AnH, CR) (AnH, CR), 1-4 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 4/16/13 to 4/30/13 (CC,
SC, AnH, PK, CR), and 2-3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) from 4/17/13 through 4/30/13
(SC, CR), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (JC), 1 at the Dickens
Sewage Ponds (Dickens) on 4/21/13 (AP), 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on
4/21/13 (AP, JP), and 8 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/28/13 (AP, JP) - ON
TIME BUT SOMEWHAT LOW IN NUMBER THROUGH THE PERIOD.
PINE SISKIN: 5-20 in Littlefield (Lamb) from 4/1/13 through 4/24/13 (AR, JR), 1
at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/1/13 (KH), 12 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on
4/1/13 (WW), 6 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/4/13 (CR), 1 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/6/13 (CC), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/13 (AnH), 16-29 in
Tech Terrace (Lubbock) from 4/8/13 through 4/21/13 (CC), 6 at Buffalo Springs
Lake (Lubbock) on 4/12/13 (CC), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/18/13 (CR), 1 in
Plains (Yoakum) on 4/20/13 (DHw), 2 near Bledsoe (Cochran) on 4/21/13 (CRu,
LS), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (JC), 5 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 4/21/13 (KD), 5 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 4/21/13 (AP, JP),
50 in Dickens (Dickens) on 4/23/13 (MLe), 7 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on
4/23/13 (AnH), 10-50 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/24/13 (SC, QE, NM), 2 on
the TTU Campus (Lubbock) on 4/25/13 (SC), 6 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on
4/25/13 (SC, QE, KL, NM), 121 during a long survey
of Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/27/13 (JC, AnH, TT, WW), 1 at Dickens Springs
(Dickens) on 4/28/13 (AP, JP), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/30/13 (SC)
- VERY GOOD NUMBERS AND EXCELLENT SCATTER; A DRAMATIC INCREASE OVER MARCH
REPORTS WHICH WERE ALREADY WELL ABOVE WINTERING LEVELS.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/15/13 (AnH), 2 at the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 4/19/13 (SC), and 1 in Tech Terrace
(Lubbock)on 4/27/13 (AnH) - PICKING UP VERY SLOWLY THIS YEAR.
OBSERVERS: GB= Grant Beauprez, SB=Susan Bergeson, DB=Doug Booher, CCÊmeron
Carver, CrC=Craig Carver, SC=Steve Collins, JC=Jim Crites, MDL=Manuel De Leon,
KD=Ken Dixon, JD=Jewel Downing, QE=Quinn
Emmering, DHÚnny Hancock, JH=Jerry Hatfield, DHwÚve Hawksworth, AnH=Anthony
Hewetson, KH=Kelly
Himmel, EI=Ernest Iverson, GJ=George Jury, AK=Andrew Kasner, PK=Phillip Kite,
MLe=Marlene Leiby, KL=Kristen Linner, MLo=Mark
Lockwood, LM=Lisa Matthews, NM=Nancy McIntyre, AP=Amy Packer, JP=Jay Packer,
NP=Niler Pyeatt, CR=Clayton (Ross)
Rickett, RR=Robert Rios, AR=Anona Roberts, JR=Jerry Roberts, CRu=Christopher
Rustay, LS=Lawry Sager, JT=John Thaxton, PT, Pat Thaxton, TT=Tess Trost,
WW=William Wenthe.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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