[texbirds] Lubbock Area Birding Summary for September - Long
- From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 06:59:02 -0700 (PDT)
SEPTEMBER 2013 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS
With 0.54 inches of rain in Lubbock during the month, far below the average
September total of 2.57 inches, we are now at 10.32 inches for the year - EVEN
FURTHER BELOW the average year-to-date total of 15.90 inches. Shorebirds were
still in short supply but more shoreline in Lubbock during the month made for a
small improvement over August, waterfowl were filling in very slowly, and
migrant songbirds were in short supply due to unusually clement weather.
Warblers, in particular, stood out due to an unusual absence of diversity -
very few surprises. 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 wandered about Plainview (Hale) from 9/7/13
though 9/2813 (NP, CA, MA, AK, RRi, CR, FR) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; THE 8th
RECORD FOR THE REGION.
CACKLING GOOSE: Eleven records of 1-6 birds at sites in (Lubbock) during the
period (AnH, PKe) - NO EVIDENCE OF WINTER ARRIVALS AS OF YET; THESE BIRDS, IF
INDEED CACKLING GEESE, ARE ALL PART OF THE WOUNDED WARRIOR CLASS THAT PERSISTS
IN LUBBOCK MOST SUMMERS.
WOOD DUCK: 1 female and 1 male at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 9/8/13 (AnH),
1 male at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (SC, AnH), 1 male at Casey
Park (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH), and 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/15/13
(AnH) - FORMERLY CASUAL DURING SEPTEMBER; NOW ANNUAL IN SMALL NUMBERS.
GADWALL: 8 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 4 at Thunderbird Playa
(Hale) from 9/21/13 through 9/29/13 (NP), and 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
9/28/13 (AnH) the only reports -
GENERALLY COMMON THROUGHOUT THE REGION BY LATE SEPTEMBER - LATE AND VERY LOW
THIS YEAR.
AMERICAN WIGEON: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (CC, AnH) and 2 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/13 (PKe) the only reports - GENERALLY UNCOMMON BY LATE
SEPTEMBER - LATE AND VERY LOW THIS YEAR.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: In good numbers at remaining wet spots throughout the region
- OUR ONE WATERFOWL SUCCESS STORY FOR THE SUMMER.
CINNAMON TEAL: 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 3 east of Plainview
(Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH), and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9./28/13 (CC) the only reports - GENERALLY OUR PEAK
MONTH FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION - VERY LOW.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: Good numbers at wet spots in (Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock)
especially during the latter half of the period (PB, CC, SC, AnH, PKe) - A BIT
LATE TO ARRIVE BUT AT LEAST AT AVERAGE NUMBERS WHERE HABITAT AVAILABLE.
NORTHERN
PINTAIL: 50 east of Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC) and 4 at the Hale Center
Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC) the only reports - GENERALLY COMMON TO
ABUNDANT BY SEPTEMBER - VERY LATE TO ARRIVE AND HORRIBLY LOW NUMBERS.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: Eleven reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 12-30
birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period
(CC, SC, AnH, NP, RRi, WZ) - GENERALLY MORE ABUNDANT BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER -
LATE TO ARRIVE AND LOW IN NUMBERS.
DIVING DUCKS - No reports, whatsoever, of Redheads, Lesser Scaups - which
should be present by the end of September - LATE TO ARRIVE AND, THUS FAR,
ABSENT.
RUDDY DUCK: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 9/13/13 (AnH), 1-4 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 9/24/13 (CC, SC), and 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (CC, AnH)
the only reports - GENERALLY UNCOMMON THROUGHOUT THE REGION BY LATE SEPTEMBER -
LATE TO ARRIVE AND VERY LOW IN NUMBERS.
EARED GREBE: 1 at
Houston School Playa Lake (Hale) on 9/19/13 (NP) and 1 at Thunderbird Playa
(Hale) on 9/21/13 (NP) the only reports - LOW.
GREAT EGRET: Nineteen reports of 1-6 birds at in-town playas in (Hale, Lubbock)
during the period (PB, CC, SC, AnH, PKe, NP, RR) - THE EXPECTED POST-BREEDING
PICKUP FINALLY HAPPENED, CLOSING IN ON TYPICAL, BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS,
NUMBERS.
SNOWY EGRET: Up to 58 at Casey Park overflow (Lubbock) though mid-period (PB,
CC, AnH, RR), up 37 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (NB, PB, CC,
SC, AnH, Di, PKe, RR), up to 32 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the
period (AnH, PKe), up to 15 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) throughout the period
(SC, AK, NP, RRi). Elsewhere, 1-12 birds consistently to be found at three
sites in (Hale) through the period (SC, NP, RRi) and at ten sites in (Lubbock)
through the period (PB, CC, SC, AnH, PKe, PKi, DL, RR) - GOOD NUMBERS AND GOOD
SCATTER ACROSS THE TWO
COUNTIES WITH PERMANENT IN-TOWN WATER SPOTS.
LITTLE BLUE HERON: 1 adult bird below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH) -
CASUAL, INCREASING TO VERY RARE IN THE REGION DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS - MAY
HAVE SUMMERED ALONG THE RIVER.
TRICOLORED HERON: 1 immature bird at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/11/13 (SC), 1
immature bird at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 9/13/13 (PKi), 1 immature bird
below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 9/14/13 through the remainder of the period (CC,
SC, AnH, PKe), 3 immature birds at the Casey Park overflow (Lubbock) on 9/14/13
(PB, RR) and 9/15/13 (AnH) - ACCIDENTAL, INCREASING TO CASUAL IN THE REGION
DURING THE PAST DECADE - THERE WERE AT LEAST FOUR IN LUBBOCK DURING THE MONTH;
A FIRST FOR THE REGION.
CATTLE EGRET: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds, eleven reports of 11-50 birds,
six reports of 51-100 birds, four reports of 101-200 birds, one report of 230
birds, and one report of 284 birds scattered across the region
(Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock) and period (PB, SC, AnH, KH, AK,
PKe, KM, NP, RRi, WZ) - A SOLID INCREASE OVER AUGUST, IN TERMS OF NUMBERS AND
SCATTER, SUGGESTING SOME DECENT POST-BREEDING WANDERING THROUGH THE REGION.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1-3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the period (PB,
CC, SC, AnH, PKe, RR), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH), 2 at
Thuderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 2 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 9/20/13
(RR), 1 at Thunderbird Playa on 9/28/13 and 9/29/13 (NP), and 3 at Mae Simmons
Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (CC) - A BIT BETTER THAN EXPECTED, GIVEN THE POOR
AUGUST SHOWING - POST-BREEDING WANDERERS?
WHITE-FACED IBIS: Fifteen reports of 1-10 birds, seven reports of 11-50 birds,
and six reports of 51-100 birds scattered across the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, AnH, AK, PKe,
KM, NP, RRi, WZ) - ANOTHER PICKUP FROM AUGUST NUMBERS -
POST-BREEDING WANDERERS OR PREVIOUSLY OVERLOOKED BREEDING SITES.
OSPREY: Fourteen reports of 1-2 birds at about a dozen sites scattered across
(Hale and Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, MDL, AnH, GJ, PKe, KM, NP, RR,
RRi) - NUMBERS USUALLY PEAK IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER BUT THIS WAS A PRETTY GOOD
SHOWING, ALBEIT RESTRICTED TO THE TWO COUNTIES WITH ARTIFICIALLY-MAINTAINED
FISHING SITES, BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: No reports at all - THE SPECIES USUALLY ARRIVES BY LATE
SEPTEMBER - A POOR SHOWING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COOPER'S HAWKS
REPORTED.
COOPER'S HAWK: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/9/13 onward (PB, CC, SC, AnH,
PKe, RR), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/16/13 (KH), 1 along the Canyon
Lakes (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (PKi), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
9/25/13 (NP), 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/29/13 (NP), and 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/30/13 (KH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR ARRIVAL MONTH.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: No reports at all - THE SPECIES USUALLY MOVES THROUGH,
ALBEIT IN SMALL NUMBERS, AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR - MIGHT BE MOVING MOSTLY TO
THE EAST DURING THIS RATHER BORING FALL WEATHER SEASON.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 below and at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (CC, AnH) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS NOW ANNUAL MIGRANT AND OCCASIONAL FALL-SPRING RESIDENT.
SORA: 1 at a playa in west (Floyd) on 9/5/13 (AK), 1 at the Himmel Farm
(Crosby) on 9/8/13 (KH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/25/13 (SC), and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL THIS EARLY
IN THE SEASON; ARRIVES REGULARLY IN SEPTEMBER THESE DAYS.
SANDHILL CRANE: 7 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (AnH) the only report - WE
USUALLY START DETECTING PASSAGE BIRDS BY MID-SEPTEMBER - LATE AND LOW SO FAR
THIS YEAR.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 4-10 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the month (PB, SC,
AnH, PKe, DL,
RR), 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) through the month (PB, AnH, RR), 2-3 at Guy
Park (Lubbock) through 9/8/13 (PKe, KM), 4 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) from
9/9/13 through 9/11/13 (SC, NP), 3-4 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) from 9/11/13
though 9/21/13 (CC, SC), 19 at the Slide x 130th Street Playa (Lubbock) on
9/7/13 and 9/8/13 (SC, PKe), 18 at the CR 7500 Playa (Lubbock) on 9/7/13 (SC),
2 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 9/8/13 (PKe), 21 near Cone (Crosby) on 9/15/13
(WZ), 25 near Post (Garza) on 9/15/13 (PB), 40 east of Plainview (Hale) on
9/15/13 (SC), 24 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 2 at
Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (AnH), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on
9/28/13 (CC), and 6 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/13 (PKe) - GOOD SCATTER
CONTINUES BUT NUMBERS REMAINED LOW, BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 130 at the Smyer
Playa (Hockley) on 9/7/13 (PKe), 221 at the
Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/11/13 (SC), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 9/13/13
(AnH), 11 near Cone (Crosby) on 9/15/13 (WZ), 60 east of Plainview (Hale) on
9/15/13 (SC), 25 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 106
near Olton (Lamb) on 9/15/13 (WZ), 157 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/21/13
(CC, SC), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/22/13 (NP), 3 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 9/22/13 (PKe), and 17 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds
(Hale) on 9/29/13 (RRi) - GOOD SCATTER CONTINUES BUT NUMBERS REMAINED LOW, BY
RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Twenty-four reports of 1-3 birds scattered across the region
(Cochran, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) through the period (PB, CC, SC,
AnH, AK, PKe, RR, RRi) - GREAT NUMBERS AND GREAT SCATTER BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS; OUR CONCRETE-LOVING SHOREBIRD SUCCESS STORY FOR THE MONTH.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER:1 at the Slide by 130th Street Playa (Lubbock) on 9/7/13
(SC), 1
at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/11/13 (SC), 2 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on
9/11/13 (SC), 2 east of Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 1 at the Thunderbird
Playa (Hale) on 9/21/13 (NP), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
9/22/13 (NP), 1 at Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/13 (SC), and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 9/24/13 (CC, PKe) - ABOUT AVERAGE - ANOTHER SHOREBIRD THAT
DOESN'T NEED MUCH IN THE WAY OF SHORE.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Twenty reports of 1-10 birds, five reports of 11-50 birds,
and one report of 82 birds scattered across the region (Bailey, Crosby, Floyd,
Garza, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (PB, CC, SC, AnH, AK, PKe, NP,
RR, RRi, WZ) - AN EXCELLENT PICKUP FROM A VERY POOR AUGUST SHOWING, SUGGESTING
A SOMEWHAT LATE MOVEMENT OF THE SPECIES THROUGH OUR REGION.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Fourteen reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 13 birds, and
one report of 20 birds scattered across the region (Crosby, Garza, Hale,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (PB, SC, AnH, KM, NP, RRi, WZ) - ANOTHER NICE
PICKUP FROM A POOR AUGUST SHOWING - MORE EVIDENCE OF A LATE MOVEMENT OF
SHOREBIRDS THROUGH THE REGION.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1-4 almost daily over the Himmel Farm (Crosby) during the
period (KH) the only reports - PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 24 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/21/13 (CC, SC) the
only report - VERY LOW; SHOULD MOVE THROUGH IN GOOD NUMBERS, EVEN IN DRY YEARS,
DURING SEPTEMBER.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 3 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/21/13 (CC, SC) and
2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/13 (AnH) the only reports - NO PICKUP FOR
THIS SPECIES OVER VERY POOR AUGUST NUMBERS - A PITIFUL FALL MOVEMENT OF
'PEEPS' THIS YEAR.
WESTERN SANDPIPER:2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 5 near Cone
(Crosby) on 9/15/13 (WZ), and 12 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/21/13 (CC,
SC) the only reports - NO
PICKUP FOR THIS SPECIES OVER VERY POOR AUGUST NUMBERS - A PITIFUL FALL
MOVEMENT OF 'PEEPS' THIS YEAR.
LEAST SANDPIPER: Nine reports of 1-10 birds and five reports of 11-20 birds
scattered across the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (PB, SC, AnH, PKe, KM, RR, WZ) - A LITTLE PICKUP UP
FROM THE HIDEOUSLY POOR AUGUST SHOWING BUT STILL WAY BELOW NORMAL NUMBERS - A
PITIFUL FALL MOVEMENT OF 'PEEPS' THIS YEAR.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 1 east of
Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 1 at Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 9/20/13
(AnH), 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/21/13 (CC, SC), and 1 at
Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/13 (AnH) - NUMBERS AND SIGHTINGS ACTUALLY
DOWN FROM AUGUST - A PITIFUL FALL MOVEMENT OF 'PEEPS' THIS YEAR.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 2 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC)
and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
9/21/13 (CC, SC) the only reports - OUCH!
STILT SANDPIPER: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/11/13 (SC), 2 east of
Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 3 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/21/13
(CC, SC), and 1-3 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) from 9/22/13 thourgh
9/29/13 (NP, RRi) the only reports - A LITTLE PICKUP UP FROM THE HIDEOUSLY POOR
AUGUST SHOWING BUT STILL WAY
BELOW NORMAL NUMBERS - A PITIFUL FALL MOVEMENT OF 'PEEPS' THIS YEAR.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 2 near Cone (Crosby) on 9/15/13 (WZ), 2 at the Hale
Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), and 8 at Higginbotham Park
(Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (AnH) the only reports - RIDICULOUSLY LOW NUMBERS
THROUGHOUT THE FALL SEASON!
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 5-6 at the Slide x 130th Street Playa (Lubbock) from 9/1/13
though 9/8/13 (SC, PKe), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 400 at the
Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/7/13 (PKe), 12 at the CR 7500 Playa (Lubbock) on
9/7/13 (SC), 6 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 9/11/13 (SC), 1 along Highway 87
(Lynn) on 9/12/13 (PB), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 9/13/13 (AnH), 8 near
Cone (Crosby) on 9/15/13 (WZ), 3 near Post (Garza) on 9/15/13 (PB), 20 east of
Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 300 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on
9/15/13 (SC), and 5 near Olton (Lamb) on 9/15/13 (WZ) - GOOD NUMBERS WERE VERY
CONCENTRATED BUT A NICE PICKUP FROM AN ATROCIOUS AUGUST - MORE EVIDENCE OF A
LATISH SHOREBIRD MOVEMENT.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 1 east of Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC) - CASUAL IN
THE REGION, TYPICALLY SHOWING UP IN LATE SEPTEMBER THROUGH EARLY OCTOBER.
RING-BILLED GULL: 3 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 9/5/13 (Di) and 1 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 9/27/13 (AnH) the only reports - ON TIME BUT LOW; USUALLY NUMBERS
BUILD UP A LITTLE IN LATE SEPTEMBER.
BLACK TERN: 1 near Cone (Crosby) on 9/15/13 (WZ), 2 near Post (Garza) on
9/15/13 (PB), 3 east of Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 3 at the Hale Center
Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/3/13 (SC), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/15/13
(AnH) - LOW NUMBERS THIS SEASON AND SEPTEMBER'S REPORTS SEEMED ODDLY FOCUSSED
ON A SINGLE DAY!
FORSTER'S TERN: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 9/8/13 (AnH) and 1 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (PB, RR) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS - A
DISAPPOINTING FALL
FOR TERNS AS WELL AS SHOREBIRDS.
INCA DOVE: 1 at Jennings Park (Lubbock) on 9/1/13 (PKe), 2 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 9/6/13 (SC), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/6/13 (FR), 7 in
Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (PB, RR), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
9/22/13 (AnH), and 7 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (JD, AvH, TT) the
only reports - WHO KNOWS WHETHER OR NOT THIS SPECIES WILL PERSIST IN THE REGION
- A BIT OF A PICKUP FROM A VERY POOR SUMMER AND SOME REPORTS FROM SPOTS WHERE
THE SPECIES HAD DISAPPEARED.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 9/3/13 (BN) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 9/21/13 (CC) the only reports - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW
NUMBERS REFLECTED THE EXTRAORDINARILY POOR SHOWING FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE
REGION DURING THE SUMMER AND A POOR MIGRATION.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/2/13 (GJ), 1
in Plainview (Hale) on 9/2/13 (NP), 1 at the TTU Gardens (Lubbock)
on 9/12/13 and 9/13/13 (SC), 1 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC),
and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (SC) - BETTER THAN USUAL BUT
AWARENESS OF THIS SPECIES MOVEMENT INTO OUR REGION IS INCREASING AS ARE
OBSERVER SKILLS.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 9/2/13 (AR), 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/7/13 (SB), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa
(Hale) on 9/15/13 (NP, RRi), and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
9/28/13 (NP) - A BIT LOW.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/4/13 (SC) and 2 in
another Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/7/13 (SB) - VERY LOW, USUALLY RELATIVELY
EASY TO COME BY IN SEPTEMBER.
GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
9/21/13 (NP) - ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT SIGHTINGS, EXCLUDING THE CANYON
LAKES OF LUBBOCK, REMAIN NOTABLE.
MERLIN: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/21/13 (CC, SC, AnH, RR) - CASUAL IN
SEPTEMBER;
A VERY NICE SIGHTING.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/6/13 to the end of the
period (CC, AnH, PKe), 1 at Lakeside Trails Park (Hale) on 9/8/13 (RRi), and 1
at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (SC) - ABOUT AVERAGE,
NUMBERS INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE REGION DURING SEPTEMBER IN MOST YEARS.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 from a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (SC), 1 at the
Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/21/13 (NP), 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
9/21/13 (CC, SC), and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/29/13 (KH) - RIGHT ON
TIME - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER SO FAR.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: Twelve reports of 1-4 birds scattered across the region
(Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (JB, CC, SC, AnH,
KH, PKe, NP, RRi) - A BIT OF A PICKUP OVER A VERY POOR AUGUST SHOWING BUT STILL
A TAD LOW.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: Twenty-seven reports of 1-3 birds scattered across the
region (Bailey, Cochran,
Crosby, Hale, Lamb, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (PB, CC, SC, AnH, KH,
PKe, DL, RR, RRi) - A STRONG PICKUP OVER A VERY POOR AUGUST SHOWING -
DEFINITELY UP TO SNUFF, NUMBERS-WISE.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: Sixteen reports of 1-5 birds scattered across the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (SC, AnH, KH, AK, NP, RR,
RRi) - ABOUT AVERAGE; ANOTHER NICE RECOVERY FROM A VERY POOR AUGUST SHOWING.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: Twenty-nine reports of 1-7 birds scattered across the region
(Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, AnH, KH,
PKe, DL, NP, RR, RRi) - A TAD BETTER THAN AVERAGE, MAYBE WELL ABOVE AVERAGE -
E-BIRD IS DEFINITELY HAVING AN IMPACT ON OUR EMPID DATA - ANOTHER NICE RECOVERY
FROM A POOR AUGUST SHOWING.
DUSKY FLYCATCHER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH) and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 9/8/13 (SC, AnH, RR) - A GOOD SHOWING FOR THIS SPECIES,
FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION.
GRAY FLYCATCHER: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH) the only report -
THIS SEEMS A TAD LOW BUT THE SPECIES IS GETTING HARDER TO FIND IN OUR REGION.
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/21/13 (CC, SC, AnH) the only reports - FORMERLY A BIT
EASIER TO FIND - SEEMS TO BE ON THE DECLINE AS A MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 9/3/13 (BN), 1 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/13/13 (KH), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
9/14/13 (CC, PKe), and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/15/13
(NP) - A STRONG SHOWING BY RECENT DROUGHT YEAR STANDARDS.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 1 at the Himmel Farm
(Crosby) on 9/7/13 (KH), 1 at the Dairy Place (Crosby) on 9/18/13 (KH), and 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 9/28/13 (CC) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 at
Thunderbird Playa (Hale) from 9/9/13 through 9/14/13 (SC, NP) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW ENCOUNTERED FAIRLY REGULARLY WITH NO
STRONG SEASONALITY APPARENT.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Houston School Playa (Hale) on 9/2/13 (RRi),
1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/17/13 (NP), and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/17/13 (AnH) - THE FIRST REPORT IS RUNNING A TAD LATE FOR THE
SPECIES TO BE IN OUR REGION; THE LATTER TWO REPORTS ARE REMARKABLY LATE.
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/17/13
(NP) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (PKe) - FORMERLY A VERY RARE
BREEDER IN THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF OUR REGION; NOW MORE FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED
AS A POST-BREEDING WANDERER ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD: 1 in (Cochran) on 9/28/13 (SC) - A RARE MIGRANT THROUGH OUR
WESTERN COUNTIES - RIGHT ON TIME AND IN AN EXPECTED LOCALE.
EASTERN KINGBIRD:
1-3 at Lubbock State School (Lubbock) on 9/13/13 (AnH, PKi) - CASUAL, AT BEST,
ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
BELL'S VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (PB, RR) and 9/15/13 (AnH)
the only report - FORMERLY CASUAL IN THE REGION; NOW ENCOUNTERED A BIT MORE
FREQUENTLY - THROUGH THE ENTIRE BREEDING SEASON.
CASSIN'S VIREO: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 9/13/13 (CC) and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/21/13 (CC, SC, AnH, RR) - THE STATUS OF THE SOLITARY VIREO
'COMPLEX' IN OUR REGION IS UNCERTAIN - THIS SPECIES IS PROBABLY THE MOST
UNLIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED BUT IS ANNUAL DURING BOTH SPRING AND FALL MIGRATION.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO: No reports at all - ODD, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF CASSIN'S VIREO
SIGHTINGS.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 9/6/13 (SC), 1 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 9/14/13 (DL), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (SC, AnH) and
9/16/13 (RR), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/13
(RR), and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/28/13 (NP) - THIS
SPECIES IS EITHER THE FIRST OR SECOND MOST LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED - DEPENDING
ON WHAT IS UP WITH PLUMBEOUS VIREOS FROM YEAR TO YEAR - A GOOD SHOWING.
WARBLING VIREO: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC,
RRi), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH), 1 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on
9/20/13 (RR), and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/21/13 (NP) -
FORMERLY FAIRLY EASY TO FIND DURING EITHER MIGRATORY PERIOD - MUCH MORE SCARCE
THESE DAYS.
COMMON RAVEN: 1-2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through the period (KH), 2 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 1 near Cone (Crosby) on 9/15/13 (WZ), 2
near Floydada (Floyd) on 9/15/13 (WZ), and 1 near Post (Garza) on 9/15/13 (PB)
- ABOUT AVERAGE - WE ARE STARTING TO GET A HANDLE ON THE SEASONALITY OF THIS
SPECIES AS IT RE-OCCUPIES FAVORED PORTIONS OF THE REGION.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED
SWALLOW: 1 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 2 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/17/13 (KH), 2-3 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 9/24/13
through 9/28/13 (SC, AnH), and 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
9/27/13 (RRi) the only reports - VERY LOW.
TREE SWALLOW: 2 east of Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC) and 3 at the Hale
Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
BANK SWALLOW: 8 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/3/13 (KH), 2 at Dupree Park
(Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (PKi), 1 below
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/25/13 (AnH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/28/13
(AnH) the only reports - LOW.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW: 1 immature bird at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/24/13 (CC) and
9/25/13 (AnH) - CASUAL IN THE REGION; MOST LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN
SEPTEMBER.
CAVE SWALLOW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/1/13 (KH), 8 at Silver Falls
Rest Area
(Crosby) on 9/3/13 (BN), and 2-11 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 9/24/13 through
9/28/13 (CC, SC, AnH) - THOUGH WELL ESTABLISHED AS A BREEDER THROUGHOUT THE
REGION, SEPTEMBER REPORTS ARE RARE BUT INCREASING. IT MAY JUST BE A MATTER OF
TIME BEFORE THIS SPECIES PUTS IN A SINCERE OVER-WINTERING EFFORT.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 9/6/13 (SC) - RARE IN THE REGION;
THIS REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST FAVORED SITES.
HOUSE WREN: Nine reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale, Lubbock)
during the period (CC, SC, AnH, NP, RR) - THE SPECIES IS A REGULAR BREEDER IN
OUR EASTERN COUNTIES - THIS, HOWEVER, WAS THE TYPICAL FALL MIGRATORY SPIKE FOR
THE PORTION OF THE REGION ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
MARSH WREN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/10/13 (KH) and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/21/13 (AnH) the only reports - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL FOR THE
MONTH, SEPTEMBER BIRDS ARE NOW ENCOUNTERED WITH SOME REGULARITY.
CAROLINA WREN: 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (CC, PKe), 3 in
Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (PB, RR), 2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (RR) and 9/21/13 (CC, SC, AnH, RR), and 2 at Mae Simmons
Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/13 (CC) - FORMERLY RARE IN THE REGION, SAVE FOR OUR
EASTERN COUNTIES - CURRENTLY EASIER TO LOCATE THAN BEWICK'S WREN.
BEWICK'S WREN: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 9/3/13 (BN), 2 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 9/21/13 (KM), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/28/13
(AnH) - FORMERLY FAIRLY EASY TO LOCATE, THROUGHOUT THE REGION - CURRENTLY LESS
FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED THAN CAROLINA WREN.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (CC,
PKe), 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (PB, RR), 1 at the Plainview
Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 1 at Thunderbird Playa
(Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH), 2 in Tech
Terrace (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (PB, RR), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/24/13
(CC, PKe), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/29/13 (KH), and 2 at the
Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/29/13 (RRi) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE
ANNUAL SEPTEMBER PEAK IN GNATCATCHER MOVEMENT THROUGH/TO THE REGION.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/17/13 (AnH) the first
report for the season; eleven reports of 1-2 birds scattered across the region
(Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the remainder of the period (CC, SC, AnH, NP,
RR) - LATE TO ARRIVE AND LOW IN NUMBER.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock)on 9/15/13 (AnH), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/30/13 (KD)
the only reports - A TAD LOW.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (RR), 1 below Lake Six
(Lubbock)on 9/25/13 (AnH), and 1 at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH) and 1 below Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 9/24/13 (CC) - FORMERLY CASUAL THIS EARLY IN FALL BUT SEPTEMBER
SIGHTINGS BECOMING MORE REGULAR.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/24/13 (CC) and 1 at the
Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/28/13 (NP, RRi) - RELATIVELY EASY TO
FIND BELOW THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT - BECOMING MORE REGULAR BUT STILL NOTEWORTHY
ABOVE THE ESCARPMENT.
AMERICAN PIPIT: 12 flying over Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 9/15/13 (AnH) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON BUT SEPTEMBER SIGHTINGS HAVE BECOME MORE
REGULAR.
CEDAR WAXWING: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/28/13 (NP) -
CASUAL THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON - IT WOULD BE NICE IF THIS BODED SOMETHING.
OVENBIRD: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 1 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (RR), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
9/25/13 (NP), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 928/13 (AnH) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED CASUAL DURING SPRING MIGRATION AND ACCIDENTAL DURING FALL MIGRATION
BUT NOW BORDERING ON EXPECTED AS A LOW DENSITY MIGRANT IN BOTH SEASONS.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/8/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 9/16/13 (RR), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH)
could all have been the same bird but considering the long gaps between
sightings at this heavily birded site, I feel that these were three different
birds - IF THREE BIRDS, LOWNUMBERS - IF THE SAME BIRD - AMAZINGLY LOW NUMBERS.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 9/2/13 (AR), 1 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (RR), 1 at the Thunderbird
Playa (Hale) on 9/29/13 (NP), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 9/28/13 (CC, AnH)
- ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW DENSITY
FALL MIGRANT.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 at the Houston School Playa (Hale) on 9/2/13 (RR) was
the first report of the season - RIGHT ON TIME FOR A FIRST SIGHTING OF THE
WESTERN 'FORM' OF THIS SPECIES. The next report was of 1 at Stanford Park
(Yoakum) on 9/13/13 (CC) and from that point forward there were twenty-two
reports of 1-5 birds, one report of 11 birds, and one report of 18 birds in
(Hale, Lubbock) during the rest of the month (CC, SC, AnH, PKe, NP, RR, RRi) -
A BIT LATE, ON THE WHOLE, AND, SAVE FOR ONE SPECTACULAR DAY AT ONE SITE, LOW IN
NUMBERS.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: Nineteen reports of 1-5 birds scattered across the region
(Bailey, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (NB, PB, CC, SC, AnH, PKi, NP, RR,
RRi,) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH) and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 9/16/13 (RR) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION;
NOW REPORTED ANNUALLY.
MACGILLIVRAY'S
WARBLER: 5 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/14/13 (RRi), 1 below
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale)
on 9/15/13 (NP), 1 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/28/13 (NP), 2 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH) the
only reports - FAIRLY LOW NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS - MIGHT YET PEAK
IN OCTOBER.
MOURNING WARBLER: 1 immature bird at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/17/13 (SC, AnH)
- ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 20th RECORD!
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 9/8/13 through 9/10/13
(KH), 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH), 1 female at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/17/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/21/13 (CC, SC, AnH),
1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/21/13 (AnH), and 1 immature male at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; NUMBERS MAY YET PICK UP DURING
OCTOBER.
AMERICAN
REDSTART: 1 female at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 2 at Thunderbird
Playa (Hale) on 9/7/13 (NP), 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 9/13/13 (CC), 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (CC, PKe), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
9/20/13 (CC, PKe), and 2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/13
(RR) - A TAD BETTER THAN AVERAGE NUMBERS AND NICE SCATTER.
YELLOW WARBLER: Thirty-two reports of 1-7 birds scattered across the region
(Bailey, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (PB, CC, SC, KD, AnH, KH, PKe, DL,
KM, NP, RR, RRi) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SPECIES; ONE OF OUR MORE COMMON
MIGRANTS.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/7/13 (PKe) the first of
the season - A TAD EARLY. The next report was of 2 birds at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/16/13 (CC) and thereafter we had sixteen reports of 1-7 birds
scattered across the region (Cochran, Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the rest of
the month (CC, SC,
AnH, KH, PKe, NP, RR, RRi) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE FALL RAMP UP OF THIS
SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER: 1 male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH) and 1 male
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH) the only reports - LOW BY RECENT
YEARS' STANDARDS.
WILSON'S WARBLER: Fifty-five reports of 1-10 birds and six reports of 11-20
birds scattered across the region (Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Hale, Hockley,
Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (NB, PB, CC, SC, JD, KD, AnH, AvH, KH, PKe,
PKi, DL, NP, RR, RRi, TT) - BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS NOT UP TO SNUFF
HISTORICALLY. IT IS A TAD BETTER THAN AVERAGE, THOUGH, BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS.
SPOTTED TOWHEE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (CC, AnH) the first of the
season - CASUAL IN SEPTEMBER; USUALLY SHOWS UP IN FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Elven reports of 1-10 birds and 4 reports of 11-22 birds
scattered across the region (Bailey,
Cochran, Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, JD, AnH, AvH, KH,
PKe, NP, RR, RRi, TT) - A TAD ON THE LOW SIDE FOR SEPTEMBER BUT THERE IS STILL
POTENTIAL FOR AN OCTOBER SPIKE.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Twenty-three reports of 1-10 birds and five reports of
11-36 birds scattered across the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Hockley,
Lubbock) during the period (NB, CC, SC, JD, AnH, AvH, KH, PKe, PKi, NP, RR,
RRi, TT) - ABOUT AVERAGE AND, AS HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT IS
UNPREDICTABLE WHETHER CHIPPING OR CLAY-COLORED WILL BE MORE COMMON DURING FALL
MIGRATION. IN YEARS PAST, IT WAS ALWAYS CHIPPING SPARROW.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 3 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/7/13 (NP), 1
on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 9/214/13 (AnH), and 2 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH) - AVERAGE BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; A TAD LOW BY
RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
FIELD SPARROW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/29/13 (KH)
the first and only report - RUNNING A LITTLE LATE AND LOW SO FAR THIS SEASON/
VESPER SPARROW: 1 at the Dairy Place (Crosby) on 9/15/13 (KH), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 9/28/13 (KH), and 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH) the
only reporst so far - RIGHT ON TIME BUT NUMBERS ARE VERY LOW SO FAR THIS SEASON.
SAVANNAH SPARROW: 1 near Plainview (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 9/21/13 (KH), 9 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/21/13 (NP), 1
at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/23/13 (KH), 3-5 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on
9/28/13 and 9/29/13 (NP), and 2 at the Himmel Farm on 9/29/13 (KH) - FORMERLY
CASUAL THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR SEPTEMBER.
LINCOLN'S SPARROW: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/21/13 and 9/22/13 (KH),
1-2 at Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/21/13 (NP, RRi), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 9/25/13 (KH), 3 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale)
on 9/25/13 (NP), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/28/13 (NP), 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (AnH), 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on
9/29/13 (KH), 2 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/29/13 (NP, and 2 at the
Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/29/13 (NP) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL
FOR THE REGION IN SEPTEMBER - NOW EXPECTED DURING THE LAST WEEK OF THE MONTH -
GOOD NUMBERS AS WELL.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: 1 at a woodlot in (Cochran) on 9/28/13 (SC, PKe) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL FOR THE REGION IN SEPTEMBER - NOW EXPECTED DURING
THE LAST WEEK, GENERALLY IN BETTER NUMBERS.
WESTERN TANAGER: 1 immature male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/7/13 (PKe), 3 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/7/13
(NP, 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/9/13 (SC), 1-2 at the
Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/15/13 (NP, RRi), 1 in Tech Terrace
(Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (PB, RR), and 1 immature male on the TTU HSC Campus
(Lubbock) on 9/24/13 (AnH) - A TAD BETTER THAN AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS.
PYRRHULOXIA: in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 928/13 (JD, AvH, TT) - ALWAYS NICE TO
HAVE ONE OF THESE IN A SITE ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/9/13
(SC) and 2 first fall males at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 917/13 (AnH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE FALL MIGRANT.
LAZULI BUNTING: 1 first fall male
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (SC, AnH) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
9/28/13 (CC) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 adult male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 2 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (PB, RR), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa
(Hale) on 9/15/13 (RRi), 1 immature bird at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on from
9/15/13 through 9/17/13 (SC, AnH), and 1 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 9/20/13
(RR) - A TAD BETTER THAN AVERAGE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
DICKCISSEL: 1-13 almost daily at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through the month
(KH), 3 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 9/7/13 (NP), 2 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (PB), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/17/13 (SC), 4 at the
TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (AnH), 7 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/21/13
(SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (CC), 2 from a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 9/28/13 (SC), and 1 in west Lubbock (Lubbock)
on 9/28/13 (SC) - NOT TOO SHABBY A FALL MOVEMENT; ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE
FACT THAT THE SPECIES WAS ALL BUT ABSENT AS A BREEDER IN THE REGION THIS YEAR.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1-44 daily at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) through the
month (KH), 8 at the Hale Center Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), 11 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (KM), and 16 at the Hale Center
Sewage Ponds (Hale) on 9/29/13 (RRi) - A BIT OF AN IMPROVEMENT OVER AUGUST BUT
STILL, BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS, LOW.
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD: 22 at the TTU HSC Fields (Lubbock) on 9/27/13 (AnH) the
first report - CASUAL FOR SEPTEMBER, A HEFTY FLOCK FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 near TTU HSC (Lubbock) on 9/14/13 (AnH)11 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/24/13 (CC, PKe) - UP UNTIL 2010, THIS SPECIES PERSISTED AS A
SUMMER BREEDER THROUGH LATE AUGUST. OUR FIRST SEPTEMBER RECORDS WERE IN 2011
... AND WE ARE GETTING PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO OUR FIRST OCTOBER RECORD.
ORCHARD ORIOLE: 5 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/6/13 (Di), 1-3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/11/13 through
9/17/13 (PB, SC, AnH, Di, RR), 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/14/13 (DL), 2 at
the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/13 (RR), and 1 at Levelland
City Park (Hockley) on 9/21/13 (CC, SC) - GOOD NUMBERS IN SEPTEMBER FOLLOWING
POOR NUMBERS IN AUGUST SUGGESTS THAT MANY OF THESE WERE PASSAGE BIRDS.
BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 1 immature male at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/2/13 (AnH), 1
immature male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/14/13 through 9/17/14 (AnH, RR), 1
female at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 9/15/13 (SC), and 1 immature
male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/15/13 (AnH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL
TO THE REGION: NOW DETECTED ANNUALLY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE POST-BREEDING
SEASON.
PINE SISKIN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/3/13 (KH) - CASUAL IN SEPTEMBER
AND AN EARLY SEPTEMBER SIGHTING AS WELL.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: Ten sightings of 1-5 birds in the region (Cochran, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, SC, AnH, Di, PKe, NP) and AMERICAN
GOLDFINCH: Fourteen sightings of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (SC, AnH, KH, NP, RRi) - A TAD LOW, NUMBERS-WISE,
FOR BOTH SPECIES BUT THE NUMBER AND SCATTER OF SIGHTINGS NICELY CAPTURES THE
CHANGING OF THE GOLDFINCH GUARD THAT OCCURS ACROSS SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
OBSERVERS: CA=Connie Andrus, MA=Marlin Andrus, PB=Peter Barnes, NB=Noreen
Baker, SB=Susan Bergeson, JB=Jeff Boatright, CCÊmeron Carver, SC=Steve Collins,
JD=Jeanne Davis, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon, AnH=Anthony Hewetson,
AvH=Aveline Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, Di=Donn ianuzi, AK=Andrew Kasner,
PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, DL=Duke Leibler, KM=Kevin Morris, BN=Bob
Nieman, NP=Niler Pyeatt, RR=Ross Rickett, RRi=Robert Rios, AR=Anona Roberts,
CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, TT=Tess Trost, WZ=William Zwartjes..
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
terrverts@xxxxxxxxx
Bird Records Compiler,
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org
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