With 1.24 inches of rain during the month, a tad below the average April
tally of 1.29 inches, Lubbock was at 3.75 inches of rain for the year, a
bit above the average year-to-date total of 3.26 inches. The region, as a
whole, remains in drought but things are looking up a bit with the success
of the spring migration for birders down to available fronts as opposed to
lack of water..
I am unable to create a usable summary of eBird data of sightings in the
region during the period covered - IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE AVAILABLE.
Comments at the end of each species summary have been adjusted, to the best
of my abilities, to reflect this reduction in reports.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.
ROSS'S GOOSE: 1 at the CR 1313 x CR 1054 Playa (Lynn) on 4/11/15 (PKe) the
only report - AS THE SPECIES PULLED OUT EARLY AND THOROUGHLY THIS YEAR, THE
PAUCITY OF REPORTS WAS NOT SURPRISING.
CACKLING GOOSE: 3 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 4/11/15 (JM) and 3 at
Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (AH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS LATE IN THE YEAR; DOWN TO THE FEW THAT WILL, POSSIBLY, LINGER
THROUGH THE SUMMER.
WOOD DUCK: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR) and 1 at the Plainview
Apartments Playa (Hale) On 4/17/15 (NP) the only reports - LOW, PROBABLY
REFLECTIVE OF LONG-TERM DROUGHT RATHER THAN CURRENT CONDITIONS.
AMERICAN WIGEON: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (AH) and 4/26/15 (AH)
the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds, four reports of 11-25
birds, and two reports of 26-50 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, TmD, TnD, AH, KH, JJ, PKi, RL, OP, NP, RR,
WW, JW) - THOUGH NOT UP TO HISTORICAL LEVELS, QUITE A BIT BETTER THAN THE
LAST FEW YEARS.
CINNAMON TEAL: 4 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR), 7 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 5/6/15 (RL, OP), 7 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (RR), 2
at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby)
on 4/29/15 (KH), and 2 at Tech Terrace Park (Lubbock) on 4/29/15 (WW) the
only reports - THOUGH NOT UP TO HISTORICAL LEVELS, A BIT BETTER THAN
AVERAGE FOR RECENT YEARS.
REDHEAD: 2 at the CR 1313 x CR 1054 Playa (Lynn) on 4/11/15 (PKe) the only
report - LOW.
SCALED QUAIL: 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 4/3/15 (MM, ST) the
only report - BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION.
WILD TURKEY: 1 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/15 (PKi) - NOT WORTH OF NOTE
ALONG OR BELOW THE CAPROCK, THIS SIGHTING WAS WELL UP THE CANYON LAKES.
COMMON LOON: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) throughout the period (DH, JJ, RL,
OP, RR) - THOUGH FULLY FLIGHTED, THIS BIRD IS LINGERING MUCH LONGER THAN IS
TYPICAL.
EARED GREBE: 10 at the CR 1313 x CR 1054 Playa (Lynn) on 4/11/15 (PKe) and
1 at the CR 3332 x CR Y Playa (Lynn) on 4/11/15 (PKe) the only reports -
GOOD NUMBERS BUT LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/17/15 (RL, OP) and on
4/18/15 (JJ, RR) the only reports - ANOTHER FULLY FLIGHTED WATER BIRD,
TARRYING LONGER THAN EXPECTED.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock on 4/30/15 (CR, FR) the only report
- VERY LOW; GENERALLY MUCH MORE SETTLED IN THE REGION BY THE END OF APRIL.
SNOWY EGRET: Eight reports of 1-3 birds various sites in (Lubbock) during
the period (TmD, TnD, AH, JJ, RL, JM, OP, RR, CR, FR, JW) - A BIT ON THE
LOW SIDE, BOTH IN TERMS OF NUMBERS AND NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS.
LITTLE BLUE HERON: 1 first year bird at the FM 789 Wetland (HA) on 4/17/15
(NP) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION, NOW AN ANNUAL VISITOR;
THIS WAS THE FIRST OF THE SEASON.
CATTLE EGRET: Nine reports of 1-10 birds at various sites in the region
(Hale, Lubbock) during the period (AH, GJ, PJ, PKe, PKi, JM, NP) - A BIT ON
THE LOW SIDE IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND OVERALL NUMBERS.
GREEN HERON: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (AH), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 4/16/15 (KH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/21/15
to the end of the period (AH, RR) the only reports - QUITE LOW SO FAR THIS
YEAR.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (RL, OP) and
2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/14/15 to the end of the period (AH) the
only reports - QUITE LOW SO FAR THIS YEAR.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (PKe), 3 at the FM 789
Wetland (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/21/15
through 4/30/15 (TmD, TnD, AH, AR, JW), 6 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby)on
4/26/15 (KH), and 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/29/15 (KH) the only
reports - VERY LOW IN BOTH NUMBER OF REPORTS AND OVERALL NUMBERS.
OSPREY: 1 at Lake 6 (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (RL, OP), 1 at Buddy Holly Park
(Lubbock) on 4/7/15 (PKi), 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 4/7/15 (AH),
2 at 19th Street x Quaker Avenue (Lubbock) on 4/13/15 (AH), 1 at Andrews
Park (Lubbock) on 4/20/15 (GJ, PJ), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/21/15
(RR), 1 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 4/22/15 (GJ, PJ), and 1 at Dupree Park
(Lubbock) on 4/30/15 (CR, FR) - SURPRISINGLY GOOD NUMBERS AND NUMBER OF
REPORTS
MISSISSIPPI KITE: 1 at Tech Terrace Park (Lubbock) on 4/27/15 (WW) the
first and only report so far - RIGHT ON TIME BUT NUMBERS A BIT LOW.
NORTHERN HARRIER: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/11/15 (KH), 1 at the
FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), and 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly
(Floyd) on 4/18/15 (NP) the latest reports of the season - IT IS ALWAYS
NICE TO HAVE A FEW OF THESE BIRDS LINGERING INTO APRIL.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (AH), 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) n 4/11/15 (KH), and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
4/16/15 (KH) the only reports - LOW; AN EARLY AND FAIRLY THOROUGH PULLOUT
FROM THE REGION.
COOPER'S HAWK: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR) the only report -
VERY LOW; AN EARLY AND VERY THOROUGH PULLOUT FROM THE REGION.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/15 (AH) the only
report - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW A RARE MIGRANT
AND EVEN MORE RARE RESIDENT.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) on 4/12/15
(PKe) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/15 (PKe) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED
VERY RARE IN THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BE A RARE BUT REGULAR MIGRANT.
FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1 near Woodrow (Lubbock) on 44/15 (AH) and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/15 (PKe) - FAIRLY LATE IN THE SEASON, BY RECENT
STANDARDS, FOR THIS SPECIES.
SANDHILL CRANE: 22 near Wilson (Lynn) on 4/4/15 (AH) - IT IS UNUSUAL TO SEE
THIS LARGE A FLOCK AWAY FROM BAILEY COUNTY THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 6 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/15 (PKi) and on 4/12/15
(PKe), 4 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/16/15 (KH), 3 at the FM 789
Wetland (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale)
on 4/17/15 (NP), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (JJ, RR), and 2 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/15 (CR, FR) - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY
LOW NUMBERS.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 3 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/15 (PKi), 7 at Guy
Park (Lubbock) on 4/7/15 (PKi) and on 4/12/15 (PKe), 2 at the Himmel Farm
(Crosby) on 4/11/15 (KH), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/15 (AH), 3 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/16/15 (KH), 7 at the Plainview Apartments
Playa (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), and 10 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/26/15
(JB) - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (RR) -
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; THE SHOREBIRD OF THE MONTH!
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (AH) and 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/16/15 (KH) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/15 (RL, OP), and
1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/21/15 (RR) to 4/25/15 (AH) the only
reports - A TAD ON THE LOW SIDE.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/6/15 (NP), 1
at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/15 (RL, OP), 4 at the FM 789 Wetland
(Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), and 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
4/17/15 (NP) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS.
WILLET: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/26/15 (JB) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED
CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW EXPECTED ANNUALLY ALBEIT IN LOW NUMBERS.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/16/15 (KH) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (TmD, TnD, JW) the only reports - VERY LOW
NUMBERS.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 11 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/8/15 (KH) the only
report - LOW.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 30 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/26/15 (JB) the only
report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: no reports at all - VERY LOW.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 12 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (RR) the only
report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (RR), 1 at the Himmel
Farm from 4/10/15 through 4/12/15 (KH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/25/15 (AH) the only reprots - LOW.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 140 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/26/15 (JB) the only
report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBER OF REPRORTS, VERY LOW NUMBERS.
FRANKLIN'S GULL: 15 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/26/15 (JB) the only
report - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT GOOD NUMBERS.
FORSTER'S TERN: 8 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/17/15 (RL, OP) the only
report - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT GOOD NUMBERS.
INCA DOVE: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (AH) and 2 in a Littlefield
yard (Lamb)on 4/22/15 (AR) the only reports - BARELY HANGING ON.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (AH) - SEEMED A
TAD EARLY.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/15 (AH) and 1 near Post
(Garza) on 4/29/15 (AH) the only reporst - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
UNDER-REPORTED SPECIES.
CHIMNEY SWIFT: 4 over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (AH), 3 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/16/15 (KH) and 8 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/17/15 (RR) the first reports of the season - RIGHT ON TIME AND NUMBERS
PICKED UP WELL DURING THE REST OF THE PERIOD.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (TmD, TnD,
JW) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION DURING SPRING; NOW KNOWN
AS A LOW FREQUENCY OVERSHOOT.
BLACK-CHINNED x BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)
from 4/15/15 through 4/21/15 (KD) - APPARENTLY THE MOST LIKELY HUMMINGBIRD
HYBRID TO BE REPORTED FROM OUR REGION.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (AH) the only reports - A TAD LOW BUT
LITTLE BIRDING WAS REPORTED FROM OUR WESTERN COUNTIES WHERE THE SPECIES IS
MORE REGULARLY ENCOUNTERED.
MERLIN: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (AH) the only report - A TAD
LOW; AN EARLY AND FAIRLY THOROUGH PULLOUT FROM THE REGION.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (RR), 1 at the FM
789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
4/23/15 (KH) - FAIRLY LATE IN THE SEASON FOR THIS MANY REPORTS; WIDESPREAD
REPORTS SUGGESTIVE OF MIGRATORY MOVEMENT.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RL, OP) and 1 at Ransom
Lake (Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (JJ, RR) the only reports - LOW.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/6/15 (NP) the
only report - VERY LOW.
BELL'S VIREO: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/26/15 (JB) the first and only
report so far this season - RIGHT ON TIME, NUMBERS A BIT LOW AS YET.
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (AH) and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/16/15 (JB) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION; NOW SEEN AS CLOSE TO ANNUAL.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/26/15 (JB) the only report
so far - AN ANNUAL BUT RARE MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/6/15 (NP) and 2 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/22/15 (KH) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
PURPLE MARTIN: 1 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 4/4/15 (AH), 1 at Guy Park
(Lubbock) on 4/7/15 (PKi), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/15 (AH), 1 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/15/15 (KH), and 4 pairs in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 4/19/15 (GJ, PJ) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW DENSITY BREEDER.
TREE SWALLOW: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (JJ, RR) and 2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/15 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR), 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/15 (AH), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/25/15 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
BANK SWALLOW: 10 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (TmD, TnD, JW) the only
report - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT GOOD NUMBERS.
CAVE SWALLOW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/12/15 (KH) was - THE FIRST
OF THE SEASON; WITH THE SPECIES WELL ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT THE REGION, I
AM NOW MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR) - THIS
SPECIES IS BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN ALL BUT OUR MOST EASTERN
COUNTIES.
VERDIN: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR), 1 at Plains Baptist
Assembly (Floyd) on 4/6/15 9NP), and 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/18/15
(JJ, RR) - INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND THROUGHOUT THE REGION; ALL
RECORDS ARE BEING TRACKED.
ROCK WREN: 1-2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) through the period (JJ, RL, OP,
RR), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/2/15 (KH), 3 at Plains Baptist
Assembly (Floyd) on 4/6/15 (NP), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (AH),
1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), 2 at Plains Baptist
Assembly (Floyd) on 4/18/15 (NP), and 1 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on
4/30/15 (DH) - A VERY GOOD SEASON, SO FAR, FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION.
CANYON WREN: 1-4 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) through the period (DH, JJ, RL,
OP, RR), and 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/18/15 (NP) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW DENSITY BREEDER.
HOUSE WREN: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR) and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW; APRIL IS OFTEN THE
PEAK MONTH FOR THIS SPECIES AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE REGION.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR) and
4/18/15 (JJ, RR) and 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 and 4/26/15
(AH) the only reports - VERY LOW GIVEN THAT APRIL IS THE PEAK MONTH FOR
THIS GENERALLY COMMON MIGRANT.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/15 (AH) - NOT
NOTEWORTHY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE PERIOD; THIS WAS THE ONLY REPORT
FROM THE LATTER HALF OF THE PERIOD.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 4 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/18/15 (NP) the
only report - LOW BUT LITTLE TIME WAS REPORTED FROM THE EASTERN PORTION OF
THE REGION.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1-4 daily at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 4/26/15 (AH, RR)
and 2 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP) the only reports -
VERY LOW AND VERY POOR SCATTER.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (AH) the only report - A
TAD LOW.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 in at Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/15/15 (TT) the only
report for the month - FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
CEDAR WAXWING: 17 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (AH), 8 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 4/15/15 (WW), 16 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/15 (RR),
and 30 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/21/15 (RR) - NOT BAD FOR THIS LATE IN
THE SEASON.
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW DENSITY,
EARLY SPRING MIGRANT.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park from 4/25/15 through 4/26/15 (AH)
the only report - A TAD LOW.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Eight reports of 1-5 birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (TmD, TnD, AH, JJ, PKe, RR, JW) - LOW NUMBERS
AND VERY POOR SCATTER.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/15 (RR), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 4/19/15 (AH), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15
(TmD, TnD, JW) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS AND NO SCATTER.
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/26/15 (JB) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION, NOW KNOWN TO BE A LOW-DENSITY MIGRANT
THROUGH OUR WESTERN COUNTIES.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2 at the FM 789 Wetland (Hale) on 4/17/15 (NP), 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (JJ, RR), and 1 female at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (AH) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
YELLOW WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (AH), 1 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (JJ, RR), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/15
(AH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
WILSON'S WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/15 (RR) 2 at Ransom
Lake (Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (JJ, RR), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/21/15
(RR) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/25/15 through 4/26/15 (AH) the
only reports - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
SPOTTED TOWHEE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/15 (AH) and 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/29/15 (DH) - REPORTS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF
APRIL ARE NOT NOTEWORTHY; REPORTS THIS LATE IN THE MONTH ARE.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (JJ, RR) - A TAD
ON THE EARLY SIDE FOR A MIGRANT; THIS BIRD MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WINTERER IN
THE REGION.
CASSIN'S SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/15 (AH) - A REASONABLY
COMMON BIRD IN THE REGION BUT NOT PARTICULARLY EASY TO FIND IN URBAN AREAS.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Ten reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 12 birds
scattered across the region (Crosby, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period
(KD, AH, KH, PKi, NP, RR, AR) - DECENT SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/6/15 (RL, OP), 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/21/15 (KH), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15
(AH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/15 (AH), and 1 at the Himmel Farm
(Crosby) on 4/29/15 (KH) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBERS.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/6/15 (NP) the
only report - LOW.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/11/15 (KH), 4 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/16/15 (KH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) ON
4/21/15 (RR), and 10 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 4/29/15 (KH) the only
reports - RUNNING A BIT LATE THIS YEAR AND LOW NUMBERS THUS FAR.
SWAMP SPARROW: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR) the only report -
A BIT EARLY FOR THE LAST OF THE SEASON; AN EARLY AND THOROUGH PULLOUT.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (RL, OP)
- A FAIRLY LATE REPORT FOR A SPECIES THAT WINTERS IN RELATIVELY LOW NUMBERS
IN THE REGION.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/26/15 (AH)
- THE ONLY REPORT SO FAR THIS SEASON.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) on 4/23/15 (AR) and 1 female
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/15 (AH) the only reports so far this year -
A BIT ON THE LOW SIDE.
PAINTED BUNTING: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/14/15 (fide WW) the
only report - RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS THUS FAR.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: Six reports of 1-25 birds, one report of 125
birds, and 1 report of 200 birds scattered across the region (Crosby,
Garza, Lubbock) during the period (AH, KH, RL) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
MIGRANT WHICH SOME YEARS IS VIRTUALLY ABSENT AND SOME YEARS MOVES THROUGH
IN HORDES.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 female and 4 males near Tahoka (Lynn) on 4/4/15 (AH), 1
male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (AH), 1 female at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/14/15 (AH), 1 female and 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/17/15 (RR), 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 4/21/15 through
4/23/15 (GJ, PJ), 1 male in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) on 4/23/15 (AR), and
1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/15 (AH) - A GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
ORCHARD ORIOLE: 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/15 (AH) the first
and only report so far this season - A BIT LATE AND A BIT LOW.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 4/18/15 (NP) the
first and only report so far this season - MORE THAN A BIT LATE AND MORE
THAN A BIT LOW.
CASSIN'S FINCH: 1 female and 1 male in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood
(Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (PKe, photographs) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; THE
TAIL END, I PRESUME, OF A MAGNIFICENT YEAR FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION
AND, IN FACT, IN TEXAS.
PINE SISKIN: 10 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/5/15 (RR), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 4/10/15 (KH), 10 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood
(Lubbock) on 4/12/15 (PKe), 'dozens' in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/14/15
(KD), 12 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/17/15 (KD), 12 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 4/18/15 (JJ, RR), 2-3 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) from
4/22/15 through 4/24/15 (AR), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/25/15
thoguh 4/26/15 (AH) - VERY GOOD SCATTER AND EXCELLENT NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE
IN THE SEASON.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/25/15 through 4/26/15
(AH) the only reports for the month - APRIL/MAY REPRESENTS THE TYPICAL
TRANSITION FROM AMERICAN TO LESSER GOLDFINCH; IN APRIL LESSER GOLDFINCHES
ARE NOTEWORTHY, IN MAY AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES BECOME NOTEWORTHY.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, KD=Ken Dixon, TmD=Tom Dolan, TnD=Toni Dolan,
DH=Danny Hancock, AH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, JJ=Jan Jannett,
GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi =Phillip Kite, RL=Rob
Lee, MM=Matthew McWwen, JM=Jennifer Miller, OP=Ohad Paris, NP=Niler Pyeatt,
RR=Ross Rickett, AR=Anona Roberts, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd
Robertson, ST=Scott Trevey, TT=Tess Trost, WW=William Wenthe, JW=Janice
Whittington.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
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