With 3.96 inches of rain during the month, well above the average July
tally of 2.13 inches, Lubbock was at 21.98 inches of rain for the year,
still over twice the average year-to-date total of 10.70 inches - due
mostly to the incredibly heavy rains of May. The continued impact on
waterbirds is evident, with quite a few reports of summering waterfowl,
summering waders, and arriving shorebirds though the latter seem to be
moving a bit slowly this migratory season.
I am unable to create a usable summary of eBird data of sightings in the
region during the period covered - IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE AVAILABLE.
Comments at the end of each species summary have been adjusted, to the best
of my abilities, to reflect this reduction in reports.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 persisted a Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through July (AH,
PKe), 3 persisted at the Lake Six/Mae Simmons Park interface (Lubbock)
through July (AH), and 5 were noted at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 7/15/15
and 7/16/15 (GJ, PJ) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR OUR SUMMERING CREW OF THIS SPECIES.
CANADA GOOSE: 2 were noted at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 7/12/15 (AH)
for the only report - QUITE LOW; SOME OF THE USUAL SUMMERING BIRDS APPEAR
TO HAVE VANISHED.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Twelve reports of 1 to 7 birds in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Garza, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, KH) - ABOUT AVERAGE WHICH
IS QUITE GOOD, ACTUALLY, CONSIDERING HOW FEW FOLK ARE REPORTING BIRDS THESE
DAYS.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 at the CR 152 Playa (Crosby) on 7/15/15 (KH) the only
report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW-DENSITY SUMMER RESIDENT
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 2 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) the only
report - A TAD LOW.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 11 along CR 232 (Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB), 2 south of
Crosbyton (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH), and 19 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on
7/23/15 (MDL) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS VERY RARE BREEDER.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 2 along CR 232 (Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB) and 2 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (KH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS LOW-DENSITY BREEDER.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: One well-photographed female at a park in south
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 7/4/15 and 7/5/15 (AL, photographs) - ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION IN SUMMER; IN FACT, THIS IS OUR FIRST JULY RECORD.
RUDDY DUCK: Ten reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Lynn)
during the period (JB, MDL, KH) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER FOR THIS RARE
BREEDER.
SCALED QUAIL: 1 near White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) - THE
SPECIES IS HAVING A BIT OF A REBOUND IN THE REGION THIS YEAR; THIS IS THE
FIRST I HAVE SEEN IN CROSBY COUNTY IN SOME TIME.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 male at CR 156 x CR 209 (Crosby) on 7/21/15 (KH) -
A TAD LOW BUT NUT MUCH OBSERVER EFFORT REPORTED FROM OUR NORTHERN TIER OF
COUNTIES; THE SPECIES CURRENT 'STRONGHOLD' IN THE REGION.
EARED GREBE: 1 at the CR 152 Playa (Crosby) on 7/5/15 (KH), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (KH), and 27 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 7/23/15
(MDL) - A BIG WOW ON THE LAST REPORT! GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS SPECIES WHICH
ONLY BREEDS IN THE REGION DURING THE WETTEST OF YEARS.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 1 persisted at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock)
through the period (AH, PKe) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN
AS A LOW-DENSITY RESIDENT AND OCCASIONAL BREEDER.
GREAT EGRET: Seven reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock)
during the period (TnD, DH, AH, EH, JJ, GJ, PJ, DM, JW) - A PICKUP FROM THE
EARLY SUMMER NUMBERS; POST BREEDING ARRIVALS TO THE REGION'S ROOST SITES?
SNOWY EGRET: Eight reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 11 birds, and one
report of 16 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (TnD,
DH,AH, EH, JJ, PKe, DM, JW) - A PICKUP FROM THE EARLY SUMMER NUMBERS; POST
BREEDING ARRIVALS TO THE REGION'S ROOST SITES?
CATTLE EGRET: Four reports of 1-10 birds, three reports of 11-25 birds, and
one report of 43-46 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock) during the
period (JB, DH, AH, PKe) - A BIT OF A DROP SINCE JUNE BUT THIS WOULD BE
ACCOUNTED FOR ENTIRELY BY THE ABSENCE OF BREEDING BIRD SURVEY EFFORTS -
MUCH BETTER THAN DURING RECENT DROUGHT YEARS.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the period
(TnD, AH, EH, JJ, DM, JW) the only report - A BIT OF A PUZZLE; DESPITE
GREAT WATER LEVELS ALL BUT ONE OF THE TYPICAL BREEDING SITES HAVE BEEN
VACANT THIS SUMMER.
WHITE=-FACED IBIS: 1 at the CR 152 Playa (Crosby) on 7/5/15 (KH), 20 along
CR 232 (Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB), and 8 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on
7/19/15 (AH) the only reports received - A BIT OF A DROPOFF SINCE JUNE;
EARLY DEPARTURE OR FEW REPORTERS?
WHITE-TAILED KITE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH,
photographs) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION - OUR 20th RECORD - BUT THE SPECIES
HAS ATTEMPTED BREEDING AT THIS SITE.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 2 along CR 232 (Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION DURING THE SUMMER, THIS IS OUR FIRST JULY RECORD. IT SHOULD BE
NOTED THAT THE SPECIES IS A RARE BREEDER IN THE PANHANDLE PROPER.
SORA: 5 along CR 232 (Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB) and 1 at the CR 152 Playa
(Crosby) on 7/26/15 (KH) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION DURING THE SUMMER,
THESE REPRESENT OUR 4th and 5th JULY RECORDS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE
SPECIES IS A RARE BREEDER IN THE PANHANDLE PROPER.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 1 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH), 1
somewhere in (Lynn)on 7/23/15 (MDL), and 8 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on
7/23/15 (MDL) the only reports that came in - A BIG DROPOFF FROM JUNE BUT
FEW REPORTS OF NON-RARITIES CAME IN FROM THE BETTER COUNTIES.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 80 birds in
the region (Bailey, Crosby, Garza, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB,
MDL, AH, KH) - NUMBERS CONTINUED GOOD AS DID SCATTER; A NICE SUMMER FOR
THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
SNOWY PLOVER: 4 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 7/3/15 (MDL), 1 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB), 2 at Baileyboro Lake (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB),
and 65 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS GIVEN
THE SPECIES RESTRICTION, AS A BREEDER, TO OUR FEW SALT PLAYAS.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB), 3 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/26/15
(AH), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 7/26/15 (AH) - A GOOD START TO
WHAT MIGHT BE A GOOD SEASON.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB) and 2 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) the only reports so far - A TAD
LOW BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT AUGUST BRINGS US.
WILLET: 1 somewhere in (Lynn) on 7/23/15 (MDL) and 2 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 7/23/15 (JB) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL IN THE REGION; NOW
KNOWN TO BE SPARSE BUT ANNUAL DURING MIGRATION.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2 along CR 232 (Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB) and 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) the only reports so far - A TAD LOW.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1 along CR 232 (Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB) the only report -
QUITE LOW.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) the only
report - LOW.
STILT SANDPIPER: 58 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) the only
report so far - GOOD NUMBERS BUT NOT MUCH SCATTER.
SANDERLING: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; OUR 22nd RECORD AND THE SHOREBIRD OF THE MONTH!
LEAST SANDPIPER: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 7/11/15 (AH), 1 along CR 232
(Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB), 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB), and 10
at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) the only reports so far - A TAD
LOW.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB), 12 at
Baileyboro Lake (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB), and 425 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)
on 7/25/15 (JB) - INCREDIBLE NUMBERS - THE MNWR REPORT IS RECORD BREAKING
FOR A SINGLE SITE IN THE REGION - BUT SCATTER ABSURDLY POOR.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 at Baileyboro Lake (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) and 70 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) the only reports - GOOD NUMBERS BUT
VERY POOR SCATTER ... SO FAR.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON MIGRANT THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB) the only
report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS
RUN LATER IN THE REGION THAN THEIR SHORT-BILLED RELATIVES.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 8 along CR 232 (Floyd) on 7/14/15 (JB), 200-300 at a
salt lake in (Lynn) on 7/23/15 (MDL), 1750 at Baileyboro Lake (Bailey) on
7/25/15 (JB), 415 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB), 1 at the CR 152
Playa (Crosby) on 7/26/15 (KH), and 2 near Post (Garza) on 7/31/15 (AH) -
EXCELLENT NUMBERS AND SCATTER STARTING TO PICK UP TOWARDS THE END OF THE
PERIOD.
BLACK TERN: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) the only report so
far - LOW.
INCA DOVE: 1 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 7/15/15 (GJ, PJ), 2 at Andrews
Park (Lubbock) on 7/16/15 (GJ, PJ), and 1 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) on
7/26/15 (AR) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND
SPECIES.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 7/3/15 (MDL), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 7/11/15 (AH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/12/15 (AH),
and 15 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) - A NICE RECOVERY FROM
THESE PAST FEW, DROUGHT YEARS.
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) the only
report - A RARE, POSSIBLY VERY RARE, BREEDER IN OUR EASTERN, MORE WOODED
AND MORE POORLY BIRDED COUNTIES.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/19/15 (AH), 1
male in a LIttlefiled yard (Lamb) on 7/24/15 (AR), and 1 male at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 7/25/15 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE BEGINNING OF HUMMINGBIRD
SEASON.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Baileyboro Lake (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) -
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN THE SUMMER.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 7/12/15 (PKe) - ACCIDENTAL
TO THE REGION IN THE SUMMER THOUGH IT IS SUSPECTED OF BREEDING IN BAILEY
AND LAMB COUNTY DURING PEAK YEARS.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/27/15 (KH) - A TAD
EARLY BUT WE GENERALLY GET AN EMPID OR TWO, USUALLY LEAST FLYCATCHER, IN
LATE JULY THESE DAYS.
BELL'S VIREO: 2 males defending territories at White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/19/15 (AH) the only reports - THE SPECIES IS MOVING INTO THE REGION AS A
BREEDER AND MORE OBSERVER EFFORT IN THE RIGHT HABITAT WOULD PROBABLY BE
REWARDED.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 near Owens (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) and 1 near Post (Garza)
on 7/31/15 (AH) the only reports that came in - A TAD LOW.
PURPLE MARTIN: 8 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) and 2 at
Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 7/26/15 (AH) the only reports that came in -
A BIT ON THE LOW SIDE.
TREE SWALLOW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB) - ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION DURING SUMMER. THIS IS, IN FACT, OUR FIRST JULY RECORD!
BANK SWALLOW: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/18/15 (JB) and 2 at
Baileyboro Lake (Bailey) on 7/25/15 (JB) - ALSO A BIT ON THE EARLY SIDE;
THIS SPECIES TYPICALLY SHOWS UP, AS A MIGRANT, IN AUGUST.
CAVE SWALLOW: Five reports of 2-11 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens,
Garza, Lubbock) during the period (CC, AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 12 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) the
only report that came in - DECLINING THROUGHOUT THE REGION; COINCIDENT WITH
DROUGHT-INDUCED DAMAGE TO REGIONAL WOODLANDS.
VERDIN: 2 adults with a single fledgling at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/12/15
(AH) the only report - INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION; EVEN
AT SITES WHERE IT WAS FORMERLY COMMON.
CAROLINA WREN: 2 adults and single fledgling at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock)
on 7/12/15 (AH), 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH), and 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 7/26/15 (AH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS RARE BREEDER.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 4 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) the
only report - SCARCE AND HIGHLY LOCALIZED TO WOODLANDS DURING THE BREEDING
SEASON.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 7/12/15 (AH)
and 1 male at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 7/26/15 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS SCARCE BREEDER AND SUMMER RESIDENT.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 41 were tallied during the annual survey at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 - THE 'COLONY' CONTINUES STRONG AT THIS SITE.
FIELD SPARROW: 2 males defending territories and 1 bird carrying food at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH) - THIS BREEDING SITE CONTINUES TO
SUPPORT A FEW OF THESE BIRDS BUT IT SEEMS A BIT ON THE SHAKY SIDE.
SUMMER TANAGER: 1 female carrying food at White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/19/15 (AH) - RECENTLY DOCUMENTED AS A BREEDER AT THIS SITE; THE ONLY
KNOWN SITE FOR SPECIES IN THE LEAS REGION THOUGH MOTLEY, DICKENS AND KENT
COUNTIES WOULD BE WORTHY OF EXPLORATION.
INDIGO BUNTING: 4 females and 7 males at White River Lake (Crosby) during
the annual survey on 7/19/15 (AH) - THOUGH NUMBERS ARE NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS
THOSE FOR THE CHATS AT THIS SITE, THE WOODS NORTH OF WHITE RIVER LAKE
REMAIN THE BEST SITE IN THE REGION TO LOCATE BREEDING INDIGO BUNTINGS.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 16 at Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 7/23/15 (MDL) the only
rerport - SCARCE IN SUMMER BUT MORE MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED THIS YEAR
GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF HABITAT AVAILABLE.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 7/12/15 (AH), 2 males at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/19/15 (AH), 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
7/26/15 (AH), and 2 males in Littlefiled (Lamb) on 7/26/15 (AR) - A TAD ON
THE LOW SIDE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, CC=Cameron Carver, MDL=Manuel De Leon,
TnD=Toni Dolan, DH=Danny Hancock, AH=Anthony Hewetson, EH=Ellen
Hildebrandt, KH=Kelly Himmel, JJ=Jan Jannett, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury,
PKe=Peter Keyel, AL=Alan Livingston, DM=Daria McKelvey, AR=Anona Roberts,
JW=Janice Whittington.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
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