Lubbock received 0.58 inches of rain during the month, well below the
average July total of 2.13 inches, and is now at 6.75 inches for the year
... even further short, compared to the end of June, of the average
year-to-date total of 10.68 inches. Thanks to the rains of late
spring/early summer, playas held strong in several counties, however, and
most of the highlights could, at least loosely, be described as waterbirds.
Regional summaries of eBird data can not be acquired in a timely fashion.
Consequently, 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.
CACKLING/CANADA GOOSE: 84 seen at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 7/30/16 (GJ,
PJ) stirred a vigorous debate - with some feeling that these were early
migrants and others feeling that they were an assemblage of young of the
year from our local, mostly handicapped, population of breeding birds.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 7/11/16 (AH), 4 over
South Plains College (Hockley) on 7/16/16 (AH), 1 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/24/16 (AH), and 2 at Lobo Lake (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) the
only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE LOCAL BREEDING POPULATION.
CANADA GOOSE:1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) through the period (AH), 2 at
Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 7/11/16 (AH), 2 over South Plains College
(Hockley) on 7/16/16 (AH), and 5 at Lobo Lake (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) the
only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE LOCAL BREEDING POPULATION.
GADWALL: 2 at the Sundown Water Treatment Plant (WTP) (Hockley) on 7/2/16
(AH) and 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH) the only reports -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR LOCAL BREEDING EFFORT.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Thirteen reports of 2-7 birds in the region (Haley,
Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period AH, PKe, NP) - GOOD NUMBERS BUT
A BIT OF DECLINE FROM JULY, SUGGESTING THAT BIRDS MIGHT ALREADY BE
DEPARTING.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 west of Anton (Hockley) on 7/10/16 (AH), 2 at the Hale
Center WTP (Hale) on 7/24/16 (NP), and 2 at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on
7/30/16 (AH) the only reports - GOOD BREEDING SEASON NUMBERS BY RECENT
YEARS' STANDARDS.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 2 at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 7/2/16 (AH), 3 at the
Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 7/24/16 (NP), and 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley)
on 7/30/16 (AH) the only reports - GOOD NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: Six reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Hockley) during
the period (AH) - LOW NUMBERS GIVEN THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE REGION'S MORE
NUMEROUS BREEDING DABBLERS.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/21/16 (AH), 2 west
of Anton (Hockley) on 7/10/16 (AH), and 4 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
7/23/16 (AH) the only reports - GOOD NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
REDHEAD: 3 at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 7/2/16 (AH), 1 at the Roundup
Playa (Hockley) on 7/10/16 (AH), and 100 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 7/17/16
(PKe) the only reports - FEW REPORTS BUT ASTONISHING NUMBERS, GIVEN THAT
ALL REPORTS FELL DURING THE BREEDING SEASON.
RUDDY DUCK: 26 at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 7/2/16 (AH), 1 near Tahoka
(Lynn) on 7/17/16 (PKe), 6 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), 4
at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH), and 2 at the Sundown WTP
(Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
SCALED QUAIL: 1 near Anton (Hockley) on 7/2/16 (AH), 8 near Pep (Hockley)
on 7/2/16 (AH), 2 north of Levelland (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), and 2 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) - A BIG DROP FROM JULY
NUMBERS BUT SCALED QUAIL BECOME QUITE RETIRING DURING THE HOTTEST PORTION
OF SUMMER.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: Seven reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Hale,
Hockley) during the period (AH, NP) - GOOD NUMBERS, CONTINUED EVIDENCE OF
RECOVERY FROM DROUGHT YEARS.
EARED GREBE: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) through the period (AH) and 2
at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) through the period (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THE SPECIES' SUMMERING EFFORTS IN OUR REGION.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 1 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 7/23/16
(NP) and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (NP) - RARELY REPORTED
AWAY FROM LUBBOCK HOTSPOTS DURING THE SUMMER.
GREAT EGRET: Six reports of 1-7 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock) during
the period (JB, DHa, DH, AH, NP) - STILL A TAD LOW, SUGGESTING THAT DROUGHT
RECOVERY IS A BIT STALLED FOR THIS LARGER SPECIES.
SNOWY EGRET: Five reports of 2-4 birds, one report of 22 birds, and one
report of 47 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock) during the period (JB,
DHa, AH, NP) STILL A TAD LOW, SUGGESTING THAT DROUGHT RECOVERY HAS STALLED
FOR EVEN OUR SMALLER EGRETS.
CATTLE EGRET: Nine reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 36 birds in the
region (Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period DH, AH,
PKe, NP) - A SHARP DECLINE FROM JULY NUMBERS, SUGGESTING THAT THE SLIDE
BACK INTO DROUGHT CONDITIONS MAY HAVE PUSHED SOME WADERS OUT OF THE REGION
PREMATURELY.
GREEN HERON: REMAINED IN VERY LOW NUMBERS, EVEN ABSENT FROM SOME HOTSPOTS,
DURING THE PERIOD - DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF WATER.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at the Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 7/10/16
(DH, AH) and 1 north of Ropesville (Hockley) on 7/16/16 (AH) - THE ONLY
REPORTS AWAY FROM LUBBOCK HOTSPOTS.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: Six reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 12 birds, and
one report of 14 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock) during the period
(JB, DH, AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS BUT PERSISTENT AND BREEDING AT
OUR MORE RESILIENT WETLANDS.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: One adult at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH,
AH) - VERY RARE IN THE REGION IN THE SUMMER BUT THE SPECIES HAS BRED AT
THIS SITE IN THE PAST.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Seventeen reports of 1-10 birds and five reports of
12-26 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period
(DHa, AH, PKe, NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR BREEDING IN THE REGION; SOME SIGNS
OF DROUGHT RECOVERY.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Eleven reports o 1-10 birds, eight reports of 11-50 birds,
one report of 52 birds, and one report of 82 birds in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, AH, NP) - GOOD
NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY OF IMMATURE BIRDS - GOOD RECOVERY FROM DROUGHT YEAR
NUMBERS.
SNOWY PLOVER: 1 near Tahoka (Lynn) on 7/17/16 (PKe) and 1 at the Roundup
Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR BIRDS, BREEDERS OR NOT,
WANDERING ABOUT IN JULY.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Nine reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale,
Hockley) during the last week of the period (DH, AH, NP) - RIGHT ON TIME
AND BETTER THAN AVERAGE NUMBERS FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 west of Anton (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), 2 at the
Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 7/24/16 (NP), 1 near Edmonson (Hale) on 7/25/16
(NP), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 7/27/16 (JB), and 1 west of Anton
(Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) - A TAD EARLY FOR SUCH GOOD NUMBERS; EITHER
MOVING EARLY OR IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD SEASON.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Eleven reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Floyd, Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, NP) - GOOD START TO MIGRATION
AFTER A POOR SHOWING DURING SUMMER.
WILLET: 1 near Lockney (Floyd) on 7/20/16 (JB) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL
IN THE REGION, NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL, ALBEIT RARE, SPRING AND FALL MIGRANT.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Seven reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 21 birds
in the region (Floyd, Hockley) during the latter half of the period (JB,
AH) - ANOTHER SPECIES DEMONSTRATING A GOOD START TO FALL SHOREBIRD
MIGRATION.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1 north of Ropesville (Hockley) on 7/16/16 (AH) - THE
FIRST OBVIOUS 'MIGRANT' OF THE SEASON - STILL WONDERING ABOUT THE TWO BIRDS
SPOTTED NEAR IDALOU IN JUNE.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 3 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH) and on
7/30/16 (AH) the only report - RIGHT ON TIME BUT A BIT LOW.
MARBLED GODWIT: 2 at the Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 7/10/16 (AH,
photographs) - NOT ONLY IS THE SPECIES SEEN BUT RARELY IN THE REGION, THIS
REPORT IS VERY EARLY FOR FALL MIGRATION THROUGH THE REGION.
STILT SANDPIPER: 4 west of Anton (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), 2 at the Hale
Center WTP (Hale) on 7/24/16 (NP), 1 near Edmonson (Hale) on 7/25/16 (NP),
and 3 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) - ANOTHER FAIRLY EARLY
START.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 3 west of Anton (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), 7 at the Hale
Center WTP (Hale) on 7/24/16 (NP), and 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
7/30/16 (AH) the only reports - RIGHT ON TIME AND AVERAGE NUMBERS FOR LATE
JULY; AUGUST SHOULD BRING QUITE A FEW MORE.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), 1 west
of Anton (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), 3 at the Roundup Playa (Hockley) on
7/30/16 (AH), 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH), and 2 west of
Anton (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) the only reports - RIGHT ON TIME; A TAD LOW
SO FAR.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/10/16 (AH), 1
near Lockney (Floyd) on 7/20/16 (JB), 2 west of Anton (Hockley) on 7/23/16
(AH), and 2 west of Anton (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) - RIGHT ON TIME; A TAD
LOW SO FAR.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: Six reports of 1-11 birds in the region (Floyd, Hockley)
during the last three weeks of the period (JB, AH) - RIGHT ON TIME AND GOOD
NUMBERS.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 6 near Lockney (Floyd) on 7/20/16 (JB) and 5 at the
Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 7/24/16 (NP) - RIGHT ON TIME AND AVERAGE NUMBERS
FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: One report of 4 birds, six reports of 13-33 birds, and
one report of 92 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley) during the latter half
of the period (AH, NP) - A GOOD START TO WHAT MIGHT BE A GREAT FALL PERIOD
FOR PHALAROPES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
BLACK TERN: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) - PRETTY GOOD
FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON; AUGUST USUALLY PRODUCES THE FIRST REPORTS.
INCA DOVE: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/12/16 (CR, FR) and 2 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (AH) the only reports - BARELY HANGING ON.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: Fifteen reports of 1-2 birds above the caprock
escarpment (Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (DH, AH, NP) and one
report of 16 birds at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) - GIVEN
THE SPECIES' VIRTUAL DISAPPEARANCE FROM THE REGION DURING THE RECENT
DROUGHT, IT IS NICE TO SEE A SECOND YEAR OF REBOUND.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
7/23/16 (NP) and 1 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 7/24/16 (JL) - RIGHT
ON TIME AND AVERAGE NUMBERS SO FAR.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/23/16 and
7/24/16 (AH), 2 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 7/24/16 (JL), a
different male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/27/16 (AH), 1 female and 1
male in Pep (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH), and 1 male at South Plains College
(Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) - RIGHT ON TIME AND GOOD NUMBERS SO FAR.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/26/16 adn
7/27/16 (AH) - AN EARLY REPORT; EVEN MORE SO FOR A FEMALE AS FEMALE
HUMMINGBIRDS MIGRATE LATER, TYPICALLY, THAN MALES.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) - A
VERY RARE BREEDER IN OUR MORE HEAVILY-WOODED EASTERN COUNTIES; THIS IS ONE
SUCH HOTSPOT.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 near Pep (Hockley) on 7/16/16 (AH) - SEEMED A BIT EARLY.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 near Dickens (Dickens) on 7/23/16 (BN) - ALSO SEEMED A
BIT EARLY; ESPECIALLY FOR THIS FAR EAST IN THE REGION.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 1 south of Lorenzo (Crosby) on 7/14/16 (ML) - WAS QUITE
EARLY. 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH) and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 7/27/156 (JB) - WERE RIGHT ON TIME.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 7/23/16
(NP), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH), and 1 southwest
of Pep (Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 near Petit (Hockley) on 7/2/16 (AH) and 2 adults with a
late fledgling in Pep (Hockley) on 7/30/16 - WHAT LINGERED OF A FANTASTIC
BREEDING SEASON IN THE REGION.
BELL'S VIREO: 1 on the east side of White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16
(DH, AH), 1 on the west side of White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH,
AH), and four pairs and two singletons on the north side of the White River
Lake property (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) - THE BEST NUMBERS YET AT THIS
RECENTLY ESTABLISHED BREEDING LOCALE FOR THIS NORTHWARD- AND
WESTWARD-EXPANDING SPECIES.
WARBLING VIREO: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) - MOST
LIKELY A VERY EARLY MIGRANT - THOUGH THE SPECIES HAS ATTEMPTED TO SET UP
TERRITORIES AT THIS SITE IN SUMMERS PAST.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 west of White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) the
only report - LOW BUT LITTLE EFFORT WAS REPORTED FROM ALONG THE CAPROCK
ESCARPMENT DURING THE MONTH.
PURPLE MARTIN: A colony in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) peaked at 7 pairs,
producing 24-30 fledglings during the period (GJ, PJ) for the only report -
FEWER REPORTS THAN AVERAGE BUT GOOD NUMBERS.
TREE SWALLOW: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), 3 west of
Anton (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), and 1 at the Roundup Playa (Hockley) on
7/30/16 (AH) - THE FIRST, SOMEWHAT EARLY REPORTS, OF THE SEASON.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16
(AH), 3 near Halfway (Hale) on 7/25/16 (NP), and 2 at the Roundup Playa
(Hockley) on 7/30/16 (AH) the only reports - MOST LIKELY EARLY-ISH MIGRANTS.
BANK SWALLOW: 10 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH, photographs)
- VERY EARLY FOR THE SPECIES TO BE MOVING THROUGH THE REGON, ESPECIALLY IN
SUCH NUMBERS.
CAROLINA CHICKADEE: 1 heard (DH) and then seen (AH) at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/24/16 - EXTREMELY RARE IN THE REGION, PARTICULARLY DURING THE
BREEDING SEASON.
VERDIN: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (AH) the only report -
THIS SPECIES IS BECOMING VERY RARE IN THE REGION.
CAROLINA WREN: 6 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS SITE IN THE BREEDING SEASON.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 30+ at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH)
- EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD NUMBERS FOR EVEN THIS SITE - WITH MANY LARGE FAMILY
GROUPS.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) and
2 near Edmonson (Hale) on 7/25/16 (NP) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 58 at White River Lake on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) - GOOD
NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT ONLY 25% OF AVAILABLE HABITAT AT THE
SITE WAS COVERED.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 7/27/16 (JB) - A VERY EARLY
REPORT.
FIELD SPARROW: 2 females, 13 males, and 6 fledglings were tallied at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS AT THE SOLE
KNOWN BREEDING SITE IN OUR REGION - A NICE RECOVERY FROM ALMOST ABSENT
DURING THE DROUGHT.
SUMMER TANAGER: One pair and one female at White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/24/16 (DH, AH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL AS SUMMER WANDERERS; NOW KNOWN TO
BREED AT THIS SITE.
INDIGO BUNTING: 5 females, 14 males, and 9 fledglings at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH) and 2 near Seth Ward (Hale) on 7/25/16 (NP) -
GOOD NUMBERS THOUGH SCATTER WAS POOR THIS BREEDING SEASON..
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: Nine reports of 2-8 birds, one report of 11 birds,
and one report of 16 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley, Lynn) during the
period (AH, PKe, NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE ONSET OF FALL MIGRATION.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male at Sundown City Park (Hockley) on 7/2/16 (AH), 3
males in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) through 7/19/16 (AR), 2 males at South
Plains College (Hockley) on 7/23/16 (AH), 3 females and 11 males at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 7/24/16 (DH, AH), 5-6 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb)
from 7/25/16 thoguh 7/31/16 (AR), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 7/27/16
(JB) - AFTER A DROUGHT-ERA SLUMP THIS SPECIES, WHICH STARTED EXPANDING INTO
AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, IS REBOUNDING NICELY.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: Pairs at three different sites in (Hockley) during the
period (AH) - MORE EVIDENCE THAT THIS SUMMER HAS SEEN BREEDING FURTHER
NORTHWEST THAN IS TYPICAL FOR THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, DHa=Hancock, DH=Drew Harvey, AH=Anthony
Hewetson, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, PKe=Peter Keyel, JL=James
Leatherwood, ML=Mark Lockwood, BN=Bruce Neville, NP=Niler Pyeatt, AR=Anona
Roberts, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
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