[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for October - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2012 15:55:54 -0800 (PST)
OCTOBER 2012 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS:
With 0.28 inches of rain during the month (far below the average October
rainfall of 1.70 inches) and 10.82 inches for the year,
Lubbock is now 6.48 inches below the average year-to-date total of 17.30
inches. Ongoing drought is further concentrating water birds and a fair
number of surprises were found at our deeper reservoirs during the month.
Songbird migration was very protracted this year and our most interesting
sighting may have been in the flycatcher and warbler categories. We also had a
fairly early onslaught of some occasional winter residents and irruptives - if
this holds up, our CBCs could be very interesting this year. 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.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/30/12 (CR) was reported a tad
late - PART OF A DECENT FALL SHOWING FOR THIS SPECIES; HOPEFULLY SOME WILL
PERSIST THROUGH THE CBCs.
SNOW GOOSE: 1 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (GJ) and 1 at Whisperwood
Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CR) were the first of the season - LATE AND VERY
LOW.
WOOD DUCK: 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/6/12 (SC), 9 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 10/19/12 (CR), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/26/12 (EFD), and 1 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CR) the only reports - ON TIME THIS
YEAR BUT NUMBERS ARE RATHER LOW THUS FAR.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Four reports of 1-10 birds and eight reports of 11-50 birds
in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, SC,
MDL, AvH, KH, CR) - GOOD NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS, CONCENTRATED AT
WELL-BIRDED SITES?
CANVASBACK: 10 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/12 (CC,
CR) the only report - A BIT LATE THIS YEAR.
REDHEAD: 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/6/12 (EFD), 70 at the TTU Sewage Pond
(Lubbock) on 10/8/12 (CR), 4 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CC), 2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR), 10 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/27/12 (SB,
AvH), 8 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/12 (CC, CR), and 1 at Whisperwood
Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CR) - RIGHT ON TIME THIS YEAR AND SURPRISINGLY GOOD
NUMBERS, EVEN GIVEN THE POTENTIAL OF CONCENTRATION.
RING-NECKED DUCK: 12 at the Spur Playa (Dickens) on 10/2/12 (SW), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/6/12 (SC), 30 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/8/12
(CR), 6 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR), 3 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on
10/27/12 (SB, AvH), 4 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), 15 at
the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/12 (CC, CR), and 12 at Whisperwood Pond
(Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CR) - GOOD NUMBERS AND GOOD SPREAD FOR SO EARLY IN THE
SEASON.
LESSER SCAUP: 12 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/26/12 (EFD), 5 at Tahoka Lake
(Lynn) on 10/27/12 (SB, AvH), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), and 2
at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/12 (CC, CR) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD FOR
SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
BUFFLEHEAD: 3 near Abernathy (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (SB, AvH) the only report -
LATE AND LOW SO FAR THIS YEAR.
HOODED MERGANSER: 2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/16/12 (AnH), four
singles scattered along the Canyon Lakes (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), and 7 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CR) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN
THE SEASON.
COMMON LOON: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/23/12 (CC) - A FAIRLY
EARLY ARRIVAL BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
EARED GREBE: 2 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/8/12 (CR), 3 at Post City
Park (Garza) on 10/22/12 (SC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/22/12 (EFD), 5 at
the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
10/31/12 (CC, CR), and at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CR) - POOR
NUMBERS BUT GOOD SPREAD - GO FIGURE!
WESTERN GREBE: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) from 10/21/12 through 10/22/12 (SC,
EFD) and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 10/26/12 thoguh 10/28/12 (CC, EFD, AnH) -
LIKE THE COMMON LOON, FAIRLY EARLY ARRIVALS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
GREAT EGRET: 2 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 10/26/12 (GJ) and 1 at MacKenzie
Park (Lubbock) from 10/28/12 through 10/31/12 - THE SPECIES HAD BECOME A
REGULAR, IF RARE, WINTERING SPECIES IN THE REGION BUT NO LONGER APPEARS TO BE
SO.
SNOWY EGRET: 5 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/4/12 (CR), 1 at MacKenzie Park
(Lubbock) on 10/4/12 (CR), 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) from 10/8/12 through
10/16/12 (AnH), 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/13/12 (AnH), 1 at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (SC), 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 10/26/12 (GJ),
and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - THIS SPECIES
APPEARS TO BE A BIT LESS DEMANDING THAN THE GREAT EGRET AND SHOWS EVIDENCE OF
PERSISTING AS A REGULAR, IF RARE, WINTERING SPECIES.
CATTLE EGRET: 1 at Ellison Playa (Crosby) on 10/4/12 (KH), 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 10/4/12 (CR), and 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 10/30/12 (LK) the
only reports - AFTER A BETTER SUMMER THAN WE HAVE HAD IN SOME TIME, AN EARLY
DEPARTURE
GREEN HERON: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/4/12 (CR), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock)
on 10/11/12 (CC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/11/12 (CC), and 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - A BIT LOW.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/6/12 (SC) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/11/12 (CC) the only reports - LOW; ANOTHER EARLY
DEPARTURE.
OSPREY: Seven reports of single birds in (Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC,
AnH, GJ, CR) - ABOUT AVERAGE THOUGH SCATTER WAS POOR.
GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 near Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on
10/20/12 (BN) - AN INTERESTING REPORT; THE SPECIES HAS BECOME RATHER SCARCE IN
THE REGION AT ANY TIME OF YEAR AND THIS IS A BIT FURTHER EAST THAN WE HAVE BEEN
FINDING THEM OF LATE.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: Four reports of singles in the region (Crosby, Lubbock)
during the period (CC, AnH, KH) the only reports - THEY WERE LATER TO ARRIVE
THIS SEASON AND REMAIN LOW IN NUMBER.
COOPER'S HAWK: Five reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during
the period (CC, AnH, KH, CR) the only reports - ARRIVED ON TIME BUT HAVEN'T
REACHED EXPECTED NUMBERS AS YET.
HARRIS'S HAWK: 2-3 adults near the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) observed daily (CC,
AnH, CR) and 2 subadults at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - FORMERLY
CASUAL IN THE REGION; NOW UNCOMMON BUT PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (SC) and 1 adult at
Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - MORE OF THE GOOD FALL SEASON WE
HAVE
HAD FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 subadult below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON MIGRANT.
SWAINSON'S HAWK: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/14/12 (KH) was the last of
the season - ABOUT AVERAGE IN NUMBERS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH;
DEPARTURE SEEMED A TAD EARLY.
FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 10/10/12 (KH), 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CC), 1 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 10/19/12 (SW), and 1
at Lake Six (lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - THEY ARRIVED ON TIME BUT NUMBERS
SEEMED A BIT LOW.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at the Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 10/11/12 (CC) the only
report - LOW; ODD GIVEN THE RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF SORAS.
SORA: 1 along the Canyon Lakes (Lubbock) on 10/4/12 (CR), 2 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 10/6/12 (SC), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/12 (CC) on
10/18/12 (CC), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (SC), 1 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/24/12 and 10/25/12 (KH), 1 at Aztlan Park
(Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH),
and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CC, SC, CR) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ABSOLUTE PAUCITY OF VIRGINIA RAILS.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 10/18/12 through
10/19/12 (CC, SC, CR) - AN ODDLY LATE SIGHTING AFTER A DISAPPOINTING FALL
SEASON FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 22 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/12 (CC), 22 near
Abernathy (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (SB, AvH), and 9 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley)
on 10/31/12 (CC, CR) - GOOD NUMBERS BUT A LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS; OVERALL LOW
FOR THE MONTH.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock)on 10/10/12 (AnH) and 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) the only reports - LOW BY RECENT
YEARS' STANDARDS; MAY BE HARD TO COME BY AS A WINTERER THIS
SEASON.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 5 at the Spur Playa (Dickens) on 10/2/12 (SW), 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 10/4/12 through 10/19/12 (CC, SC, CR), 1 at the
Highway 380 crossing of the Brazos River (Kent) on 10/14/12 (AnH), 3 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/12 (CC), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
10/19/12 (CR) the only reports - LOW BY RECENT OCTOBERS' STANDARDS.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 3 at the Spur Playa (Dickens) on 10/2/12 (SW) and 2 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/12 (CC) the only reports - LOW BY RECENT
OCTOBERS' STANDARDS.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 160 at Track Dairy (Bailey) on 10/2/12 (SC) and 21 near
Plains (Yoakum) on 10/11/12 (MDL) the only reports - GOOD NUMBERS BUT VERY LOW
NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) the only
report - VERY LOW.
LEAST SANDPIPER: An ever-changing flock, ranging from 7 to 18 birds, at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) through the period (CC,
SC, AnH, CR) and 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/12 (CC, CR) the only
reports - VERY LOW.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/4/12 (CR) the only
report - A FAIRLY LATE REPORT FOR THE REGION; LISTED AS CASUAL IN THE REGION
FOR OCTOBER.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 8 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/12 (CC) and 27 at
the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/12 (CC, CR) the only reports - VERY LOW; AN
INCREDIBLY POOR SEASON FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 10/4/12 (CR), 1-7 at MacKenzie
Park (Lubbock) from 10/11/12 through 10/31/12 (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR), and 1 in the Tech Terrace Neighorhood (Lubbock
- hereafter Tech Terrace) on 10/24/12 (CC) - GOOD NUMBERS; I HOPE SOME
OVERWINTER.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/6/12 (EFD) the only report
- VERY LOW.
RING-BILLED GULL: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on
10/20/12 (EFD), 6 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), and 1 at Mae
Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) the only reports - LATE TO ARRIVE THIS
YEAR AND STILL AT VERY LOW NUMBERS.
HERRING GULL: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/6/12 (EFD) and 1 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 10/20/12 (EFD) - CASUAL IN THE REGION THIS EARLY SEASON AND
SURPRISINGLY ABUNDANT GIVEN THE NEAR ABSENCE OF OTHER GULLS.
INCA DOVE: 1-3 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) from 10/1/12 through 10/7/12 (CC) and
1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/6/12 (SC) the only reports - INCREDIBLY LOW
NUMBERS GIVEN THE SPECIES FORMER ABUNDANCE IN THE REGION; HANGING ON BY THE
TIPS OF THEIR TINY TOES.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 1-6 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) through 10/25/12 (CC, SC, CR)
and 13 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/11/12 (CC) - THE SPECIES IS PERSISTING
LATER AND IN BETTER NUMBERS WITH EACH PASSING YEAR; FIVE YEARS AGO IT WAS
CASUAL IN THE REGION DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF
OCTOBER.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 at the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) on 10/16/12 (CC), 1 at the
TTU HSC (Lubbock) on 10/18/12 (AnH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12
(AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/1/12 (KH) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BREED IN THE EASTERN COUNTIES AND AS A
MIGRANT THOUGH ALL BUT THE WESTERN MOST COUNTIES.
CHIMNEY SWIFT: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/1/12 (CC) and 2 at the TTU
Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/8/12 (CR) - A BIT LOW, ACTUALLY, BY RECENT
OCTOBERS' STANDARDS.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: 2-6 persisted in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) through
10/7/12 (CC) and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/7/12 (SB) the only reports
- DECENT NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON BUT A BIT CONCENTRATED.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) through 10/5/12 (CC) and
2 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/7/12 (CC) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION
DURING OCTOBER; OUR 12th AND 13th OCTOBER RECORDS.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) through 10/23/12 (CC, SC), 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR), and 1 subadult in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 10/29/12 (JD) - ABOUT AVERAGE; THE SPECIES IS OUR MOST COMMON
OVERWINTERING HUMMINGBIRD.
SAPSUCKER: A Red-naped or Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 10/10/12 (CR) - THIS IS EARLY ENOUGH IN THE SEASON THAT THE BIRD
WAS MORE LIKELY A RED-NAPED BUT WE HAVE A FEW EARLY OCTOBER RECORDS OF
YELLOW-BELLIED; EITHER WAY A NOTABLE WOODPECKER IN THE REGION.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CR) - ABOUT
AVERAGE IN TERMS OF ARRIVAL FOR THIS RARE WINTERER IN OUR REGION.
MERLIN: 1 in (Crosby) on 10/19/12 (CC) and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on
10/28/12 (AnH) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/6/12 (EFD), 1 at TTU HSC
(Lubbock) on 10/16/12 (AnH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON WINTERING SPECIES.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/1/12 (CC) - WAS QUITE
LATE; ACCIDENTAL IN OCTOBER.
EMPID: 1 unidentified empid was in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/22/12 (AR) - THE
OBSERVER'S DESCRIPTION WAS MOST CONSISTENT WITH HAMMOND'S OR DUSKY FLYCATCHER.
EASTERN PHOEBE: Fourteen reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (SB, CC, SC, AvH, BN, CR) - BETTER THAN AVERAGE NUMBERS
AND, GIVEN THE DROUGHT, GOOD SCATTER.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/6/12 (EFD), 1 near Post (Garza)
on 10/13/12 (AnH), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 adult female at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12
(SC, AnH) - A CASUAL VISITOR TO THE REGION DURING ALL SEASONS.
WESTERN KINGBIRD: 2 at the Spur
Playa (Dickens) on 10/2/12 (SW) - SURPRISINGLY LATE; PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE
OVERALL EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION AS A WHOLE.
COMMON RAVEN: 1-3 at the Himmel Ranch (Crosby) through the period (KH), 1 near
Dougherty (Floyd) on 10/10/12 (KH), 2 near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/10/12 (KH), 2
near Flomot (Motley) on 10/10/12 (KH), 1 near the Beach Ranch (Garza) on
10/13/12 (AnH), 2 well east of the Beach Ranch (Garza) on 10/13/12 (AnH), 2
near Clairemont (Kent) on 10/13/12 (AnH), 1 near Jayton (Kent) on 10/13/12
(AnH), 1 at the Reed Farm (Crosby) on 10/16/12 (KH), 1 east of Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 10/23/12 (CC), and 3 near Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/27/12 (SB, AvH)
- A VERY GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND SOME WERE - NOTABLY - ATOP THE CAPROCK
ESCARPMENT.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 1 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/8/12
(CR) - CASUAL DURING OCTOBER; A FAIRLY LATE SIGHTING FOR THE REGION.
CLIFF SWALLOW: 3 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on
10/4/12 (CR) - A FAIRLY LATE SIGHTING; CASUAL DURING OCTOBER.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/10/12 (CR), 1
in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/22/12 (AR), 3 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/23/12
(SC), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/24/12 (KD), 2 at Mae Simmons Park
(Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - A
VERY GOOD MONTH FOR THIS IRRUPTIVE SPECIES; ESPECIALLY SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/22/12 (CR), 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/22/12 (QE), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on
10/28/12 (SC, AnH, CR), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - A
VERY GOOD MONTH FOR THIS IRRUPTIVE SPECIES; ESPECIALLY SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
BROWN CREEPER: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/10/12 (CR), 1 at Mae
Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on
10/28/12 (AnH) - A GOOD MONTH
FOR THIS IRRUPTIVE SPECIES; ESPECIALLY SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
ROCK WREN: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/6/12 (EFD) - RARELY SEEN AWAY FROM
THE EDGE OF THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; THIS WAS A PLEASANTLY WESTERN SIGHTING.
HOUSE WREN: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/8/12 (SC), 1 at Buffalo Springs
Lake (Lubbock) on 10/23/12 (CC), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12
(AnH), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/31/12 (CC, CR) - SEEMED A BIT
SPARSE DURING MIGRATION THIS YEAR.
WINTER WREN: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/10/12 (CR), 1 at Ransom
Lake (Lubbock) on 10/21/12 (SC), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
10/23/12 (CC), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - A GOOD MONTH
FOR THIS IRRUPTIVE SPECIES; ESPECIALLY SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/7/12 (CC), 1 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 10/24/12 (KD), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH),
and 1
at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - A BIT BETTER FOR ABOVE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 110/28/12 (AnH) the
only report - LOW.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (SC) - CASUAL
DURING OCTOBER; PART OF THE EARLY ARRIVAL OF WINTER IRRUPTIVES?
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/10/12 (CR) and 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - A SOMEWHAT EARLY MOVE INTO OUR
WESTERN COUNTIES.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 4 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/14/12 (KH) the first of
the season - CASUAL, AT BEST, IN THE REGION DURING OCTOBER; THIS MIGHT BODE
WELL FOR WINTER.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/23/12 (CC) the only report
- VERY LOW; THE SPECIES USUALLY PEAKS IN OUR REGION DURING OCTOBER.
HERMIT THRUSH: Seven reports of 1-4 birds and one report of 10 birds in
(Lubbock) during the period (CC,
KD, QE, AnH, GJ, CR) - LOW; THIS THRUSH USUALLY SHOWS A STRONGER PEAK IN
OCTOBER AS WELL.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 near the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) on 10/22/12 (GJ) and 3 at
Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/27/12 (SB, AvH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/1/12 (CC), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) from 10/6/12 through 10/11/12 (CC, SC), 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery
(Lubbock) on 10/11/12 (CC), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR) -
ANOTHER DECENT ATOP THE ESCARPMENT SHOWING FOR THIS SPECIES.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 5 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)on 10/18/12 (CC) the first report
for the season - CASUAL, AT BEST, THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) -
CASUAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON BUT THE SPECIES DOES OCCASIONALLY OVERWINTER IN
THE REGION.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Eighteen reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (CC,
SC, AnH, KH, BN, CR) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR RECENT YEARS - HOPEFULLY
SOME WILL OVERWINTER THIS YEAR.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/2/12 (CC), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 10/3/12 (KH), 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 10/5/12
(BN), 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/6/12 (SC), 10 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock)
on 10/7/12 (CC), 2 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/8/12 (SC), 2 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/10/12 (CR), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/11/12
(CC), and 6 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/11/12 (CC) - A BETTER THAN AVERAGE
SHOWING FOR OCTOBER IN THE REGION.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/7/12 (SB) the only
report - LOW; USUALLY ONE OF OUR MORE ENCOUNTERED LATE SEASON MIGRANTS.
COMMON YELLOWTHROATS: 2 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 10/4/12 (CR), 1 at Silver
Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 10/5/12 (BN), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock)
on 10/23/12 (CC), 1 at
Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/27/12 (SB, AvH), 2 males at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on
10/28/12 (AnH), and 1 female at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) -
DECENT NUMBERS AND GOOD SPREAD.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER: 2 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/1/12 (CC), 1 first fall
male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) no 10/1/12 (KD), 1 first fall female and 1
first fall male at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (SC-the male, AnH-both
birds) - CASUAL, AT BEST, DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF OCTOBER; THE TWO BIRDS
AT THE END OF THE MONTH WERE MOST UNEXPECTED.
WILSON'S WARBLER: 2 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) from 10/2/12 through 10/7/12
(CC), 3 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock)on 10/4/12 (CR), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
10/6/12 (SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/11/12 (CC), and 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 10/12/12 (KH) - PERHAPS A TAD LOW BUT THE SPECIES SEEMS TO BE
CLEARING THE REGION EARLIER IN RECENT YEARS.
EASTERN TOWHEE: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock)
on 10/21/12 (SC) - AN EARLY SIGHTING; ACCIDENTAL FOR OCTOBER - OUR 2nd OCTOBER
RECORD AND OUR EARLIEST.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Twenty reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock)
during the period (SB, SC, AnH, AvH, KH) - A TAD LOW, PARTICULARLY IN
COMPARISON TO THE TYPICALLY MORE SCARCE CLAY-COLORED SPARROW.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Sixteen reports of 1-10 birds and two reports of 11-15
birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley) during the period (SB, CC,
SC, AnH, AvH, KH) - A BIT BETTER THAN USUAL; ALMOST AS ABUNDANT AS THE
TYPICALLY MORE COMMON CHIPPING SPARROW.
BREWER' S SPARROW: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/14/12 (KH) - A FAIRLY
LATE RECORD; CASUAL, AT BEST, DURING OCTOBER IN THE REGION.
FIELD SPARROW: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/2/12 (KH), 3 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 10/14/12 (KH), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/25/12
(AnH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/26/12 (AnH), 1 at Tahoka
Lake (Lynn) on 10/27/12 (SB, AvH), 2 at Tahoka Lake Pond (Lynn) on 10/27/12
(SB, AvH), 2 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), and 3 at MacKenzie
Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS - MORE LIKE AN OCTOBER FROM PREVIOUS DECADES.
LARK SPARROW: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/1/12 (KH) the only report for
the month - THE OCTOBER DEPARTURE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A BIT EARLY AND
SURPRISINGLY COMPLETE.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 near Flomot (Motley) on 10/10/12 (KH) the only report
for the month - LOW.
FOX SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/21/12 (NG) - A NICE EARLY
SIGHTING; CASUAL, AT BEST, IN THE REGION DURING OCTOBER.
SWAMP SPARROW: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/18/12 (CC), 3 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR), 2 at
Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), 2 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on
10/28/12 (AnH), 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on
10/31/12 (CR), and 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (CR) - A GOOD
SHOWING FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON - IT MIGHT BE A BETTER WINTER FOR THE
SPECIES IN THE REGION THAN WAS THE LAST.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at the TTU Gardens (Lubbock) on 10/6/12 (SC), 2 at
the TTU Gardens (Lubbock) on 10/10/12 (SC), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/18/12 (CC), 1 subadult in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/18/12 (KD), 1 adult
white-striped in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 10/21/12 through 10/24/12 (AnH),
4 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/23/12 (CC), 1 in Tech Terrace
(Lubbock) on 10/23/12 (SC), 3 adult white-striped in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)
on 10/25/12 (AnH), 2 adult white-striped and 1 adult tan-striped in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 10/26/12 (AnH), 2 adult white-striped in a Lubbock yard from
10/27/12 through 10/30/12 (AnH), 4 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), and
3 adult white-striped in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/31/12 (AnH) - A
FANTASTIC NUMBER, EVEN ALLOWING FOR SOME OVERLAP IN YARD SIGHTINGS, FOR OCTOBER
IN OUR REGION.
DARK-EYED JUNCO: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/14/12 (KH) - WAS THE FIRST
OF THE SEASON; FILLED IN NICELY DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE MONTH - with
sixteen reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the latter
half of the period (SB, CC, SC, KD, AnH, AvH, KH, BN, CR).
PYRRHULOXIA: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crsoby) on 10/3/12 (KH) and 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) the first and only reports so far this season - A
TAD LOW.
BLUE GROSBEAK: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/1/12 (KH) - CASUAL, AT BEST,
THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/6/12 (SC) and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR) - ALSO CASUAL, AT BEST, THIS LATE IN THE SEASON - A
GOOD FALL FOR RENEGADE GROSBEAKS AND THEIR ILK.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 2 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/8/12 (CR) the
only report - VERY LOW, GIVEN HOW WELL THE SPECIES WAS DOING, DESPITE DROUGHT,
IN THE REGION THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/8/12 (CR) - HUZZAH!,
HUZZAH! - OUR FIRST OCTOBER RECORD FOR THE SPECIES WHICH MAY YET, THE WAY
THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING, MAKE A WINTERING ATTEMPT.
RED CROSSBILL: 1 stunning male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/22/12 (AnH) -
ON THE VERGE OF ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; THE FIRST REPORTED SINCE APRIL OF
2009.
PINE SISKIN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/1/12 (KH), 2 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR), 2 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock)on 10/23/12 (CC), 1 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/26/12 (KH), 7 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 10/27/12
(SB, AvH), 5 at Tahoka Lake Pond (Lynn) on 10/27/12 (SB, AvH), 10 at Aztlan
Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH), 11 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12
(AnH), 27 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/29/12 (KH), and 23 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby)on 10/31/12 (KH) - THE BEST INFLUX OF PINE SISKINS THE REGION HAS
HAD IN SOME TIME - I HOPE SOME STICK AROUND FOR THE CBCs.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/23/12 (SC) and 1 below Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - A TAD LOW.
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/8/12 (SC), 5 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock)on 10/11/12 (CC), 13 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/17/12
(KH), 6 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/12 (CR), 20 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 10/23/12 (CC), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (SC), and
8 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/28/12 (AnH) - AS WITH SISKINS, THE BEST INFLUX
INTO THE REGION IN SOME TIME.
OBSERVERS:
SB=Susan
Bergeson, CCÊmeron Carver, SC=Steve
Collins, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon, EFD=Elizabeth Farley-Dawson,
JD=Jewel Downing, QE=Quinn Emmering, NG=Nancy van Gestel, AnH=Anthony
Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson,
KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George Jury, LK=Logan Kuss, RL=Rob Lee, BN=Bob Nieman,,
CR=Clayton Rickett, AR=Anona Roberts, SW=Steve Welborn.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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