Lubbock received 0.00 inches of rain during December, way below the average
monthly total of 0.68 inches, bringing us up to 21.98 inches for the year,
still well above the average year-to-date total of 18.69 inches.
Conditions persisted as unseasonably warm and unseasonably dry and
highlights pretty much boiled down to increasingly concentrated waterbirds
and winter irruptives.
Regional summaries of eBird data can not 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
listserve can be reviewed in a timely fashion and should appear.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity. Water
Treatment Ponds have come to feature so prominently in these reports that
they will, henceforth, be referred to as WTP.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 70 over Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/2/17 (AH), 5
at McCullough Park (Lubbock) on 12/11/17 (JM), 8 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313
Playa (Lynn) on 12/13/17 (JC), 14 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/16/17
(AH), 9 in Abernathy (Hale) on 12/17/17 (NP), 12 at the Littlefield Pon
(Lamb) on 12/17/17 (AH), 28 over the FM 193 x FM 651 crossing (Crosby) on
12/23/17 (AH), 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock)on 12/25/17 (AH), 14 at the
FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 12/25/17 (AH), 2 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 12/30/17 (JCr, MDL, DH, EH, LZ), and 12 over Red Mud Road
(Dickens) on 12/30/17 (AH) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER; PARTICULARLY
CONSIDERING THE RELATIVELY POOR NUMBERS OF SNOW AND ROSS'S GEESE.
SNOW GOOSE: Nineteen reports of 1-6 birds, one report of 63 species, and
one report of 158 birds in the region (Crsoby, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn)
during the period (BB, JCl, JCr, MDL, DHa, DH, AH, EH, JJ, GK, RK, JM, NP,
CR, FR, KW, WW, LZ) - GOOD SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS; THINGS MIGHT PICK UP
WHEN WINTER ARRIVES.
ROSS'S GOOSE: 3 in Abernathy (Hale) on 12/17/17 (NP), 2 at the Littlefield
Pond (Lamb) on 12/17/17 (AH), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/17 (AH), 2
at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 12/17/17 (AH), 2 over the FM 193 x FM 651
crossing (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH), 2 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/30/17 (BB, RK), and 4 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (DH, LZ)
- GOOD SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS.
TUNDRA SWAN: 2 Tundra Swans and 8 unidentified swans at the FM 1054 x FM
1313 Playa (Lynn) on 12/1/17 (GC, SG, photographs) proved to be, with
better photographs, all Tundra Swans and persisted through 12/25/17 (JCr,
DH, AH, photographs) - CASUAL TO THE REGION; OUR 32nd RECORD.
WOOD DUCK: Eight reports of 1-10 birds, two report of 12 birds, one report
of 29 birds, and one report of 42 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens,
Lubbock) during the period (JCr, DH, AH, JJ, GK, PKi, CR, FR, PS, LZ) -
GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER AFTER A VERY POOR FALL SEASON.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 2 near South Plains (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (NB), 1 at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 12/2/17 (KW), and 1 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17
(JCl) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER; NOW ANNUAL WITH NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS
INCREASING.
CANVASBACK: Eleven reports of 1-9 birds, one report of 13 birds, and one
report of 14 birds in the region (Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period
(JCl, GC, JCr, SG, DH, AH, JJ, PKi, RL, DW, LW, WW) - GOOD SCATTER; AVERAGE
NUMBERS.
REDHEAD: Eight reports of 2-6 birds, one report of 12 birds, one report of
25 birds, and one report of 35 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock,
Lynn, Motley) during the period (MDL, DH, AH, GK, PKe, RL, DW, LW, KW, WW,
LZ) - GOOD SCATTER, POOR NUMBERS.
GREATER SCAUP: 6 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (WW), 2 males at the
Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH), and 1 female at Guy Park (Lubbock)
on 12/19/17 (PKe) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO
BE ANNUAL THANKS, IN MY OPINION, TO INCREASING OBSERVER SKILL.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 1 female at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on
12/10/17 (DH, AH), and 1 female at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/16/17
(AH) - A TAD LOW.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (WW) the
only report - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
COMMON MERGANSER: 1 at Lake Two (Lubbock) on 12/9/17 (PKi), 2 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (EH, PKe), 1 male at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on
12/16/17 (AH), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (KB), 7 males at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH), and 130 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 12/30/17 (BB, JCr, MDL, DH, AH, EH, RK, LZ) - A SLOW START
RAMPING UP TO AN AVERAGE FINISH.
SCALED QUAIL: 12 near Kalgary (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (CC, JCl, RL) the only
report - A TAD LOW.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH) and 2 near
Abernathy (Hale) on 12/17/17 (NP) - LOW.
EARED GREBE: 2-7 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) throughout the
period (GC, SG, DH, AH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/16/17
(DH, PS), 1 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (JCl), 1 at the Lubbock
WTP (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH) - GOOD SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS.
WESTERN GREBE: 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (JCr, MDL, DH,
AH, EH, LZ) the only report - LOW.
INCA DOVE: 13 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/1/17 (LM), 4 near Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (CG, SP, LZ), 10 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on
12/16/17 (KB), and 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/30/17 (AC) - WELL
ABOVE AVERAGE - THE CBC EFFECT:)
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at the Erskine Street Marsh (Lubbock) on 12/9/17 (PKi) and
2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DH, PS) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
SORA: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/8/17 (JCr), 1 at Erskine
Street Marsh (Lubbock) on 12/9/17 (PKi), 2 at Erskine Street Marsh
(Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (MDL), 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DH,
PS), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH), and 1 at the CR 245 x FM
261 Wetlands (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER.
COMMON GALLINULE: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/11/17 (PKi) the only report
- A TAD LOW BUT IT IS NICE TO HAVE THE SPECIES BACK ON THE CANYON LAKES.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 8 at the CR 7500 x Highway 87 Playa (Lubbock) on 12/10/17
(AH) and 1 at the O'Donnell Playa (Lynn) on 12/25/17 (AH) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL BEYOND MID-NOVEMBER; NOW ANNUAL.
SNOWY PLOVER: 7 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (JCr, CG, AH) and 2
south of Tahoka (Lynn) on 12/25/17 (AH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL IN
WINTER; SHOULD PROBABLY BE CONSIDERED ANNUAL AT THIS POINT.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 1 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 12/10/17 (GC,
SG), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH), and 4 at the O'Donnell
Playa (Lynn) on 12/25/17 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 7 at the O'Donnell Playa (Lynn) on 12/25/17 (AH) the
only report - A TAD LOW; ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PRESENCE OF GOOD HABITAT AND
PERSISTENCE OF MILD CONDITIONS.
WILSON'S SNIPE: Eight reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Lubbock, Lynn, Motley) during the period (MDL, DHa, DH, AH, PKi, DW, LW,
KW) - GOOD SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (PKi) the only
report - VERY LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/29/17 (DHa) the only
report - A TAD LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JCr, MDL, MG, JH, DH, AH, EH, JJ,
PKe, PKi, DW, LW, KW, WW, LZ) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) from 12/14/17 (DH) through
12/17/17 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
HERRING GULL: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (KB) and 1 in
Abernathy (Hale) on 12/17/17 (NP) the only reports - LOW.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 2 at various parks in Lubbock (Lubbock) through at
least 12/25/17 (PKi, AH, photographs) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION;
NOW CLOSING IN ON PERMANENT RESIDENCY PROVIDED THAT WINTERS ARE MILD.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 1 banded bird (wingtag = 30K) along the Canyon Lake
(Lubbock) from 12/9/17 (PKi) through the rest of the period (MDL, DHa, AH,
GK, PKi, RK, KW) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR WINTER.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 12/5/17 (LZ), 1 at Higginbotham
Park (Lubbock) on 12/11/17 (PKi), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (PKe,
KW), 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (WW), 1 in northwest Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (JCr, JJ), 1 at Raider's Pass Playa (Lubbock) on
12/16/17 (JCl), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/17 (AH), and 1 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER; THIS
IS NOW AN AVERAGE WINTERING ATTEMPT FOR THE SPECIES.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period (GK, AH),
1 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/10/17 (DH, AH), 1 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (JCr, JJ), and 2 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17
(WW) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER; THIS IS NOW AN AVERAGE WINTERING
ATTEMPT FOR THE SPECIES.
GREEN HERON: 1 at Stripe's Playa (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (CG, SP, LZ) -
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER; THIS IS NOW AN AVERAGE WINTERING ATTEMPT FOR
THE SPECIES.
TURKEY VULTURE: 3 over Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/8/17 (JCr) -
ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON BUT NOT SURPRISING THIS YEAR, GIVEN THE
REMARKABLE PERSISTENCE OF MILD WEATHER WELL INTO THE PERIOD.
OSPREY:1 at the Ashe Avenue Playa (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (CG, SP, LZ) -
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE YEAR; NOW KNOWN FOR ITS ANNUAL
WINTERING ATTEMPTS.
BALD EAGLE: 1 adult near South Plains (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (NB), 1 adult
northeast of Windfarm (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW, LW), 1 north of
Dougherty (Floyd) on 12/8/17 (MG, JH, DH), 1 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on
12/9/17 (DK), and 1 immature bird at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/16/17
(AH) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER!
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 north of Petersburg (Hale) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW,
LW), 1 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)
on 12/17/17 (JCr, CG, AH), and 1 near Abernathy (Hale) on 12/17/17 (NP) -
FORMERLY MORE COMMON IN THE REGION; ALL REPORTS NOW CONSIDERED NOTEWORTHY.
GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 second year bird east of Windfarm (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (DH,
AH, DW, LW), 1 north of Dougherty (Floyd) on 12/8/17 (MG, JH, DH), 1
northwest of Crosbyton (Crosby) on 12/10/17 (KH), and 2 adults at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER.
EASTERN SCREECH OWL: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DH,
PS) - FORMERLY EASILY FOUND AS FAR WEST AS FLOYD, LUBBOCK, AND GARZA
COUNTIES; NOW RARE ANYWHERE WEST OF MOTLEY, CROSBY, AND KENT COUNTIES.
SHORT-EARED OWL: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH, PS) and 1
along CR 245 (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS
SO FAR THIS WINTER.
LONG-EARED OWL: 1 in east Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH) the only
report - INCREDIBLY LOW NUMBERS SO FAR THIS WINTER.
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/7/17 (AC) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW ENCOUNTERED ALMOST
ANNUALLY.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) on
12/20/17 (WW) - VERY RARE THIS FAR WEST INTO THE REGION.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: Five reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (MDL, DH, AH, PKe, LZ) - LOW NUMBERS AND POOR
SCATTER.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 12/9/17 (PKi), 1 at
the Camp Rio Blanco crossing (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH), and 1 along CR 245
(Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
PEREGRINE FALCON: Nine reports of single birds in the region (Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (JCr, AH, JJ, PKi, TT, WW) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SCATTER.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at the Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH)
and 1 at the CR 245 x FM 261 Wetlands (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH) the only
reports - LOW.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW, LW) and
1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DH, PS) the only reports - LOW.
COMMON RAVEN: Ten reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Dickens, Floyd) during the period (CC, JCl, DH, AH, RL, DW, LW, LZ) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS, NOW RE-ESTABLISHED, SPECIES IN WINTER.
VERDIN: 1 south of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH) the only
report - FORMERLY EASY TO FIND IN THE REGION; NOW CLOSE TO ABSENT.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 3 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/1/17 (LZ), 1 at
the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/2/17 (PKi) had ramped up to 7 at the
Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (MDL, EH, PKe, WW) and then up to 9
at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) by 12/31/17 (AH, RK), 1 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 12/11/17 (KD), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/16/17
(DH, PS), and 1 in Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
GOOD SCATTER; DEFINITELY AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR FOR THIS SPECIES TO OUR REGION.
BROWN CREEPER: 2 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (MDL, EH,
PKe, KW) and 1 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/30/17 (AH) - LOW NUMBERS
AND SCATTER; ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE NUMBER OF NUTHATCHES IN THE REGION.
ROCK WREN: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DH, PS), 2 at the FM
193 x FM 651 crossing (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH) and 1 south of White River
Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE.
CANYON WREN: 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH) and 1 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
HOUSE WREN: 1 along Ballard Creek (Motley) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW, LW), 1
at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH), 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark
(Lubbock) on 12/21/17 (JCr), 1 at the FM 193 x FM 651 crossing (Crosby) on
12/23/17 (AH), and 1 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (BB,
RK) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER THANKS, PROBABLY, TO PERSISTENT MILD
CONDITIONS.
WINTER WREN: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/4/17 (AH), 1 north of
White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (BB, RK), and 1 along CR 405
(Dickens) on 12/30/17 (AH) the only reports - A TAD LOW; SHOULD BUMP UP
WHEN WINTER ARRIVES.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 12/9/17 (PKi) and 1 below
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (MDL, EH, PKe, KW) - THE ONLY REPORTS FROM
ATOP (SORT OF) THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 along Ballard Creek (Motley) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH,
DW, LW) and 2 along CR 405 (Dickens) on 12/30/17 (AH) - FORMERLY MORE
COMMON IN THE AREA IN WINTER; RETREATED DURING THE DROUGHT PERIOD AND HAS
NOT YET REBOUNDED.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: Ten reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Bailey,
Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (BB, JCl, JCr, CG, DH,
AH, RK, PS) - GOOD SCATTER AND NUMBERS.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: Seven reports of 2-9 birds and one report of 15 birds in
the region (Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (BB, MDL, AH, EH,
PKe, PKi, RK, PS, KW, LZ) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 3-12 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) throughout the
period (MDL, DH, AH, EH, PKe, PKi, RK, KW) - GREAT NUMBERS BUT POOR SCATTER
- KIND OF WEIRD FOR THIS USUALLY IRRUPTIVE SPECIES.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: Six reports of 1-7 birds, one report of 50 birds, one
report of 53 birds, and one report of 150 birds in the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley) - GOOD SCATTER AND NUMBERS; NOT QUITE PEAK
BY IRRUPTIVE STANDARDS BUT REAL WINTER CONDITIONS HAD NOT YET ARRIVED.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) through
the period (WW, JCl), 1 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH), and 1
along Red Mud Road (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
HERMIT THRUSH: Ten reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (BB, JCr, MDL, DH, AH, EH, PKi, RK, LZ) -
GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE POOR FALL MOVEMENT.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) through
mid-December (JCl) and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH, PS) -
CASUAL IN WINTER, PARTICULARLY WHEN MILD WEATHER PERSISTS.
BROWN THRASHER: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (JCr, CG) -
UNUSUALLY FAR WEST FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION.
CEDAR WAXWING: 5 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/12/17 (KD), 2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (CG, SP, LZ), 3 at the Lubbock Cemetery
(Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (KW), and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on
12/31/17 (AH, RK) the only reports - VERY LOW.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 in Bula (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH) the only report - A TAD
LOW.
AMERICAN PIPIT: 56 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW, LW),
15 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 12/10/17 (DH, AH), and 76 at
City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH) - THESE REPORTS WERE NOTABLE DUE TO
HIGH NUMBERS.
PINE SISKIIN: 17 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/31/17 (AH, RK) the
only report of good numbers - LOW.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 3 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 12/21/17 (JCr)
and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (DH, LZ) the only reports -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER LINGERER.
RED CROSSBILL: 2 in Grassland (Lynn) on 12/10/17 (DH, AH), 2 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 12/12/17 (KD), 1 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood
(Lubbock) on 12/15/17 (JCr), 5 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock)
on 12/15/17 (WW), 1 red bird near Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DG, SP,
LZ, photographs), 3 red and 17 yellow birds at the Lubbock Cemetery
(Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (MDL, EH, PKe, KW), and 4 yellow birds near Kitalou
(Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH) - IRRUPTIVE TO THE REGION BUT THIS YEAR'S
'IRRUPTION' WAS ODDLY PATCHY AND SEEMS TO HAVE COME TO AN EARLY END.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 1 north of Dougherty (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW, LW),
1 north of Petersburg (Hale) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW, LW), and 50 at City
Farms (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH) - LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; GOOD
NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 41 north of Dougherty (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (DH,
AH, DW, LW), 20 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH), and 8 southeast
of Mt. Blanco (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 2 north of Petersburg (Hale) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW, LW)
and 82 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH) the only reports -
EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
CASSIN'S SPARROW; 1 in northeast Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (PKi) the
only report - A VERY LOW-DENSITY WINTER LINGERER IN THE REGION.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH, DW,
LW) and 1 along CR 405 (Dickens) on 12/30/17 (AH) - FORMERLY ANNUAL DURING
WINTER; NOW MORE OF AN IRRUPTIVE EVENT, PRESENT WHEN THE PANHANDLE PROPER
HAS A GOOD SHOWING.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/1/17 (LZ), 1 on the
TTU Campus (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (JCl), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
12/17/17 (AH, RL) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW-DENSITY WINTER LINGERER.
LARK SPARROW: 1 along Ballard Creek (Motley) on 12/2/17 (DW, LW) the only
report - A TAD LOW.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DH, PS) and 1
at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH) - A GOOD SHOWING FOR THIS CASUAL
WINTER LINGERER.
LECONTE'S SPARROW: 1 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (BB,
RK, photographs) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SPARSE WINTER RESIDENT.
FOX SPARROW: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 12/2/17 (AK), 2 at the
V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DH, PS), 1 at the FM 193 x FM 651 crossing
(Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH), and 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/23/17
(AH) the only reports before the late period cold snap - LOW. With the
cold snap, numbers rose dramatically and we had an above normal showing at
the White River Lake CBC.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 along Ballard Creek (Motley) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH,
DW, LW), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/8/17 (JCr), 1 at City
Farms (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (AH), 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/16/17
(DH, PS), 13 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17 (BB, RK), 2
along CR 405 (Dickens) on 12/30/17 (AH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
12/30/17 (GJ, PJ), and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/31/17 (AH,
RK) - FORMERLY A FAIRLY COMMON WINTER RESIDENT; NOW MORE OF AN IRRUPTIVE
SPECIES.
HARRIS'S SPARROW: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/23/17 (AH) and 3
along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/30/17 (AH) the only reports - FORMERLY A
FAIRLY COMMON WINTER RESIDENT; NOW MORE OF AN IRRUPTIVE SPECIES.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 2 males northeast of Windfarm (Floyd) on 12/2/17
(DH, AH, DW, LW) and 28 at the Lubbock Feedlot (Lubbock) on 12/16/17 (DH,
PS) - PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS LATE IN THE YEAR!
COMMON GRACKLE: 3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (JCl, DH, PS) -
WELL WEST OF USUAL WINTERING POPULATIONS; THE RESULT OF A PHENOMENAL
BREEDING SEASON FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION?
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Seven reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JCl, JCr, MDL, DH, AH, EH, PKe, PKi, KW,
LZ) - MUCH BETTER THAN THE LAST FEW YEARS; PERHAPS WE ARE SEEING SOME
WINTER REBOUND FROM THE DROUGHT - FINALLY.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2 at the FM 789 Wetlands (Hale) on 12/2/17 (DH, AH,
DW, LW), 1 male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/17/17 (AH), 1 at the New
Moore Wetlands (Lynn) on 12/25/17 (AH), 1 at the CR 245 x FM 261 Wetlands
(Crosby) on 12/30/17 (AH), and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/30/17
(DH, LZ) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER TYPICAL OF A, THUS FAR, MILD WINTER.
OBSERVERS: NB=Noreen Baker, BB=Brandon Best, KB=Kathryn Brautigam,
CC=Canyon Clark, JCl=Jeremy Clark, GC=Greg Cook, AC=Anita Cooper, JCr=Jim
Crites, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon, SG=Steve Glover, CG=Charles
Grair, MG=Mark Gray, JH=James Hall, DHa=Danny Hancock, DH=Drew Harvey,
AH=Anthony Hewetson, EH=Ellen Hildebrandt, KH=Kelly Himmel, JJ=Jan Jannett,
GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, DK=Don Kahl, AK=Andrew Kasner, GK=Glenda
Kelly, PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, RK=Rich Kostecke, RL=Rob Lee,
LM=Liam McGuire, JM=Jennifer Miller, SP=Skyler Parks, NP=Niler Pyeatt,
CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, PS=Paul Sellin, TT=Tess Trost,
DW=Deb Wallace, LW=Lee Wallace, KW=Katheryn Watson, WW=William Wenthe, and
LZ=Lena Zappia.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock
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