Lubbock picked up 1.02 inches of rain during the month, below the average
April total of 1.29 inches, and is now at 1.61 inches for the year ... well
short of the average year-to-date total of 3.26 inches. Despite
drying-down conditions in most of our counties, waterfowl continued to
stage at remaining wetlands in good numbers and shorebirds put on the best
showing for quite some time. Migrant songbirds did not put on a
particularly good show as weather conditions during the month favored
smooth migration with little cause for stopovers.
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.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK: 6 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/21/16
(PKi) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION, THOUGH BECOMING MORE REGULAR - THE 11th
RECORD FOR THE REGION.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 1 at the Bison Road Playa (Hockley) continued
through 4/21/16 (AH, JM, photographs) was the only report for the month -
very surprising as geese, in general, pretty much pulled out of the region
by the end of March.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Twenty-six reports of 1-10 birds, twenty-two reports of
11-25 birds, seven reports of 26-50 birds, and 1 report of 54 bird in the
region (Bailey, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn) during the
period (JA, JB, MDL, AH, DH, PKe, PKi, LM, JM, KO, NP, DS) - A TRULY
SPECTACULAR SHOWING FOR THE SPECIES; THE BEST IN RECENT MEMORY.
CINNAMON TEAL: Twenty-six reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-15
birds in the region (Floyd, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (CA, MA,
JB, AH, DH, PKe, JM, DS) - A TRULY SPECTACULAR SHOWING FOR THE SPECIES; THE
BEST IN RECENT MEMORY.
GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, NORTHERN SHOVELER, RUDDY DUCK - these
dabbling and diving ducks were in - GOOD NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS
THOUGH THIS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ARTIFACT OF CONCENTRATION AT RELATIVELY FEW
REMAINING WET SPOTS.
CANVASBACK: 10 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 4/2/16 (AH), 1 south of Smyer
(Hockley) on 4/9/16 (AH), 2 near Earth (Lamb) on 4/20/16 (JB), and 3 at the
Sundown Water Treatment Plant (WTP) (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH) - A FAIRLY
GOOD SHOWING FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON FOR THIS WINTER VISITOR.
REDHEAD: 2 at the Bison Road Playa (Hockley) on 4/2/16 (AH), 7 south of
Smyer (Hockley) on 4/2/16 (AH), 2 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 4/9/16 (AH),
3 at the Reese Center Playa (Lubbock) on 4/13/16 (JB), 4 near South Plains
(Floyd) on 4/15/16 (JB), 6 near Lockney (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (CA, MA), and 3
near South Plains (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (JB) - A FAIRLY GOOD SHOWING FOR THIS
LATE IN THE SEASON FOR THIS WINTER VISITOR AND RARE BREEDER.
RING-NECKED DUCK: 3 near South Plains (Floyd) on 4/15/16 (JB) - A RATHER
LATE OBSERVATION, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE SPECIES' ABRUPT DEPARTURE IN THE
LAST WEEK OF MARCH.
BUFFLEHEAD: 1 female and 1 male at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 4/23/16
(AH) - A RATHER LATE RECORD FOR THE YEAR.
SCALED QUAIL: Eleven reports of 2-8 birds in the region (Bailey, Floyd,
Hockley, Lynn) during the period (JB, MDL, AH, DH, DY) - CONTINUING SIGNS
OF A RECOVERY FROM THE NEAR-RECORD LOWS RECORDED DURING THE RECENT DROUGHT
YEARS.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: Nine reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey,
Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, DH, NP) -
CONTINUING SIGNS OF A LEGITIMATE RECOVERY IN THE REGION AS MOST BIRDS WERE,
REPORTEDLY, WARY.
EARED GREBE: 5 at the Reese Center Playa (Lubbock) on 4/13/16 (JB) and 1 at
the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS,
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE NUMBER OF DABBLING DUCK AND SHOREBIRD REPORTS.
HORNED GREBE: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/9/16 (JB, PKe, photographs) the
sole report - RATHER LATE IN THE SEASON; THE REGION'S 4th APRIL RECORD.
BROWN PELICAN: 1 at Brashear's Park (Hockley) from 4/1/16 (LS) through
4/3/16 (AH, JB, PKe, photographs) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 14th
RECORD; A FIRST COUNTY RECORD!
GREAT EGRET: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/21/16 (PKi), 1 at Dupree
Park on 4/23/16 (CR, FR) and 4/24/16 (GJ, PJ), 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock)
on 4/24/16 (CR, FR), and 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/16 (DY) the only
reports - GETTING OFF TO A SLUGGISH START THIS YEAR BUT A LITTLE RAIN COULD
WORK WONDERS.
SNOWY EGRET: Sixteen reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, JJ, GJ, PJ, PKe, PKi, LM, JM,
NP, CR, FR, DY) - A MORE SATISFYING START TO WHAT COULD, WITH A LITTLE
RAIN, BE A RECOVER YEAR FOR NESTING BIRDS IN THE REGION.
CATTLE EGRET: Eleven reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Floyd, Garza,
Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, MDL, DH, PKe, PKi, NP, DY) -
ABOUT AVERAGE; GOOD NUMBERS WILL DEPEND ON GOOD RAINS.
GREEN HERON: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/9/16 (JB) the only report - LOW
NUMBERS BUT FEW REPORTS FROM REGULAR SITES FOR THE SPECIES.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: Eleven reports of 1-10 birds and two reports of 11-16
birds in the region (Floyd, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH,
DH, GJ, PJ, DS) - LOW, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF SHOREBIRDS WHICH ARE USUALLY A
BETTER INDICATOR OF THIS SPECIES' ABUNDANCE IN THE REGION THAN ARE OTHER
WADERS.
MISSISSIPPI KITE: 2 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (AH), 2 in the Tech
Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (WW), 4 at Levelland City Park
(Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/30/16 (JJ, JM)
- RATHER LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR AND STILL IN LOW NUMBERS BY THE END OF
THE PERIOD.
OSPREY: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/16 (DS) the only report I
received - A RATHER EARLY AND ABRUPT DEPARTURE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE GOOD
NUMBER OF BIRDS THAT OVERWINTERED.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 4/10/16 (NP), 1 over
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 4/13/16 (AC), 1 along Alamo Road (Hockley) on 4/23/16
(AH), and 1 on the TTU Campus (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (WW) - ABOUT AVERAGE;
REPORTS PICK UP IN SOME MAYS.
SORA: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/17/16 (MDL) the only report - LOW.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Twenty-six reports of 1-10 birds and five reports of
11-25 birds in the region (Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the
period (CA, MA, JB, MDL, AH, DH, PKi, LM, JM, NP, DS) - GOOD NUMBERS BUT
NOT PARTICULARLY MIND-BLOWING GIVEN THE SHOWING PUT ON BY SOME OTHER
SHOREBIRDS.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Twenty-one reports of 1-10 birds, eight reports of 11-25
birds, two reports of 26-50 birds, four reports of 51-100 birds, five
reports of 101-150 birds, and one report of 158 birds in the region
(Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (JB, MDL,
AH, DH, PKe, LM, JM, KO, NP, DS, DY) - A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY SHOWING WITH
SEVERAL REPORTS TRIPPING E-BIRD FILTERS BASED ON NUMBERS.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: 1 at the Bison Road Playa (Hockley) on 4/9/16 (AH,
photographs), 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/15/16 (JB), and 2 at Crosbyton
City Park (Crosby) on 4/23/16 (PKe, photographs) - CASUAL TO THE REGION;
OUR 15th, 16th, and 17th RECORDS. THE LAST SPRING WITH MULTIPLE RECORDS
WAS 2003!
SNOWY PLOVER: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/6/16 (JB), 1 south of Smyer
(Hockley) on 4/16/16 (AH), 1 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 4/17/16 (AH), and
1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/24/16 (MDL) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR MIGRANTS
THOUGH REPORTS FROM BREEDING SITES A TAD LOW.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH,
photographs) - LOW; SURPRISING GIVEN THE ABUNDANCE OF OTHER MIGRANT
SHOREBIRDS.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Nineteen reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Floyd,
Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (JA, JB, AH, DH, JJ, PKe, PKi,
LM, JM, KO, DY) - GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, VERY GOOD NUMBERS.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: Eight reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (AH, PKi, NP) - GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND NUMBERS.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 20 birds
in the region (Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lynn) during the period (JB,
MDL, AH, DH, NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF REPORTS AND OVERALL
NUMBERS.
WILLET: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) from 4/19/16 (LM) through 4/23/16
(JA, KO) the sole report - FORMERLY CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW AN ANNUAL, IF
RARE, MIGRANT.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Floyd,
Hockley) during the period (JB, AH, DH, JM) - ABOUT AVERAGE IN TERMS OF
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND OVERALL NUMBERS.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 2 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 4/21/16 (AH) and 1 along
Alamo Road (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH, photographs) the only reports - LOW,
POSSIBLY VERY LOW GIVEN NUMBERS DURING RECENT MIGRATIONS.
WHIMBREL: Up to 9 birds at Bison Road Playa (Hockley) from 4/24/16 (AH,
PKe, AL, JM, photographs) through 4/27/16 (CR, FR) and 2 near Lockney
(Floyd) on 4/27/16 (CA, MA) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 17th and 18th
RECORDS.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 13 near Denver City (Yoakum) on 4/3/16 (CS) and 1 at
the Bison Road Playa (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH) and 4/24/16 (AH) the only
reports - LOW.
HUDSONIAN GODWIT: 1 breeding-plumage female at Bison Road Playa on 4/24/16
(JB, AH, PKe, AL, JM, photographs) through 4/27/16 (CR, FR) - ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION - OUR 5th RECORD, THE LAST IN SPRING OF 2003!
STILT SANDPIPER: Seven reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Floyd, Hockley)
during the period (JB, AH, JM) the only reports - ONE OF THE FEW
SHOREBIRDS WITH, THUS FAR, A TRULY POOR SHOWING.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS: Fifteen reports of 1-10 birds and five reports of 11-25
birds in the region (Floyd, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB,
MDL, AH, PKe, LM, JM) - GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE
NUMBERS.
LEAST SANDPIPER: Eighteen reports of 1-10 birds, three reports of 11-25
birds, and one report of 30 birds in the region (Floyd, Hockley, Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (JB, MDL, AH, PKe, LM, JM) - GOOD NUMBER OF
REPORTS, NUMBERS A TAD BELOW AVERAGE.
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER: 1-2 at the Bison Road Playa (Hockley) from 4/23/16
(AH, photographs) through 4/30/16 (JB, PKe, photographs) and 1 near
Floydada (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (DH) the only reports - A SLOW START BUT, GIVEN
RAIN, NUMBERS COULD PICK UP IN MAY.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/15/16 (JB) - ANOTHER
SPECIES WITH UNUSUALLY LOW NUMBERS, GIVEN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF SHOREBIRDS,
DURING THE PERIOD.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 30 birds
in the region (Floyd, Hale, Hockley) during the period (JB, AH, JM, NP) -
ABOUT AVERAGE IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF SIGHTING AND NUMBERS BUT A NICE RECOVER
FROM THE DROUGHT YEARS.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: Sixteen reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 12
birds, and one report of 32 birds in the region (Floyd, Hockley, Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (JA, JB, MDL, AH, JM) - GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
GREAT NUMBERS.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: Four reports of 1-10 birds, six reports of 11-25
birds, and six reports of 26-51 birds in the region (Floyd, Hale, Hockley)
during the period (JB, AH, DH, PKe, JM, NP) - GREAT NUMBER OF REPORTS,
ABOUT AVERAGE IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 2 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 4/9/16 (AH) and 3 at Tahoka
Lake (Lynn) on 4/17/16 (MDL) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE
IN THE SEASON FOR THIS WINTER VISITOR.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: Eleven reports of 1-10 birds, eleven reports of 11-25
birds, four reports of 26-50 birds, and one report of 52 birds in the
region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (JB,
AH, DH, PKe, JM, NP) - GREAT NUMBER OF REPORTS, ABOUT AVERAGE IN TERMS OF
NUMBERS.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 4/29/16 (KS) - A
VERY LATE REPORT FOR THE REGION.
FRANKLIN'S GULL: 1 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 4/9/16 (AH), 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 4/9/16 (JB), 1 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 4/10/16 (NP),
1 at Bison Road Playa (Hockley) on 4/18/16 (JM), 1 at Bison Road Playa
(Hockley) on 4/20/16 (JM), and 25 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (DH) -
GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS.
RING-BILLED GULL: 1-4 in the Levelland area (Hockley) through the period
(AH, JM) and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/29/16 (DH) the only reports - A
NOTABLE NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR APRIL GIVEN THE SPECIES NEAR ABSENCE FROM
LATE FEBRUARY AND MOST OF MARCH.
LEAST TERN: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/16 (DY) through 4/29/16 (JB,
DH, PKe, photographs) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW
KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL, ALBEIT RARE, MIGRANT.
INCA DOVE: 1 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 4/20/16 (GJ, PJ) and 2 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (CR, FR) the only reports - STILL,
BARELY, HANGING ON.
COMMON GROUND DOVE: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/22/16 (AR) - CASUAL
TO THE REGION; OUR 12th RECORD WITH NO PARTICULAR SEASONALITY DISCERNIBLE.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Baiiley) on 4/30/16 (JB) the first and
only report of the month - APRIL RECORDS STILL NOTABLE.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 found dead at the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) on 4/8/16 (LM)
and 3 seen north of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 4/18/16 (JK) the only reports -
RUNNING A BIT LATE THIS YEAR; HOPEFULLY NUMBERS WILL PICK UP IN MAY.
CHIMNEY SWIFT: 8 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (LM) and 6 in Tech
Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (WW) - THE FIRST OF THE SEASON, FILLED IN
QUICKLY THEREAFTER.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/23/16
(JM) an 1 female in another Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (AH) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; BETTER INFORMATION HAS LED TO
BETTER DETECTION OF SPRING OVERSHOOTS IN RECENT YEARS.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through 4/13/16 (LM)
and 1 in another Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/22/16 (MR, photographs) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW CONSIDER CASUAL TO
CLOSING ON ANNUAL.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 4/13/16 (JB) -
ACCIDENTAL ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; THIS YEAR HAS SEEN A SURPRISING
NUMBER OF REPORTS.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER: 1 persisted at Levelland City Park (Hockley) through
4/2/16 (AH) - ANNUAL, BUT RARE, AS AN EARLY SPRING MIGRANT THROUGH THE
REGION.
MERLIN: 1 west of Smyer (Hockley) on 4/2/16 (AH) and 1 near Petit (Hockley)
on 4/17/16 (AH) - BOTH REPORTS RATHER LATE FOR THIS WINTER VISITOR.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Bison Road Playa (Hockley) on 4/2/16 (AH), 1 at
Indiana and 50th (Lubbock) on 4/3/16 (AH, CFR, FR, photographs), 1 over
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 4/14/16 (RL), 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/15/16 (JB),
1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/16 (JA, KO), and 1 over Ropesville
(Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) - GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS,
PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING THEIR VERY LOW NUMBERS DURING WINTER.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 near Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) the
first and only report - LATE AND LOW.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 near Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) the first and only reports - LATE AND LOW.
CONTOPIDS and EMPIDS: No other reports of pewee or empid flycatchers - ALL
ARE RUNNING LATE OR PASSING US BY.
SAY'S PHOEBE: Seventeen reports of 1-7 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley,
Lynn) during the period (MDL, AH, NP) - A GOOD SHOWING FOR THE SPECIES THIS
SPRING DESPITE LOW NUMBERS DURING THE WINTER.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (DH) the only report -
VERY LOW.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/17/16 (MDL) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION, THIS SPECIES IS NOW ANNUAL AND CAN POP
UP IN ANY SEASON.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/13/16 (DS) was the
first of the season and there were few reports during the remainder of the
period - EXPECT IN MID-LATE MARCH, THIS SPECIES WAS RUNNING VERY LATE.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/16 (DY) the only report
- RIGHT ON TIME AND IN TYPICAL NUMBERS FOR THIS RARE MIGRANT.
WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 near Olton (Lamb) on 4/10/16 (NP) was the first of the
season and the species filled in very slowly thereafter - EXPECTED DURING
THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH, THIS SPECIES WAS RUNNING SOMEWHAT LATE.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER: 1 near Olton (Lamb) on 4/10/16 (NP) was the
first of the season and the species filled in very slowly thereafter -
FIRST ARRIVALS ARE EXPECTED DURING THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH, THIS SPECIES WAS
RUNNING A TAD LATE.
BELL'S VIREO: 3 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/24/16 (MDL) and 2 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) - RIGHT ON TIME AND AT EXPECTED SITES FOR THIS
SPECIES, RECENTLY ESTABLISHED AS A BREEDER IN THE REGION.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (LM) the only of the
season - RIGHT ON TIME; A TAD LOW SO FAR.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/16 (DY) the only of the
season so far - RIGHT ON TIME; A TAD LOW SO FAR.
COMMON RAVEN: 2 near Floydada (Flloyd) on 4/15/16 (JB), 1 near South Plains
(Floyd) on 4/15/16 9JB), 1 near South Plains (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (JB), and 2
near Dougherty (Floyd) on 4/29/16 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE GIVEN THE LOW
OBSERVER EFFORT IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES DURING THE MONTH.
PURPLE MARTIN: Up to 14 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through the month (GJ,
PJ), 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/16/16 (NP), 2 at the Plainview
Apartments Playa (Hale) on 4/23/16 (NP), and 2 over a Plainview yard (Hale)
on 4/23/16 (NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE BREEDER.
TREE SWALLOW: 2 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/2/15 (AH), 10 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 4/9/16 (JB), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB), and
14 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE
TO COMMON MIGRANT.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/11/16 (PKi), 3
near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (DH), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/16
(DY), and 14 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) - RUNNING A BIT LATE
THIS YEAR AND LOW IN NUMBER THUS FAR.
BANK SWALLOW: 15 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/9/16 (JB) and 2 near South
Plains (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (JB) - PRETTY MUCH ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS SO FAR.
CLIFF SWALLOW: Arrived on time in late March but - VERY SLOW TO FILL IN.
CAVE SWALLOW: No April reports - LATE TO ARRIVE; STILL LOW IN NUMBERS IN
REGIONS IMMEDIATELY TO THE SOUTH.
VERDIN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/16/16 (NP) the only report -
FORMERLY MUCH EASIER TO FIND IN THE REGION; REPORTS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN
THESE DAYS.
ROCK WREN: 1 along CR 130 (Yoakum) on 4/3/16 (CS) the only report - THIS
SPECIES USUALLY SHOWS A MIGRANT SPIKE IN APRIL; NONE PICKED UP ON THIS YEAR.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/16/16 (NP) - MOST LIKELY A
MEMBER OF THE BREEDING CONTINGENT AT THIS SITE.
HOUSE WREN: 1 in Pep (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH), 4 near Baileyboro (Bailey)
on 4/30/16 9JB), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB), and 1 at the
Foster x Hawk Playa (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) the only reports - GENERALLY
SHOWS A MUCH LARGER APRIL MIGRATORY SPIKE.
MARSH WREN: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/17/16 9MDL) and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (LM) the only reports - AN EARLY AND THOROUGH
DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/23/16 (NP) and 2
near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (DH) the only reports - GENERALLY SHOWS A
LARGER SPIKE OF MIGRATORY ACTIVITY IN APRIL.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (DH) and 2 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON;
THE SPECIES BREEDS IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES BUT THESE ARE LIKELY WINTERING
BIRDS.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 2 along Alamo Road (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH), 1 in Pep
(Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) and 1
at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) - A GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS
FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; THE SPECIES IS MORE OF A MAY MIGRANT FOR US.
HERMIT THRUSH: Ten reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock) through the second half of the period (JB, JC, AH, NP) -
ABOUT AVERAGE AND, GIVEN TIMING, MOST LIKELY ALL MIGRANTS; NOT LINGERING
WINTER BIRDS.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) - THE ONLY
REPORT FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT WHERE THE SPECIES IS RARE.
AMERICAN PIPIT: Seven reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 20-50
birds in the region (Bailey, Floyd, Hockley, Lamb) during the period (JB,
AH) - A BETTER THAN AVERAGE SHOWING FOR A SPECIES THAT RANGES FROM ABSENT
TO COMMON DURING APRIL; MANY WERE LINGERING WINTER BIRDS AT REGIONAL PLAYAS.
CEDAR WAXWING: 20 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/16/16 (JB), 14 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 4/17/16 (JC), 14 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (LM),
100 at Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (WW), 25 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 4/26/16 (JB), and 8 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (DH) - NOT BAD FOR
APRIL AND, GIVEN NEAR ABSENCE DURING WINTER, MOST WERE PROBABLY MIGRANTS.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 1 near Pep (Hockley) on 4/9/16 (AH) and 2 near
South Plains (Floyd) on 4/15/16 (JB) - THE END OF A DRAWN OUT BUT POOR, IN
TERMS OF NUMBERS, LONGSPUR SEASON IN THE REGION.
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER: 1 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) on 4/29/16 (AR) -
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 21st RECORD.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/9/16 (JB), 2 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/17/16 (JC), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
4/22/16 (KD), 1 in a Plainview yard (Hale) on 4/23/16 (NP), and 3 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/16 (JB) the only reports - VERY, CLOSE TO STUNNINGLY
LOW NUMBERS, FOR ONE OF OUR MOST COMMON MIGRANTS.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 in southwest Levelland (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) the
only report - LATE AND LOW; ANOTHER OF OUR COMMON MIGRANTS CLOSE TO MISSING.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: 1 t Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/16/16 (NP) -
SURPRISINGLY EARLY FOR ONE OF OUR LATER MIGRANTS; MORE EXPECTED IN MAY.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/9/16 (JB), 2 at Tahoka
Lake (Lynn) on 4/17/16 (MDL), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (LM) and
1 near Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) the only reports - LOW.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 near Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) and 1 at
Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 4/30/156 (AH) the only reports - LATE AND
A TAD LOW.
YELLOW WARBLER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) and 3 at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 4/30/16 (JJ, JM) the only reports - VERY LATE AND VERY LOW.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: Present throughout the period but - IN VERY LOW
NUMBERS, SUGGESTING WINTER LINGERING BUT LITTLE MIGRATORY PRESENCE.
WILSON'S WARBLER: 1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 4/18/16 (NP), 1
near Petit (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/24/16
(LM), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/16 (JB), 3 near Baileyboro (Bailey)
on 4/30/16 (JB), 1 at the Foster x Hawk Playa (Hockley)on 4/30/16 (AH), and
3 in southwest Levelland (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) the only reports - RIGHT
ON TIME BUT VERY LOW NUMBER FOR THIS, OUR MOST COMMON MIGRATORY WARBLER.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 2 near Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) - RIGHT ON
TIME BUT WEIRDLY WEST.
WARBLER NOTE: Given the presence in March of astonishingly early records
for Black-and-white Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, and Hooded Warbler AND
the unusual paucity of our more common migrant warblers one might speculate
that spring warblers have pretty much flown over the region this year - MAY
WILL TELL.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: Fourteen reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey,
Crosby, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, LM, JM) - PRETTY GOOD
NUMBERS AND SCATTER OF OBVIOUS MIGRANTS, SUGGESTING THE MARCH SIGHTING WAS,
IN FACT, AN EARLY MIGRANT.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Thirty-four reports of 1-10 birds, seven reports of 11-25
birds, three reports of 26-50 birds, one report of 90 birds, and one report
of 150 birds in the region (Bailey, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during
the period (JB, KD, AH, JJ, PKe, PKi, LM, JM, NP, DY) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS UNCOMMON TO ABUNDANT MIGRANT AND A YEAR WHERE, SO FAR, CHIPPING
SPARROWS VASTLY OUTNUMBER CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Fifteen reports of 1-10 birds and two reports of
11-25 birds in the region (Bailey, Floyd, Hockley, Lubbock) during the
period (JB, AH, DH, JJ, PKi, LM, JM) - A BIT LOW FOR THIS UNCOMMON TO
COMMON MIGRANT AND A YEAR WHERE CLAY-COLORED SPARROW WAS, VASTLY,
OUTNUMBERED BY CHIPPING SPARROW.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 2 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/9/16 (NP), 4 near
Petit (Hockley) on 4/17/16 (AH), 2 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/23/16
(NP), 1 in Pep (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH), 1 near Baileyboro (Bailey) on
4/30/16 (JB), and 6 along Ellis Road (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE TO UNCOMMON SPRING MIGRANT - NUMBERS MIGHT BE HIGHER
BUT THIS SPECIES IS EASILY OVERLOOKED.
LARK SPARROW: 6 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 4/9/16 (NP) and 3 at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 4/9/16 (JB) were the first arrivals and things filled in
quickly thereafter - ON TIME AND IN GOOD NUMBERS BY THE END OF THE PERIOD.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) on 4/28/16 (LM) -
CASUAL TO THE REGION AND THIS BIRD REPRESENTS A RARE ATOP THE CAPROCK
ESCARPMENT RECORD!
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 11 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/27/16 (DH) were the
first obvious arrivals but they filled in quickly thereafter - LATE BUT
GOOD NUMBERS BY THE END OF THE PERIOD.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 4 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/14/16 (KD), 1 in
a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/15/16 (AH), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
4/26/16 (JB) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 4/27/16 (JM) - THE TYPICAL
APRIL SPIKE, PROBABLY REPRESENTING MIGRANTS FROM THE SOUTH.
DARK-EYED JUNCO: 1 at Reese Center Playa (Lubbock) on 4/13/16 (JB) was the
latest report - AN EARLY AND THOROUGH DEPARTURE.
SUMMER TANAGER: 1 female near Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) and one
female at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
RARE SPRING MIGRANT.
SCARLET TANAGER: 1 male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) -
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 20th RECORD AND FIRST SINCE 2011!
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 4/29/16
(NP) the only report - A TAD LOW; THIS RARE MIGRANT USUALLY POPS UP A FEW
TIMES IN APRIL.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/15/16 (TT) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE MIGRANT; NUMBERS USUALLY IMPROVE SLIGHTLY IN
MAY.
BLUE GROSBEAK: 2 near Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) and 2 males along
Ellis Road (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH) the first reports - LATE, BY ABOUT A
WEEK OR SO, AND LOW.
DICKCISSEL: 1 near Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB) the only report -
LATE AND, OBVIOUSLY, LOW.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: Ten reports of 1-10 birds, seven reports of 11-25
birds, three reports of 26-50 birds, and three reports of 51-75 birds in
the region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB,
AH, DH, JJ, PKe, LM, JM, NP, DS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON TO
ABUNDANT MIGRANT - HIGHER PERCENTAGE, THAN NORMAL, OF FEMALES REPORTED.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/16 (JB), 1 in a
Littlefield yard (Lamb) from 4/27/16 thohuh 4/29/16 (AR), 1 male near
Baileyboro (Bailey) on 4/30/16 (JB), 1 male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
4/30/16 (JB), and 2 males at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH,
photographs) - ABOUT AVERAGE, BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS, FOR THIS RECENTLY
ESTABLISHED BREEDER.
ORCHARD ORIOLE: 3 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/30/16 (JJ, JM) the first and
only report of the season - LATE (WE USUALLY GET ORCHARD ORIOLES REPORTED
BEFORE BULLOCK'S ORIOLES - AND USUALLY BY THE THIRD WEEK OF APRIL) AND LOW
... THUS FAR.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: A pair along Alamo Road (Hockley) from 4/16/16 through
4/30/16 (AH), 1 female in Levelland (Hockley) on 4/17/16 (AH), a pair in
Pep (Hockley) from 4/17/16 through 4/30/16 (AH), 2 females and 1 male near
Petit (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/16 (LM),
1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/24/16 (DY), 1 female at Foster x Hawk Playa
(Hockley) on 4/30/16 (AH), and 7 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/30/16 (JJ, JM)
- A TAD EARLY (BEAT ORCHARD ORIOLES THIS YEAR!) AND GOOD NUMBERS.
PINE SISKIN: 2 at Levelland City Park (Hockley)on 4/2/16 (AH), 7 at Sundown
City Park (Hockley) on 4/23/16 (AH) and 1 in a Plainview yard (Hale) on
4/27/16 (NP) - THE CLOSE OF AN IMPRESSIVELY STEADY IF NOT NUMERICALLY
STAGGERING WINTER SEASON.
OBSERVERS: CA=Connie Andrus, MA=Marlin Andrus, JA=Jed Aplaca, JB=Justin
Bosler, AC=Anita Cooper, JC=Jim Crites, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon,
AH=Anthony Hewetson, DH=Daniel Horton, JJ=Jan Jannett, GJ=George Jury,
PJ=Pat Jury,PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, JK=Jacqueline Kolosov,
RL=Rob Lee, AL=Alan Livingston, DM=David Marshal, JM=Jennifer Miller,
KO=Kelli Ondracek, NP=Niler Pyeatt, MR=Marla Riddlespurger, AR=Anona
Roberts, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, CS=Chuck Sexton,
DS=David Shelburne, LS=Leanna Smith, KS=Kevin Sweeney, TT=Tess Trost,
WW=William Wenthe, DY=David Yeamans.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
//www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
from the List Owner
