With 0.49 inches of rain during the month, well below the average September
total of 2.57 inches, Lubbock was at 22.55 inches of rain for the year,
still well above the average year-to-date total of 15.60 inches, mostly on
the strength of the incredibly heavy rains of May. This odd distribution
of rain throughout the year was atypically good for water-loving species in
summer but has left our more expected water-loving birds of fall high and
dry.
I am unable to create a usable summary of eBird data of sightings in the
region during the period covered - IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE AVAILABLE.
Comments at the end of each species summary have been adjusted, to the best
of my abilities, to reflect this reduction in reports.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.
CACKLING GOOSE: 6 At Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/6/15 (AH) and 2 at MacKenzie
Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (AH) were the only reports - A TAD LOW,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INFLUX NOTED IN AUGUST.
CANADA GOOSE: 3 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/6/15 (AH) and 2 over Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/12/15 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
INFLUX NOTED IN AUGUST.
GADWALL: 8 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP) the only report - LOW
BUT DUCKS HAD LITTLE WATER TO MOVE IN ON UNTIL LATE IN THE MONTH.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH), 60 at the
Whiteface Water Treatment Plant (Cochran) on 9/20/15 (PKe), 1 near Halfway
(Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP), and 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (AH) the
only reports - LOW BUT GOOD WATER WAS IN SHORT SUPPLY UNTIL LATE IN THE
MONTH.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP) and 2 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (JC, AH, AL, JW) the only reports - LOW.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 1 at the FM 400 x FM 788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP), 1
near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), 10 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on
9/12/15 (NP), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) the only
reports - LOW.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 7 at the FM 400 x FM 788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP), 1
near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), 14 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on
9/12/15 (NP), 30 at the Whiteface Water Treatment Plant (Cochran) on
9/20/15 (PKe), and 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP) - ABOUT AVERAGE;
GOOD BY THIS YEAR'S STANDARDS.
SCALED QUAIL: 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/23/15 (JB) the only report -
ABOUT AVERAGE, GIVEN THE COVERAGE REPORTED.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), 1 at the
I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP), and 3 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15
(NP) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE, GIVEN THE COVERAGE REPORTED; GOOD
NUMBERS BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (AH) the only
report - LOW BUT NOBODY REPORTED SIGHTINGS FROM MORE DEPENDABLE LOCAL
HOTSPOTS DURING THE MONTH.
GREAT EGRET: 7 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/5/15 (AH), 5 at the FM 400 x FM
788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP), 8 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/15 (CR,
FR), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (AH) - ABOUT THE SAME AS
AUGUST, CONTINUING PRESENCE OF POST-BREEDING WANDERERS.
SNOWY EGRET: Three reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-30 birds
in the region (Hale, Lubbock) during the period (H, NP, CR, FR, KS) - A BIT
OF A DROP OFF FROM AUGUST; PROBABLY DUE TO CONTINUED DRYING DOWN OF MOST
WETLANDS DURING THE FIRS HALF OF THE PERIOD.
CATTLE EGRET: Three reports of 1-10 birds and three reports of 11-50 birds
in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (AH, KH, NP) -
ABOUT THE SAME AS AUGUST BUT THESE GUYS AREN'T AS DEPENDENT ON DEEP WATER
AS OTHER EGRETS.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 9/6/15 (AH)
and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/7/15 (AH) the only reports - LOW
NUMBERS WERE THE PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR DESPITE GOOD WATER LEVELS AT
FAVORED SITES ALONG THE CANYON LAKES OF LUBBOCK.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 15 at the FM 400 x FM 788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP), 3
near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), and 21 at the I-27 Playa (Halw) on
9/12/15 (NP) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS AND VERY LITTLE SCATTER.
OSPREY: 1 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 9/14/15 9CL, RL), 1 at or near
Dupree Park (Lubbock) from 9/15/15 through 9/23/15 (GJ, PJ, CR, FR), 1 at
Lake Six on 9/26/15 (AH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) -
GOOD NUMBERS FOR SEPTEMBER AND THEY USUALLY IMPROVE DURING OCTOBER.
NORTHERN HARRIER: 1 at the Whiteface Water Treatment Plant (Cochran) on
9/20/15 (PKe) and 3 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP) the only reports -
A TAD LOW YET.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
9/27/15 (AH) the only report - A TAD LOW.
COOPER'S HAWK: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/23/15 (JB), 1 near Halfway
(Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
9/27/15 (AH), and 1 carrying/eating a Common Poorwill at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 adult below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/7/15 (AH) - THIS
SITE HAS BEEN WELL-COVERED THIS YEAR WITH NO SIGHTINGS - MOST LIKELY A
MIGRANT.
SORA: 1 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP) the only report - LOW
DESPITE GOOD COVERAGE OF MOST OF THE PREFERRED SITES.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 14 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS) and 20 at the
I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP) the only reports - VERY LOW; EITHER A
VERY EARLY DEPARTURE OR EXTREMELY POOR REPORTAGE.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 10 at the FM 400 x FM 788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP), 12
near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), and 9 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on
9/12/15 (NP) the only reports - VERY LOW, EITHER A VERY EARLY DEPARTURE OR
EXTREMELY POOR REPORTAGE.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 5 at the FM 400 x FM 788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP), 11
near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), and 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on
9/7/15 (AH) the only reports - ODDLY GOOD NUMBERS AND ODDLY FEW SIGHTINGS.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), 1 at the I-27
Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP), 2 at the Whiteface Water Treatment Plant
(Cochran) on 9/20/15 (PKe), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH)
the only reports - A TAD LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 4 at the FM 400 x FM 788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP), 7
near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), 5 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on
9/12/15 (NP), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (JC, AH, JW) the
only reports - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP) and 2 at the
Whiteface Water Treatment Plant (Cochran) on 9/20/15 (PKe) the only reports
- EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP) and 3 over
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
MARBLED GODWIT: 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS, photographs) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS A RARE BUT ANNUAL
MIGRANT, PARTICULARL DURING FALL.
STILT SANDPIPER: 2 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP) the only report
- VERY, POSSIBLY EXTRAORDINARILY, LOW.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 5 at the FM 400 x FM 788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP), 12
at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP), and 5 at the Whiteface Water
Treatment Plant (Cochran) on 9/20/15 (PKe) the only reports - VERY LOW
NUMBERS AND EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: No reports at all - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH) the only
report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND RIDICULOUSLY LOW
NUMBERS.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: No reports at all - VERY LOW.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 7 at the FM 400 x FM 788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP)
and 10 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP) the only reports - VERY LOW.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 at the FM 400 x FM788 Playa (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP) and 4
at the Whiteface Water Treatment Plant (Cochran) on 9/20/15 (PKe) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 12 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS) and 5 at the
Whiteface Water Treatment Plant (Cochran) on 9/20/15 (PKe) the only reports
- VERY LOW.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/6/15 (AH), 2 immature
birds at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/13/15 (AH, JM), and
1 adult at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH) - NOT
UP TO HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT GOOD NUMBERS BY RECENT, DROUGHT YEAR
STANDARDS.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 9/23/15 (JB), 4 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP), and 5
over Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) - THE ONLY REPORTS FROM THE
LATTER HALF OF THE MONTH; MOVING OUT OF THE REGION A BIT EARLIER THAN IS
TYPICAL?
COMMON POORWILL: 2 live and 1 dead at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 9/27/15 (AH) and 1 in the grasp of a Copper's Hawk at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
9/27/15 (AH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS A
LOW-DENSITY BREEDER IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES AND A POST-BREEDING
WANDERER/MIGRANT TO OUR CENTRAL COUNTIES.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: Fifteen reports of 1-4 birds in the region
(Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock) during the period (JC, AH, PKe, AL, JM, AR, JW) -
FAIRLY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON WITH A GOOD NUMBER OF ADULT
MALES STILL IN THE REGION DURING THE FIRST WEEK.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
9/12/15 (NP) the only report - A TAD LOW; GENERALLY IN BETTER NUMBERS
DURING FALL MIGRATION.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: No reports at all- VERY LOW; GENERALLY IN MUCH BETTER
NUMBERS DURING FALL MIGRATION.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: 1 immature male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
9/28/15 (AH) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (AH) - A TAD EARLY
FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR TO BE POPPING DOWN.
HAIRY WOODPECKER: 1 at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 9/20/15 (PKe,
photographs) - A VERY GOOD SIGHTING. THIS SPECIES IS CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL
TO THE REGION; OUR 23rd RECORD.
MERLIN: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) - A TAD EARLY BUT NOT
UNPRECEDENTED.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/1/15 (KH), 1 near
Floydada (Floyd) on 9/4/15 (MDL), 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS),
and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH) - A TAD BETTER THAN AVERAGE
FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/7/15 (AH), 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH), 2 at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on
9/20/15 (PKe), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 9/23/15 (AH) the only
reports - LOW; A DISAPPOINTING FINISH TO A DISAPPOINTING SEASON FOR THIS
SPECIES.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/5/15 (AH), 1 near
Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/7/15
(AH), 1 at the Purina Mountian Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/13/15 (AH), and 1
at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH) the only
reports - VERY LOW, A DISAPPOINTING FINISH TO A DISAPPOINTING SEASON FOR
CONTOPIDS IN THE REGION.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/13/15
(AH, JM) and 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH)
the only reports - LOW; IT WAS A VERY DISAPPOINTING FALL FOR EMPIDS, OTHER
THAN LEAST FLYCATCHERS, AS WELL.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: Seven reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, JM, NP, RR) - ABOUT AVERAGE; EMPID
MIGRATION HAS HAD A VERY 'EASTERN' FEEL THIS AUTUMN.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 9/20/15 (PKe), 1 at
the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 AH), 1 near Halfway
(Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP), at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (JD, AL, JW),
and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) - A GOOD PICKUP IN THE
REGION; MUCH BETTER THAN RECENT DROUGHT-STRICKEN SEPTEMBERS.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP) and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (JM) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW FOUND ANNUALLY WITH NO
PARTICULAR SEASONALITY.
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH,
photographs) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS A
LOW-DENSITY BREEDER IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES AND AN ANNUAL POST-BREEDING
WANDERER TO OUR CENTRAL COUNTIES.
WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/15 (AH) - THE ONLY TWO REPORTS FROM THE LATTER
HALF OF THE MONTH - AN EARLY PULLOUT?
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD: 2 at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 9/20/15 (PKe) the
only report - A TAD LOW BUT LITTLE COVERAGE WAS REPORTED FROM OUR WESTERN
TIER OF COUNTIES.
EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/20/15 (BD) - FAIRLY FAR
WEST FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION.
BLACK-CAPPED VIREO: 1 first fall bird at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/24/15
(AL, photographs) - THE BIRD OF THE MONTH! THIS SPECIES IS ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION AND THIS IS ONLY OUR 2nd RECORD!
BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AL, photograph)
the only report - LOW; A POOR FALL FOR VIREOS OVERALL.
TREE SWALLOW: 12 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), and 3 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 9/23/15 (JB) the only reports - VERY LOW.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 4 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS) the
only report - VERY LOW.
CLIFF SWALLOW: 4 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP) the only report -
RIDICULOUSLY LOW; ANOTHER EARLY PULLOUT?
VERDIN: 2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) from 9/13/15 through
9/27/15 (AH, JM) the only reports - THIS SPECIES IS BECOMING QUITE
DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE REGION.
HOUSE WREN: Six reports of 1-5 birds and one report of 11 birds in the
reigon (Bialey, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS UNCOMMON TO COMMON FALL MIGRANT.
CAROLINA WREN: 1-2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) from 9/13/15
through 9/27/15 (AH, JM) and 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE BREEDER; NUMBERS SOMETIMES PICK UP A BIT IN
LATE FALL.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: Six reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Bailey,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH) - STILL SOMEWHAT LOW, FOLLOWING A VERY
DISAPPOINTING AUGUST - USUALLY MUCH MORE COMMON AS A FALL MIGRANT.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH) sand 2 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH) were the first of the season. Nine more
reports of 1-7 birds were reported from the region (Bailey, Hockley,
Lubbock) during the remainder of the period (JB, JC, AH< PKe, AL, JW) -
RIGHT ON TIME AND AVERAGE NUMBERS.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/5/15 (AH) and 2 over
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
HERMIT THRUSH: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/20/15 (JB) the only report -
VERY LOW.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 912/15 AH) the only report -
VERY LOW.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH), 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH, photographs), and 2 at the Purina Mountain Bike
Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH, photographs) - A VERY GOOD NUMBER OF
REPORTS FOR ANY MONTH FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
CEDAR WAXWING: 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) the first and only
report so far this season - A TAD EARLY BUT RECENT YEARS HAVE GENERALLY
STARTED WITH AN EARLY PUSH.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/29/15 (AH) the only
report - LOW; THIS SPECIES IS GENERALLY A BIT MORE FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED
DURING MIGRATION.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
9/6/15 (AH) and 1 at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 9/20/15 (PKe) the
only reports - A TAD LOW.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
9/12/15 (NP) was the first of the season. Eight more reports of 1-7 birds
in the region (Lubbock) came in during the remainder of the period (AH, AL,
JM) - A TOAD LOW.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: Eight reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Lubbock)
during the period (AH, AL, JM) - AN AVERAGE SEPTEMBER AFTER A BETTER THAN
AVERAGE AUGUST.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 adult emale at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/7/15 (AH), 1
adult female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH), 1 immature female at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH), 1 immature male at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 9/23/15 (AH), and 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP) - A BIT LOW;
THIS SPECIES GENERALLY PEAKS AS A MIGRANT IN SEPTEMBER.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
9/6/15 (AH, RR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH), and 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 9/20/15 (PKe) the
only report - LOW.
YELLOW WARBLER: Twelve reports of 1-3 brids in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period ( JB, AH, NP, RR) - A LOW NUMBER OR REPORTS AND
A VERY LOW NUMBER OF BIRDS; THIS WAS DISAPPOINTING GIVEN THE GOOD PUSH WE
SAW IN AUGUST.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: 1 at Levellend City Park (Hockley) on 9/20/15 (PKe),
6 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/23/15 (JB), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 9/26/15 (JC, AH, JW) the only reports - LATE TO ARRIVE AND, SO FAR,
EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBERS.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER: 1 on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 9/11/5
(AH) the only report - LOW.
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER: 2 immature females at the Purina Mountain
Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/13/15 (AH, JM) - CASUAL TO THE REGION AND OUR
FIRST REPORT OF MULTIPLE BIRDS AT A SINGLE SITE SINCE 1999!
WILSON'S WARBLER: Twenty reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, JC, AH, Pke, AL, JM, NP, JW) - A
GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT LOW NUMBERS.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH) and 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/23/15 (JB) - RELATIVELY LATE IN THE SEASON; THE
SPECIES HAS USUALLY CLEARED THE REGION MY MID SEPTEMBER.
CASSIN"S SPARROW: Six reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, JM, NP) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN
THE SEASON.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Ten reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock)
during the period (AH, NP, RR, KS) - A LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND A VERY LOW
NUMBER OF BIRDS - THIS FOLLOWING A VERY POOR AUGUST MOVEMENT.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Nine reports of 1-7 birds and one report of 18 birds
in the region (Hale, Lubbock) during the period (JC, AH, AL, JM, NP, JW) -
A LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT A GOOD NUMBER OF BIRDS; ANOTHER FALL WHERE
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS OUTNUMBERED CHIPPING SPARROW - WHICH DID NOT USE TO
HAPPEN.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/12/15 (AH), 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 9/19/15 (AH), and 5 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP) - AN
AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT GOOD NUMBERS.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/23/15 (JB) and 2 at
the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/27/15 (AH) - A BIT LATE IN
THE SEASON; IF CONDITIONS CONTINUE MILD WE MIGHT SEE A FEW BIRDS INTO LATE
FALL.
LINCOLN'S SPARRO: 2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/27/15
(AH) the first and only report so far this season - FORMERLY CASUAL IN
SEPTEMBER; NOW EXPECTED IN THE LAST WEEK IF NOT EARLIER.
WESTERN TANAGER: 1 first fall male at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 9/13/15 (AH) the only report for the month - LOW; VERY
DISAPPOINTING GIVEN THE BETTER THAN AVERAGE AUGUST RUN.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 at Levelland City Park (Hockley) on 9/20/15 (PKe)
- A BIT LOW BUT AUGUST WAS VERY GOOD; AN EARLY PASSAGE THIS SEASON.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: No reports at all during August or September -
LOW. EMPIDS GAVE THE SEASON AN EASTERN FLAVOR; GROSBEAKS A WESTERN.
INDIGO BUNTING: 2 immature males at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail
(Lubbock) on 9/13/15 (AH, JM) and 1 immature male at the Purina Mountain
Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH) the only reports - low.
PAINTED BUNTINGS: An adult male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/6/15 was the
last adult male of the season; three adult females at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 9/20/15 were the last adult females of the season; an immature bird at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/15 (AH) was probably the last immature of the
season - ALL OF THESE REFLECT A VERY PROTRACTED MIGRATION FOR THIS SPECIES
THROUGH THE REGION THIS YEAR.
DICKCISSEL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/5/15 (AH), 1 at MacKenzie Park
(Lubbock) on 9/6/15 (AH), 1 near Halfway (Hale) on 9/7/15 (NP, KS), 1 below
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/7/15 (AH), and 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 923/15
(JB) - THE SPECIES GENERALLY DOESN'T PERSIST IN THE REGION INTO SEPTEMBER;
THE RECORD FROM THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE MONTH IS REMARKABLE!
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 8 at the I-27 Playa (Hale) on 9/12/15 (NP) and 6
near Halfway (Hale) on 9/26/15 (NP) the only reports - VERY LOW; SEPTEMBER
IS USUALLY A PEAK MONTH FOR PASSAGE THROUGH OUR REGION.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 9/7/15 (AH) and 1 male
at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/20/15 (AH) the only
reports - LOW; THIS HAS BEEN A SURPRISINGLY POOR YEAR FOR THE SPECIES IN
OUR REGION.
ORCHARD ORIOLE: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/18/15 (FR,
photographs) - THE SOLE REPORT FROM THE LATTER HALF OF THE PERIOD; AN EARLY
PULLOUT FROM THE REGION FOR THIS SPECIES.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: 1 female at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
9/20/15 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 9/23/15 (JB), and 1 immature
male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/15 (AH) - THE ONLY REPORTS FROM THE
LATTER HALF OF THE PERIOD; ANOTHER EARLY PULLOUT FROM THE REGION.
PINE SISKIN: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/1/15 (KH) the first and
only report so far this season - A PLEASANTLY EARLY ARRIVAL.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, JC=Jim Crites BD=Bruce Dale, MDL=Manuel De
Leon, AH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury,
PKe=Peter Keyel, CL=Carol Lee, RL=Rob Lee, AL=Alan Livingston, JM=Jennifer
Miller, NP=Niler Pyeatt, RR=Ross Rickett, AR=Anona Roberts, CR=Clarice
Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, KS=Kevin Sweeney, JW=Janice Whittington.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
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