Lubbock received 0.49 inches of rain during the month, well below the
average November total of 0.68 inches, and is now at 13.47 inches for the
year, falling even further behind the average year-to-date total of 18.69
inches. A lot of 'winter' birds seem not to have arrived yet and quite a
few lingering birds gave the month an air of late autumn.
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.
SOME LATE-RECEIVED NOVEMBER RECORDS:
WOOD DUCK: 4 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 11/30/16 (JB) - PART OF THE
USUAL WINTERING HORDE.
SORA: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 11/25/16 (PKi) - SURPRISINGLY SCARCE
THIS FALL/WINTER.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 7 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 11/25/16 (PKi) - SPARSE
THIS FALL.
HERRING GULL: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 11/30/16 (JB) - FORMERLY
UNCOMMON, FALL THROUGH SPRING: NOW CONSIDERED VERY RARE AS A WINTER VISITOR.
GREAT EGRET: 4 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 11/30/16 (JB).
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Post City Park (Garza) on 11/20/16 (JB) - A LESS TYPICAL
WINTERING SITE.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 11/25/16 (PKi) -
VERY RARE, PARTICULARLY THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
DECEMBER RECORDS:
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 12
birds, and one report of 14 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn)
during the period (JB, PD, AH, PKe, LM, LS, CW, WW) - LATE TO ARRIVE THIS
YEAR BUT CLOSING IN ON AVERAGE NUMBERS.
SNOW GOOSE: Eleven reports of 1-10 birds, two reports of 13 birds, and one
report of 75 birds in the region (Crosby, Hockley, Lubbock) during the
period (PD, AH, PKe, PKi, LM, LS, CW, WW) - LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR AND
STILL LOW IN NUMBERS AT THE END OF THE PERIOD.
ROSS'S GOOSE: Eight reports of 1-7 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (PD, AH, PKi, LM, LS, CW) - LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR AND
STILL LOW IN NUMBERS AT THE END OF THE PERIOD
TUNDRA SWAN: 2 birds spending time at Grulla NWR in New Mexico and nearby
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) during the period (AH, JS) - CASUAL IN THE LEAS
REGION BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A GOOD YEAR FOR SURROUNDING REGIONS.
WOOD DUCK: 18-22 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period (JB, AH,
LM, LS, WW, AZ) and 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, AH, CW) -
DECENT NUMBERS BUT POOR SCATTER.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PKi), 1 at Lubbock
Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (RL), and 1 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
12/24/16 (AH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION WINTER; BECOMING AN
ANNUAL, LOW DENSITY, RESIDENT.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 male at MaKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/5/16 (PKi) and 1
male at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PKe, photographs) - FORMERLY
CASUAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; BECOMING AN ANNUAL, LOW DENSITY, RESIDENT.
CANVASBACK: 44 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 12/10/16 (AH), 45 at the TTU
Water Treatment Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (LM, LS, WW), 20 at the 1054 x
1313 Playa (Lynn) on 12/19/16 (JB), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16
(AH), and 4 at the Sundown Water Treatment Ponds (Hockley) on 12/24/16 (AH)
- ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO FIND WINTER VISITOR.
REDHEAD: Four reports of 2-10 birds, one report of 40 birds, and one report
of 80 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB,
AH, RL, LM, LS, WW) - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND SOMEWHAT LOW NUMBERS.
GREATER SCAUP: 4 males at the Lubbock Water Treatment Ponds (Lubbock) on
12/17/16 (AH) - A RARE WINTER VISITOR; THIS IS A FAVORED SITE FOR THE
SPECIES.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 1 male at the Lubbock Water Treatment Ponds (Lubbock) the
only report - LOW.
COMMON MERGANSER: 1 male at the Lubbock Water Treatment Ponds (Lubbock) on
12/17/16 (AH), 1 at the Lubbock Power Plant Ponds (Lubbock) on 12/17/16
(JB), 3 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 12/29/16 (DH, CR), 4 at Maxey
Park (Lubbock) on 12/29/16 (DH, CR), 10 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on
12/29/16 (DH, CR), 6 in southwest Lubbock (Lubbock) on 12/29/16 (DH, CR),
and 59 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (JD, AH, PKi, RL, KW) -
GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND GOOD NUMBERS.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 3 females at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 12/13/16 (PKi)
through 12/17/16 (PD, PKi, CW) - FORMERLY CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN
TO BE ANNUAL ALBEIT RARE.
SCALED QUAIL: 14 at the Smyer Cemetery (Hockley) on 12/10/16 (AH), 4 at
City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH), 6 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
12/24/16 (GJ, JJ, RL), 3 east of White River (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (AH), and
6 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (DH, CR) - STILL SHOWING
GOOD SIGNS OF RECOVERY FROM THE DROUGHT YEARS.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: Eight reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Crosby,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (PD, BG, DH, AH, CR, CW) - ANOTHER
SPECIES SHOWING GOOD SIGNS OF RECOVERY FROM THE DROUGHT YEARS.
HORNED GREBE: 8 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (RL, KW) -
FORMERLY CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL, ALBEIT RARE, VISITOR.
EARED GREBE: 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 12/11/16 (AH, AZ), 2 at
Lake Two (Lubbock) on 12/12/16 (PKi), 2 at the Lubbock WTP on 12/17/16
(AH), 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PD, PKi, CW), 15 at the
1054 x 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 12/19/16 (JB), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)
on 12/24/16 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND GREAT SCATTER.
WESTERN GREBE: 5 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (JD, AH, PKi, RL,
KW) - THOUGH THIS IS THE BEST SITE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR, THE
NUMBERS WERE UNPRECEDENTED!
INCA DOVE: 2 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) on 12/1/16 (AR), 5 in the Tech
Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) on 12/8/16 (WW), 2 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (fide LM), and 3 in at Littlefield yard (Lamb) on
12/26/16 (LMa, MM, AR) - THIS SPECIES IS STILL, SOMEHOW, HOLDING ON IN THE
REGION.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 2 at the Erskine Street Marsh (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (JB), 2
at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (AH), and 1 at the Erskine Street
Marsh (Lubbock) on 12/29/16 (DH, CR) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER
VISITOR.
SORA: 2 at the Erskine Street Marsh (Lubbock) from 12/17/16 (PD, PKi, CW)
and 12/18/16 (JB), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (AH), and 1 at
the Erskine Street Marsh (Lubbock) on 12/29/16 (DH, CR) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
COMMON GALLINULE: 1 at the 1054 x 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 12/19/16 (JB) -
CLOSE TO GONE FROM THE REGION; THIS IS A FIRST COUNTY RECORD.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 2 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 12/8/16 (JB) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL
THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; A FEW HAVE LINGERED INTO MOST RECENT DECEMBERS.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 3 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 12/8/16 (JB), 10 at the Smyer
Playa (Hockley) on 12/10/16 (AH), and 6 at the 1054 x 1313 Playa (Lynn) on
12/19/16 (JB) - LOW - MISSED ON ALL THREE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS!
WILSON'S SNIPE: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (JB, PD, DH, AH, EH, PKi, CR, CW) - LOW NUMBER OF
SIGHTINGS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Ashe Avenue Playa South (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (KB,
SP, AZ) and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (AH) the only reports -
VERY LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Eleven reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby,
Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, KB, AH, RL, LM, LS, WW, AZ)
- AVERAGE NUMBER OF SIGHTING BUT NUMBERS A TAD LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at Ashe Avenue Playa South (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (KB,
SP, AZ) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER LINGERER.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/7/16 (AH) and 2 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (RL, KW) - LOW.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 at the huge cormorant roost at Leroy Elmore Park
(Lubbock) on 12/10/16 (JB) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW AN
ANNUAL VISITOR DURING YEARS WHEN THIS ROOST IS AT ITS BEST.
GREAT EGRET: 5-6 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through 12/12/16 (JB, PKi)
with 2 remaining at the site through the rest of the month (AH, LM, WW), 1
at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/7/16 (AH), 6 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on
12/15/16 (GJ, PJ), 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (LM, LS, WW), 1
at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (LM, LS, WW), and 1-2 at White River
Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (JD, AH, PKi) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR RECENT WINTERS;
A RECOVERY FROM THE DECLINE OF THE DROUGHT YEARS.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/7/16 (AH) and 1 at Dupree Park
(Lubbock) on 12/15/16 (GJ, PJ) and 12/17/16 (LM, LS, WW) - A TAD LOW;
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF GREAT EGRETS.
OSPREY: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PD, EH, PKi, CW) and 1
at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB, PKe) - FORMERLY CASUAL IN WINTER;
NOW ANNUAL.
BALD EAGLE: 1 adult near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 12/29/16 (DH, CR,
photographs) - A VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR THESE DAYS.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 near Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH), 1 near Becton
(Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, AH, CW), and 3 near Floydada (Floyd) on 12/29/16
(DH, CR) - LOW NUMBERS SO FAR THIS WINTER THOUGH THEY ARE, APPARENTLY, IN
GOOD NUMBERS JUST TO THE NORTH.
GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 adult at City Farms (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH) and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/26/16 (LMa, MM, AR) - ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT
WINTERS' STANDARDS.
EASTERN SCREECH OWL: 2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB) the only
'western' sighting for the region during the period - FORMERLY UNCOMMON
ALONG THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; SEEM TO BE PULLING OUT FOR THE EAST.
SHORT-EARED OWL: 1 along Municipal Drive (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PKi), 1
below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (AH), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
12/24/16 (AH), 2 different birds at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16
(PKi), 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 12/29/16 (DH, CR), and 5 near Smyer
(Hockley) on 12/30/16 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND GOOD SCATTER; THE SECOND
BETTER THAN AVERAGE WINTER IN A ROW!
LONG-EARED OWL: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (EH, photographs)
the sole report - LOW.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1 female and 1 male in Idalou (Lubbock) on 12/17/16
(PKe, photographs) and 1 female at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/31/16 (LM) -
FORMERLY CASUAL THIS FAR WEST; BECOMING ANNUAL TO AT LEAST LUBBOCK COUNTY.
GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER:1 near Grassland (Lynn) on 12/20/16 (JB) - VERY
RARE ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT SIGHTING.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 2 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB), 2
north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (DH, CR), and 1 along CR 405
(Dickens) on 12/31/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; A FAR CRY FROM LAST WINTER'S
INUNDATION.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 near Kalgary (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (AH) and 1 north of
White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (DH, CR) the only reports - LOW.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH), 1 at the V8
Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
12/30/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
BLACK PHOEBE: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB, photographs) -
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; ONE OF A HANDFUL RECORDS.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 in Pep (Hockley) throughout the month (AH) the only report
- LOW BY RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 12/29/16 (DBa), and 1 along CR 405 (Dickens) on 12/31/16
(AH) - LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; ABOUT AVERAGE FOR "SINCE THE DROUGHT".
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 female persisted at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock)
through the period (DH, AH, PKi, CR) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL; NOW RARE BUT
ANNUAL WITH NO SEASONALITY DETECTED.
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB JAY: 2 near Close City (Garza) on 12/9/16 (JB) and 2 west
of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (AH) - FORMERLY UNCOMMON ALONG THE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; DETECTED VERY RARELY IN RECENT YEARS.
COMMON RAVEN: 2 near Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB), 2
near Becton (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, AH, CW), 1 east of White River
(Crosby) on 12/31/16 (AH), and 3 near Kalgary (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (AH) - A
TAD LOW BY RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS.
CAROLINA CHICKADEE: 1 north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (DH,
CR) - FORMERLY UNCOMMON IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES; NOW CLOSING IN ON
ACCIDENTAL.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)on 12/2/16 (KD) - VERY
RARELY SEEN ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
VERDIN: 2 along CR 405 (Dickens) on 12/31/16 (AH) the only report -
FORMERLY UNCOMMON THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE REGION; NOW EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND.
BUSHTIT: 4 near Kalgary (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (AH) the only report -
FORMERLY UNCOMMON ALONG THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; NOW EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (RL, DH, AH)
- LOW; ESPECIALLY BY RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS.
BROWN CREEPER: 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PD, PKi, CW), 1
at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB), 2 north of White River Lake
(Crosby) on 12/31/16 (DH, CR), and 1 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on
12/31/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
ROCK WREN: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (DB, KB, JC, AZ) and 1
along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/31/16 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
HOUSE WREN: Twelve reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Dickens, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, PD, DH, AH, EH, PKi, RL,
CR, CW) - MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR DECEMBER - PROBABLY INDICATIVE OF
THE TREMENDOUSLY MILD CONDITIONS THUS FAR THIS WINTER.
WINTER WREN: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB), 2 below Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, AH, CW), and 1 in Pep (Hockley) on 12/30/16 (AH)
the only reports - LOW BY RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, CW) and on
12/18/16 (PD, AH, CW) - THE ONLY SIGHTINGS THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED ATOP
THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 neat Kitalou (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (DH, EH, PKi), 1 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 12/31/16 (RL, KW), and 1 west of White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/31/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 4 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 9PD, PKi,
DM, CW), 12 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB), and 2 along Red Mud
Road (Dickens) on 12/31/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER
RESIDENT.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 5 near Close City (Garza) on 12/9/16 (JB), 6 at the
Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/11/16 (PKe) down to 2 on 12/11/16 (PKi)
and on 12/15/16 (PKi) - PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS CASUAL WINTER VISITOR.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 5 near Petit (Hockley) on 12/30/16 (AH), 20 north of
White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (DH, CR), 17 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 12/31/16 (JD, PKi), 6 west of White River Lake (Crosby) on
12/31/16 (AH), and 1 along CR 405 (Dickens) on 12/31/16 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE; ALL SEEN TOWARDS THE END OF THE PERIOD, SUGGESTING A SECOND
MOVEMENT INTO THE REGION THIS FALL/WINTER
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/11/16
(PKe), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PD, CW), and 1 at City Farms
(Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
HERMIT THRUSH: Fourteen reports of single birds scattered across the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Dickens, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (DBa, JD, AH,
PKi, RL, KW, WW) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR DECEMBER; TYPICAL OF A
VERY MILD WINTER.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (DH, PKi) and 1
southwest of Pep (Hockley) on 12/30/16 (AH) - THE ONLY ATOP THE CAPROCK
SIGHTINGS.
CEDAR WAXWING: 3 in Idalou (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PKe), 21 at the Lubbock
Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (PD, PKi, DM, CW), 10 at Miller Park
(Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (LM), 12 along Olive Street (Lubbock) on 12/17/16
(AH), 4 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (LM, LS,
WW), 4 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, AH, CW), and 75 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (AH) - STILL ON THE FENCE; BORDERLINE GOOD
NUMBERS BUT FEWER THAN AVERAGE SIGHTINGS.
PINE SISKIN: 5 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB) and 1 in a
Littlefield yard (Lamb) on 12/26/16 (LMa, MM, AR) - THIS IS NOT ON THE
FENCE AT ALL; A VERY POOR WINTER FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION SO FAR.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 4 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; NOW ANNUAL - AT FAVORED SITES.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 2 near Becton (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, AH, CW) and 1 at
the 1054 x 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 12/19/16 (JB) the only reports - VERY LOW;
MORE EVIDENCE OF WINTER NOT REALLY BEING HERE YET.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 103 near Becton (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, AH,
CW) the only report - VERY LOW; MORE EVIDENCE OF NO WINTER YET.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 45 near Becton (Lubbock) on 12/18/16 (PD, AH, CW) the
only report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW; MORE EVIDENCE OF NO WINTER YET.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Nine reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, PD, KD, AH, PKi, CW) - A BIT BETTER THAN
AVERAGE BY RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (AH) the
only report - LOW BY RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS>
CASSIN'S SPARROW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16 (AH) - A RARE
LINGERER INTO OUR MILDER WINTERS.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (JD, PKi) and
2 along Red Mud Road (Dickens) on 12/31/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
RARE WINTER LINGERER.
FIELD SPARROW: Nine reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-23 birds
in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Dickens, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period
(JB, JD, DH, AH, GJ, JJ, PKi, RL, CR, KW) - A VERY GOOD SHOWING FOR THIS
SPECIES IN THE REGION; FOLLOWING A RECORD YEAR FOR BREEDING IN THE REGION.
LARK SPARROW: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/31/16 (LM) - A RARE WINTER
LINGERER IN OUR REGION; ESPECIALLY DURING MILD YEARS.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 near Red Mud (Dickens) on 12/31/16 (AH) - A RARE
WINTER LINGERER IN OUR REGION DURING MILD YEARS.
LE CONTE'S SPARROW: 1 at the V8 Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB) - FORMERLY
REGULAR TO THE REGION IN WINTER; NOW VERY RARE.
FOX SPARROW: Six reports of 1-4 birds and one report of 41 birds in the
region (Crosby, Dickens, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, DH, AH,
CR) - A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR THE SPECIES; ESPECIALLY ALONG AND BELOW THE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
SWAMP SPARROW: 1 at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH), 5 at the V8
Ranch (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (JB), 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 12/24/16
(AH), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (RL, KW), 2 north of White
River Lake (Crosby) on 12/31/16 (DH, CR), and 1 near Red Mud (Dickens) on
12/31/16 (AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS SO FAR; THE FEELING IS THAT
MORE WILL ARRIVE WITH COOLER WEATHER.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (AH), 1
in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood (Lubbock) on 12/17/16 (LM, LS, WW), and 1
at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 12/31/16 (LM) the only reports - LOW; ANOTHER
SPECIES THAT MIGHT ARRIVE WITH WINTER.
HARRIS'S SPARROW: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 12/15/16 (PKi) -
VERY LOW; ANOTHER SPECIES THAT MIGHT ARRIVE WITH WINTER.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/3/16 (KD)
- AN EXTREMELY LATE RECORD, THOUGH NOT UNPRECEDENTED, FOR THE REGION.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 11 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 12/17/16
(JB) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
OBSERVERS: DBa+David Baake, JB=Justin Bosler, DB=Dana Boswell, KB=Kathryn
Brautigam, JC=JIm Crites, PD=Paul Difiore, KD=Ken Dixon, JD=Jacki Driskill,
BG=Beth Guilliams, DH=Drew Harvey, AH=Anthony Hewetson, EH=Ellen
Hildebrandt, GJ=George Jury, JJ=Jeffrey Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, PKe=Peter Keyel,
PKi=-Phillip Kite, RL=Rob Lee, LMa=Lori Madry, MM=Morgan Madry, LM=Liam
McGuire, DM=Daria McKelvey, SP=Skyler Parks, CR=Colton Robbins, AR=Anona
Roberts, JS=Jude Smith, LS=Leanna Smith, CH=Christian Walker, KW=Katheryn
Watson, WW=William Wenthe, AZ=Angelina Zappia.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
//www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
from the List Owner
