Lubbock received 1.02 inches of rain during the month, well below the
average June total of 2.98 inches, and is now at 6.17 inches for the year
... even further short, compared to the end of May, of the average
year-to-date total of 8.55 inches. Playas held strong in several
counties, however, and most of the highlights could, at least loosely, be
described as waterbirds.
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.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK: 1 was seen near Higginbotham Park (Lubboc) on
6/4/16 (AH) - THIS SPECIES WAS VIEWED AS ACCIDENTAL BUT DURING THE PAST
DECADE HAS BEEN DETECTED ANNUALLY IN INCREASING NUMBERS.
SNOW GOOSE: 1 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/7/16 (JB) - THE BIRD WAS NOT
DESCRIBED AS INJURED IN THE REPORT I RECEIVED; A LATE LINGERER?
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 persisted at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the
period (AH) - A FEW, GENERALLY INJURED BIRDS, LINGER THROUGH MOST SUMMERS.
CANADA GOOSE: 1 persisted at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period
(AH) and 3 were at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 6/25/16 (JJ, KP, JW) - AGAIN,
TYPICAL SUMMERING NUMBERS; NO EVIDENCE OF BREEDING IN THE REGION THIS
SEASON.
GADWALL: 2 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB), 10 near Wind Farm (Floyd)
on 6/6/16 (JB), 6 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/15/16 (JB), and 2 near
Rushing Chapel (Floyd) on 6/18/16 (AH) - GOOD BREEDING NUMBERS; NOT
SURPRISINGLY IN THE COUNTY THAT HAS THE MOST PLAYAS.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Seventeen reports of 1-10 birds, five reports of 11-18
birds, and one report of 30 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Garza,
Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, JJ, KP, NP, JW) - GOOD
NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS, SUGGESTING CONSIDERABLE POST-DROUGHT
RECOVERY.
CINNAMON TEAL: 2 at the Sundown Water Treatment Ponds (WTP hereafter) in
(Hockley) on 6/4/16 (AH), 4 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB), 10 near
Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/15/16 (JB), 2 near Floydada (Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH),
and 2 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 6/26/16 (NP) - GOOD BREEDING NUMBERS
BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: Seven reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd,
Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (AH, NP) - GOOD BREEDING NUMBERS
BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 2 near Roundup (Hockley) on 6/12/16 (AH), 1 near
Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH), 2 near Roundup (Hockley) on 6/30/16
(AH), and 2 near Anton (Hockley) on 6/30/16 (AH) - SURPRISINGLY LOW
NUMBERS, GIVEN THE GOOD NUMBERS OF OTHER DABBLING DUCKS LINGERING TO BREED
IN THE REGION THIS SEASON.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: Five reports of 1-5 birds at various playas in (Floyd)
during the period (JB, AH) - GOOD BREEDING NUMBERS, BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS; NOT SURPRISINGLY IN THE COUNTY THAT HAS THE MOST PLAYAS.
REDHEAD: 4 at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 6/4/16 (AH), 2 near Dougherty
(Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB), 2 near Floydada (Floyd) on 6/18/16 (AH), and 2 near
Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH) the only reports - SURPRISINGLY LOW
NUMBERS, GIVEN THE GOOD NUMBERS OF OTHER DUCKS LINGERING TO BREED IN THE
REGION THIS SEASON.
RUDDY DUCK: 14 at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 6/4/16 (AH), 15 near
Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 6/11/16
(AH), 40 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/15/16 (JB), and 2 near Abernathy
(Hale) on 6/18/16 (AH) - GOOD BREEDING NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
GAMBEL'S QUAIL: 9 at the Terrace Cemetery (Garza) on 6/4/16 (SF, m.ob.) -
NOT NATIVE TO THE REGION BUT THE SITUATION SHOULD BE MONITORED AS
INTRODUCED BIRDS HAVE BECOME ESTABLISHED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE REGION AT
TIMES.
SCALED QUAIL: Twenty-nine reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 12 birds,
and one report of 16 birds in the region (Cochran, Garza, Hockley, Yoakum)
during the period (AH) - EXCELLENT NUMBERS AND GOOD SCATTER FOR A SPECIES
THAT CAME CLOSE TO VANISHING FROM THE REGION DURING THE RECENT DROUGHT.
NORTHERN BOBWHITE: AS WITH SCALED QUAIL, EVIDENCE OF RECOVERY FROM THE
DROUGHT PERIOD WAS EXCEPTIONAL WITH HIGH NUMBERS REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: Ten reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Floyd, Hale,
Hockley) during the period (AH, NP) - GOOD NUMBERS; MORE EVIDENCE OF AT
LEAST SOME DROUGHT RECOVERY IN THE REGION.
LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN: 1 seen in (Hockley) on 6/27/16 (AH) the only report
from the region in some time - A VERY ODD SPOT BUT THERE ARE OTHER RECORDS,
THROUGHOUT THE SPECIES' RANGE, OF POST-BREEDING VAGRANCY.
EARED GREBE: 2 at the Sundown WTP (Hockley) on 6/4/16 (AH), 2 near
Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB), 12 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/15/16
(JB), and 1 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE
LIMITED AMOUNT OF BREEDING THIS SPECIES IS CAPABLE OF IN THE REGION.
GREAT EGRET: Four reports of single birds in (Lubbock) during the period
(AH) - A TAD LOW BUT THERE WAS LITTLE REPORTED BIRDING EFFORT AT FAVORABLE
SITES.
SNOWY EGRET: Eight reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 11 birds in the
region (Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (AH, JJ, KP, NP, JW) - A
TAD LOW BUT THERE WAS LITTLE REPORTED BIRDING EFFORT AT FAVORABLE SITES.
CATTLE EGRET: Twenty reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-25 birds
in the region (Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (AH,
NP) - A TAD LOW BUT THERE WAS LITTLE REPORTED BIRDING EFFORT AT FAVORABLE
SITES.
GREEN HERON: LOW NUMBERS REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE REGION DURING THE PERIOD;
THIS IS A SPECIES THAT IS NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF INCREASED WATER
AVAILABILITY.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 2 near Cone (Crosby) on 6/19/16 (AH) and 1 at
the Anton Ponds (Hockley) on 6/30/16 (AH) - SOME GOOD REPORTS AWAY FROM THE
KNOWN ROOSTS AT IN-TOWN SITES IN LUBBOCK.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: Nine reports of 2-6 birds in the region (Floyd, Hale,
Hockley) during the period (AH, NP) - VERY LOW NUMBERS, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF
HABITAT AVAILABLE IN THE REGION; THE ODD TIMING OF RAINS IN THE REGION THIS
YEAR PROBABLY LED THESE BIRDS TO OVERLOOK THE REGION DURING PASSAGE.
HARRIS'S HAWK: 1 in (Cochran) on 6/27/16 (AH) - RARE TO THE REGION; THIS
BIRD WAS NEAR SUITABLE BREEDING HABITAT. THE EXACT LOCATION IS NOT BEING
REPORTED DUE TO RECENT POACHING OF THE SPECIES BY RAPTOR ENTHUSIASTS.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Seventeen reports of 2-10 birds and one report of 16
birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Hockley, Lynn) during the period
(AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR BREEDING IN SEMI-WET YEARS; SOME RECOVERY FROM
DROUGHT YEARS SHOWN.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Twenty reports of 2-10 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd,
Garza, Hale, Hockley,) during the period (JB, AH, NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
BREEDING IN SEMI-WET YEARS; SOME RECOVERY FROM DROUGHT YEARS SHOWN.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 4 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 6/26/16 (NP) and 3
near Roundup (Hockley) on 6/30/16 (AH) - WERE MOST LIKELY EARLY SOUTHBOUND
MIGRANTS.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 6/26/16 (NP) - WERE
MOST LIKELY EXTREMELY EARLY SOUTHBOUND MIGRANTS.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 8 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 6/25/16 (AR) - WERE QUITE
POSSIBLY BREEDERS - AS THIS SITE IS AT THE SOUTHEASTERN EDGE OF THE
SPECIES' BREEDING DISTRIBUTION.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 2 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 6/28/16 (CL, RL) - WERE MOST
LIKELY EXTREMELY EARLY SOUTHBOUND MIGRANTS.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 2 near Floydada (Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH) - WERE MOST
LIKELY BREEDERS AS THE SPECIES DOES BREED IN THE REGION, ALBEIT IN SMALL
NUMBERS, DURING WET YEARS.
INCA DOVE: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 6/16/16 (GJ, PJ), 2 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 6/18/16 to 6/19/16 (AH), and 3 in southwest
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 6/30/16 (GJ, PJ) - MORE REPORTS THAN HAVE BEEN
RECEIVED IN RECENT JUNES; THE DROUGHT RECOVERY MAY FAVOR THE SHELTER THESE
BIRDS NEED TO PERSIST IN THE PRESENCE OF AN EVER-SWELLING WHITE-WINGED DOVE
POPULATION.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 near Post (Garza) on 6/12/16 (AH) and 1 at the Silver
Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 6/18/16 (AH) - TYPICAL SHOWING FOR THE THIS
LOW-DENSITY CAPROCK ESCARPMENT DENIZEN.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 2 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB), 1 near Wind Farm
(Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB), 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 6/18/16 (AH), 2 with 4
fledglings near Plains (Yoakum) on 6/26/16 (AH), 2 with 3 fledglings near
Pep (Hockley) on 6/27/16 (AH), 2 with 4 fledglings near Petit (Hockley) on
6/27/16 (AH), and 2 with 4 fledglings in Pep (Hockley) on 6/27/16 (AH) -
SAY'S PHOEBES DO NOT BREED IN THE REGION EVERY YEAR - THIS MANY REPORTS IS
TRULY EXCEPTIONAL.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 2 well-separated males east of Matador (Motley) on
6/11/16 (DB, LB) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW CASUAL IN ALL
SEASONS AND, INCREASINGLY, SUSPECTED OF BREEDING.
EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 6/18/16 (AH) - A BIT EARLY FOR
POST-BREEDING WANDERING; MIGHT BE REPRESENTATIVE OF ONE OF THE SPECIES'
RARE BREEDING EFFORTS IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES.
BELL'S VIREO: Six reports of singing males in the region (Floyd, Garza,
Lubbock) during the period (AH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; THESE REPORTS ALL COME FROM SITES WHERE THE SPECIES HAS BEEN, OVER
THE LAST FIVE YEARS, DOCUMENTED AS A BREEDER.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 near Wind Farm (Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB) and 2 near Wind Farm
(Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS BUT FEW FOLK
REPORTED FROM THE APPROPRIATE COUNTIES.
PURPLE MARTIN: 4 in Floydada (Floyd) on 6/18/16 (AH), 16 near Floydada
(Floyd) on 6/18/16 (AH), 4 in Ralls (Crosby) on 6/19/16 (AH), 8 in Floydada
(Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH), 1 over the White River (Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH), 8
in Post (Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH), 1 near Post (Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH), and 7
pairs/24-30 fledglings in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 6/27/16 (GJ, PJ) - A
GOOD YEAR FOR THE SPECIES IN EXPECTED COUNTIES; NO EVIDENCE OF EXPANSION.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 4 near Post (Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH) the only
report - LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; TYPICAL OF RECENT YEARS.
CAVE SWALLOW: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Floyd, Garza)
during the period (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; MANY MAY HAVE TO RENEST AS CULVERTS
WERE CLEARED BY LATE RAINS.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 3 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 6/25/16
(NP) - RATHER FAR NORTHWEST BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS; THE SPECIES HAS
BEEN RETREATING EASTWARD AND SOUTHWARD FOR AT LEAST A DECADE.
VERDIN: 2 along the White River (Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH), 1 near Post
(Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH), 1 near Plains (Cochran) on 6/27/16 (AH), and 2
near Lehman (Cochran) on 6/27/16 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS
STANDARDS; THIS SPECIES HAS BEEN RETREATING SOUTHWARD FOR AT LEAST FIVE
YEARS.
ROCK WREN: 2 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 6/25/16 (NP) the only
report - A VERY RARE BREEDER IN THE REGION; THIS SITE IS AT A FAVORED
CANYON CROSSING.
CANYON WREN: 1 at the White River crossing south of Floydada (Floyd) on
6/19/16 (AH) - A VERY RARE BREEDER IN THE REGION; THIS SITE IS AT A FAVORED
CANYON CROSSING.
CACTUS WREN: 1 in Post (Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH) - A VERY RARE BREEDER IN THE
REGION; RESTRICTED TO KENT AND GARZA COUNTIES.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 6/11/16 (AH) - THE ONLY REPORT
FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male near Floydada (Floyd) on 6/18/16 (AH), a pair
at the Wind Farm Ponds (Floyd) on 6/19/16 (AH), and 3 near Halfway (Hale)
on 6/25/16 (NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY SPARSELY DISTRIBUTED BREEDER.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 1 near Wind Farm (Floyd) on 6/6/16 (JB) - VERY OUT OF
TIME; MIGRANTS ARE ALMOST UNHEARD OF BEYOND THE THIRD WEEK OF MAY.
PYRRHULOXIA: 1 in Post (Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH) and 1 just northeast of Post
(Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH) - A VERY RARE BREEDER IN THE REGION; RESTRICTED TO
PORTIONS OF THE REGION BELOW THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
INDIGO BUNTING: 2 near Plainview (Hale) on 6/29/16 (NP) - A VERY SPARSELY
DISTRIBUTED BREEDER IN THE REGION.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 4 near Floydada (Floyd) on 6/18/16 (AH) - SUMMER
STATUS UNCERTAIN; ABSENT IN SOME YEARS; SUSPECTED OF BREEDING IN OTHERS.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 2 males at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 6/4/16 (AH), 2
male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 6/11/16 (AH), 4 males near Floydada (Floyd)
on 6/18/16 (AH), 1 male at the White River crossing (Floyd) on 6/19/16
(AH), 1 male in Post (Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH), 3 males just northeast of
Post (Garza) on 6/25/16 (AH), 2 males further northeast of Post (Garza) on
6/25/16 (AH), a female and 2 males well northeast of Post (Garza), 2 males
near Pep (Hockley) on 6/27/16 (AH), 3 males at the Anton Ponds (Hockley) on
6/30/16 (AH), and 1 female and 2 males north of Levelland (Hockley) on
6/30/16 (AH) - AFTER A DROUGHT-ERA SLUMP THIS SPECIES, WHICH STARTED
EXPANDING INTO AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, IS
REBOUNDING NICELY.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 near Pep (Hockley) on 6/27/16 (AH) - WERE AT THE
NORTHWEST EDGE OF THE BREEDING RANGE FOR THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, DB=David Brotherton, LB+Luanne Brotherton,
SF=Susan Ferguson, AH=Anthony Hewetson, JJ=Jan Jannett, GJ=George Jury,
PJ=Pat Jury, CL=Carol Lee, RL=Rob Lee, KP=Kennedy Perry, NP=Niler Pyeatt,
AR=Anona Roberts, JW=Janice Whittington.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
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