Lubbock received 0.71 inches of rain during the month, just a tad below the
average March total of 0.76 inches, bringing us up to 3.63 inches for the
year, still well above the average year-to-date total of 1.97 inches..
Unseasonably mild weather persisted through the month, leading to some
suspected early departures from the region and some documented early
arrival to 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.
Some late reports from February:
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: up to 5 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood through
2/21/17 (JC) - BROUGHT THE TOTALS UP FOR THIS SPECIES QUITE A BIT.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET - up to 2 in the Tech Terrace Neighborhood through
2/21/17 (JC) - BROUGHT THE TOTALS UP FOR THIS SPECIES A WEE BIT.
And on to March:
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK: 6 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on
3/29/17 (KS) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; THEN ANNUAL BUT RARE;
NOW, APPARENTLY, COLONIZING THE REGION AS BREEDERS.
SNOW GOOSE: 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH) the only report -
CONSISTENT WITH THE EARLY DEPARTURE, FROM THE REGION, OF MOST GEESE.
WOOD DUCK: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) and 2 (LM) to 4
(PKe) at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 3/29/17 the only reports - LOW -
ANOTHER EARLY DEPARTURE.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Seven reports of 3-10 birds in the region (Cochran,
Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, DH, AH, PKe, SP, DS, TT) -
VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; CONTINUED EVIDENCE OF
DROUGHT RECOVERY.
CINNAMON TEAL: Eighteen reports of 1-10 birds and five reports of 12-28
birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Lynn) during the period
(JB, GH, DH, AH, PKe) - EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE
SEASON!
CANVASBACK: Five reports of 1-2 birds and one report of 23 birds in the
region (Crosby, Lynn) during the period (JB, DH, AH) - GOOD NUMBERS GIVEN
THE LOW NUMBERS DURING FEBRUARY.
REDHEAD: Five reports of 1-3 birds and one report of 11 birds in the region
(Crosby, Lynn) during the period (JB, AH) - GOOD NUMBERS GIVEN THE VERY LOW
NUMBERS SEEN DURING FEBRUARY.
SCALED QUAIL: 2 in Canyon Valley (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 14 near Gordon
(Lynn) on 3/5/17 (AH), 4 near Gordon (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH), and 2 at
Tahoka Lake Pasture (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS, GIVEN LIMITED
REPORTING FROM APPROPRIATE HABITAT, SUGGESTING CONTINUED RECOVERY FROM THE
DROUGHT YEARS.
EARED GREBE: 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 1 at Skeen
Playa (Lynn) on 3/5/17 (AH), 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/11/17 (DH), 1 at
Tahoka Lake on 3/16/17 (DH), 3 at the FM 1054 x CR 28 Playa (Lynn) on
3/25/17 (AH), and 90 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB)
- GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER; THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD SPRING/SUMMER TO LOOK FOR
BREEDING PAIRS IN THE REGION.
WESTERN GREBE: 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) the only
report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/5/17
(JC), 1 male in another Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/5/17 (AH), and 1 male
near Jayton (Kent) on 3/19/17 (AH) - IN EARLIER YEARS, MARCH REPORTS OFTEN
REFLECTED WINTERING BIRDS - NOWADAYS, THESE REPRESENT FIRST ARRIVALS.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/7/17 (CG, DH), 3 at Tahoka
Lake (Lynn) on 3/11/17 (DH), 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH), and 2
at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE START OF A
GOOD SPRING MOVEMENT.
SORA: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH) and 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn)
on 3/25/17 (AH) - A TAD LOW.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 7 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/21/17 (JB) and 59
at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED
ACCIDENTAL THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH IS BECOMING
FAIRLY STANDARD AS AN ARRIVAL DATE.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 3/4/17 (PKe, photographs), 2
near Post (Garza) on 3/19/17 (AH), 2 at the FM 2956 Playa (Lynn) on 3/25/17
(AH), 36 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH), and 11 at McAlister Park
(Lubbock) on 3/29/17 (JB) - THE FIRST OF THESE SIGHTINGS IS REMARKABLY
EARLY; THE REMAINDER ARE IN ACCORD WITH THE SOMEWHAT EARLY ARRIVAL DATES OF
RECENT YEARS.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: 1 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/21/17 (JB), 3
near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/26/17 (KH, photographs), and 1 at Little Skeen
Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE
SEASON AND FOR THE REGION ... PERIOD.
SNOWY PLOVER: 3 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH) and 26 at Tahoka Lake
(Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR A SINGLE SITE IN THE REGION; THIS
SITE HAS SUPPORTED UP TO 98 PAIRS.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 11 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/18/17 (DH) and 3 at
the Morton Water Treatment Ponds (hereafter WTP, Cochran) on 3/18/17 (DH) -
THESE COULD BE OVERWINTERING BIRDS OR RELATIVELY EARLY MIGRANTS.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 8 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/21/17 (JB) and 25 at
Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) - VERY EARLY; FORMERLY CONSIDERED
CASUAL, AT BEST, IN MARCH!
LEAST SANDPIPER: 3 in Cone (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 3 at the FM 1054 x CR
28 Playa (Lynn) on 3/5/17 (AH), 15 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH),
22 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/21/17 (JB), 40 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn)
on 3/25/17 (AH), and 87 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) - GOOD
NUMBERS AND SCATTER; MOST OF THESE BIRDS SURELY REPRESENT SOMEWHAT EARLY
MIGRANTS.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/21/17 (JB) - AN
EXTREMELY EARLY MIGRANT; ACCIDENTAL IN MARCH!
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 5 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH), 11 at Tahoka
Lake (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH), and 15 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17
(JB) - MORE EARLY MIGRANTS; FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL, AT BEST, DURING
MARCH.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 1 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH,
photographs) - ANOTHER EARLY ARRIVAL; FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL DURING
MARCH.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/11/17 (DH), 60 at
Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/21/17 (JB), and 68 at Little Skeen Playa
(Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) - FAIRLY EARLY FOR THIS SPECIES TO BE IN THE REGION
IN GOOD NUMBERS.
WILSON'S SNIPE: Six reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Crosby, Lynn)
during the period (JB, DH, AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR SPRING - AFTER A VERY
POOR WINTER SHOWING.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 14 birds,
one report of 15 birds, and one report of 88 birds in the region (Bailey,
Cochran, Crosby, Lynn) during the period (JB, DG, DH, AH) - EXCELLENT
NUMBERS; WITH A DRAMATIC UPTICK OVER FEBRUARY NUMBERS SUGGESTING A
CONTINUED RATHER EARLY MOVEMENT INTO THE REGION.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 3/2/17 (DHa), 8 at
Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/21/17 (JB), 13 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on
3/25/17 (AH), and 8 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) -
EXCELLENT NUMBERS FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 2 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/21/17 (JB) and 12
at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) - MORE RELATIVELY EARLY
SHOREBIRDS.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
FRANKLIN'S GULL: 1 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) -
MORE EVIDENCE OF A RELATIVELY EARLY MOVEMENT OF MIGRANTS THROUGH THE REGION.
RING-BILLED GULL: 7 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/7/17 (CG, DH), 8 at Maxey
Park (Lubbock) on 3/28/17 (AH), 1 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on
3/28/17 (JB), 5 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 3/29/17 (NP), and 3 at
the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 3/29/17 (KS) the only reports - FORMERLY
COMMON TO ABUNDANT IN THE REGION WELL INTO APRIL; NOW GENERALLY SEEN AS
DEPARTING BY EARLY MARCH.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 3/29/17 (JB, PKe,
LM, photographs) and on 3/31/17 (AH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION;
NOW A VERY RARE ANNUAL VISITOR TO OUR LARGER CORMORANT ROOSTS.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/5/17 (AH, photographs), 1 at
Stone Lake (Lubbock) on 3/11/17 (AH), 1 at Little Skeen Playa (Lynn) on
3/21/17 (JB), 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 3/29/17 (PKe), and 1 at
Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 3/31/17 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR EARLY SPRING -
THESE DAYS.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) from 3/1/17 to 3/19/17 (AH)
had become 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) by 3/29/17 (JB, PKe, LM) as
well as 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 3/31/17 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR EARLY
SPRING - THESE DAYS.
CATTLE EGRET: 1 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB), 4-5
at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 3/29/17 (JB, PKe, LM) - FORMERLY CASUAL,
AT BEST, THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON, WE NOW ANTICIPATE EARLY ARRIVAL IN LATE
MARCH.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 2 in Grassland (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH) and 3/27/17 (JB)
the first of the season - VERY EARLY; FIRST ARRIVALS USUALLY OCCUR IN MID-
TO LATE- APRIL.
TURKEY VULTURE: 1 at the FM 193 x FM 651 crossing (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH),
1 west of White River Lake (Crosby ) on 3/4/17 (AH), 1 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 12 near Post (Garza) on 3/13/17 (JB) the first of
the season - FORMERLY CONSIDERED A LATE MARCH ARRIVAL; CLOSING IN ON A LATE
FEBRUARY ARRIVAL.
OSPREY: 1 near Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 3/28/17 (GJ) the only report - A
TAD EARLY FOR A MIGRANT BUT NO BIRDS WERE KNOWN TO WINTER NEAR THIS SITE.
SWAINSON'S HAWK: 2 near Woodrow (Lubbock) on 3/21/17 (JB) the first of the
season - RIGHT ON TIME.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 near Cone (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) the only report - A
RELATIVELY LATE REPORT FOR AN INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND WINTER VISITOR.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 at the Camp Rio Blanca crossing (Crosby) on
3/4/17 (AH) the only report - A TAD LOW.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 at Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/17/17 (JB) - BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS, LINGERING A BIT LATE.
MONK PARAKEET: 1 continuing at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) through
the period (NP) - THE SPECIES HAS FORMED BREEDING COLONIES IN THE REGION IN
THE PAST; THIS PARTICULAR BIRD REMAINS AN ISOLATE.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 1 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), and 1 in Clairemont (Kent) on
3/19/17 (AH) - SOMEWHAT LOW; SEEMS TO BE RESPONDING SLOWLY TO RECOVERY FROM
DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 at the CR EE Wetlands (Lynn) on 3/5/17 (AH), 2 at Tahoka
Lake Pasture (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH, photographs), 1 in Grassland (Lynn) on
3/27/17 (JB), and 2 south of Grassland (Lynn) on 3/27/17 (JB) - GOOD
NUMBERS; THIS MAY BE THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW TO LOOK FOR BREEDING IN THE
REGION.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 at CR 260 x CR NN (Lynn) on 3/22/17 (fide JB) -
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW AN ANNUAL VISITOR WITH AN AS YET
UNDETECTED SEASONABILITY.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER: 1 in Clairemont (Kent) on 3/19/17 (AH) and 1 south
of Grassland (Lynn) on 3/27/17 (JB) the first two of the season - RIGHT ON
TIME.
WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/31/17 (JC) and 1 in
another Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/31/17 (AH) the first of the season -
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL THIS EARLY IN THE YEAR; LATE MARCH ARRIVALS HAVE BECOME
FAIRLY COMMON.
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB JAY: 2 near Cap Rock (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) and 1 near
Post (Garza) on 3/11/17 (AH) - FORMERLY REGULAR IN THE PORTION OF OUR
REGION ALONG THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; WITHDREW DURING THE RECENT PERIOD OF
DROUGHT; MAY BE RE-ESTABLISHING A PRESENCE IN THE REGION.
COMMON RAVEN: 2 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 1 near Post
(Garza) on 3/11/17 (AH), 1 near Clairemont (Kent) on 3/11/17 (AH), 1 at
Tahoka Lake Pasture (Lynn) on 3/11/17 (DH), 1 at Skeen Playa (Lynn) on
3/17/17 (JB), 4 near Clairemont (Kent) on 3/19/17 (AH), 1 south of
Grassland (Lynn) on 3/27/17 (JB), and 1 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa
(Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) - THIS SPECIES APPEARS TO BE STRENGTHENING ITS
RECENT GAINS ALONG THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
PURPLE MARTIN: 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 4 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/4/17 (GJ, PJ), 1 in Post (Garza) on 3/11/17
(AH), 11 at Tahoka Lake Pasture (Lynn) on 3/11/17 (DH), and 8 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 3/12/17 (GJ, PJ) a good start to the martin season -
RIGHT ON TIME WITH GOOD NUMBERS, APPARENTLY, MOVING INTO THE REGION.
TREE SWALLOW: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 3/5/17 (PKe), 3 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 3/18/17 (DH), and 6 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on
3/28/17 (JB) - A TAD EARLY BUT NORMAL NUMBERS SO FAR.
BANK SWALLOW: 4 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) -
SOMEWHAT EARLY.
BARN SWALLOW: Nine reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Lubbock, Lynn)
during the period (JB, AH, GJ, PJ, LM) - FORMERLY RARE UNTIL LATE IN THE
MONTH; WE NOW EXPECT THIS LEVEL OF FILLING IN DURING MARCH.
VERDIN: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) - FORMERLY FAIRLY
EASY TO FIND THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN HALF OF THE REGION; NOW BECOMING MORE
SCARCE AND PULLING FURTHER TO THE EAST AND SOUTH WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/5/17 (JC) the
only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
ROCK WREN: 1 at the FM 193 x FM 651 crossing (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) and 1
south of Grassland (Lynn) on 3/27/17 (JB) - THE FORMER AT A PROBABLE
BREEDING SITE; THE LATTER MORE LIKELY AN EARLY MIGRANT.
CANYON WREN: 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) the only
report - NICE TO SEE A PAIR CONTINUING AT ONE OF OUR FEW REGULARLY REPORTED
BREEDING SITES.
CAROLINA WREN:1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 3/19/17 (LM)
- THE ONLY REPORT FROM ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/5/17 (JC) and 1
in the same area (Lubbock) on 3/30/17 (JC) - NORMAL NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE
IN THE SEASON.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 2 east of Mount Blanco (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 2 west of
White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 4 at Whtie River Lake (Crosby) on
3/4/17 (AH), and 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/9/17 (DHa) - ABOUT AVERAGE;
IN SOME YEARS SOME WILL LINGER IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES TO BREED>
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 9 at Littlefield Cemetery (Lamb) on 3/12/17 (PKe) and 8
near Post (Garza) on 3/13/17 (JB) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE
SEASON.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 2 south of White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 1
at Littlefield Cemetery (Lamb) on 3/12/17 (PKe), and 5 south of Grassland
(Lynn) on 3/27/17 (JB) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/25/17 (PKe) the only report -
VERY LOW; PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE MILD WINTER CONDITIONS THIS YEAR.
CEDAR WAXWING: 17 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 14 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 3/11/17 (LM), 10 near Post (Garza) on 3/13/17 (JB), 20 at
the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 3/18/17 (TT), and 10 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 3/25/17 (PKe, SP, DS, TT) - AFTER A FADEOUT DURING FEBRUARY
BIRDS, APPARENTLY NORTHBOUND, HAVE REBOUNDED CONSIDERABLY.
AMERICAN PIPIT: 2 in Canyon Valley (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH), 28 near
Grassland (Lynn) on 3/5/17 (AH), 1 at the Morton WTP (Cochran) on 3/7/17
(DH), and 1 at the FM 1054 x FM 1313 Playa (Lynn) on 3/28/17 (JB) - LOW BY
RECENT WINTER/SPRING STANDARDS.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 3/7/17 (CG. DH),
2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH), and 1 at Skeen Playa (Lynn) on
3/17/17 (JB) - LOW NUMBERS; IT WAS A POOR WINTER FOR LONGSPURS IN THE
REGION.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 17 southeast of Mount Blanco (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) the
only report - LOW; IT WAS A POOR WINTER FOR LONGSPURS IN THE REGION.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 south of White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH)
and 1 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 3/27/17 (NP) the only reports
- VERY LOW.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 3/25/17 (DH)
the only report - LOW.
SPOTTED TOWHEE: 1 at the FM 2956 Playa (Lynn) on 3/25/17 (AH) the only
report from atop the Caprock Escarpment - IT WAS A POOR TOWHEE SEASON IN
OUR WESTERN COUNTIES.
CASSIN'S SPARROW: 1 near Post (Garza) on 3/13/17 (JB) and 4 south of
Grassland (Lynn) on 3/27/17 (JB) the first of the season - A TAD LOW.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/11/17 (AH), 5 at
Tahoka Lake Pasture (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
3/25/17 (PKe, SP, DS, TT), and 1 south of Grassland (Lynn) on 3/27/17 (JB)
- A TAD LOW; NUMBERS APPEAR TO BE BUILDING A BIT SLOWLY THIS SPRING
COMPARED TO RECENT YEARS.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 2 south of Grassland (Lynn) on 3/27/17 (JB) the first
of the season - RIGHT ON TIME BUT A BIT LOW IN NUMBERS JUST YET.
L:ARK SPARROW: 1 near Canyon Valley (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) - MAY HAVE BEEN
A WINTERING BIRD. 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 3/19/17
(LM) - WAS MOST LIKELY OUR FIRST SUMMER ARRIVAL.
SWAMP SPARROW: 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) and 1 at
Tahoka Lake Pasture (Lynn) on 3/16/17 (DH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS;
THE SPECIES HAD A VERY POOR WINTER IN OUR REGION.
FOX SPARROW: 7 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/4/17 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS;
THIS SPECIES HAD A GOOD YEAR IN THE PORTIONS OF OUR REGION BELOW THE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/11/17 (LM), 2 at
the Littlefield WTP (Lamb) on 3/12/17 (PKe), and 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)
on 3/18/17 (DH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR EARLY SPRING BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, JC=Jeremy Clark, CG=Caleb Gordon, DHa=Danny
Hancock, DH=Drew Harvey, AH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George
Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, PKe=Peter Keyel, RL=Rob Lee, LM=Liam McGuire, SK=Skyler
Parks, NP=Niler Pyeatt, DS=David Shelburne, KS=Kevin Sweeney, TT=Tess
Trost, WW=William Wenthe
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock
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