Lubbock received 0.39 inches of rain during December, below the
expected total for the month of 0.75 inches, leaving us with 14.34
inches for the year; well below the average year-to-date total of
18.33 inches. According to the US Drought Monitor, 33% of our
fifteen-county region is now in moderate drought, 47% is in severe
drought, and 20% is in extreme drought; a bit better, in terms of
extreme drought, than the end of the last month but probably nothing
to get to excited about in terms of habitat-level drought relief.
Irruptive events related to several species of songbird were going
strong at the beginning of the month but appeared to be tapering off
towards the end of the month; perhaps a result of diminishing forage.
Another phenomenon: the blending of a good northward movement and a
goodly number of winter lingerers – this was particularly well
illustrated by sparrows.
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. Due to the abundance of records now supported by
photographs, I only report photographs for exceptional birds.
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.
SOME LATE REPORTS:
COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 1 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 11/28/22 (JCl) – A
RECORD LATE REPORT.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 2 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 11/23/22 (SA) –
PART OF THE PERMANENT RESIDENCY ACT THE SPECIES IS PUTTING ON THESE
DAYS
ON TO THE DECEMBER STUFF:
SNOW GOOSE: Thirty-six reports of 1-10 birds and four reports of 10-31
birds in the region (Crosby, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period
(SA, JCl, JoC, TD, MDL, GE, JG, BH, JH, KH, AH, DHo, MH, GK, PKi, ML,
KM, WM, JN, NN, MS, WW, LZ) – EXCELLENT NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
REASONABLY GOOD SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS.
ROSS’S GOOSE: Twenty reports of 1-7 birds in the region (Crosby, Lamb,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, BB, GE, DH, AH, DHo, GK, RK, ML, NN,
AR, MS) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, REASONABLE SCATTER, BUT LOW NUMBERS.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: Seventeen reports of 1-6 birds, three
reports of 13-32 birds, and one report of 193 birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SA, BB, TD, MDL, DH, AH,
MH, GK,RK, ML, KM, AR, MS, WW, LZ) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, DECENT
SCATTER, BUT – ASIDE FROM ONE REPORT – GENERALLY POOR NUMBERS.
WOOD DUCK: Fifteen reports of 1-8 birds, seven reports of 12-25 birds,
one report of 32 birds, and one report of 46 birds, all at various
sites in (Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, GE, AH, GK, JM, KM, AR,
MS, WW, LZ) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS BUT INCREDIBLY
POOR SCATTER.
MEXICAN DUCK: 1 fairly solid bird at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 12/7/22
(JoC) and 1 fairly solid bird at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on
12/22/22 (JoC) and on 12/30/22 (JM) survived the scrutiny of several
eBird reviewers – STATUS IN THE REGION BECOMING CLEARER AND THE
SPECIES APPEARS TO BE A VERY RARE RESIDENT.
MOTTLED DUCK: 1 fairly solid bird was found at MacKenzie Park
(Lubbock) on 12/11/22 (AR, photographs) with photographs surviving the
scrutiny of two fairly rigorous eBird reviewers and a host of
waterfowl experts – IF IT CONTINUES TO SURVIVE SCRUTINY (MORE
PHOTOGRAPHS WERE ACQUIRED BY A SECOND OBSERVER ON 8 JANUARY 2023),
THIS WILL BE A FIRST FOR THE ENTIRE REGION AND IT CERTAINLY RATES BIRD
OF THE MONTH STATUS.
CANVASBACK: Fourteen reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 14 birds,
and one report of 28 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the
period (SA, JoC, GE, AH, DHo, ML, JM) – GOODISH NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
GOODISH NUMBERS BUT A DROP FROM NOVEMBER NUMBERS WAS MOST UNUSUAL.
REDHEAD: Eight reports of 1-8 birds and one report of 16 birds in the
region (Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SA, MDL, JH, KH, AH,
BK, PKi, ML, JM, KM, BSc) – POOR NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS;
ALSO A MARKED AND SURPRISING DECLINE FROM NOVEMBER NUMBERS.
GREATER SCAUP: 1 female at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 12/15/22
(JCr), 1 female at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) from 12/16/22 (JoC)
through 12/27/22 (AH, WW, LZ), and 1 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on
12/17/22 (AH) – THIS SPECIES IS EITHER SURPRISINGLY RARE OR SOMEWHAT
UNDER-REPORTED IN THE REGION.
LONG-TAILED DUCK: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/11/22 (JN,
photographs) – ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION BUT WE HAVE HAD TWO IN THE
REGION AT WIDELY SEPARATED SITES SO FAR THIS SEASON – ANOTHER
CANDIDATE FOR BIRD OF THE MONTH.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) from 12/10/22 to the
end of the month (TD, SA, JoC, JM, WW, LZ), 3 at the Lubbock WTP
(Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH), 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/24/22
(ML), 1 male at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, HB, JoC,
AH, MH, JK, JM) and on 12/27?22 (JoC), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock)
on 12/26/22 (SA, AH) – VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS
FOR OUR REGION.
COMMON MERGANSER: 2 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 12/1/22 (AH), 1 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/3/22 (JoC), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock)
from 12/3/22 through 1217/22 (BSh, ED, LH, PKe, PKi, RL, AR), 5 at
McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 12/7/22 (SA, AH), 2 at Andrew Park
(Lubbock) from 12/8/22 through 12/17/22 (JoC, GK, MS), 14 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 12/9/22 (ML), 1-4 at Leroy Elmore Park
(Lubbock) on 12/10/22 (SA, DHa), 1 at McCullough Park (Lubbock) from
12/14/22 through 12/17/22 (GK, MS), 2 at Miller Park (Lubbock) from
12/14/22 through 12/17/22 (GK, MS), 4 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
12/14/22 (PKi), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) from 12/16/22
through 12/26/22 (SA, AH), 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/22
(JoC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (ED, LH, PKe, PKi, RL), 1
at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH), 1 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (JCl, MDL), 2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on
12/17/22 (TD), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/18/22 (SA, AH), 158
-221 at White River Lake (Crosby) from 12/24/22 through 12/31/22 (ML,
BB, MDL, BH, DH, JH, KH, PKi, RK, WM), 4-5 at Andrews Park (Lubbock)
from 12/26/22 through 12/27/22 (SA, JoC, GE, AH), 67 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock)on 12/26/22 (SA, AH), 2 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on
12/27/22 (SA) and 13-15 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 12/28/22 (SA,
JM) – EVEN ASSUMING SOME MOVEMENT OF BIRDS FROM PARK TO PARK IN
LUBBOCK, A REMARKABLY LARGE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS, GOOD SCATTER, AND
REMARKABLY HIGH NUMBERS.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/24/22
(ML), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, AH), and 1 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/22 (AH, ML)
SCALED QUAIL: 15-26 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) throughout the period
(GK), 4 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH), and 2 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 12/22/22 (KM) – ABOUT AVERAGE; SPREAD COULD BE
BETTER.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH) the
only report – VERY LOW.
EARED GREBE: 11 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/10/22 (JoC, PKi), 1-2 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) from 12/16/22 through the end of the
period (SA, AH), 16 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH), 2
at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, AH), and 1 at Whisperwood
Pond (Lubbock) on 12/27/22 (AH) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, GOOD
NUMBERS, POOR SCATTER.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 found at Dupree Park (Lubbock) no 12/4/22 (HB, SA,
AH, KT) persisted at nearby Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through
12/22/22 (SA, JoC, JM, AR, WW, LZ) while 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock)
on 12/7/22 (SA, AH) may have been a bit far flung to be the same bird
– ABOUT AVERAGE.
INCA DOVE: 2 in a Kitalou yard (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH) the only
report received – BARELY HANGING ON.
SOMMON POORWILL: 1 on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 12/14/22 (AH) –
MADE FOR A RATHER LATE, THOUGH NOT UNPRECEDENTED, SIGHTING.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) from 12/17/22 (ED, LH,
PKe, PKi, RL) through 12/21/22 (SA, AH, BSh) the only reports received
– LOW.
SORA: 2 at Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 12/3/22 (BSh), 1-2 at Erskine
Marsh from 12/14/22 through 12/21/22 (SA, ED, AH, LH, PKe, PKi, RL,
BSh), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (JCl, MDL), 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 12/18/22 (SA, AH), and 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on
12/24/22 (MDL) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, AVERAGE NUMBERS, GOOD
SCATTER.
WILSON’S SNIPE: Four reports of 2-7 birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the latter half of the period (SA, TD, ED, AH, LH,
PKe, PKi, RL) the only report received directly – LOW NUMBERS AND VERY
POOR SCATTER
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22
(PKi) – THE SPECIES HAD BECOME FAIRLY REGULAR, IF RARE, DURING WINTER
BUT, OF LATE, HAS BEEN CLOSING IN ON CASUAL DURING THE SEASON.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 12/13/22 (SA) – A LATE,
BORDERING ON VERY LATE, REPORT FOR THE REGION.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Nine reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, BB, MDL. BH, DH, JH, KH, AH, PKi, RK,
ML, WM) – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS, LOW NUMBERS, AND POOR SCATTER.
BONAPARTE’S GULL: 2 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 12/1/22 (AH), 3 at
McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 12/1/22 (DHo), 1 at McAlister Park
(Lubbock) on 12/7/22 (SA, AH), 4 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/9/22 (ML), 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/24/22 (ML), 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, AH), and 1 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 12/30/22 (AH) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS; AVERAGE NUMBERS.
HERRING GULL: 1-2 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) from 12/5/22 through
12/10/22 (TD, DHo, SR) and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/24/22
(ML) the only reports received directly – LOW.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL: 1 ‘adult winter’ bird bounced back and forth
between Leroy Elmore Park and Andrews Park (Lubbock) from 12/26/22
(HB, MH) through 12/27/22 (SA, JOC, GE, DHa, AH, KM) – CASUAL TO THE
REGION; VERY NICE TO HAVE A STRAIGHTFORWARD ADULT PLUMAGE BIRD TO WORK
WITH.
COMMON LOON: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) through 12/17/22 (SA,
TD, GE, AH, NK) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: Eight reports of 1-2 birds across four sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (SA, JOC, AH, DHo) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL
TO THE REGION; NOW A VERY LOW DENSITY PERMANENT RESIDENT.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: Six reports of single birds across four sites
in Lubbock (Lubbock) during the period (DHa, AH, GK, DS, MS) – MIGHT
WELL HAVE BEEN THE SAME BIRD; LOW.
AMERICAN BITTERN: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/12/22 (SA, AH,
photographs) – A VERY RARE VISITOR TO THE REGION.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at/near Maxey Park (Lubbock from 12/5/22 through
12/21/22 (SA, AH) the only bird reported – VERY LOW BY RECENT WINTERS’
STANDARDS.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 12/1/22 (AH) and 1 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 12/14/22 (SA) and on 12/17/22 (WW, LZ) the
only reports – LOW BY RECENT WINTERS’ STANDARDS.
GREEN HERON: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/5/22 (AH) and 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 12/11/22 (AR) through 12/17/22 (ED, LH,
PKe, PKi, RL) – FORMERLY REGULAR INTO WINTER; CURRENTLY ACCIDENTAL TO
CASUAL FROM DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY.
OSPREY: Five reports of single birds at various sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (SA, DHo, MH, AR, WW, LZ) – FORMERLY VERY UNUSUAL IN
WINTER; THESE NUMBERS ARE NOW TYPICAL.
BALD EAGLE: 1 adult bird at White River Lake (Crosby) throughout the
period (MDL, BH, JH, KH, PKi, ML, WM) and 1 adult bird at/near City
Farms (Lubbock) throughout the period (SA, AH, MH, NK, ML, KM) – ABOUT
AVERAGE BY RECENT WINTERS’ STANDARDS.
HARRIS’S HAWK: 1 adult over the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 12/2/22
(AH) – SPORADIC VISITOR TO THE REGION WITH LITTLE EVIDENCE OF FIXED
SEASONALITY.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 adult at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on
12/4/22 (SA, AH) may well have been one of the birds reported from
nearby Mae Simmons Park in late November – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN
WINTER; WE NOW EXPECT A REPORT OR TWO SOMEWHERE IN THE REGION.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: Four reports of single birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (SA, AH, BSh) the only reports received
directly – LOW.
SHORT-EARED OWL: 2 near Floydada (Floyd) from 12/5/22 through 12/6/22
(BSc) and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/18/22 (SA, AH) the only
reports – A BIT LOW.
LONG-EARED OWL: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/18/22 (TD, PKi) and 2
north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22 (BB, DH, RK) – FORMERLY
MORE COMMON IN THE REGION; NUMBERS LIKE THESE ARE NOW TYPICAL.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 2 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/4/22
(JH) down to 1 by 12/6/22 (JoC) – QUITE UNUSUAL THIS FAR WEST IN THE
REGION.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: Six reports of single birds in the region
(Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SA, AH, ML) the only
reports received directly – A BIT ON THE LOW SIDE.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/2/22 (JCl) –
VERY UNUSUAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON BUT NOT UNPRECEDENTED.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/22/22 (WW) and 1
in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/23/22 (AH) the only reports received
directly – LOW.
PEREGRINE FALCON: Five reports of single birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (SA, ED, DHa, DHo, LH, PKe, PKI, RL, WW,
LZ) – AVERAGE NUMBERS; POOR SCATTER.
PRAIRIE FALCON: Three reports of single birds in the region (Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (SA, MDl, AH) the only reports received – VERY
LOW.
BLACK PHOEBE: 1 at the Stripes Playa (Lubbock) from 12/17/22 (SA, NN)
through 12/20/22 (SA, AH) – AN INCREASINGLY COMMON, YET STILL RARE,
VISITOR TO THE REGION FROM FALL THROUGH SPRING.
SAY’S PHOEBE: 1 near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH) and 1 near
Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (BK, BSc) the only reports
received – A TAD LOW.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at White River Lake on 12/9/22 (ML) and on 12/3-/22
(SA, BB, DH, AH, RK, ML) the only reports received – VERY LOW.
NORTHERN SHRIKE: 1 first winter bird near the Lubbock Airport
(Lubbock) on 12/30/22 (CL, MW, photographs) – FORMERLY ANNUAL IN THE
REGION; NOW CASUAL WITH RECORDS EVERY 2-5 YEARS ON AVERAGE.
COMMON RAVEN: Eight reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Bailey,
Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, BB, LB, GE, DH, JH, KH, AH,
GK, PKi, RK, RL, ML, MS, LZ) – ABOUT AVERAGE; REPORTS COME IN A LITTLE
MORE FREQUENTLY DURING WINTER.
VERDIN: 2 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH), 1-4 at Yellowhouse
Canyon (Lubbock) on from 12/21/22 through 12/26/22 (SA, AH), and 4
along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/31/22 (SA, AH) – AFTER A COUPLE OF
TOUGH YEARS, THE SPECIES APPEARS TO BE TRICKLING BACK INTO THE REGION.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: Six reports of 1-4 birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (SA, TD, AH) – THE ONLY REPORTS FROM THE
WESTERN PORTION OF THE REGION.
BUSHTIT: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22 (MDL, BH, WM) –
FORMERLY REGULAR THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN HALF OF THE REGION; NOW
RESTRICTED TO THREE-FOUR ISOLATED LOCALES.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: Thirty-four reports of 1-9 birds at various
sites in (Lubbock) during the period (SA, RJB, TD, HG, JG, AH, DHo,
PKi, ML, JM, NN, AR, BSc, BSh, WW) – A REMARKABLY LARGE NUMBER OF
SIGHTINGS, VERY GOOD NUMBERS – THOUGH SCATTER WAS POOR THIS COULD, I
THINK, BE CHARACTERIZED AS AN IRRUPTIVE EVENT FOR THE REGION.
CEDAR WAXWING: Eight reports of 3-‘lots’ at various sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (SA, JCl, ED, MDL, JG, SG, JH, AH, LH, PKe, PKi, RL,
BSh) – SURPRISINGLY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS GIVEN THE
SPECIES STRONG SHOWING IN FALL.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: Twelve reports of 1-9 birds in the region
(Cochran, Lubbock) during the period (SA, ED, JG, DHa, AH, DHo, LH,
PKE, PKi, RL, BSh) – A BIT OF A DECLINE FROM NOVEMBER NUMBERS BUT
STILL A STRONG ENOUGH SHOWING TO SEEM IRRUPTIVE.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on
12/4/22 (SA, JH, AH) the only report received – LOW, ESPECIALLY GIVEN
THE SPECIES’ USUALLY STRONG SHOWING IN RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH YEARS.
BROWN CREEPER: Ten reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Dickens,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, JCr, ED, AH, LH, PKe, PKi, RL, WW) – A
FAIRLY STRONG SHOWING FOR THIS OFT HARD TO FIND CRITTER.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/3/22 (JoC) and 1
along the White River (Crosby) on 12/31/22 (SA, AH) – ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS RARE WINTER LINGERER.
ROCK WREN: Eight reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Bailey, Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (SA, JCl, TD, MDL, GE, AH, BK, PKi, BSc) –
GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, GOOD NUMBERS, AND DECENT SCATTER.
CAROLINA WREN: Six reports of single birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (SA, TD, ED, AH, LH, PKe, PKi, RL) – GOOD
NUBMER OF REPORTS FOR THIS FAR WEST IN THE REGION.
HOUSE WREN: 1 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 12/18/22 (TD, PKi), 1 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock)
on 12/26/22 (SA, AH) 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/22 (ML),
4 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22 (BB, DH, RK), and 1
along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/31/22 (SA, AH) – VERY GOOD NUMBER
OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS GENERALLY VERY RARE WINTER
LINGERER.
WINTER WREN: Thirteen reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, JCl, ED, GE, AH, LH, PKe, PKi, RL, ML,
WW, LZ) – NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS SO GOOD THAT I WOULD VIEW THIS
AS AN IRRUPTIVE EVENT.
GRAY CATBIRD: 2 at City Farms on 12/17/22 (AH) and on 12/21/22 (SA,
AH), 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (TD), 1 at the Lubbock
Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, AH), and 1 north of White River
Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22 (BB, DH) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION
IN WINTER; NOW ANNUAL AS EVIDENCED BY STEADY CBC PERFORMANCE THE LAST
FEW YEARS.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/4/22 (SA,
AH), 2 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (AH) and on 12/21/22 (SA,
AH), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (JCl, MDL), 2 in
Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 12/21/22 (SA, AH), and 1 at the TTU
Horticultural Gardens (Lubbock) on 12/31/22 (MH) – A GOOD NUMBER OF
REPORTS FOR THIS FAR WEST IN THE REGION.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: Eight reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Cochran,
Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, JH, KH, AH, DHo, PKi, ML) –
ABOUT AVERAGE; PERHAPS, EVEN, A BIT LOW FOR DECEMBER.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22
(RK) the only report received – DOWN FROM THE IRRUPTIVE NUMBERS FOUND
DURING FALL; PERHAPS MOST OF THE BIRDS PASSED THROUGH AND MOVEDD EVEN
FURTHER SOUTH?
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: Eight reports of 1-8 birds, four reports of 12-24
birds, and one report of 83 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SA, RJB, BB, JoC, ED, MDL, DH, AH,
DHo, LH, BK, PKe, PKi, RK, RL, ML, BSh, LZ) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND NUMBERS; NOT THE STRONGEST PERSISTENCE INTO DECEMBER WE HAVE SEEN
BUT STILLL SEEMING IRRUPTIVE.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE: Twenty-two reports of 1-5 birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SA, RJB, JCr, ED, MDL, GE,
JG, AH, DHo, LH, PKE, PKi, RL, ML, AR, BSh) – THOUGH IT IS TAPERING
OFF A BIT THIS ISTHE STRONGEST MOVEMENT OF THE SPECIES I HAVE SEEN IN
THE REGION SINCE I MOVED HERE IN 1998.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1 along the Canyon Lakes of Lubbock (Lubbock) on
12/10/22 (PKi) the only report received – INCREDIBLY LOW.
CASSIN’S FINCH: 1 female at the Morton Cemetery (Cochran) on 12/1/22
(DHo) and 1 female at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/4/22 (SA,
AH) – THOUGH TAPERING OFF, EVEN TWO REPORTS REPRESENT A STRONG
MOVEMENT FOR THE REGION.
PINE SISKIN: 1 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, AH)
and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/29/22 (GK) the only reports
received directly – VERY LOW.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (TD), 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/22/22 (SG), 1 at Yellowhouse Canyon
(Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, AH), and 1 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on
12/31/22 (SA, AH) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD SCATTER; FORMERLY
VERY RARE IN THE REGION DURING WINTER; NOW ANNUAL AND EXPANDING.
RED CROSSBILL: 1 male at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/4/22
(SA, AH), 8 near Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/4/22 (RJB, DHo, SR), 1
male at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/8/22 (AR), 15 at the TTU
Soccer Complex (Lubbock) on 12/9/22 (AR), 1 at the TTU Soccer Complex
(Lubbock) on 12/9/22 (SA, AH), and 10 at the TTU Soccer Complex
(Lubbock) on 12/10/22 (TD) – AFTER A NOVEMBER GAP, THE MINI-IRRUPTION
SEEMED TO BE BACK ON – AND, THEN, IT SEEMED TO BE OFF AGAIN.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 10 near Morton (Cochran) on 12/17/22 (CH) the only
report received directly – LOW.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 8 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/22
(AH), 14 at the CR 5800 x FM 400 Playa (Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, AH),
and 15 near the Lubbock Airport (Lubbock) on 12/30/22 (CL, MW) the
only reports received directly – LOW.
THICK-BILLED LONGSPUR: 9 at the Becton Cemetery Playa (Lubbock) on
12/2/22 9SA), 45 near Morton (Cochran) on12/17/22 (CH), 17 at City
Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/22 9AH), 30 at the CR 5800 x FM 400 Playa
(Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA, AH), and 40 near the Lubbock Airport
(Lubbock) on 12/30/22 (CL, MW) the only reports received directly –
LOW.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/18/22 (SA, AH),
1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/24/22 (ML),and 1 north of White
River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22 (BB, DH, RK) – CASUAL, AT BEST, IN
WINTER WITH REPORTS COMING IN EVERY 2-5 YEARS.
LARK SPARROW: 18- 29 at White River Lake (Crosby) throughout the
period (MDL, BH, JH, KH, PKi, ML, WM), 1 near Kalgary (Crosby) on
12/31/22 (BK, LZ), and 8 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/31/22 (SA,
AH) – INCREDIBLY HIGH NUMBERS FOR OUR REGION DURING A WINTER MONTH.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/4/22 (SA,
AH) and on 12/5/22 (JCr), 2 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/11/22 (AH),
2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/22 (ML), and 1 along Red Mud
Road (Dickens) on 12/31/22 (SA, AH) – A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF REPORTS
FOR A WINTER MONTH.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/9/22 (ML),
3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/18/22 (TD, MDL, BK, PKi), and 19
north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22 (BB, DH, RK) – GOOD
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR OUR REGION BY RECENT
WINTERS’ STANDARDS.
FOX SPARROW: Twelve reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SA, BB, ED, JG, DH, JH, KH, AH,
LH, PKe, PKi, RK, RL, ML) – A GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS.
HARRIS’S SPARROW: 1 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 12/21/22 (SA,
AH), a different bird in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 12/26/22 (SA,
AH), 1 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/22 (BB, DH, RK),
and 3 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/31/22 (SA, AH) – A BIT BETTER
THAN AVERAGE; NOT STARTLINGLY SO.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: Fifteen reports of 1-6 birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, BB, JoC, DH, AH, MH, RK, ML,
KT, WW) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS BY CONTEMPORARY
STANDARDS.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW: 1 along the Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 12/17/22 (ED, LH, PKe, PKi, RL) and 1 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 12/18/22 (TD, PKi) – VERY RARE THIS FAR WEST IN THE REGION
AT THIS TIME.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 2 males at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/22
(AH) the only report received directly – LOW, MAYBE VERY LOW, BY
RECENT WINTERS’ STANDARDS.
TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/6/22 (JG,
photographs) – A REMARKABLY LATE RECORD FOR THE REGION; A STRONG
CONTENDER FOR BIRD OF THE MONTH.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Seven reports of single birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, TD, ED, JG, AH, LH, PKe, PKi,
RL) – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; GOOD
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND AVERAGE NUMBERS BY RECENT DECEMBER STANDARDS.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: Seven reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Bailey,
Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SA, TD, ED, AH, LH, PKe, PKi, RL,
NN) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR A WINTER MONTH.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 female along the Wind Power portion of the Canyon
Lakes (Lubbock) on 12/10/22 (PKi) – ANOTHER VERY LATE WARBLER REPORT
FOR THE REGION; IN A NORMAL DECEMBER THIS WOULD BE A CONTENDER FOR
BIRD OF THE MONTH.
OBSERVERS: SA=Sheri Anderson, RJB=RJ Baltierra, BB=Brandon Best,
LB=Lucie Brennan, HB=Holly Bundock, JCl=Jeremy Clark, JoC=Joe
Cochran, JCr=Jim Crites, TD=Tucker Dangremond, ED=Elaina Davis,
MDL=Manuel De Leon, GE=Grant Ellis, JG=Joe Girgente, HG=Hannah
Girgente, SG=Sheryl Gonzales, DHa=Danny Hancock, BH=Brooklyn Harris,
DH=Drew Harvey, CH=Craig Hensley, JH=Joe Heppert, KH=Kathy Heppert,
AH=Anthony Hewetson, DHo=Daniel Horton, LH=Len Hovey, MH=Melody
Huffman, BK=Barry Keith, GK=Glenda Kelly, PKe=Peter Keyel,
PKi=Phillip Kite, NK=Nick A. Komar, Jr., RK=Rich Kostecke, JK=Jim
Kringle, RL=Rob Lee, ML=Mark Lockwood, CL=Charles Lyon, JM=Jennifer
Miller, KM=Kassie Moore, WM=Will Morales, NN=Nancy Neill, JN=Johny
Nelson, AR=Ari Rice, SR=Sarah Riney, BSc=Bobby Schat, DS= David
Shelburne, BSh=Brad Shine, MS=Matt Smith, KT=Kathy Teague, MW=Melissa
Weaver, WW=William Wenthe, LZ=Lena Zappia.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock
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