Lubbock received a mere 0.07 inches of rain during December, way below
the expected total for the month of 0.76 inches, with 11.54 inches of
rain for the year, far below the expected year-to-date total of 19.12
inches. According to the US Drought Monitor, 100% of our fifteen
county area is in a state of drought, with over 50% in a state of
extreme or exceptional drought. This has led to a sometimes startling
level o of concentration of water birds at our few remaining wetlands
and, as many of these wetlands are in town, a perception that we are
seeing more waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, and waders than is usual for
the region. On a regional basis, though, this is deceptive. It has
also led, I believe, to a fairly drastic reduction in the amount of
forage (seed and insects) available and an associated reduction in
songbirds away from urban havens. We also have seen a little bit of
the irruptive movement from the north, stronger in the Panhandle
counties to the north, but exemplified nicely by an exceptionally good
movement of Pine Siskins. January seems to promise more of the same
but birding is, I think, going to become pretty rugged if we don’t get
significant precipitation and soon.
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.
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.
SNOW GOOSE: Twenty-five reports of 1-6 birds and three reports of
49-71 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, HB,
JoC, MDL, DH, AH, GJo, BK, GK, PKe, PKi, RL, ML, JM, BSc, BSh, MS,
WW, LZ) – A DECENT NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT NUMBERS SEVERELY DOWN THIS
WINTER.
ROSS’S GOOSE: Twelve reports of 1-4 birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (HB, JoC, DH, AH, BK, PKe, PKi, JM, BSh,
WW) – A LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND EXTREMELY LOW NUMBERS.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: Ten reports of 1- 6 birds and one report
of 34 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period
(SA, JoC, JCr, AH, ML, JM, TLPT, LZ) – A VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND EXTREMELY LOW NUMBERS.
CACKLING/CANADA GOOSE: Though outlying regions had very poor numbers
of ‘white-cheeked’ geese, the PERCENTAGE OF CACKLING GEESE AT IN-TOWN
SITES IS SURPRISINGLY HIGH.
WOOD DUCK: Six reports of 1-9 birds and three reports of 12-22 birds
in the region (Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (HB, JCr, DH, AH, BK,
JM, BSh, TLPT, CFRT, WW) – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 14 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AK, NP) and 2
at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 12/29/20 (MDl, GK, MS) – FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL DURING WINTER BUT WINTER HAS BEEN LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR
AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF LINGERING BIRDS.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/28/20 (JCr)
and 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/28/20 (JoC, JrC, WC) – FORMERLY
QUITE RARE DURING WINTER BUT WINTER HAS BEEN LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR
AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF LINGERING BIRDS.
CANVASBACK: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/3/20 (JoC), 1 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 12/5/20 (AH), 2 at McAlister Park
(Lubbock) on 12/14/20 (JCr), 2 at the Hillcrest Country Club (Lubbock)
on 12/29/20 (GJo, RL), 9 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/19/20
(DH), 12 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/29/20 (DHa), and 15 at the Morton
WTP (Cochran) on 12/30/20 (JB) – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW
NUMBERS.
REDHEAD: Eleven reports of 1-7 birds, one report of 13 birds, and one
report of 45 birds in the region (Cochran, Lubbock, Lynn, Yoakum)
during the period (SA, JB, JoC, JrC, WC, MDL, DH, AH, GJo, BK, GK,
PKi, RL, JM, MS, CFRT) – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
GREATER SCAUP: 2 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) and 1
extraordinarily well-photographed bird at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock)
from 12/19/20 (BSh) through the end of the period (JCr, JoC, JrC, WC,
AH, JM) – ACTUALLY A GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS
RARELY REPORTED (POSSIBLY OVERLOOKED) SPECIES.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 2 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/29/20 (DH) the
only report – THOUGH RARE THIS IS A LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR THE
SPECIES DURING DECEMBER.
COMMON MERGANSER: 1 female at Whisperwoo Pond (Lubbock) on 12/5/20
(JCr, JoC, JrC, WC, AH, JM) and on 12/6/20 (SA), 11 at White River
Lake (Crosby) on 12/7/20 (ML), 8 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on
12/29/20 (DH), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (JoC, JrC, WC)
and on 12/22/20 (AH), 7 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/28/20 (JoC,
JrC, WC), and 17-19 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/31/20 SA) – A
SURPRISINGLY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR THE SITES
REPORTED.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/19/20
(DH) and 1 female at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/22/20 (AH) the only
reports – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
SCALED QUAIL: 14 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/15/20 (KM), 8 south
of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (MDL, GK, MS), 4 at the V8 Ranch
(Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH), 2 on the east side of Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 12/20/20 (AH), 14 on the west side of Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 12/20/20 (JCr, DH, AH, BK, PKi), 1 at the Wheeler Ranch
(Crosby) on 12/26/20 (ML), and 9 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/30/20
(JB) – REASONABLY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND AVERAGE NUMBERS.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 at Woods Park (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH) the
only report – VERY LOW NUMBERS BUT LITTLE EFFORT FROM OUR BETTER SITES
FOR THE SPECIES.
HORNED GREBE: 1 at the Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) –
FORMERLY MORE COMMON IN THE REGION DURING WINTER; THIS IS ABOUT
AVERAGE THESE DAYS.
EARED GREBE: Nine reports of 1-7 birds at various sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (HB, JoC, JrC, WC, JCr, DH, AH, BK, JM, BSh, WW) – A
GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT SOMEWHAT LOW IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 12/2/20 (AH) the
last report I received for this continuing bird – AN ODDLY EARLY
ARRIVAL, WAY BACK IN EARLY NOVEMBER, AND AN ODDLY EARLY DEPARTURE FOR
THIS WINTER VISITOR.
INCA DOVE: 3-7 birds at a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) throughout the period
(NN), 2 near Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 12/4/20 (AH), and 2 at the V8
Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) – AMAZINGLY, TO MY WAY OF THINKING,
THIS SPECIES IS STILL HANGING ON DESPITE VERY LOW DENSITY.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE AN INCA DOVE DAY IN EACH OF THE
COUNTIES IN OUR REGION – A FOCUSSED EFFORT BY MULTIPLE OBSERVERS TO
SEE JUST HOW WELL THIS SPECIES IS STILL DOING IN OUR REGION.
SORA: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/16/20 (BSh), 1 at
Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 12/22/20 (PKi), and 2 at Tahoka Lake
Pasture (Lynn) on 12/26/20 (TLPT) the only reports received – LOW
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 4 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 12/28/20 (ML) and
1 at Bole’s Lake Road (Lubbock) on 12/28/20 (JCr) – FORMERLY FAIRLY
REGULAR IN WINTER; NOW BEST CONSIDERED AN INTERMITTENT WINTER VISITOR.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 12/2/20 (AH) and 5 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/7/20 (ML) – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
LOW NUMBERS.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/7/20 (ML)
the only report – LOW.
WILSON’S SNIPE: Eighteen reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Garza,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SA, BB, JCr, AH, GJo, GK, PKe, PKi,
RL, ML, JM, BSc, ZS, BSh, TLPT) – AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT
NUMBERS SOMEWHAT LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Fourteen reports of 1-3 birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, JrC, WC, JCr, AH, ML,
NPa, LZ) – AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT NUMBERS SOMEWHAT LOW.
BONAPARTE’S GULL: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/7/20 (ML) the
only report – LOW; THE SPECIES MOVED THROUGH THE REGION EARLY THIS
YEAR AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WINTERING.
HERRING GULL: 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/2/20 (AH) the only
report received – VERY LOW; THE SPECIES MOVED THROUGH THE REGION EARLY
THIS YEAR AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WINTERING.
COMMON LOON: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) from 12/16/20 (BSh)
through 12/28/20 (SA, JoC, JrC, WC, JCr) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY
RARE BUT VERY REGULAR WINTER VISITOR.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 2 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 12/6/20 (AH), 1
over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/11/20 (AH), 1 at Andrews Park
(Lubbock) on 12/20/20 (BSc), and 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on
12/22/20 (PKi) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW A PERMANENT
RESIDENT THOUGH HARD TO FIND IN WINTER.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) throughout the
period (AH, BK, GK, WW) – A SURPRISINGLY PERSISTENT BIRD; PRESENT FOR
OVER TWO MONTHS AT THIS POINT – UNUSUAL FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at various parks in (Lubbock) throughout the period
(MDL, AH, GK, MS) thought to be the same bird wandering about –
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; NOW, THIS REPRESENTS A
POOR SHOWING FOR DECEMBER.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 over the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 12/8/20 (AH) the
only report – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; NOW, THIS
REPRESENTS A POOR SHOWING FOR DECEMBER.
OSPREY: 1 at the South Ash Avenue Playa (Lubbock) on 12/11/20 (SA, LZ)
and 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 12/14/20 (JD) the only reports –
FORMERLY QUITE RARE AS A WINTER PERSISTER; NOW EXPECTED IN BETTER
NUMBERS THAN THIS … AT LEAST THROUGH DECEMBER.
GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 near Earth (Lamb) on 12/28/20 (DT) and 1 near South
Plains (Floyd) on 12/31/20 (NPa) – FORMERLY REGULAR IN THE REGION
DURING WINTER; THIS NOW REPRESENTS A GOOD MONTH.
BALD EAGLE: 1 immature east of Lorenzo (Crosby) on 12/7/20 (BSc), 1
adult near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 12/7/20 (BSc), 1 at the Ralls WTP
(Crosby) on 12/8/20 (ML), and 1 near South Plains (Floyd) on 12/31/20
(NPa) – GOOD NUMBER AND SCATTERS; PART OF A LARGER PATTERN OF
IRRUPTION THROUGHOUT THE PANHANDLE.
HARRIS’S HAWK: 1 near Levelland (Hockley) on 12/11/20 (BSh) – ANOTHER
ENIGMATIC REPORT OF THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION; RARE WITH LITTLE
EVIDENCE OF SEASONALITY.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/5/20 (MDL) – AN
EXTRAORDINARILY LATE REPORT FOR THIS FAR NORTH IN THE STATE.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/10/20
(PKi), 1 at Woods Park (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 12/20/20 (AH), and 1 near South Plains (Floyd) on 12/31/20
(NPa) the only reports – FORMERLY COMMON ENOUGH IN WINTER THAT
INDIVIDUAL SIGHTINGS WERE NOT TRACKED; NOW INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO
FIND.
LONG-EARED OWL: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/20/20 (DH, PKi) the only reports – A BIT
LOW.
SHORT-EARED OWL: 1 on the east side of Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
12/20/20 (AH) and 1 on the west side of Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
12/20/20 (AH, PKi) the only reports received – LOW.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 12/9/20
(JoC) – WELL WEST OF NORMAL RANGE IN OUR REGION THESE DAYS.
GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPCKER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/6/20
(PKi), 2 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH), and 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (PKe, PKi) – REPORTS ATOP THE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT ARE FAIRLY RARE THESE DAYS.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: Six reports of single birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (JA, TA, JoC, JrC, WC, DH, AH, ML)
– SOMEWHAT LOW.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/27/20 (HB)
had declined to a single bird on 12/28/20 (SA, HB) – GENERALLY AN
EARLY FALL MIGRANT; FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER; NOW ALMOST EXPECTED
– ALBEIT IN SMALL NUMBERS – DURING WINTER.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: Fourteen reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (JA, TA, SA, JoC, DH, AH, AK , PKe, PKi,
ML, NP, LZ) – A VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS; I
WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS AN IRRUPTIVE EXPERIENCE.
BLACK PHOEBE: 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 12/12/20 (JCr)
and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 12/16/20 through 12/24/20 (BK,
PKe, PKi) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; APPEARS POISED TO
BECOME AN ULTRALOW DENSITY RESIDENT.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/7/20 (ML), 1 at
the Wheeler Ranch (Crosby) on 12/26/20 (ML), and 1 at Lake Alan Henry
(Garza) on 12/28/20 (ML) the only reports – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
LOW NUMBERS.
SAY’S PHOEBE: 1 near Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 12/5/20 (AH)
and 12/7/20 (JoC), 1 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH), 1 at
the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH), and 1 at Woods Park (Lubbock)
on 12/19/20 (AH) – GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS.
WOODHOUSE’S SCRUB JAY: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) from 12/20/20 (JCr,
BK, DH, AH, PKi) through 12/30/20 (JB) – EXTRAORDINARILY RARE IN THIS
PART OF THE REGION; OUR SECOND CBC REPORT FOR THE SPECIES AT THE SITE
– APPARENTLY PART OF AN IRRUPTIVE SCATTER OF THE SPECIES INTO THE
WESTERN PANHANDLE OF TEXAS.
COMMON RAVEN: 2 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 12/8/20 (JB), 5 near Sudan
(Lamb) on 12/8/20 (JB), 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH),
14 at the Wheeler Ranch (Crosby) on 12/26/20 (ML), 2 at Lake Alan
Henry (Garza) on 12/28/20 (ML), and 10 near Morton (Cochran) on
12/30/20 (JB) – THE SPECIES HAS LONG BEEN MOVING INTO THE REGION FROM
THE SOUTHEAST, APPARENTLY MOVING ALONG MAJOR RIVER CORRIDORS. THERE
ARE NOW BIRDS, PARTICULARLY IN WINTER, MOVING IN FROM THE NORTHWEST.
MORE CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHILE IDENTIFYING RAVENS THORUGHOUT THE
REGION, PARTICULARLY IN WINTER.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
12/16/20 (BSh) and 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
12/19/20 (PKe, PKi) – FORMERLY REGULAR THIS FAR WEST IN THE REGION; IN
RECENT YEARS IT WAS PULLED EASTWARD AND LUBBOCK COUNTY RECORDS HAVE
BECOME LESS REGULAR.
VERDIN: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH), 2 at the former LEAS
Nature Trail (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (JoC, JrC, WC), 1 at the V8 Ranch
(Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/20/20
(AH), and 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/28/20 (JCr) –
RECENTLY ON THE DECLINE IN THE REGION; THIS PAST SUMMER’S PATTERN OF
INCREASED BREEDING IN THE REGION SEEMS TO HAVE PRODUCED SOME
PERSISTERS.
BUSHTIT: 6-10 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) throughout the period
(DH, AH, AK, NP) and 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) from 12/20/20 (MDL,
RL) through 12/30/20 (JB) – THIS SPECIES HAS RETRACTED TO THE EAST AND
SOUTH OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO; THESE BIRDS REPRESENT RARE REPORTS
FROM THE SPECIES’ FORMER RANGE IN THE REGION.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1-5 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock)
throughout the period (AH, AK, PKe, NP) and 1 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH) the only reports – ANOTHER SPECIES THAT
MOVED INTO THE REGION EARLY (WE HAD A LOT OF NOVEMBER REPORTS) AND
THEN PULLED OUT – POSSIBLY DUE TO POOR FORAGE CONDITIONS INDUCED BY
ONGOING DROUGHT.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 12/25/20 (JA,
TA) the only report – LOW; PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE RELATIVELY GOOD
PERFORMANCE BY RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 at the Wind Power Woodlands (Lubbock) on 12/6/20
(PKi), 1 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH), and 2 at the V8
Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) the only reports – LOW.
ROCK WREN: 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 12/12/20 (JCr), 1
at the Cement Plants in north Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/20/20 (MDL, RL), and 1 at Tahoka Lake
Pasture (Lynn) on 12/26/20 (TLPT) – REASONABLY GOOD FOR THIS FAR WEST
IN THE REGION DURING WINTER.
CANYON WREN: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/20 (AH) the only report – LOW.
WINTER WREN: 1 at the Wind Power Woodlands (Lubbock) on 12/6/20 (PKi),
1 at the North Ash Avenue Trestle (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH), and 1 at
the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) – LOW.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock)on 12/19/20 (AK, NP) and 1 at
the North Ash Avenue Trestle (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH) – LOW.
CACTUS WREN: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/20/20 (MDL, RL) and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/30/20 (JB) – THE SPECIES IRRUPTED INTO THE
PANHANDLE PROPER THROUGHOUT SUMMER AND FALL; THESE BIRDS MAY HAVE BEEN
A PART OF THAT PATTERN.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) – VERY LOW.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 3-5 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) throughout the
period (AH, AK, PKi, NP), 8 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/7/20
(ML), 3 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AK, NP), 2 at the
Lubbock City Nursery (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (BK, WW), 1 at the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (PKe, PKi), 1 at Stanford
Park (Yoakum) on 12/25/20 (JA, TA), and 2 at Tahoka Lake Pasture
(Lynn) on 12/26/20 (TLPT) – A GOOD SHOWING OF THIS SPECIES WELL WEST
INTO THE REGION.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 near Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 12/5/20
(DH) and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/22/20 (BK) – ACTUALLY QUITE
LOW GIVEN THE NUMBER OF WESTERN BLUEBIRDS THAT HAVE MOVED INTO THE
PANHANDLE PROPER AND THAT WERE PRESENT IN OUR REGION EARLIER – THEY
FOLLOWED THE PATTERN OF EARLY ARRIVAL AND LACK OF WINTERING INTENT WE
HAVE SEEN WITH SEVERAL OTHER SONGBIRD SPECIES THIS YEAR.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 4 at the TTU HSC fields (Lubbock) on 12/3/20 (AH),
32 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/7/20 (ML), 4 at Camp Rio Blanco
(Crosby) on 12/8/20 (GK), 4 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock)on 12/19/20 (DH),
and 3 at Tahoka Lake Pasture (Lynn) on 12/26/20 (TLPT) – PART OF A
MAJOR IRRUPTIVE EVENT, SOMEWHAT SUBDUED IN OUR REGION, WELL INTO
TEXAS.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/12/20
(PKi), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AK, NP), 7 at the
Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH, AK, NP), 1 along the Upper
Canyon Lakes (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (PKe, PKi), 1 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 12/21/20 (KD), 1 at Tahoka Lake Pasture (Lynn) on
12/26/20 (TLPT), and 1 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) on
12/30/20 (WW) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS.
HERMIT THRUSH: Six reports of 1-2 birds at various sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (KD, AH, AK, PKe, PKi, NP) – A BIT ON THE LOW SIDE
BUT LITTLE HABITAT IS AVAILABLE AWAY FROM URBAN REFUGIA.
GRAY CATBIRD: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH, AK, NP) – NOT
ONLY A VERY RARE WINTER REPORT BUT MULTIPLE BIRDS. OF NOTE: GRAY
CATBIRDS WERE PERSISTING AT SITES IN THE PANHANDLE PROPER THROUGH THE
PERIOD AS WELL.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 12/1/20 through 12/9/20
(JCr), 1 at the former LEAS Nature Trail (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (JoC,
JrC, WC), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/26/20 (AH) the only
reports from atop the Caprock escarpment.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 at the South Lubbock WTP (Lubbock) on 12/6/20 (AH), 2
at the Wheeler Ranch (Crosby) on 12/26/20 (ML) and 1 at Tahoka Lake
Pasture (Lynn) on 12/26/20 (TLPT) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER
LINGERER.
CEDAR WAXWING: Seven reports of 3-10 birds, three reports of 20-27
birds, and one report of 70 birds in the region (Bailey, Lubbock)
during the period (JoC, JCr, DHa, DH, AH, AK, BK, GK, PKi, NP, WW) –
ABOUT AVERAGE; NOT A BUST, NOT A BOOM.
PINE SISKIN: Thirty-six reports of 1-10 birds, twenty-four reports of
11-25 birds, six reports of 26-50 birds, on report each of 94, 100+,
150, and 202 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn)
during the period (JA, TA, SA, JB, HB, JoC, JrC, WC, JCr, MDL, DH, AH,
GJo, GJ, PJ, AK, BK, GK, ML, JM, NN, CR, FR, BSh, MS, TLPT, WW, LZ) –
THE STAR OF THE SEASON; NEAR RECORD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NEAR RECORD
NUMBERS STRIPPING FORAGE SITES BARE AND THEN DELIGHTING FEEDER OWNERS.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH), 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/22/20 (JoC, JrC, WC), and 2 Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 12/22/20 (AH) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN
WINTER; NOW ANNUAL ALBEIT IN SMALL NUMBERS.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 5 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH)
the only report – VERY LOW; JUST DON’T SEEM TO HAVE ARRIVED, IN
NUMBERS, YET.
THICK-BILLED LONGSPUR: 7 at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) and
2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/20/20 (AH) the only reports – VERY
LOW; JUST DON’T SEEM TO HAVE ARRIVED, IN NUMBERS, YET.
BREWER’S SPARROW: 2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) – AN
INCREDIBLY RARE WINTER REPORT FOR THIS SPECIES THIS FAR NORTH.
FOX SPARROW: Six reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (JrC, DH, AH, AK, PKi, ML, NP) – GOOD
SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 3 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH)
the only report – FORMERLY REGULAR IN THE REGION IN WINTER; NOW QUITE
RARE.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on
12/19/20 (AH), 3 at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (HB, JM,
BSh), and 2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (DH) – FORMERLY
FAIRLY COMMON IN THE REGION; LOWER NUMBERS ARE TYPICAL NOW.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 12/13/20
(AH) and 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock)on 12/19/20 (DH) the only reports
– FORMERLY QUITE UNEXPECTED IN WINTER; NOW EXPECTED, IN SMALL NUMBERS,
DURING MOST WINTERS.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 3 at the Lubbock stockyards (Lubbock) on
12/19/20 (DH) the only report – A TAD LOW.
RUSTY BLACKBIRD: 2 near Lubbock Lake Landmark were found on 12/4/20
(SA) and, throughout the rest of the period, became the most
photographed Rusty Blackbirds in the history of our region (SA, BB,
JBu, JoC, JrC, WC, JCr, MDL, DHa, DH, AH, LH, GJo, GK, PKe, PKi, RL,
ML, JM, KM, CR, FR, BSc, ZS, BSh, LZ) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; NOW CLOSE TO ANNUAL AS A WINTER VISITOR.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through 12/10/20
(DHa) – STILL CLOSING IN ON PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Six reports of 1-2 birds at various sites in
(Lubbock) during the period (SA, KD, DHa, DH, AH, LZ) – FORMERLY
REGULAR IN FAIRLY GOOD NUMBERS DURING WINTER; NOW VERY IFFY DURING THE
SEASON.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH) and
1 male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/20/20 (AH) the only reports –
LOW.
PYRRHULOXIA: 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 12/6/20 (PKi) and on
12/19/20 (AH), 1 near Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (PKe, PKi),
2 near the South Avenue Ash Playa (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (MDL, GK, MS),
1 at Woods Park (Lubbock) on 12/19/20 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)
from 12/20/20 (JCr, BK) through 12/30/20 (JB) – A VERY GOOD
PERFORMANCE FOR ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT SO FAR THIS WINTER.
OBSERVERS: JA=Jayna Adams, TA=T. Jay Adams, SA=Sheri Anderson,
BB=Bradley Banner, JB=Justin Bosler, JBu=Joel Buford, HB=Holly
Bundock, JoC=Joe Cochran, JrC=Jordan Cochran, WC=Whitney Cochran,
JCr=Jim Crites, MDL=Manuel De Leon, JD=Johnathan Dean, KD=Ken Dixon,
DHa=Danny Hancock, DH=Drew Harvey, AH=Anthony Hewetson, LH=Liza Hines,
GJo=Greg Joiner, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury,AK=Andrew Kasner,
BK=Barry Keith, GK=Glenda Kelly, PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite,
RL=Rob Lee, ML=Mark Lockwood, JM=Jennifer Miller, KM=Kassie Moore,
NN=Nancy Neill, JN=Johny Nelson, NPa=Neil Paprocki, NP=Niler Pyeatt,
CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, BSc=Bobby Schat, ZS=Zachary
Schwab, BSh=Brad Shine, MS=Matt Smith, (TLPT= Sheri Anderson, Manuel
De Leon, Drew Harvey, Greg Joiner, Barry Keith, Glenda Kelly, Phiilip
Kite, Nancy McIntyre, Jennifer Miller, Nancy Neill, Seth Neill, Matt
Smith, Lena Zappia), DT=Danny Tipton, CFRT=Carlos Fernandez Ramirez
Torres, WW=William Wenthe, LZ= Lena Zappia.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock
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