[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for June - Long

  • From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2012 12:16:18 -0700 (PDT)

JUNE 2012 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS:

With
 1.60 inches of rain during the month and 5.25 inches for the year, 
Lubbock finished up t 5.25 inches for the year - even further behind the 
average year-to-date total 
of 8.55  inches but, thankfully, still well 
above the 2011 year-to-date total of 1.10 inches.  Though some playas 
experienced brief to ongoing periods of recharge, the rains of June seemed to 
fall into the category of too little, too late ... and there was a pronounced 
deficit of waterbirds about this summer.  There were some oddball late migrant 
or extremely early post-breeding wanderers about but, overall, birding was 
pretty slow despite some fairly determined observer effort.  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.

CACKLING GOOSE: 4 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 6/16/12 (GJ) the only report - 
IT IS ALWAYS WORTH LOOKING THROUGH THE SUMMERING CANADA GEESE IN LUBBOCK ... 
AND WE ARE GETTING USED TO HAVING A FEW CACKLING GEESE AS A RESULT.

GADWALL: 10 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 6/17/12 (CC) the only report - LOW BY 
RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.

MALLARD x 'MEXICAN' DUCK: 1 female persisted at Clapp Park through 6/26/12 (AC, 
AnH) - DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE MATED; HAS NOT YET BEEN SEEN IN THE COMPANY OF 
ANY YOUNG AND THERE ARE MANY MALLARD BROODS AT THIS SITE THIS YEAR.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Five sighting of pairs in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Garza) 
during the period (AnH, KH) the only reports - VERY LOW.

CINNAMON TEAL: 2 on the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 6/8/12 (KH) the only report - 
LOW.

NORTHERN SHOVELER: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 6/10/12 (AnH), 11 at 
Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (SB, CC, CrC, AvH, CR), and 2 on the Himmel Farm 
(Crosby) on 6/30/12 (KH) - PROBABLY LOWER THAN NORMAL BUT A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS 
STORY FOR A DABBLER IN OUR REGION THIS SUMMER.

NORTHERN PINTAIL: 2 near Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH) the only report - LOW.

RUDY DUCK: 1 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (CC), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) 
on 6/17/12 (CC), and 7 at the Old Dairy Place Playa (Crosby) on 6/25/12 (KH) - 
PROBABLY LOWER THAN NORMAL BUT A SUCCESS STORY BY THIS YEAR'S STANDARDS.

LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN: 1 northwest of Plains (Cochran) on 6/9/12 (AnH) and 1 
southwest of Lehman (Cochran) on 6/9/12 (AnH) - HARD TO COME BY THIS SUMMER; 
MAY HAVE BEEN SURVEYED TOO LATE IN THE YEAR.

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (CC) - FORMERLY 
ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION, NOW ANNUAL AND MAY SOON BECOME A BREEDING SPECIES IN 
THE REGION, GIVEN THE INCREASING NUMBER OF SUMMER SIGHTINGS.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 3 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 6/17/12 (CC, AnH) 
- A PAIR BRED AT THIS SITE LAST YEAR; NO NEST HAS BEEN OBSERVED SO FAR THIS 
YEAR.

GREAT EGRET: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 6/9/12 (AnH) and 1 near Southland 
(Lynn) on 6/17/12 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.

SNOWY EGRET: Five reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock) during 
the period (CC, AC, AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.


CATTLE EGRET: Seven reports o 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-20 birds in 
the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (CC, AnH, KH) - 
AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS BUT VERY LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS.

YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 on the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 6/24/12 (KH) and 4 
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 6/26/12 (AC, AnH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE.

WHITE-FACED IBIS: 16 on the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 6/16/12 (KH), 1 near Post 
(Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH), and 6 near the Abernathy Country Club (Hale) on 
6/23/12 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW.

BALD EAGLE: 2 adult and 1 subadult near Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 6/18/12 (RN, 
PS) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION DURING THE SUMMER; THE PROXIMITY OF THE SIGHTING 
TO AN INCREASINGLY WELL-WOODED LAKE MAKES ONE WONDER ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF 
BREEDING.

HARRIS'S HAWK: At least two pairs at two nests, one pair accompanied by one 
subadult in the vicinity of TTU HSC and the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) throughout 
the month (AnH) - THE FIFTH YEAR OF BREEDING AT THIS SITE; THE FIRST YEAR WITH 
MULTIPLE PAIRS.

SNOWY PLOVER: 16 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (SB, CC, CrC, AvH, CR) - A 
PRETTY GOOD REPORT FOR THIS YEAR; LYNN COUNTY HAS HAD SOME OF THE BEST AND MOST 
PERSISTENT WATER IN THE REGION.

BLACK-NECKED STILT: Ten reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 18 birds in the 
region (Cochran, Crosby, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lynn) during the period 
(AnH, KH, ML) - VERY LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.

AMERICAN AVOCET: Fourteen reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-20 
birds in the region (Cochran, Crosby, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, 
Lynn) during the period (SB, CC, CrC, AnH, AvH, KH, ML, CP, CR) - LOW BY RECENT 
YEARS' STANDARDS.

INCA DOVE: 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 6/17/12 (CC) the only report - WE KNEW 
THE SPECIES HAD TAKEN A SHARP DOWNTURN FROM ITS FORMER STATUS AS UNCOMMON 
THROUGHOUT THE REGION ... BUT WE HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS THIS BAD!  THE SPECIES 
MAY BE ON THE BRINK OF DISAPPEARING FROM THE REGION ALTOGETHER.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 on the Andersen Ranch (Dickens) on 6/1/12 (CA) - SEEMS 
A BIT LOW BUT THE BIRD WAS NEAR ONE OF THE WELL-KNOWN BREEDING SITES FOR THE 
SPECIES IN OUR REGION.

NORTHERN FLICKER: 1 yellow-shafted bird was seen at Silver Falls Rest Area 
(Crosby) on 6/6/12 (SC) - THE SPECIES IS A RARE BREEDER IN THE REGION AND 
SUMMER REPORTS ARE BECOMING SCARCER.

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/2/12 (AnH) - ACCIDENTAL 
IN JUNE; PRESUMABLY A LATE MIGRANT.

WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 1 at the Whiteface Cemetery (Cochran) on 6/10/12 (AnH, 
photographs) - CASUAL IN JUNE; PRESUMABLY A LATE MIGRANT.

EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 6/6/12 (SC) the only 
report - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS; SEVERAL OF THE MORE TYPICAL BREEDING 
SITES WERE SURVEYED DURING THE MONTH WITH NO LUCK.

BELL'S VIREO: 1 carrying food to a nest west of Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH) 
and 1 carrying food to a nest northeast of Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH) - 
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; NOW AN ESTABLISHED BREEDER; PARTICULARLY 
BELOW THE CAPROCK.

COMMON RAVEN: 2 near Floydada (Floyd) on 6/2/12 (AnH), 1 on the Himmel Farm 
(Crosby) on 6/5/12 (KH), 1 in eastern (Lubbock) on 6/11/12 (KH), 1 on the 
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 6/12/12 (KH), and 2 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/23/12 
(AnH) - AVERAGE NUMBERS FOR THIS RECENTLY REESTABLISHED BREEDER IN THE REGION.

PURPLE MARTIN: Five pairs produced at least 16 young at a Lubbock colony 
(Lubbock) by 6/16/12 (GJ), 3 adults in Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH), 2 at 
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 6/17/12 (CC), and 2 adults with 1 fledgling in 
Springlake (Lamb) on 6/24/12 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE REGION; NO REPORTS 
FROM THE LARGE COLONIES IN DICKENS COUNTY THIS MONTH.

CAVE SWALLOW: 12 near Matador (Motley) on 6/2/12 (AnH), 3 at Silver Falls Rest 
Area (Crosby) on 6/6/12 (SC), 1 at the Tahoka Lake Pond (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (SB, 
CC, CrC, AvH, CR), 2 at the Tahoka Lake House (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (SB, CC, CrC, 
AvH, CR), 14 well west of Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH), 2 just west of Post 
(Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH), 6 just northeast of Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH), 
and 4 well northeast of Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.

BROWN THRASHER: 2 carrying food to a nest northeast of Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 
(AnH) - THOUGH IT SHOULD BE A REASONABLY COMMON BREEDER IN PORTIONS OF THE 
COUNTY BELOW THE CAPROCK THIS SPECIES IS RARELY REPORTED FROM THIS COUNTY.


COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at Tahoka Lake Pond (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (CC, CrC), 1 at 
Mae Simmons Pond (Lubbock) on 6/17/12 (CC), 4 males and 1 female tending 2 
fledglings at the Petersburg Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 6/23/12 (AnH), 1 male 
singing at a willow thicket near the Abernathy Country Club (Hale) on 6/23/12 
(AnH) - A RARE BREEDER IN THE REGION; ALL OF THESE BIRDS WERE IN APPROPRIATE 
HABITAT AND MOST LIKELY REPRESENT A BETTER THAN AVERAGE YEAR OF BREEDING FOR 
OUR AREA.

AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 6/26/12 (AnH) - CASUAL IN 
OUR REGION; GENERALLY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH AS A LATE MIGRANT - THIS 
BIRD WAS MORE LIKELY A POST-BREEDING OR NON-BREEDING WANDERER.

YELLOW WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 6/2/12 (SC), 1 near Floydada 
(Floyd) on 6/2/12 (AnH), and 1 near Abernathy Country Club (Hale) on 6/22/12 
(fide AnH) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN JUNE; THE FIRST TWO WERE LATE MIGRANTS 
- THE LATE JUNE SIGHTING IS DEFINITELY ODD.

PYRRHULOXIA: 2 pairs tending nests northeast of Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH) 
the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE BREEDER.

DICKCISSEL: 1 on the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 6/16/12 (KH) was the only report - 
AMAZINGLY LOW; THIS SPECIES IS USUALLY EASILY FOUND THROUGHOUT THE REGION 
DURING THE BREEDING SEASON; THIS YEAR IT IS CLOSE TO ABSENT.

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1 male west of Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH) the only 
report - GENERALLY SCARCE IN JUNE, THIS WAS A BIT OF A LET DOWN AFTER A 
SPECTACULAR SPRING.

BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 at Tahoka Lake Draw (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (SB, CC, CrC, AvH, 
CR), 2 at Tahoka Lake House (Lynn) on 6/16/12 (SB, CC, CrC, AvH, CR), 1 male in 
Post (Garza) on 6/17/12 (AnH), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 6/17/12 (CC), and 
1 female/1 male in Earth (Lamb) on 6/24/12 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS 
RECENTLY ESTABLISHED SUMMER VISITOR AND BREEDER>

OBSERVERS: CA=Carl Andersen, SB=Susan 
Bergeson, CC=Cameron Carver, CrC=Craig Carver, SC=Steve
 Collins, AC=Anita Cooper, AnH=Anthony 
Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson,
 KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George 
Jury, ML=Manuel De Leon, RN=Reid Norman, CP=Cathleen Pollard, CR=Clayton 
Rickett,  PS=Peter Syapin.

Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org

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