Interesting report Anthony. Will be interesting to see if the shorebird bonanza
continues or was simply early.
Fred Collins, Director
Kleb Woods Nature Center
20303 Draper Road,Tomball TX 77377
281-357-5324
Harris County Precinct 3
Steve Radack Commissioner
www.pct3.com
-----Original Message-----
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Anthony Hewetson
Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2016 12:48 PM
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Anthony Hewetson
<fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for July
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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