Anthony and Texbirds,
For the past two months there have been as many as* 12* Neotropic
Cormorants roosting with Double-crested Cormorants at Leroy Elmore Park in
Lubbock. On my monthly visit to the county I make a point of doing one
evening roost count at the site, mostly in hope of discovering a rare wader
but also to get a best estimate of the four breeding waders in the rookery;
Great, Snowy and Cattle Egrets, and Black-crowned Night-Heron. There was at
least one and possibly two active Double-crested Cormorant nests on my last
visit on 26 July. The Neotropic Cormorants appear to be post-breeding
dispersers as opposed to local breeders. On average, the Neotropic
Cormorants arrive to roost later in the evening than the Double-cresteds.
Due to this behavior, most casual observers viewing the rookery at times
earlier than sunset/dusk will miss a bulk of these birds.
On a month-by-month basis, there are numerous eBird submissions that don't
make it into this summary as they are tied up in the review process.
I take issue with the Cackling Goose report from Andrews Park. There are
much larger numbers of Canada Goose summering in Lubbock than Cackling
Goose. I was surprised to find a group of 15 Cackling Geese at Maxey Park
in late July. In my recent experience, they are usually only present in
single-digit totals at area playa lakes.
Also, was there any photo or audio-documentation of the Cassin's Kingbirds
at Lubbock Lake Landmark? I only see one eBird report with incomplete
details and only a tiny fraction of the number of Western Kingbirds that
breed at the site. The Eastern Meadowlark reports from that location are
intriguing as well.
Good birding!
Justin Bosler
Austin, TX
On Sun, Aug 5, 2018 at 2:11 PM, Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Lubbock received 0.88 inches of rain during July, way below the the
average July total of 2.13 inches bringing us up to 4.58 inches for
the year, increasingly far behind the year-to-date average of 10.68
inches. This left the majority of the region in severe to extreme
drought at the end of the month; still the worst I have seen since
2011. Highlights mostly fell into the categories of concentrations of
water birds as well as some of the breeders still expanding into the
region.
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. Water
Treatment Ponds have come to feature so prominently in these reports
that they will, henceforth, be referred to as WTP.
CACKLING GOOSE: 40 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 7/14/18 (GJ) and 2 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 7/15/18 (AH) the only reports - TYPICAL
NUMBERS FOR THE MONTH BUT VERY CONCENTRATED.
CANADA GOOSE: 20 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 7/14/18 (GJ) and 1 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 7/15/18 (AH) - TYPICAL NUMBERS FOR THE
MONTH BUT VERY CONCENTRATED.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 8 at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/27/18
(AH), 2 near Lone Star (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 20 near Wilson (Lynn)
on 7/27/18 (JB), 2 at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/28/18
(AH), and 12 at the FM 378 x FM 788 Playa (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) -
VERY LOW NUMBERS AND POOR SCATTER.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH)
and 40 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only reports - LOW
NUMBERS AND POOR SCATTER.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 1 at the Jayton WTP (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK),
2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/22/18 (KH), 2 near Lone Star
(Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), and 100 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) -
THE FIRST THREE SIGHTING MOST LIKELY PART OF OUR SMALL BREEDING
POPULATION; THE LAST SIGHTING THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF MIGRATION.
GADWALL: 10 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) and 2 at the Floydada
WTP (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS AND POOR
SCATTER.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 5 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only report
- VERY LOW NUMBERS; NO SCATTER.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 2 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only
report - LOW NUMBERS AND NO SCATTER.
REDHEAD: 10 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only report - LOW
NUMBERS AND NO SCATTER.
RUDDY DUCK: 30 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only report -
AVERAGE NUMBERS BUT PROBABLY MIGRATORY BIRDS.
SCALED QUAIL: 1 in northwest (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK) the only
report - VERY LOW NUMBERS AND NO SCATTER.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 near Lone Star (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH) and 1
at the FM 378 x FM 788 Playa (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) the only reports
- VERY LOW NUMBERS AND POOR SCATTER.
EARED GREBE: 10 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only report -
LOW NUMBERS AND NO SCATTER.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH,
photographs) - ACCIDENTAL TO OUR REGION DURING SUMMER; IN FACT, THE
FIRST JULY RECORD FOR THE LEAS AREA.
COMMON GROUND DOVE: 1 southwest of Jayton (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH,
RK) and 2 in northwest (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK) - ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION; SO FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE SIXTH RECORD FOR THE ENTIRE
REGION.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: Thirteen reports of 1-3 birds in the region
(Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Kent, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, DH,
AH, SK, RK, LM) - GOOD SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS, TYPICAL OF DROUGHT
PERIODS, DESPITE GOOD EFFORT IN FAVORED REGIONS.
COMMON POORWILL: 4 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 7/3/18 (SK), 1 near
Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH), and 1 near White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; WE WOULD GET MORE REPORTS
BUT THERE IS LITTLE NOCTURNAL BIRDING ALONG THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW: 1 at the Los Lingos Creek crossing of FM 1065
(Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE GIVEN THE POOR OBSERVER EFFORT
IN OUR EASTERNMOST COUNTIES.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/15/18
(AH), 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) non 7/23/18 (AH), and 1
female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/29/18 (LM) - RIGHT ON TIME BUT
NUMBERS A TAD LOW.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 4 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 7/2/18 (DHa), 2
at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 7/15/18 (AH) the only reports from the
first half of the month - EVIDENCE OF A POOR BREEDING SEASON THIS YEAR
- seven reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 11 birds, one report of
13 birds, one report of 30 birds, one report of 42 birds, and one
report of 150 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn)
during the remainder of the period (JB, DH, AH, PK) - MOST LIKELY THE
ONSET OF AN AS-YET RATHER SLOW MIGRATION.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 6 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 7/2/18 (DHa, JM) and
4 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 7/15/18 (AH) the only reports from the
firlst half hof the month - EVIDENCE OF A POOR BREEDING SEASON THIS
YEAR - five reports of 2-8 birds, two reports of 22 birds, one report
of 30 birds, one report of 63 birds, and one report of 350 birds in
the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn), during the remainder of the
period (JB, KH, PK, LM) - MOST LIKELY THE ONSET OF AN AS-YET RATHER
SLOW MIGRATION.
SNOWY PLOVER: 50 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only report -
GIVEN THE SPECIES STATUS AT SALT PLAYAS IN THE REGION, THIS COULD BE
TYPICAL AT THE SITE FOR THE END OF THE BREEDING SEASON OR IT COULD BE
A HORDE OF MIGRANTS.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 2 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only
report so far this season - LOW NUMBERS AS YET.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 3 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) the only report
so for this seasons - LOW NUMBERS AS YET.
STILT SANDPIPER: Fiver reports of 1-3 birds and one report of 18 birds
in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (AH, KH, PK,
LM) and 350 birds near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) - OTHER THAN THE
LYNN COUNTY REPORT, A SLUGGISH MIGRATION SO FAR.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 15 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), 20 at the CR
201 x FM 651 Playa (Crosby) on 7/28/18 (AH), 1 at the FM 378 x FM 788
Playa (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH), and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/29/18 (AH) the only reports - A SLUGGISH MIGRATION THUS FAR.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 7/24/18 (LM), 200 near
Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), 30 at the CR 201 x FM 651 Playa
(Crosby) on 7/28/18 (AH), and 5 near Aiken (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) -
LOW NUMBERS AND POOR SCATTER SO FAR THIS SEASON.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 5 at the CR 201 x FM 651 Playa (Crosby) on
7/28/18 (AH) the only report - VERY LOW NUMBERS AND NO SCATTER.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 7/22/18 (LM), 1 at the
CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 20 near Wilson (Lynn) on
7/27/18 (JB), 7 at the CR 201 x FM 651 Playa (Crosby) on 7/28/18 (AH),
and 2 near Aiken (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) - LOW NUMBERS AND POOR
SCATTER SO FAR THIS SEASON.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: Four reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 12
birds, and one report of 50 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, AH, KH, PK, LM) - A TAD ON THE
LOW SIDE.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Nine reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (AH, PK, LM) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SCATTER - THIS SPECIES SEEMS TO DO WELL DURING DROUGHT YEARS PROVIDED
SOME STEEP-SIDED OR ROCK-LINED, IN-TOWN PLAYAS PERSIST.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 at Jayton City Park (Kent) on 7/15/18 (RK), 1 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/22/18 (KH), 1 near Wilson (Lynn) on
7/27/18 (JB), 1 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH), and 1 at
Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 7/28/18 (PK) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 14
birds, and one report of 15 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, AH, KH, PK, LM) - LOWISH NUMBERS
BUT REASONABLY GOOD SCATTER GIVEN THE CONDITIONS.
WILLET: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/22/18 (KH) and 1 at the CR
201 x FM 651 Playa (Crosby) on 7/28/18 (AH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED
CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL MIGRANT ALBEIT IN SMALL
NUMBERS.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Eight reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 12
birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period
(JB, AH, LM) - LOWISH NUMBERS BUT REASONABLY GOOD SCATTER GIVEN THE
CONDITIONS.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 7 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/22/18 (AH), 700
near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), 4 at the CR 201 x FM 651 Playa
(Crosby) on 7/28/18 (AH), and 5 at the FM 378 x FM 788 Playa (Floyd)
on 7/28/18 (AH) the only reports - ASIDE FROM THE LYNN COUNTY REPORT
VERY LOW NUMBERS THUS FAR THIS SEASON.
BLACK TERN: 1 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), 1 at the FM 378 x FM
788 Playa (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH), 2 at the Floydada WTP (Floyd) on
7/28/18 (AH), 2 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH), 1 at the
CR 183 x FM 40 Playa (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH), and 2 at White River
Lake (Crosby) n 7/29/18 (AH) - PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER THUS
FAR THIS SEASON.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the
period (AH, LM) - CONTINUING BIRDS BUT NO EVIDENCE OF BREEDING AS OF
YET.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORATN: up to 33 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock)
throughout the period (AH, LM), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 7/15/18
(AH), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 7/24/18 (LM), and 4 at White River
Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN
SUMMER; NOW ESTABLISHED AS A BREEDING SPECIES AT VARIOUS SITES IN THE
REGION.
GREAT EGRET: Up to 20 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the
period (AH, LM), up to 12 birds at Dupree Park (Lubbock) throughout
the period (GJ, PJ, LM), 1-2 birds at 6 other parks scattered across
Lubbock (Lubbock) during the period (JC, AH, GJ, PK, LM, BS), 1 at
Jayton City Park (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 1 at the CR 121 x FM
37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 1 at the Floydada WTP (Floyd) on
7/28/18 (AH), and 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) -
GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER, DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONSIDERED.
SNOWY EGRET: Up to 69 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the
period (AH, LM), up to 10 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) throughout the
period (GJ, PJ, PK, LM), 1-3 birds at 6 other parks scattered across
Lubbock (Lubbock) during the period (AH, LM, PK, BS), 1 near Lone Star
(Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), and 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18
(AH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER, DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONSIDERED.
CATTLE EGRET: Up to 162 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the
period (AH, LM), six reports of 1-6 birds, one report of 30 birds, one
report of 36 birds, and one report of 50 birds in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, AH, KH) - GOOD NUMBERS
AND SCATTER, DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONSIDERED.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/1/18 (LM),
2 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 7/3/18 (JC), 2 at Erskine
Marsh (Lubbock) on 7/4/18 (LM), 1 at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa on
7/27/18 and 7/28/18 (AH), and 4 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on
7/28/18 (PK) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS AND VERY POOR SCATTER THIS
YEAR AS MOST ROOST SITES AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF LUBBOCK
HAVE COMPLETELY DRIED DOWN THIS YEAR.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 34 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/22/18 (KH), 4 at
the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 16 near Wilson
(Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), 2 at the CR 201 x FM 651 Playa (Crosby) on
7/28/18 (AH), 8 at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH),
and 2 at the FM 378 x FM 788 Playa (FLoyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) the only
reports - LOW NUMBERS AND POOR SCATTER.
WHITE-TAILED KITE: 1 at an undisclosed location (Lubbock) on 7/9/18
(KW) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW AN ALMOST
ANNUAL VISITOR AND OCCASIONAL BREEDING SPECIES.
NORTHERN HARRIER: 1 near Cereal (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) - A FAIRLY
EARLY REPORT; GENERALLY NOT BACK IN THE REGION UNTIL WELL INTO AUGUST.
MERLIN: 1 in O'Donnell (Lynn) on 7/5/18 (DH) - ANOTHER EARLY 'RAPTOR'
REPORT FOR THE REGION.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/22/18 (KH), 1
near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), 1 at the CR FF Arroyo (Lynn) on
7/28/18 (JB), and 1 in the woods north of White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/29/18 (AH) - A GOOD EARLY START FOR AT LEAST ONE MIGRANT SONGBIRD.
EASTERN PHOEBE: Six reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Floyd, Kent)
during the period (DH, AH, RK) - LOW NUMBERS AND SCATTER.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 2 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 7/27/18 and 7/28/18 (AH)
the only report - A TAD LOW BUT LITTLE EFFORT REPORTED FROM THE
NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE REGION.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD: 1-2 birds at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) from
7/3/18 through 7/5/18 (JC, BS) - EXTREMELY RARE DURING THE SUMMER; OUR
THIRD JULY RECORD.
EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - A
VERY RARE BREEDER IN THE REGION BUT THIS IS ONE OF OUR BETTER SITES.
BELL'S VIREO: 2 north of Clairemont (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 1
northwest of Clairemont (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 1 south of
Spur (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 2 southwest of Jayton (Kent) on
7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 2 at the Stelzer Ranch (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH,
AH, RK), 1 west of Jayton (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 2 at the Los
Lingos Creek x FM 1065 crossing (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 1 in the Gray
Mule area (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH), 5 near Lakeview (Floyd) on 7/28/18
(AH), 3 at the CR FF Arroyo (Lynn) on 7/28/18 (JB), 3 at White River
Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH), and 3 in the woods north of White River
Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW
ESTABLISHED AS A BREEDER IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE REGION
AND, BASED ON RECORDS FROM THE PANHANDLE PROPER, EXPANDING RAPIDLY TO
THE NORTH AND WEST.
COMMON RAVEN: Ten reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd,
Garza, Kent) during the period (DH, AH, SK, RK) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SCATTER FOR THE BREEDING SEASON.
PURPLE MARTIN: 10 remained in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/1/18 (GJ,
PJ), 3 at Erskine Marsh (Lubbock)on 7/4/18 (LM), 2 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 7/6/18 (PJ), 2 in Crosbyton (Crosby) on 7/14/18 (AH),1 at
the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 2 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH), and 1 over the woods north of White River
Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; TYPICAL
BY RECENT STANDARDS WHICH HAVE SEEN EARLIER DEPARTURE DATES FOR THE
SPECIES.
TREE SWALLOW: 5 near Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB) - RIGHT ON TIME FOR
THE FIRST SIGHTING OF THE SEASON.
BANK SWALLOW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/22/18 (KH) and 15 at
the CR FF Arroyo (Lynn) on 7/28/18 (JB) - RIGHT ON TIME AND GOOD
NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
CAVE SWALLOW - Numerous reports from the southern tiers of counties
(Kent, Garza, Lynn, Dickens, Crosby, Lubbock) no longer considered
noteworthy ... 1 at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH),
7 in Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 6 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd)
on 7/27/18 (AH), 8 near Lone Star (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 5 south of
Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH), 2 near Boothe (Floyd) on 7/28/18
(AH), and 14 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) - MOVING INTO
THE PANHANDLE PROPER AT THIS POINT: WILL PROBABLY FALL OFF THE NOTABLE
LIST FOR THE LEAS REGION THIS YEAR.
BUSHTIT: 1 southwest of Clairemont (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, RK) and 2 in
the woods north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - GOOD
NUMBERS AND SCATTER BY CURRENT STANDARDS, THE SPECIES HAVING ALMOST
VANISHED FROM THE REGION.
VERDIN: 2 near Lakeview (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH) the only report - LOW
NUMBERS GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT REPORTED FROM SUITABLE HABITAT.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/4/18 (LM), 1 at Lake Alan
Henry (Garza) on 7/12/18 (SK), and 1 in the Gray Mule area (Floyd) on
7/27/18 (AH) - EXPECTED NUMBERS AT EXPECTED SITES.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at the CR FF Arroyo (Lynn) on 7/28/18 (JB)
and 3 in the woods north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH)
the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE GIVEN THE OVERALL DECLINE OF THE
SPECIES, AS A BREEDER, THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 northwest of Clairemont (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH,
RK), 5 at the Kent County Golf Course (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK),
2 southwest of Clairemont (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 8 southwest
of Jayton (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 3 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH), and 2 in the woods north of White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - SEEMINGLY, A GOOD YEAR FOR THIS SPECIES AS
A BREEDER IN THE REGION.
FIELD SPARROW: 1 north of Clairemont (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 3
west of Jayton (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), and 4 in the fields
north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN SUMMER; NOW KNOWN AS A BREEDER
AT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SITES IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 1 north of Clairemont (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH,
RK), 1 southwest of Jayton (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK), 1 at the
White River crossing of FM 37 (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 2 near Wilson
(Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18
(AH), and 13 in the woods north of White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/29/18 (AH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN SUMMER;
NOW KNOWN AS A BREEDER - IN APPROPRIATE HABITAT - THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 11 at the Jayton WTP (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH,
AH, RK), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/22/18 (KH), 4 at the CR
121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/27/18 and 7/28/18 (AH), 12 near Wilson
(Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), 7 south of Lockney (Floyd) on 7/18/18 (AH),
and 10 at the CR FF Arroyo (Lynn) on 7/28/18 (JB) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SCATTER FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male near Providence (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH) and 4
males in the woods north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH)
the only reports - LOW.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2 at the Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 7/4/18 (LM),
2 at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 1 at the Los
Lingos Creek crossing of FM 1065 (Floyd) on 7/27/18 (AH), 8 near
Wilson (Lynn) on 7/27/18 (JB), and 1 in the woods north of White River
Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS AT REMAINING HABITAT BUT
LITTLE HABITAT REMAINING.
SUMMER TANAGER: 1 male west of Jayton (Kent) on 7/14/18 (DH, AH, RK,
photographs) the only report - A TAD LOW GIVEN THAT AT LEAST THREE
SUSPECTED BREEDING SITES WERE WELL-COVERED.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 male near Lakeview (Floyd) on 7/28/18 (AH), 1 male
at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18 (AH), and 4 males/3 females/2
fledglings in the woods north of White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/29/18
(AH) - LOW NUMBERS AND POOR SCATTER THIS YEAR WITH CONSIDERABLE
EFFORT REPORTED FROM THE SPECIES' BREEDING RANGE IN THE REGION.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, JC=Jim Crites, DHa=Danny Hancock, DH=Drew
Harvey, AH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat
Jury, SK=Stephen Kasper, PK=Phillip Kite, RK=Rich Kostecke, LM=Liam
McGuire, JM=Jennifer Miller, BS=Bobby Schat, KW=Katheryn Watson,
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock
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