[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for December - Longish
- From: Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>, ellen hildebrandt <hildeef2@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2015 22:23:44 -0600
With 0.39 inches of rain in December, a bit below the average December
total of 0.68 inches, Lubbock still managed to finish out above average for
the year with 22.56 inches of rain compared to the average year-to-date
total of 18.69 inches. The region remains in drought but signs of a
limited recovery are about (water in the playas, higher levels in the
rivers and lakes, better seed and berry crops, more diverse and abundant of
assemblage of insects) and everything from wintering waterfowl to wandering
songbirds seems to be responding.
I was unable to create a usable summary of eBird data of sightings in the
region for the time period covered - IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE TO
PREPARE THIS REPORT. Comments at the end of each sighting summary have
been adjusted, to the best of my abilities, to reflect this reduction in
reports. I did, for the Common Crane, acquire as many eBird records as I
could.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: Ten reports of 1-12 birds at in-town playas
(Lubbock) during the period (BB, CC, CrC, LC, AH, CH) - typical of recent,
drought years. 420 south of Floydada (Floyd) on 12/19/14 (AK, NP) and 45
south of Tahoka (Lynn) on 12/26/14 (MDL) - ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE GENERAL
REBOUND OF WATERFOWL IN THE REGION.
SNOW GOOSE: Fifteen reports of 1-11 birds in the region (Bailey, Lubbock)
during the period (JB, BB, DB, CC, CrC, LC, TmD, TnD, AH, EH, CH, JJ, PKe,
AKi, PKi, GS, WW, JW) was a bit of an improvement over the last few years.
620 south of Floydada (Floyd) on 12/19/14 (AK, NP) - ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE
GENERAL REBOUND OF WATERFOWL IN THE REGION.
ROSS'S GOOSE: Ten reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Floyd, Lubbock)
during the period (CC, CrC, AH, AK, CM, NP, GS, WW) - ABOUT AVERAGE BY
RECENT WINTER'S STANDARDS FOR THIS GENERALLY RARE SPECIES.
CACKLING GOOSE: 2 at Ballard Creek (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi) - NOT
NOTEWORTHY IN MOST OF THE REGION BUT RARELY SEEN IN OUR EASTERN TIER OF
COUNTIES.
CANADA GOOSE: 82 at Ballard Creek (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi) - NOT
NOTEWORTHY IN MOST OF THE REGION BUT RARELY SEEN IN OUR EASTERN TIER OF
COUNTIES.
WOOD DUCK: 10-12 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (TmD,
TnD, AH, JJ, JW), 4 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (RS), and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (AH) - ACTUALLY KIND OF LOW BY RECENT
YEARS' STANDARDS; MILD WEATHER UP TO THE END OF THE PERIOD MAY HAVE ALLOWED
WOOD DUCKS TO REMAIN FURTHER NORTH - IF SO, THEY SHOULD PICK UP IN JANUARY!
MALLARD x 'MEXICAN' DUCK: 1 recovered from a hunter's bag in (Lubbock) on
12/24/14 (fide CC) - THIS 'HYBRID' IS BEING NOTED IN THE REGION ON A
REGULAR BASIS.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 south of Floydada (Floyd) o 12/19/14 (AK, NP) and 4 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (TmD, TnD, JJ, JW) - THE SECOND WINTER IN
A ROW THAT AT LEAST A FEW INDIVIDUALS HAVE PERSISTED IN THE REGION THROUGH
DECEMBER.
CINNAMON TEAL: 2 at the CR 152 Playa (Crosby) on 12/10/14 (KH) -
EXTRAORDINARILY RARE, MAYBE EVEN CASUAL, THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
CAVASBACK: 1 in northwest Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (MDL, RL), 41 at
the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (TmD, TnD, JJ, JW), 56 at the
TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH), 1 at the Dickens Sewage Ponds
(Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi), and 3 south of Tahoka (Lynn) on 12/26/14
(MDL) - NOT UP TO HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT GOOD BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
REDHEAD: 4 in east Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CM, GS, WW), 4 at the
Lubbock Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), 4 in northwest Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (MDL, RL), 85 at the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on
12/20/14 (TmD, TnD, JJ, JW), 6 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (AH,
EH), 4 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH), 146 at the TTU Sewage
Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH), and 4 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on
12/24/14 (AH) - AGAIN, NOT UP TO HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT GOOD BY RECENT
YEARS' STANDARDS.
GREATER SCAUP: 2 males at the Lubbock Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/20/14
(AH) the only report of the month - A RARE FIND FOR THE REGION BUT THIS IS
ONE OF THE BETTER SIGHTS FOR ODDBALL WINTER WATERFOWL.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 1 female at the Lubbock Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on
12/20/14 (AH) the only report of the month - A RARE FIND FOR THE REGION
THIS WINTER BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER SIGHTS FOR ODDBALL WINTER
WATERFOWL.
COMMON MERGANSER: 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (RS), 10 at the
TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (TmD, TnD, JJ, JW), 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (JB, PKi), and 1 male at Lakeridge Golf Course
(Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND GREAT SCATTER FOR THIS EARLY
IN THE SEASON.
SCALED QUAIL: 30 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (JB, CC, CrC, MDL,
TmD, TnD, JJ, PKi, RL) the only reports - LIMITED TO A FEW DEPENDABLE SPOTS
IN THE REGION AT THIS TIME; BORDERLINE RELICTUAL.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 12/7/14 (KH), 1 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 12/15/14 (KH), and 2 near Kitalou (Lubbock) on
12/20/14 (AH) the only reports - HARD TO FIND IN THE REGION; MAY BE
ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON STEADY REINTRODUCTIONS.
COMMON LOON: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC, RS)
the only report - A VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR TO THE REGION; ALWAYS A WIN.
EARED GREBE: 9 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC, RS),
8 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (DB, EH, PKe, AKi, PKi), 1 at the
Lubbock Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)
on 12/21/14 (AH, EH), and 2 at the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/24/14
(AH) - NOT UP TO HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT PRETTY GOOD BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH) the
only report - IT HAS BEEN A SURPRISINGLY GOOD YEAR FOR THE SPECIES IN THE
REGION; THIS MAY BE THE LAST OF UP TO 7 BIRDS THAT WERE SEEN AT THIS SITE
EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
SNOWY EGRET: 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (TmD, TnD, AH,
JJ, JW)), 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 12/19/14 (CC, CrC), and 1 at
McCullough Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH) the only reports - A
CONTINUATION OF THE SMALL POPULATION THAT ATTEMPTS TO OVERWINTER EACH YEAR
THESE DAYS.
OSPREY: 1 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (DB, EH, PKe, AKi, PKi), 1
at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC, RS), 1 at Mae
Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (PKe, AKi, PKi), and 1 in south Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (BB, LC, CH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER; NOW
BECOMING A REGULAR, IF SPARSELY DISTRIBUTED EARLY WINTER RESIDENT.
BALD EAGLE: 1 adult at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 12/31/14 (KH) - VERY
RARE, CLOSE TO CASUAL, IN THE REGION - IT HAS BEEN A GOOD SEASON FOR THE
SPECIES, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE ABUNDANCE OF WATERFOWL.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 adult below Lake Six (Lubbock) throughout the period
(DB, AH, AKi, PKi) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION, NOW KNOWN AS A RARE
MIGRANT AND A REGULAR, IF RARE, WINTERING SPECIES.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 near Shallowater (Lubbock) on 12/12/14 (MDL), 1 at the
Lubbock Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), 1 in northwest Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (MDL, RL), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14
(JB, PKi) - INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION; THIS IS A GOOD
TALLY FOR EARLY WINTER.
GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 immature at Lubbock City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH) -
VERY RARE, CLOSE TO CASUAL, IN THE REGION - IT HAS BEEN A GOOD SEASON FOR
THE SPECIES, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE ABUNDANCE OF CRANES AND RABBITS.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC,
RS) and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR ANY
YEAR WITH MILD TEMPERATURES AND PERSISTENT WATER.
SORA: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC, RS) - A TAD
LOW, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PERSISTENCE OF MILD TEMPERATURES AND GOOD HABITAT
IN THE REGION.
COMMON CRANE: 1 wandering in the vicinity of Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) and Bula
(Lamb) throughout the period (CA, MA, KB, JB, TD, DF, BF, EHu, GL, KM, AP,
JP, EP, GP, JR, CaR, SS, RSt, PS, JT) - ACCIDENTAL; A CONTINUATION OF THE
VERY FIRST RECORD FOR THE REGION AND, IF ACCEPTED BY THE TBRC, THE FIRST
RECORD FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 12/8/14 (KH), 2 in
east Lubbock (Lubbock) on12/20/14 (CM, GS, WW), 1 in northwest Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (MDL, RL), 1 near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH),
1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (JB, CC, CrC, MDL, AH, EH, PKi, RL),
2 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH), and 1 at McAllister Park
(Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH) - WHILE POOR BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS THIS IS
QUITE GOOD BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS - CONSISTENT WITH UNUSUAL PERSISTENCE
OF SHOREBIRDS IN THE REGION THIS WINTER.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 3 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH) the only
report received - LOW, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE NUMBER OF MUCH LESS TYPICAL
SHOREBIRDS THAT PERSISTED THROUGH THE MONTH.
DUNLIN: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) through 12/21/14 (JB, CC, CrC, MDL, AH,
EH, PKi, RL, photographs) - CLOSE TO ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION AT ANY TIME,
THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND WINTER RECORD FOR THE REGION.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 12/20/14 (MDL), 2 near Kitalou
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), 2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC,
CrC, RS), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (DB, EH, PKe, AKi,
PKi) the only reports - SURPRISINGLY LOW NUMBERS GIVEN THE MILD
TEMPERATURES AND ABUNDANCE OF HABITAT.
INCA DOVE: 5 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/15/14 (DS), 2 in Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (fide AH), and 2 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14
(AH) the only reports - NOW VERY RARE IN THE REGION.
SHORT-EARED OWL: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (AH, EH, PKi) the
only reports - LOW.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 just west of Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH,
PKi) - CASUAL, AT BEST, DURING WINTER - ONE OF OUR VERY FEW DECEMBER
RECORDS AWAY FROM IN-TOWN REFUGIA.
LEWIS' WOODPECKER; The single bird near Shallowater (Lubbock) persisted
through 12/19/14 (CC, CrC, JM, CR, FR) - ACCIDENTAL; A CONTINUATION OF THE
BIRD FROM LAST MONTH.
RED-BELLIED WOOPECKER: 2 in Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (PKi, AH) - VERY
RARE IN THE REGION; GENERALLY AS A POST-BREEDING WANDERER OR WINTER VISITOR
TO OUR NORTHEASTERN COUNTIES.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 in central Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/13/14 (DS)
and 2 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH) the only reports - A TAD
LOW THIS WINTER.
MERLIN: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock, Motley)
during the period (CC, CrC, MDL, AH, KH, PKi, RL, CM, JM, GS, WW) - ABOUT
AVERAGE BY WET YEAR STANDARDS; A BIT BETTER THAN THE LAST FEW DECEMBERS.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at 50th and Indiana in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/20/14
(AH), 1 in northwest Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (MDL, RL), and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH) the only reports - ACTUALLY A TAD
LOW; GENERALLY ABOUT TWICE AS MANY BIRDS IN LUBBOCK DURING WINTER.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 2 at the TTU Campus (Lubbock) on 12/12/14 (TmD) the only
report - LOW.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 south of Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 1
along the North Pease River (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), at Ballard
Creek (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 2 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd)
on 12/9/14 (AK, NP), and 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC)
- PRETTY GOOD, ESPECIALLY BY RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS.
COMMON RAVEN: 2 near Roaring Springs (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi) 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 12/9/14 (KH), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
12/21/14 (AH), 3 near Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi), 1 east of
Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi), and 7 east of East Afton (Dickens)
on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi) - BETTER THAN AVERAGE BUT MORE OBSERVER TIME WAS
REPORTED FROM OUR EASTERN TIER OF COUNTIES.
VERDIN; 2 at Olive Street (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH) and 1 was at the V8
Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS INCREASINGLY
DIFFICULT TO FIND SPECIES.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 2 near Shallowater (Lubbock) on 12/12/14 (MDL), 1 at
the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (EH, AKi, PKi), 1 in northwest
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (MDL, RL), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
12/24/14 (AH), and 2 near Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi) - A
CONTINUATION OF THE GOOD NUMBERS SEEN EARLIER IN THE YEAR DURING THIS MILD
IRRUPTION OF THE SPECIES INTO THE REGION.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC,
RS), 1 at Olive Street (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), and 1 near Afton
(Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW-DENSITY,
WINTER VISITOR.
ROCK WREN: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (DB, EH, PKe), 1 in
northwest Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (MDL, RL), 2 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (RS), 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC,
CrC, RS), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (CC, CrC, MDL) -
PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER RESIDENT.
HOUSE WREN: 1 south of Roaring Springs (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 1 at
Ballard Creek (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 1 in Northfield (Motley) on
12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 2 south of Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 1
near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
12/21/14 (JB) - MORE GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON
FOR THIS SPECIES.
WINTER WREN: 1 south of Roaring Springs (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 1
west of Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 3 below Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (DB, DH, PKe, AKi, PKi), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC, RS), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on
12/20/14 (AKi, PKi), and 5 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC)
- VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS GENERALLY MUCH RARER WINTER VISITOR.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 south of Roaring Springs (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 2
at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC), and 1 near Afton (Dickens)
on 2/26/14 (AH, PKi) the only reports - ACTUALLY A TAD LOW GIVEN THE AMOUNT
OF TIME OBSERVERS REPORTED FROM OUR EASTERN TIER OF COUNTIES.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 south of Roaring Springs (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH,
PKi) the only report - ACTUALLY A TAD LOW GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME
OBSERVERS REPORTED FROM OUR EASTERN TIER OF COUNTIES.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 3 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/20/14
(EH, AKi, PKi) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS INCREASINGLY RARE WINTER VISITOR.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC), 9
south of Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi), 2 near Afton (Dickens) on
12/26/14 (AH, PKi), and 2 south of East Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH,
PKi) the only reports - ACTUALLY A TAD LOW GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME
OBSERVERS REPORTED FROM OUR EASTERN TIER OF COUNTIES.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC), 1 at
Jennings Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH), and 1 near Afton (Dickens) on
12/26/14 (AH, PKi) the only reports - LOW, NO SIGNS OF RECOVERY AS A
WINTERING SPECIES.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH) and 2 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (JB, PKi) - THE ONLY REPORTS FROM ABOVE THE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH) - THE ONLY REPORT
FROM THE ENTIRE REGION SO FAR THIS REGION.
CEDAR WAXWING: 28 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (DB, EH,
PKe, AKi, PKi), 1 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (BB, LC, CH), and
1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 12/24/14 (AH) the only reports - LOW BY ANY
YEARS' STANDARDS.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 200 at Goose Lake, MNWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (JB, PKi)
and 12 at Southeast Playa, MNWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (CC, CrC, MDL, AH,
PKi, RL) the only reports received - A LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT NUMBERS
SUGGESTIVE OF A GOOD SEASON AHEAD.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 7 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 12/5/14 (KH),
2 at the Lubbock Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), 3 near the V8
Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC), 2 at Southeast Play, MNWR (Bailey) on
12/21/14 (AH), 5 at White Lakes, MNWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (CC, CrC, MDL),
and 3 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 12/22/14 (KH) - NOT A BIG YEAR YET BUT
THE SPREAD IS SUGGESTIVE OF A PROMISING WINTER.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 10 near the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (CC, CrC), 11
at Paul's Lakes, MNWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (AH), 25 at Goose Lakes, MNWR
(Bailey) on 12/21/14 (JB, PKi), and 9 at Southeast Playa, MNWR (Bailey) on
12/21/14 (CC, CrC, MDL, AH, PKi, RL) - NOT A BIG YEAR YET BUT, AGAIN, THE
SPREAD IS SUGGESTIVE OF A PROMISING WINTER.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (KD), 2
at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (DB, EH, PKe, AKi, PKi), 1
near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), and 1 at McCullough Park (Lubbock)
on 12/24/14 (AH) the only reports - A BIT LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT
BETTER THAN THE LAST FEW WINTERS.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (PKe, PKi)
and 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (AH) the only reports - A TAD
LOW GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN THE SPECIES' STRONGHOLDS IN THE
REGION.
EASTERN TOWHEE: 2 just east of Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi) -
POORLY UNDERSTOOD IN OUR REGION - SOME WINTERS SEE NO MOVEMENT INTO THE
REGION AT ALL; SOME WINTERS SEE SOMETHING RESEMBLING AN IRRUPTIVE EVENT.
FIELD SPARROW: 31 just west of Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi) -
NOT NOTEWORTHY BY VIRTUE OF PRESENCE IN THE REGION DURING WINTER, THIS IS,
NONETHELESS, A LARGE NUMBER FOR A SINGLE SITE IN THE REGION.
LARK SPARROW: 3 in Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi) - VERY RARE AS
A WINTERING SPECIES IN THE REGION; MAY BE FAIRLY REGULAR IN OUR POORLY
BIRDED EASTERN COUNTIES.
LE CONTE'S SPARROW: 1 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 12/19/14 (PKi) and 1 at
Woods Park (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH) - FORMERLY MORE COMMON IN WET
GRASSLANDS THROUGH THE EASTERN HALF OF THE REGION, THIS IS THE BEST MONTH
SINCE THE ONSET OF THE CURRENT DROUGHT.
FOX SPARROW: 6 west of Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/21/14 (JB), 2 near Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14
(AH, PKi), 1 east of Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi), and 1 east of
East Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER; A
GOOD MOVEMENT FOR THIS SPECIES BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 10 west of Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH,
PKi), 1 near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (AH), 7 near Afton (Dickens) on
12/26/14 (AH, PKi), 3 east of Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi), and 9
east of East Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS; THE
BEST MOVEMENT OF THE SPECIES INTO OUR REGION IN YEARS!
HARRIS'S SPARROW: 3 south of Roaring Springs (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi),
5 west of Northfield (Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 1 at Ballard Creek
(Motley) on 12/6/14 (AH, PKi), 4 south of Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH,
PKi), 4 near Afton (Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi), and 14 east of Afton
(Dickens) on 12/26/14 (AH, PKi) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS; THE BEST MOVEMENT INTO
OUR EASTERN TIER OF COUNTIES IN YEARS!
CASSIN'S FINCH: 2 remained at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) through
12/1/14 (BC) - A CONTINUATION OF THE SMALL FLOCK OF THIS NEAR ACCIDENTAL
SPECIES SEEN AT THIS SITE EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
PINE SISKIN: Seven reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Lubbock, Motley) during the period (JB, MDL, AH, KH, PKe, PKi) - NOWHERE
NEAR HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT GOOD BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 in northwest Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/20/14 (MDL, RL)
the only report - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION DURING WINTER; NOW
ANNUAL.
OBSERVERS: CA=Connie Andrus, MA=Marlin Andrus, KB=Ken Beazley, JB=Justin
Bosler, BB-Byron Buckley, DB-Dave Bush, BC=Blaine Carnes, CC=Cameron
Carver, CrC=Craig Carver, LC=Lisa Clark, TD=Tripp Davenport, MDL=Manuel De
Leon, KD=Ken Dixon, TmD=Tom Dolan, TnD=Toni Dolan, DF=Devich Farbotnik,
BF=Brent Franklin, AH=Anthony Hewetson, EH=Ellen Hildebrandt, KH=Kelly
Himmel, CH=Clint Horner, EH=Erick Huebner, JJ=Jan Jannett, AK=Andrew
Kasner, PKe=Peter Keyel, AKi=Aaron Kite, PKi=Phillip Kite, GL=Greg Lasley,
RL=Rob Lee, CM=Colleen Martin, KM=Karen McBride, JM=Jennifer Miller, AP=Amy
Packer, JP=Jay Packer, EP=Eric Pourchot, GP=Georgia Pourchot, NP=Niler
Pyeatt, JR=Janet Rathjen, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson,
CaR=Carlos Ross, GS=Gerardo Sandoval, RS=Ryan Shaw, DS=David Shelburne,
SS=Sue Smith, RSt=Ruben Stoll, PS=Paul Sunby, JT=Jane Tilman,WW=William
Wenthe, JW=Janice Whittington.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock
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