[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for October - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 11:28:15 -0800 (PST)
OCTOBER 2013 BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS
With 1.15 inches of rain in Lubbock during the month, far below the average
September total of 1.70 inches, we are now at 11.47 inches for the year -
EVEN
FURTHER BELOW the average year-to-date total of 17.60 inches.
Shorebirds experienced a bit of a pickup during the month - a very protracted
migration for some species, waterfowl continued to fill, however slowly, in,
and some surprising songbirds passed through.. The
combination of intense observer efforts at some locations and the
increase in data due to e-bird has made it more difficult to separate
individual 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.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 10/25/13 through
10/26/13 (SC, PKe) was a pleasant surprise - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; EITHER
THE 9th RECORD FOR THE REGION OR A CONTINUATION OF THE 7th or 8th RECORD.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 11 near McCoy (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) was the
first and only report so far this season - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE MONTH - ONE OF A
HANDFUL OF OCTOBER RECORDS.
SNOW GOOSE: No reports at all - LATE AND LOW.
CACKLING GOOSE, CANADA GOOSE - Very little influx of either species even by the
end of the month - LATE AND LOW.
WOOD DUCK: 2-4 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the month (AnH, PKe),
elsewhere eight reports of 1-5 birds at various sites in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SC, AnH, RK, VM, RRi) -
AVERAGE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS; OVERALL NUMBERS LOW.
GADWALL: 3 near Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 4 at the
Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/12/13 (PKe), 2 at the Eppard Playa (Lamb) on
10/12/13 (PKe), 65 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/20/13 (SC), 6 at the TTU
Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/23/13 (SC), 4-8 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/25/13
and 10/26/13 (SC, PKe), 3 at near Cone (Crosby) on 10/27/13 (SC) and 6 at the
Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 10/29/13 (RRi) the only reports - SHOULD BE
COMMON AND WIDESPREAD BY THIS POINT IN THE YEAR - LATE AND LOW.
AMERICAN WIGEON: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds and eight reports of 11-60
birds in the region (Floyd, Hale, Lamby, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry) during the
period (JB, CC, CrC, SC, AnH, PKe, RK, VM, RRi, BS, AT) - LATE TO ARRIVE AND
LOW NUMBERS UNTIL VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE MONTH.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL - Persisted in good numbers at various spots throughout the
region - OUR SOLE WATERFOWL SUCCESS STORY SO FAR THIS YEAR.
CINNAMON TEAL: 3 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 1 in Tahoka (Lynn) on
10/17/13
(BS), 1 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 10/17/13 (BS), 2 near Floydada (Floyd) on
10/27/13 (SC) 1 elsewhere near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC), and 4
elsewhere near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER,
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE VERY POOR SEPTEMBER SHOWING.
NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL - Findable in the region
during the period but - LATE TO ARRIVE AND VERY LOW IN NUMBER.
CANVASBACK: 9 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/23/13 (SC) and 1 near
Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE.
REDHEAD: 2 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 10/16/13 (SC), 10 near Tahoka (Lynn) on
10/17/13 (BS), 12 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 10/17/13 (BS), 52 at the TTU Sewage
Pond (Lubbock) on 10/23/13 (SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/25/13 (PKe),
95 near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (PKe), and 2 at the Plainview Apartments
Playa (Hale) on 10/27/13 (NP) - A LITTLE LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR
BUT
NUMBERS PICKING UP BETTER THAN MIGHT BE EXPECTED GIVEN THE SCARCITY OF WATER
IN THE REGION.
RING-NECKED DUCK: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC, CrC), 2
at the Eppard Playa (Lamb) on 10/12/13 (PKe), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
10/16/13 (AnH, PKi), 3 near O'Donnell (Lynn) on 10/16/13 (SC), 2 in Littlefield
(Lamb) on 10/20/13 (SC), 37 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on 10/23/13 (SC),
5-7 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/25/13 and 10/26/13 (SC, PKe), 1 near Floydada
(Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC), and 100 elsewhere near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13
(SC) - LIKE THE REDHEAD, A LITTLE LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR BUT NUMBERS PICKING
UP NICELY BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
LESSER SCAUP: 2 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/13 (PKe) and 1 near
Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/20/13 (SC) the only reports - LATE AND LOW.
BUFFLEHEAD: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) the first and only report
so far this season - RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW
NUMBERS.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (AnH) and 1at the
Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP) the only reports - THIS SPECIES IS
GETTING HARDER TO FIND IN THE REGION; PROBABLY WORTH TRACKING SIGHTINGS AT THIS
POINT.
EARED GREBE: 1 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 10/2/13 (NP), 1 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/4/13 (SC), 7 near Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 1
elsewhere near Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 5 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC, CrC), and 2 at the TTU Sewage Pond (Lubbock) on
10/23/13 (SC) - AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT LOW NUMBERS.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) - CASUAL IN THE REGION
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON - AND IN ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT COUNTIES!
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 at various parks along Quaker Avenue (Lubbock) through
at least the first half of the period (CC, CrC, AnH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN
THE REGION, NOW
ANNUAL - THIS IS PROBABLY THE SAME BIRD THAT HAS BEEN IN LUBBOCK FOR SEVERAL
MONTHS.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 10/13/13 through 10/17/13
(CC, SC, AnH, PKe, BS) and 1, possibly the same bird, at McCullough Park
(Lubbock) on 10/30/13 (JB) - CASUAL IN THE REGION FOR ANY GIVEN MONTH BUT
ANNUAL OVER THE COURSE OF ANY GIVEN YEAR.
AMERICAN BITTERN: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP) -
ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION THOUGH OCTOBER IS OUR BEST MONTH; PROBABLY SOMEWHAT
OVERLOOKED - THE 30th RECORD FOR THE REGION.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/2/13 (MDL), 2 at Thunderbird Playa
(Hale) on 10/5/13 and 10/6/13 (NP, RRi), 1 at Andrews/Miller Park (Lubbock) on
10/5/13 (AnH, GJ), 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (PKe), 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/11/13 (PKe), 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on
10/12/13 (AnH), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (PKe), and 1 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 10/19/13 (PKe) - NOT TOO SHABBY FOR THIS LATE IN THE
SEASON, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE DROUGHT - MAYBE WE WILL SEE SOME WINTERING.
SNOWY EGRET: Twenty-one reports of 1-6 birds at ten sites in the region (Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, MDL, AnH, PKe, PKi, NP, RRi) - ALSO
NOT TOO SHABBY FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON - EVEN MORE LIKELY TO KICK OUT SOME
WINTERING EFFORTS.
LITTLE BLUE HERON: 1 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION, NOW ANNUAL, SHOWING UP EARLIER, AND
PERSISTING LATER.
CATTLE EGRET: Eight reports of 1-12 birds at eight different sites in the
region (Crosby, Floyd, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (SC, AnH, KH) - LOW BY
HISTORICAL STANDARDS; ABOUT AVERAGE BY CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS.
GREEN HERON: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 10/16/13 (CC, MDL, AnH, PKe,
NP, BS) and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (AnH) the only reports
- LEFT A BIT EARLY THIS YEAR; LITTLE HOPE FOR WINTERING ATTEMPTS DESPITE MILD
CONDITIONS.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC,
CrC), 1 at Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP), and 1 at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 10/13/13 (SC) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE
IN THE SEASON.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: A peak of 38 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/6/13 (RRi) had
dwindled to 1 bird by 10/18/13 (NP), 1 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC),
11 near Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 18 elsewhere near Springlake (Lamb)
on 10/6/13 (SC), 1 elsewhere near Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 5 near
Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/9/13 (SC), and 1 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/20/13
(SC) - PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON AS THE SPECIES USUALLY CLEARS
THE REGION BY LATE SEPTEMBER.
OSPREY: Six reports of 1-4 birds at six different sites in (Lubbock) during the
first half of the period
(CC, CRC, SC, AnH, PKe, PKi, JM) - ABOUT AVERAGE THOUGH A TAD CONCENTRATED.
MISSISSIPPI KITE: 14 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/1/13 (Di), 2 in Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 10/3/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (CC, PKe), and
1 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 10/9/13 (Di) - FORMERLY CASUAL THIS LATE IN THE
SEASON; WE NOW EXPECT SOME OCTOBER PERSISTENCE ANNUALLY.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: Twelve reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Hale, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (CC, SC, AnH, KH, PKe, RK, VM, NP, RRi)
- SOMEWHAT LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR, WITH NO REPORTS UNTIL 5 OCTOBER, BUT
PICKING UP TO ABOUT AVERAGE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
COOPER'S HAWK: Thirteen reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd,
Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, MDL, AnH, KH, PKe, PKi,
NP, RR, RRi, TT)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (AnH) the only report
- LOW; THIS YEAR'S MOVEMENT SEEMED TO STAY
WELL TO THE EAST.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/2/13 (PKi) - OCCASIONAL
AS A FALL MIGRANT; PROBABLY THE SAME BIRD THAT WAS AT THE SITE IN VERY LATE
SEPTEMBER.
SWAINSON'S HAWK: 1 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/18/13 (NP) was the last
report of the season - A BIT EARLY TO BE CLEARING THE SCENE.
FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1 near Anton (Hockley) on 10/5/13 (SC) and 1 at Reese Center
(Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (SC) were the first of the season - RIGHT ON TIME AND UP
TO NORMAL NUMBERS BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
COMMON GALLINULE: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/15/13 (AnH) - A RARE BUT
PERMANENT RESIDENT IN THE REGION; HOLDING ON WITH 1-2 FAMILY GROUPS PER YEAR
ALONG THE CANYON LAKES OF LUBBOCK.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 7 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13
(NP) - NOT ONLY ACCIDENTAL FOR THE MONTH BUT A HIGH NUMBER FOR A SIGHTING AT
ANY TIME OF THE YEAR FOR OUR REGION.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 6 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) through 10/6/13 (CC, CrC, PKe), 6 near Littlefield
(Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 2 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 1 near
Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 3 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/9/13 (SC),
and 4 at the Eppard Playa (Lamb) on 10/12/13 (PKe) - FORMERLY CASUAL TO THE
REGION IN OCTOBER; WE NOW EXPECT MULTIPLE OCTOBER RECORDS ANNUALLY.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Seven reports of 1-10 birds and four reports of 40-63 birds in
the region (Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn) through to the end of
the period (CC, CRC, SC, MDL, AnH, PKe, NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE IN TERMS OF NUMBER
OF SIGHTINGS BUT NUMBERS QUITE GOOD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/4/13 (SC), 1 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (CC, CrC), 1 at Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13
(PKe) and 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (AnH) - FORMERLY CASUAL
FOR THE MONTH; NOW ANNUAL THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF
OCTOBER.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 near Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC) - CASUAL IN THE
REGION THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Twenty-four reports of 1-10 birds, six reports of 11-25
birds, and three reports of 26-50 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale,
Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, PKe, NP, RR, RRi - THIS
SPECIES GENERALLY PEAKS, AS A FALL MIGRANT IN SEPTEMBER, BUT THIS YEAR THE PEAK
CAME IN OCTOBER.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Twenty-one reports of 1-10 birds, eight reports of 11-25
birds, and two reports of 26-50 birds in the region (Floyd, Hale, Lamb,
Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, PKe, NP, RRi - ANOTHER LATE PEAK;
TYPICALLY HAPPENS IN SEPTEMBER BUT OCTOBER WAS THE WHOMPER FOR YELLOWLEGS THIS
YEAR.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 29 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/5/13 (SC) the only
report - FORMERLY RELATIVELY EASY TO FIND IN THE REGION; ISOLATED REPORTS ARE
BECOMING MORE
TYPICAL.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 4 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/5/13 (SC) and 1 in
(Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC) the only reports - LOW
WESTERN SANDPIPER: No reports at all - VERY LOW.
LEAST SANDPIPER: Ten reports of 1-10 birds, two reports of 11-25 birds, and two
reports of 26-40 birds in the region (Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock) during the
period (SC, AnH, NP, RRi) - A CONTINUED - HECK, PROTRACTED - PICKUP FROM A POOR
AUGUST SHOWING.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: No reports at all - VERY LOW.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 3 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (CC, CrC, PKe), 1
near Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/20/13 (SC), and 4 near Floydada (Floyd) on
10/27/12 (SC) - ANOTHER UNUSUALLY GOOD SHOWING FOR THIS LATE IN WHAT HAS BEEN A
PROTRACTED, IF POOR NUMERICALLY, SHOREBIRD MIGRATION.
STILT SANDPIPER: Ten reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley, Lamb,
Lubbock) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, NP) - AFTER AN ABYSSMAL AUGUST
AND A VERY POOR SEPTEMBER WE, FINALLY, GOT A MARGINAL AND VERY LATE PEAK FOR
THIS SPECIES.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 16 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/5/13 (SC), 20 in
(Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 8 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 140 near
Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 1 elsewhere near Springlake (Lamb) on
10/6/13 (SC), 15 elsewhere near Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 6 in
Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/9/13 (SC), 20 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/20/13 (SC),
and 70 near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) - THANKS TO ONE OBSERVER, ANOTHER
SOMEWHAT LATE MIGRATORY PEAK FOR A FALL SHOREBIRD.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 in (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 2 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/6/13
(SC), 1 near Springlake (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 1 at Eppard Playa (Lamb) on
10/12/13 (PKe), 5 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/18/13 (NP), 1 in
Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/20/13 (SC), and 1 at the Cone Playa (Crosby) on
10/27/13 (SC) - RIGHT ON TIME AND SURPRISINGLY GOOD
NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 8 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/6/13 (SC), 2 in Littlefield
(Lamb) on 10/9/13 (SC), 10 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP), 1 at
the Brownfield Sewage Pond (Terry) on 10/26/13 (PK), 1 at the Cone Playa
(Crosby) on 10/27/13 (SC)m, and 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) -
FORMERLY CASUAL IN THE REGION THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; NOW EXPECTED TO KICK OUT
SOME OCTOBER SIGHTINGS.
RING-BILLED GULL: 2-4 in Lubbock (Lubbock) from 10/1/13 through 10/9/13 (Di)
and 1 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/7/13 (GB) the only sightings - SHOULD BE IN
MUCH BETTER NUMBERS IN THE REGION BY THE END OF THE PERIOD - LATE AND VERY LOW
THIS YEAR.
INCA DOVE: 3 at Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (CC, PKe), 3 at Tech Terrace
(Lubbock) on 10/13/13 (PKe), and 2 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 10/13/13 (AR) the
only reports - CONTINUING TO DOCUMENT THE EXTREMELY SPOTTY OCCURENCE OF THIS
FORMERLY MUCH MORE
COMMON SPECIES IN THE REGION.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/15/13 (PKi) and 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 10/17/13 (SC) were the last noted for the year - FORMERLY VANISHED
BY EARLY OCTOBER; WE GENERALLY SEE A FEW PERSIST INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE
MONTH NOWADAYS.
COMMON POORWILL: 3 at the A O Ranch (Motley) on 10/9/13 (NVV) and 2 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 10/15 13 (SC) the only reports - GOOD
NUMBERS AND NICE TO HAVE REPORTS AWAY FROM THEIR USUAL HANGOUTS IN LUBBOCK.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/1/13 (KH), 1 in
a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/3/13 (AnH), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
10/4/13 (KH), 2 at Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (CC, PKe), 1 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (PKe), 1-3
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/11/13 and 10/12/13 (SC, AnHPKe), 2 in a Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (JC), 1 immature
male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) almost daily from 10/24/13 through 10/31/13
(AnH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL THIS LATE IN THE YEAR, THE SPECIES NOW
PERSISTS, IN SMALL NUMBERS, THROUGH MOST OF OUR OCTOBERS.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 at Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (CC) the only report
- LOW.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 10/12/13 (PKe) - A
FAIRLY EARLY REPORT FOR THIS SPECIES WHICH USUALLY ARRIVES IN THE REGION IN
NOVEMBER.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC, CrC),
1 at Laguna Park (Lamb) on 10/9/13 (SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13
(SC, AnH), and 1 at Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/13/12 (PKe) - A GOOD NUMBER
AND NICE SCATTERING OF REPORTS THOUGH OCTOBER IS GENERALLY OUR PEAK MONTH FOR
THIS SPECIES.
MERLIN: 1 at Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/5/13 (NP), 1 at Leftwich
Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (AnH), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike
Trail (Lubbock) on 10/15/13 (SC), 1 at Laguna Park (Lamb) on 10/20/13 (SC), 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/25/13 (PKe), 1 in Brownfield (Terry) on 10/26/13
(AnH, RK, VM), and 1 at Lost Draw (Terry) on 10/26/13 (AnH, RK, VM) - A GOOD
NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the period (CC, PKe), 1
below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/2/13 (PKi), 1 at the A O Ranch (Motley) on
10/9/13 (NVV), and 1 at TTU HSC (Lubbock) through the latter half of the period
(AnH) - OUR ANNUAL INCREASE IN THE SPECIES AS WINTER APPROACHES.
PRAIRIE FALCON: Five reports of single birds in the region (Floyd, Hale, Lamb,
Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SC, AnH, KH, RK, VM, RRi) - ANOTHER TYPICAL
RAMP UP FOR A SPECIES NOW CONSIDERED TO BE A WINTERER IN THE REGION.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (AnH) and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (CC, AT) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION IN OCTOBER; NOW ANNUAL.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/5/13 (NP) -
ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION FOR OCTOBER; ANOTHER LATE MIGRANT.
EASTERN PHOEBE: Seven reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Lubbock, Motley,
Terry) during the period (SC, AnH, RK, VM, NP, NVV, WW) - ABOUT AVERAGE AFTER A
COUPLE OF YEARS OF BELOW AVERAGE - MAYBE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE MORE MOIST.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 at the Lubbock State School (Lubbock) on 10/2/13 (PKi) and 1 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (AnH) the only reports - A BIT LOW AS WE USUALLY
HAVE A MIGRATORY PEAK IN OCTOBER.
WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 with an abberantly pale facial pattern at Lake Six
(Lubbock) from 10/15/13 through 10/17/13 (SC, PKi) - NOTABLE FOR PERSISTING
RATHER LATE AS WELL AS FOR ITS APPEARANCE.
COMMON RAVEN: 1-3 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through the period (KH) and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/13
(KH) the only reports - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 and 10/6/13
(AnH, NP) the only reports - A BIT LATE BUT THIS IS BECOMING TYPICAL FOR THE
SPECIES.
TREE SWALLOW: 7 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (AnH) and 1 at Whiteface
(Cochran) on 10/9/13 (SC) the only reports - LOW.
CLIFF SWALLOW: 8 over the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/3/13 (AnH) the only
report - ACTUALLY A BIT LOW AS THIS SPECIES HAS TAKEN TO PERSISTING IN TO THE
FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER IN RECENT YEARS.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) - CASUAL FOR THIS EARLY
IN THE SEASON; A TAD ON THE EARLY SIDE FOR OUR REGION.
ROCK WREN: Six reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Lubbock, Motley, Terry)
during the period (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, RK, VM, NVV) - OUR TYPICAL MIGRATORY
UPTICK FOR OCTOBER - WITH THE BIRDS IN TERRY SOMEWHAT REMARKABLE FOR THAT
COUNTY.
MARSH
WREN: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC, CrC), 2 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 10/15/13 (AnH), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/26/13 (SC) the
only reports - STAGGERING IN ON TIME THIS YEAR BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS THUS FAR.
HOUSE WREN: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (AnH), 1 at Buffalo Springs
Lake (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC, CrC), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13
(AnH) the only reports - A POOR SHOWING FOR OCTOBER, TYPICALLY THE PEAK MONTH
FOR THIS SPECIES' MOVEMENT THROUGH THE REGION.
BEWICK'S WREN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/1/13 (KH), 1 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC, CrC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13
(AnH), 1 at Lost Draw (Terry) on 10/26/13 (AnH, RK), 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on
10/27/13 (SC), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/13 (KH) the only reports
- FOR THE TIME CONSIDERED NOTABLE IN THE REGION AS THE SPECIES HAS BECOME MUCH
MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (JC) the only report -
LOW.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (CC), 1 at the
Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/19/13 (CC), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/13 (KH) the only reports
- ANOTHER SPECIES WITH MOVEMENT THROUGH THE REGION PEAKING IN SEPTEMBER INSTEAD
OF, AS EXPECTED, OCTOBER - LOW.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) On 10/27/13 (NP)
- CASUAL, AT BEST, IN OUR REGION THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON - EARLY.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 6 at Lost Draw (Terry) on 10/26/13 (AnH, RK, VM) the only
report - RIGHT ON TIME FOR THE START OF THE WINTERING SEASON BUT LOW IN
NUMBERS, SO FAR, AND THIS SIGHTING IS A BIT WEST FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/20/13 (KH), 17 near
Anton (Lamb) on 10/20/13 (SC), 9 near Reese
Center (Lubbock) on 10/20/13 (SC), 2 near Shallowater (Lubbock) on 10/20/13
(SC) and 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/31/13 (KH) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR SO
EARLY IN THE SEASON; WE CAN HOPE FOR A PLEASANTLY IRRUPTIVE WINTER, I THINK.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) from 10/2/13 through
10/15/13 (AnH, PKi), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 10/5/13 through 10/11/13
(CC, SC), 1 at Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (CC, PKe), 1 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC, CrC), 2 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on
10/11/13 (CC)1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 10/12/13 through 10/31/13 (CC,
SC, AnH, PKe, AT), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 10/19/13 (CC), and 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/21/13 (KD) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR SO EARLY IN THE
SEASON; OFTEN CO-IRRUPTS WITH MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (AnH) and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (AnH) the only reports
- LOW.
HERMIT THRUSH: Eleven reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Hale, Lamb, Lubbock)
during the period (CC, SC, AnH, PKe, NP, AT) - A TAD LOW BY HISTORICAL
STANDARDS; ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 10/11/13 through 10/13/13 (CC,
SC, AnH, PKe, RR, AT) the only reports - LOW; GENERALLY PEAKS IN OCTOBER.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/12/13 (KH), 1 at the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 10/15/13 (SC), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
10/19/13 (CC), and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/22/13 (KH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THE OCTOBER KICK OF THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
BROWN THRASHER: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 10/5/13 through 10/31/13 (CC,
SC, AnH, PKe) - THIS IS THE MOST RELIABLE SITE ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT FOR
THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
CEDAR WAXWING: 54 over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/3/12 (AnH) the only
report - A TAD
EARLY FOR A LARGE GROUP IN THE REGION AND, GIVEN THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF THE
SPECIES IN THE REGION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MONTH, A BIT OF A PERPLEXIMENT.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Twenty-five reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Bailey,
Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Terry) during the period
(CC, SC, JC, MDL, AnH, PKe, RK, VM, NP, RR, AT, NVV) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SCATTER; THE SPECIES TYPICALLY PEAKS AS A MIGRANT IN OCTOBER AND THIS WAS A BIT
BETTER THAN AVERAGE.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (AnH), 1-2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (SC, AnH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/13/13
(AnH, RR), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 10/14/13 (WW), and 3 at Tech
Terrace (Lubbock) on 10/18/13 (JD, AvH, TT) - ABOUT AVERAGE - GIVEN THE MILD
CONDITIONS SO FAR THIS YEAR IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF ANY POP UP IN
NOVEMBER.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: 1 at the Lubbock State School (Lubbock) on
10/2/13 (PKi) and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (AnH) the only reports
- NO IMPROVEMENT OVER THE POOR NUMBERS IN SEPTEMBER; LOW NUMBERS FOR THE REGION
THROUGHOUT FALL MIGRATION.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (AnH) and 2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (AnH) the only reports - LOW BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS.
PALM WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 10/6/13 through 10/12/13 (AnH, NP)
- ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION DURING FALL MIGRATION.
PINE WARBLER: 1 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) from 10/5/13 through 10/6/13 (NP,
RRi) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION DURING FALL MIGRATION; GENERALLY A BIT MORE
LIKELY AS A WINTERING BIRD DURING DECEMBER AND JANUARY.
WILSON'S WARBLER: Ten reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Hale, Lamb, Lubbock)
during the period (CC, CrC, SC, JC, AnH, NP, RR) - LOW NUMBERS AND AN EARLY
DISAPPEARANCE FROM THE REGION.
CASSIN'S SPARROW: 5 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP),
4 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP), 4 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale)
on 10/17/13 (NP), and 1 near Brownfield (Terry) on 10/26/13 (AnH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE FALL AND WINTER LINGERER.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Twenty-four reports of 1-10 birds, two reports of 11-25
birds, and one report of 130 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock,
Motley, Terry) during the period (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, KH, PKe, RK, NP, RRi, NVV)
- A BIT OF A PICKUP FROM THE SOMEWHAT LOW NUMBERS OF SEPTEMBER BUT PROBABLY NOT
UP TO NORMAL FOR OCTOBER.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Twenty-two reports of 1-10 birds and five reports of
11-50 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC,
AnH, KH, PKe, NP, RRi) - ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS AND, HAS
OCCASIONALLY BEEN THE CASE DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS, A BIT MORE ABUNDANT THAN
CHPPING SPARROW.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 5 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/5/13 (NP), 1 at the
Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/12/13 (NP), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
from 10/12/13 to 10/13/13 (SC, AnH) 1 at the TTU Gardens (Lubbock) on 10/16/13
(SC), and 4 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/17/13 (NP) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SCATTER; THIS SPECIES HAS BECOME FAIRLY REGULAR IN THE REGION DURING BOTH
MIGRATIONS IN RECENT YEARS.
FIELD SPARROW: Five reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during
the period (SC, AnH, KH) - LATE TO ARRIVE AND LOW IN NUMBERS EVEN BY THE END OF
THE PERIOD.
LARK SPARROW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/6/13 (KH) and 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 10/18/13 (KH) the only reports - EARLY TO LEAVE THIS YEAR AND
A VERY THOROUGH DEPARTURE IT WAS.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (SC, AnH), 1 at the
TTU Campus (Lubbock) on 10/15/13 (SC), 3 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
10/16/13 (KH), and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/26/13 (NP)
the only reports - A TAD LOW DURING MIGRATION; PROBABLY REFLECTS VERY LOW
BREEDING NUMBERS IN THE REGION CURRENTLY AFFLICTED BY DROUGHT.
FOX SPARROW: 2 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/18/13 (NP) - CASUAL IN THE
REGION THIS EARLY IN THE YEAR; GENERALLY NOT EXPECTED UNTIL LATE NOVEMBER.
SONG SPARROW: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 10/12/13 to the end of the
period (KH), 1 at Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) from 10/12/13 to the end of
the period (NP), 3 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) from 10/12/13 to the end of the
period (NP), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/26/13 (SC, AnH), 1 at Lost Draw
(Terry) on 10/26/13 (AnH, RK), 1 near Brownfield (Terry) on 10/26/13 (AnH), 8
near Floydada (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC), and 5 near McCoy (Floyd) on 10/27/13
(SC) - THOUGH THE SPECIES WAS LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR NUMBERS APPEARED TO BE
CLOSING IN ON NORMAL BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
SWAMP SPARROW: 1 near McCoy (Floyd) on 10/27/13 (SC) was the first and only
report so far this season - LATE AND LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 5 at Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/16/13
(RRi) and 2 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 10/18/13 (NP) - EARLY AND IN GOOD
NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS AS THE SPECIES HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO FIND
IN THE REGION.
HARRIS'S SPARROW: 3 at Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 10/16/13 (RRi) -
EARLY AND IN GOOD NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARS AS THE SPECIES HAS BECOME
VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION.
DARK-EYED JUNCO: Eight reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Hale, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, AnH, KH, NP) - ON TIME THIS YEAR BUT
NUMBERS SOMEWHAT LOW EVEN BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
WESTERN TANAGER: 1 at Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 10/9/13 (SC) adn 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/12/13 (CC, AT) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE MONTH IN OUR
REGION - AN ODDLY PROTRACTED MIGRATION FOR THIS SPECIES THIS YEAR.
BLUE GROSBEAK: 1 near Shallowater (Lubbock) on 10/5/13 (SC) - A RATHER LATE
RECORD FOR THE REGION.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 10/12/13 to 10/13/13 (CC, SC,
AnH, RR, AT) - CASUAL IN THE REGION THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
DICKCISSEL: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 10/1/13 (KH) the latest report of
the year - A VERY DISAPPOINTING YEAR FOR THE SPECIES, AS A MIGRANT AND AS A
BREEDER, IN THE REGION.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: Eight reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 75 birds
in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SC, KH,
NP, BS) - A TAD ON THE LOW SIDE, CONTINUING THE PATTERN OF A POOR FALL MOVEMENT
THIS YEAR.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 6 males at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 10/7/13 (AnH) were
down to 2 males by 10/11/13 (AnH) and 1 male persisted in Clapp Park (Lubbock)
through 10/18/13 (JD, AvH, TT) - THE LATEST RECORD FOR THE REGION; SLOWLY
INCHING TOWARDS A BONA FIDE WINTERING ATTEMPT.
PINE SISKIN: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/13/13 (AnH), 6 near O'Donnell
(Lynn) on 10/16/13 (SC), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 10/26/13 (SC) the
only reports - RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS SO FAR.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 10/4/13 (SC) and 3 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 10/6/13 (CC, CrC) the only reports - A TAD LOW AND A
SEEMINGLY THOROUGH DEPARTURE.
OBSERVERS:
GB=Grant Beauprez, JB=Jeff Boatright, CCÊmeron Carver, CrC=Craig Carver,
SC=Steve Collins, JC=Jim Crites, JD=Jeanne Davis, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken
Dixon, AnH=Anthony Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, Di=Donn
ianuzi, GJ=George Jury, PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, RK=Rich Kostecke,
JM=Jim Madewell, VM=Veena Mohan, NP=Niler Pyeatt, RR=Ross Rickett, RRi=Robert
Rios, BS=Byron Stone, TT=Tess Trost, AT=Ashley Tubbs, NVV=Natalie Vande Vuss,
WW=William Wenthe.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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