[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for January - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:46:41 -0800 (PST)
JANUARY 2013 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS:
With
0.92inches of rain during the month, well above the average rainfall for the
month of 0.50 inches, Lubbock was a bit damper than expected but drought,
remains severe throughout the region and waterbirds became even more
concentrated at artificially maintained bodies of water. Some of the irruptive
events noted earlier in the winter seem to be fading already, suggesting that
some of these birds, finding conditions unsuitable in our region, may have
continued southward. The combination of intense
observer effort at some locations and the increase in data due to
e-bird has made it somewhat more difficult to separate individuals
sightings - the algorithm I am using is relatively conservative and I am
willing to share it with anybody who is interested.
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: Fourteen reports of 1-10 birds and four reports of
11-50 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (CC, SC, MDL,
EFD, AnH, GJ, PK, CR) - GOOD NUMBERS BUT A BIT DOWN FROM DECEMBER.
SNOW GOOSE: Sixteen reports of 1-10 birds, three reports of 11-50 birds, and
one report of 130 birds in the region (Floyd, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn) during the
period (SB, CC, SC, MDL, EFD, AnH, CR, RT) - LOW NUMBERS, OVERALL, AND STILL
PRETTY MUCH RESTRICTED TO IN-TOWN PLAYAS.
ROSS'S GOOSE: Eleven reports of 1-10 birds in (Lubbock) during the period (CC,
SC, EFD, ANH, PK) - LOW NUMBERS, OVERALL, AND ENTIRELY RESTRICTED TO IN-TOWN
PLAYAS OF LUBBOCK.
WOOD DUCK: 3-7 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) from 1/1/13 through 1/20/13
(RR), 16-56 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) from 1/1/13 through 1/13/13 (SB, CC,
AnH), 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH), 1-2 at Andrews Park
(Lubbock) from 1/10/13
through 1/19/13 (SC, AnH, GJ, PK), 4 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
1/11/13 (CC, CR), 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 1/12/13 through 1/13/13 (SC,
AnH), 1-2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) from 1/13/13 to 1/29/13 (SC, AnH), 2 at
Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 1/17/13 (CR), and 1 at Plainview Apartments Pond
(Hale) on 1/20/13 (RR) - GOOD NUMBERS BUT RESTRICTED ALMOST ENTIRELY TO IN-TOWN
PLAYAS/PARKS.
CANVASBACK: 4 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/6/13 (AnH), 8 at the TTU
Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 1/14/13 (SC), 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on
1/15/17 (CC), 6 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 1/17/13 (CR), 25 at the TTU
Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 1/17/13 (CR), 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on
1/18/13 (CR), and 4 at Post City Park (Garza) on 1/23/13 (AnH) the only reports
- AN IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST MONTH BUT STILL QUITE LOW.
REDHEAD: 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 1/1/13 9SB), 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/16/13 (SC), 36 at the
TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 1/17/13 (CR), and 26 at Post City Park (Lubbock)
on 1/23/13 (AnH) the only reports - A DECLINE SINCE LAST MONTH AND STILL VERY
LOW.
GREATER SCAUP: 2 at Post City Park (Garza) on 1/23/13 (AnH) the only report -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE OR UNDER-REPORTED WINTER VISITOR.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) from 1/6/13 through 1/13/13
(CC, SC, AnH) and 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 1/11/13 (CC, CR) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
COMMON MERGANSER: 5-11 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) from 1/1/13 through 1/13/13
(SB, CC, SC, CR), 1 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) from 1/1/13 through 1/6/13
(SB, CC), 1-7 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 1/5/13 through 1/25/13 (SC, AnH, CR),
1 male at Jennings Park (Lubbock) on 1/10/13 (PK), 5-13 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) from 1/11/13 through 1/13/13 (CC, SC, CR) - A SURPRISINGLY GOOD MONTH
FOR THIS SPECIES; GENERALLY QUITE RARE AWAY FROM WHITE RIVER LAKE, CROSBY
COUNTY.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 female at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 1/10/13 (PK) the
only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR.
EARED GREBE: 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/13/13 (AnH) and 2 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 1/25/13 (CR) the only reports - VERY LOW.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH) the only report - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 1/1/13 (AnH) the only report - BOTH
GREAT AND SNOWY EGRET HAD TAKEN TO WINTERING, IN SMALL NUMBERS, IN OUR AREA -
THEIR RELATIVE ABSENCE THIS AND LAST WINTER I AM INCLINED TO ATTRIBUTE TO
DROUGHT RATHER THAN COLD.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: Thirteen reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (CC, SC, MDL, AnH, KH, CR) - A BIT OF A
DECLINE SINCE LAST MONTH; PROBABLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO DECREASED OBSERVER EFFORT -
NO CBCs.
COOPER'S HAWK: Eleven reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock) during
the period (CC, SC, AnH, PK, CR, RR) - A BIT OF A DECLINE SINCE LAST MONTH;
PROBABLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO DECREASED OBSERVER EFFORT - NO CBCs.
HARRIS'S HAWK: up to 4 adults at/near the TTU HSC fields (Lubbock) through the
period (CC, SC, AnH, CR) and 1 on TTU's main campus (Lubbock) on 1/31/13 (SC) -
ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. IF THE BIRD ON MAIN CAMPUS CAN FIND
A MATE AND NEST ON CAMPUS, THERE WILL BE FOUR KNOWN NEST SITES IN LUBBOCK.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 continued at Lake Six (Lubbock) through 1/25/13 (CC, CR)
- ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION BECOMING ANNUAL; A CONTINUATION OF OUR 21st RECORD
AND A VERY RARE WINTERING RECORD.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 1/5/13 through 1/30/13
(KH), 1 east of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (CC), 1 in (Crosby) on 1/6/13
(EFD), and 1 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 1/17/13 (CR) - A STEEP DECLINE
OVER LAST MONTH; ATTRIBUTABLE, I THINK, TO DECREASED OBSERVER EFFORT IN THE
ABSENCE OF CBCs.
GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 at Reed Farm (Crosby) on 1/28/13 (KH) the only report - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER RESIDENT.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 1/13/13 (AnH) the only
report - A SURPRISING DECLINE SINCE LAST MONTH - LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 1/29/13 (AnH) and 1 at the
Brazos River crossing of Highway 380 (Kent) on 1/31/13 (RT) - BETTER THAN
AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER LINGERER.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 1/13/13 (SC) the only
report - A SURPRISING DECLINE SINCE LAST MONTH - LOW.
AMERICAN WOODCOCK: 1 persisted at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) through at
least 1/13/13 (CC, SC, CR) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; A CONTINUATION OF OUR
7th RECORD.
INCA DOVE: 2 -5 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) from 1/1/13 thgouh 1/9/13 (AR) and
2 near Guy Park (Lubbock) on 1/29/13 (AnH) the only reports - CONTINUING LOW IN
THE REGION; CLOSE TO VANISHING.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH) the
only report - A SHARP DECLINE SINCE LAST MONTH - LOW.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 1/5/13 through 1/18/13
(AnH, CR), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/6/13 (CC), and 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 1/25/13 (SC) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
MERLIN: Six reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the
period (SC, AnH, KH, CR) - CONSIDERABLY DOWN SINCE LAST MONTH; PERHAPS DUE TO
REDUCED OBSERVER EFFORT.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 atop the TTU HSC building (Lubbock) on 1/3/13 (AnH), 1 in
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 1/10/13 (CC) and on 1/12/13 (SC) the only reports -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE RESIDENT.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at the Stockton Place Playa (Crosby) on 1/6/13 (KH) and 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 1/6/13 through 1/25/13 (CC, SC) the only reports
- VERY LOW; PROBABLY, LOCAL BIRDERS THINK, DROUGHT RELATED.
COMMON RAVEN: 1-2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through the month (KH), 2 at Reed
Farm (Crosby) on 1/4/13 (KH), and 1 at the Crosbyton Cemetery (Crosby) on
1/30/13 (KH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON, MOSTLY BELOW
THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT, RESIDENT.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 1/1/13 (SB), 3 at the
Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 1/1/13 (SB), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
1/5/13 (AnH) - THE IRRUPTION CONTINUES, ALBEIT SOMEWHAT WEAKLY.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 2 at Upper MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 1/5/13
through 1/25/13 (CC, SC, AnH), 3 at Lower MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/5/13
(AnH), 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 1/5/13 thoguh 1/18/13 (AnH, CR), 2
below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH), 1 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 1/17/13
(CR), and 1 below MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/17/13 (CR) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS
- THE IRRUPTION, IF ANYTHING, INTENSIFIED DURING JANUARY.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH) and 1 at Mae
Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 1/19/13 (SC) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER
VISITOR.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 1/25/13 (KH) the only
report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE PERMANENT RESIDENT.
HOUSE WREN: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 1/13/13 (SC) the only report
- A BIT LOW BY RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS.
WINTER WREN: Five reports of 1-2 birds at various sites in (Lubbock) during the
period (CC, SC, AnH, CR) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE.
CAROLINA WREN: 2-4 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 1/5/13 through 1/19/13
(SC, AnH, CR) the only reports - A BIT LOW.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 1/30/13 (CR) the only
report - VERY LOW.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 28 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH) dropped to 1-5
birds at the same site during the remainder of the period (CC, SC, CR) -
DROPPED FROM GOOD TO LOW NUMBERS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 1 at the Stockton Place Playa (Crosby) on 1/6/13 (KH), 1-3
at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 1/25/13 through 1/28/13 (KH) - A BIT LOW BY
RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the month (CC, SC, AnH,
CR) and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 1/31/13 (KD) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
RARE WINTER VISITOR.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 1/18/13 (CR) the only report
- VERY LOW.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the month (CC, AnH) and 1 in
a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through the month (KD) - THE ONLY ABOVE THE CAPROCK
REPORTS.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 1/1/13 (KH), 5 at Longspur
Field (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (CC), and 5 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 1/6/13
(KH) the only reports - A SHARP DECLINE, PARTICULARLY OF NUMBERS, SINCE LAST
MONTH THOUGH LITTLE OBSERVER EFFORT WAS REPORTED FROM OUR NORTHERN COUNTIES.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: NO REPORTS AT ALL - A SHARP DECLINE, PARTICULARLY
OF NUMBERS, SINCE LAST MONTH THOUGH LITTLE
OBSERVER EFFORT WAS REPORTED FROM OUR NORTHERN COUNTIES.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 12 near Wilson (Lynn) on 1/5/13 (MDL), 25 at the Himmel Farm
(Crosby) on 1/6/13 (KH), 20 at the CR 125 Prairie Dog Town (Crosby) on 1/27/13
(KH), and 20 at the Crosbyton Cemetery (Crosby) on 1/30/13 (KH) the only
reports - A SHARP DECLINE, PARTICULARLY OF NUMBERS, SINCE LAST MONTH THOUGH
LITTLE
OBSERVER EFFORT WAS REPORTED FROM OUR NORTHERN COUNTIES.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH) and 1 at
the TTU Gardens (Lubbock) on 1/24/13 (SC) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS
FOR THIS UNCOMMON WINTER RESIDENT.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1-2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 1/5/13 through
1/18/13 (AnH, CR) the only reports - LOW.
PALM WARBLER: 1 'western' bird persisted at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) through
1/6/13 (CC, AnH) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN THE WINTER; THE REGION'S 2nd
JANUARY RECORD.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 1/8/13 through 1/17/13
(KH) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER LINGERER.
FOX SPARROW: 1-3 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 1/5/13 through 1/19/13 (SC,
AnH, CR), 1 persisted at Plainview Aparments Pond (Hale) through 1/20/13 (RR),
and 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/25/13 (CR) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE BY
RECENT WINTERS' STANDARDS; A SHARP DECLINE SINCE LAST MONTH.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 1/1/13 through
1/2/13 (Di), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH), 1 at the Himmel Farm
(Crosby) on 1/7/13 (KH), and 2-3 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) from 1/18/13
thoguh 1/19/13 (SC, CR) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS NOW RARE WINTER VISITOR.
HARRIS'S SPARROW: 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH) the only report -
THOUGH INCREASINGLY HARD TO FIND IN THE REGION, THIS IS A TAD LOW.
RED CROSSBILL: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH) was the only
report - THE IRRUPTIVE EVENT APPEARS TO BE OVER FOR OUR REGION THOUGH IT IS NOT
KNOWN WHETHER BIRDS CONTINUED SOUTH AND EAST OR RETREATED NORTHWARD.
PINE SISKIN: 4 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/5/13 (AnH) and 1 at Mae Simmons
Park (Lubbock) from 1/18/13 through 1/19/13 (SC, CR) the only reports - VERY
LOW.
OBSERVERS: SB=Susan
Bergeson, CCÊmeron Carver, SC=Steve
Collins, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken
Dixon, EFD=Elizabeth Farley-Dawson, AnH=Anthony
Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, Di=Donn ianuzi, GJ=George Jury,
PK=Phillip Kite, CR=Clayton
Rickett, RR=Robert Rios, Ar=Anona Roberts, RT=Rodney Thomas.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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