With 1.29 inches o MARCH 2012 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS: With 1.29 inches of rain during the month, Lubbock finishes up well below the average year-to-date total of 1.97 inches but, thankfully, well above the 2011 year-to-date total of 0.84 inches. The region remains in exceptional drought and this shows in the increasing concentration of what few waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds remain to a few well-birded wet spots in the region - playas that are not directly or indirectly fed by human activity are virtually absent. Most of the highlights, paradoxically, fall into this concentrated waterbird category ... along with a few lingering winter birds, some strange migratory spikes, and the first of the arriving spring migrants. This year looks to prove, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that there is no such thing as an average year on the Southern High Plains. As always the county follows the site in () and birds are mentioned by virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 20 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 3/3/12 (BS) was the only sighting reported and may well be the last of the season - VERY LOW NUMBERS AND AN EARLY DEPARTURE. SNOW GOOSE: Four reports of 1-50 birds and two reports of 51-100 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (CC, KH, CR, BS, RT) - VERY LOW. ROSS'S GOOSE: 20 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 3/3/12 (BS) and 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 3/16/12 (RT) were the only reports - LOW. WOOD DUCK: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR), 2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 3/6/12 (RT), 1 in Dickens (Dickens) on 3/15/12 (SW), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/22/12 (QE), 6 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/25/12 (CC), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/29/12 (CC) - AN UNUSUALLY RAPID DESCENT FROM FEBRUARY NUMBERS, SUGGESTING A SOMEWHAT EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION. 'MEXICAN' MALLARD: 1 well-photographed and much-discussed bird at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 3/19/12 to 3/29/12 (CC, SC, AnH) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; THE FIRST RECORD OF THIS FORM FOR THE REGION. BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 3 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/22/12 (CC) and 1 near Cotton Center (Hale) on 3/31/12 (AnH) - VERY LOW. CINNAMON TEAL: 6 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/12/12 (SW), 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/31/12 (SB, AvH, FJ, JJ), 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 3/31/12 (AnH), and 2 at the Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 3/31/12 (AnH) - VERY LOW NUMBERS AND SOME OF THESE WERE BIRDS THAT OVERWINTERED SUGGESTING A SLOW OR POOR MIGRATION INTO THE REGION. CANVASBACK: 20 at the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 3/1/12 (CR), 5 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 3/3/12 (BS), and 8 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR) - LOW AND RAPIDLY DIMINISHED FROM A BRIEF, SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, PEAK IN FEBRUARY. REDHEAD: 8 at the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 3/1/12 (CR), 35 in Post (Garza) on 3/3/12 (BS), 49 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC. CR), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 3/3/12 to 3/7/12 (CC, DD, EFD), and 7 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/19/12 (CC) - LOW AND RAPIDLY DIMINISHED FROM A BRIEF, ALSO DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, PEAK IN FEBRUARY. GREATER SCAUP: 1 remained at Post City Park (Garza) through 3/3/12 (BS) - EITHER A VERY RARE OR A VERY RARELY REPORTED WINTER VISITOR TO OUR REGION. COMMON GOLDENEYE: 1 at Post City Park (Garaz) from 3/3/12 to 3/13/12 (SC, BS) - A RARE WINTER VISITOR TO OUR REGION; PARTICULARLY NOTABLE DURING ANY DROUGHT PERIOD. HOODED MERGANSER: 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 3/31/12 (AnH) the only report - ANOTHER EARLY VANISHING. COMMON MERGANSER: 2 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 3/3/12 (BS) and 16 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR) the only reports - SURPRISINGLY GOOD NUMBERS GIVEN THE SPECIES RARITY IN THE REGION AND THE EARLY DISAPPEARANCE OF SO MANY OTHER WATERFOWL. LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN: 10 somewhere in (Yoakum) on 3/23/12 (MLo) - THE LAST HOLDOUT OF THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION IS IN A NARROW CORRIDOR TRAVERSING YOAKUM/TERRY, COCHRAN, and BAILEY COUNTIES; ALWAYS NICE TO GET CONFIRMATION THAT THEY ARE STILL PRESENT. COMMON LOON: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, SC, CR) and 1 persisting at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) through 3/21/12 (CC, SC, CR) - RARE, BUT ANNUAL, IN THE REGION DURING WINTER. EARED GREBE: 2 at the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 3/1/12 (CR), 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR), and 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 3/28/12 (QE) - LOW. TURKEY VULTURE: 1 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/7/12 (DD, EFD) was the first report of the season: RIGHT ON TIME BUT POOR NUMBERS REPORTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE MONTH. OSPREY: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 3/24/12 to 3/29/12 (CC, QE) and 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 3/28/12 (QE) - ABOUT AVERAGE. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: Nine reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Lubbock, Motley) during the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, SW) - A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE WINTER. COOPER'S HAWK: Seven reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, RT) - A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE WINTER. HARRIS'S HAWK: A family group of 5 birds remained on the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) throughout the period (CC, AnH, CR) and, of more interest, a pair has splintered off to nest at the nearby TTU HSC farmland (Lubbock) where they were observed daily throughout the period (AnH, TeT, ToT) - THIS WILL BE THE FIFTH YEAR OF NESTING AT THIS SITE AND THE FIRST YEAR THAT HAS SHOWN SOME EVIDENCE OF EXPANSION - LET'S HOPE THE RABBIT SUPPLY HOLDS OUT. MERLIN: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/5/12 (KH), 1 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/12/12 (SW), 1 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/16/12 (BS), 1 at the TTU HSC campus on 3/21/12 (AnH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/25/12 (QE) - OUR TYPICAL, VERY SLIGHT UPTICK OF MARCH SIGHTINGS IN THE REGION. PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR), 1 southeast of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/22/12 (IS), 1 near Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 3/26/12 (RT), and 1 on the TTU HSC campus on 3/27/12 (AnH) - ABOUT THE SAME PRESENCE AS LAST MONTH; A SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN AVERAGE SHOWING. BLACK-NECKED STILT: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/31/12 (CR) the only report - A TAD LOW AND A TAD LATE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. AMERICAN AVOCET: 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on 3/27/12 (SW), 1 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/31/12 (CR), and 1 at Apartment Playa (Lubbock) on 3/31/12 (CR) - A TAD LATE AND A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Fourteen reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Crosby, Garza, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, AvH, KH, FJ, JJ, CR, BS, SW) - A PRETTY NICE PUSH FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON; WHAT WATER IS LEFT IN THE REGION IS SUITABLE FOR THIS LONG-LEGGED SHOREBIRD. LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 3 at Post City Park (Garza) on 3/3/12 (BS) and 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/25/12 (KH) - A TAD EARLY. LONG-BILLED CURLEWS: 25 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 3/3/12 (BS) and 3 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) - WERE MOST LIKELY WINTERING BIRDS AS EARLY MARCH IS A TAD EARLY FOR MIGRANTS. WESTERN SANDPIPER: 2 at Post City Park (Garza) on 3/3/12 (BS) - A TAD EARLY FOR MIGRANTS AND THERE WAS NO EARLIER EVIDENCE OF WINTERING FOR THIS SPECIES THIS YEAR. LEAST SANDPIPER: 3-5 at Post City Park (Garza) from 3/3/12 to 3/13/12 (SC, BS, SW) - WERE MOST LIKELY WINTERING BIRDS. 60 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/31/12 (SB, AvH, FJ, JJ) - WERE MOST LIKELY THE FIRST MIGRANTS SPOTTED THIS SEASON. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 2 at Post City Park (Garza) on 3/3/12 (BS) - A VERY EARLY ARRIVAL FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION; ACCIDENTAL DURING THE FIRST HALF OF MARCH. STILT SANDPIPER: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/14/12 (KH) - A VERY EARLY ARRIVAL FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION; ACCIDENTAL DURING THE FIRST HALF OF MARCH. SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER: 2 near Abnernathy (Lubbock) on 3/17/12 (CC) - RIGHT ON TIME AND THE USUAL LOW NUMBERS. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 1 at Post City Park (Garza) on 3/3/12 (BS) - PROBABLY WINTERED. 2 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 3/31/12 (SB, AvH, FJ, JJ) - COULD HAVE BEEN OVERWINTERING BIRDS OR SOMEWHAT EARLY MIGRANTS. WILSON'S SNIPE: Three reports of 1-3 birds in (Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, CR) - VERY LOW. INCA DOVE: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 3/7/12 to 3/9/12 (SB) and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/29/12 (CC) - A SAD ADDITION TO THESE NOTES; A SPECIES THAT HAS DECLINED SO SHARPLY IN THE REGION THAT I AM NOW SOLICITING ANY AND ALL REPORTS OF THIS FORMERLY COMMON LUBBOCK RESIDENT. DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 in Upper MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 3/22/12 (CR) the only report - LOW; MAY BE THE SAME BIRD THAT WAS REPORTED FROM MAE SIMMONS PARK IN FEBRUARY. EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/15/12 (SW), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 3/18/12 to 3/20/12 (CC, SC), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/22/12 (CR) - ABOUT AVERAGE; SHOULD SEE A SHARP UPTICK IN APRIL. SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 3/3/12 (BS), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) form 3/18/12 to 3/20/12 (CC, CR), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/22/12 (QE), and 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/28/12 (KH) - BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR MARCH; THE TAIL END OF A VERY GOOD WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION. ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/24/12 (QE), 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/31/12 (SB, AvH, FJ, JJ), and 1 at the Plainview Landfill (Hale) on 3/31/12 (AnH) - LATE (THE SPECIES USUALLY ARRIVES TOWARD THE END OF THE SECOND WEEK IN MARCH) AND LOW IN NUMBERS EVEN BY THE END OF THE PERIOD. WESTERN KINGBIRD: 4 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 3/31/12 (SB, AvH, FJ, JJ) the only report received - LATE BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER: 1 in Dickens (Dickens) on 3/31/12 (MLe) the only report received - RIGHT ON TIME. COMMON RAVEN: 2 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 3/3/12 (BS), 2 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 3/16/12 (BS), 1 in (Motley) on 3/16/12 (BS), 2 in (Motley) on 3/17/12 (BS), and 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/21/12 (KH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SLOWLY RECOVERING IN THE REGION SPECIES. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 4 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/19/12 (CC) and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/29/12 (CC) the only reports - ON TIME, BARELY, BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS. TREE SWALLOW: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/18/12 (QE), 10 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/19/12 (CC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/21/12 (QE), and 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/28/12 (KH) the only reports - ON TIME, BARELY, AND A TAD LOW. CLIFF SWALLOW: 4 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/21/12 (SC) were the first reported - LATE, BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS, AND VERY LOW NUMBERS EVEN BY THE END OF THE PERIOD. BARN SWALLOW: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR) - ON TIME BUT VERY SLOW TO FILL IN AND NUMBERS STILL LOW AT THE END OF THE PERIOD. BUSHTIT: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 3/12/12 (SW) the only report - EITHER THE SPECIES IS VANISHING FROM OUR REGION OR THERE IS LITTLE OBSERVER EFFORT IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR), 2 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR), and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 3/11/12 (AnH) - A LITTLE PEAK, POSSIBLY MIGRATORY, AFTER A POOR WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION. BROWN CREEPER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 3/3/12 to 3/22/12 (CC, CR) the only report - A TAD LOW. CANYON WREN: 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 3/9/12 (CC) and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 3/19/12 (CC) - RARE, ALMOST CASUAL, IN THE REGION BUT QUITE DEPENDABLE AT THESE TWO SITES; STATUS UNCERTAIN. WINTER WREN: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR) the only report - A TAD LOW AFTER A SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING WINTER. EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 2 near Post (Garza) on 3/3/12 (BS) and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 3/19/12 (CR) - LINGERING A BIT LATE; AWAY FROM THE NESTING COLONIES AT WHITE RIVER LAKE AND THE KENT COUNTY COUNTRY CLUB. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 10 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/3/12 (BS), 3 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR), 1 at the Kent County Country Club (Kent) on 3/19/12 (SW), and 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 3/31/12 (GJ) - THE WINTER STARTED OUT WELL, TAPERED OFF TO VERY LOW NUMBERS QUICKLY AND, NOW, SHOWS SIGNS OF DRAGGING ON LONGER THAN USUAL FOR THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION. HERMIT THRUSH: 1 continued at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 3/26/12 (CC, AnH, CR), 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 3/11/12 (AnH), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 3/22/12 (CR) the only reports - LOW. SAGE THRASHER: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) from 3/4/12 to 3/27/12 (KH), 1 near Lubbock (Lubbock) on 3/16/12 (BS), and 2 in (Yoakum) on 3/22/12 (MLo) - BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR MARCH; WRAPPING UP A GREAT WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION. BROWN THRASHER: 1 continued in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through 3/28/12 (KD), 1 continued at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 3/29/12 (CC, QE, CR), and 1 was at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 3/11/2 (RT) - CONTINUING OR NEW RECORDS FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK; A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR THE SPECIES ABOVE THE ESCARPMENT. CEDAR WAXWING: A flock of 3-8 birds was in the Tech Terrace neighborhood of Lubbock (Lubbock) during the period (CC, RT) and these appear to have been the only Cedar Waxwings in the area during the month - VERY LOW. PHAINOPEPLA: 1 female at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) through 3/11/12 (CC, SC, EFD, AnH, CR, pix) was the - BIRD OF THE MONTH; ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 19th RECORD. LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 3/12/12 (SW) the only report - LOW THIS WINTER. CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/14/12 (KH) the only report - PATHETICALLY LOW THIS WINTER. MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 8 near Cone (Crosby) on 3/6/12 (KH) the only report - PATHETICALLY LOW THIS WINTER. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 3/25/12 (CC, AnH, CR) and 1 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 3/3/12 (CC, CR) - NORMALLY FAIRLY EASY TO FIND IN WINTER; THE SPECIES WAS CLOSE TO ABSENT THIS SEASON. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 3/3/12 to 3/25/12 (CC, CR) - VERY RARE IN WINTER; THIS PARTICULAR SITE IS FAVORED. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at Strip Cemetery (Hale) on 3/31/12 (AnH) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION DURING WINTER; THIS WAS ONE OF SEVERAL BIRDS THAT WINTERED THIS YEAR. CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at the TTU Sewage Ponds (Lubbock) on 3/1/12 (CR), 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 3/6/12 (CR), 1 somewhere in (Hale) on 3/16/12 (BS), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 3/18/12 to 3/24/12 (CC, QE, CR), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 3/28/12 (KD) - RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS SO FAR THIS SEASON. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 1 near Post (Garza) on 3./3/12 (BS) the only report - LATE AND LOW. BREWER'S SPARROW: 1 near Plainview (Hale) on 3/16/12 (BS) - EARLY BUT NOT SURPRISING THIS WINTER GIVEN NUMBERS SEEN TO THE SOUTH EARLIER IN THE MONTH. LARK SPARROW: 1 near Post (Garza) on 3/3/12 (BS) - WAS SOMEWHAT EARLY AND MAY HAVE OVERWINTERED. 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/25/12 (KH) and 3 near Petersburg (Hale) on 3/31/12 (AnH) - WERE RIGHT ON TIME, ALBEIT IN LOW NUMBERS> GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 at the Petersburg Cemetery (Hale) on 3/31/12 (AnH) - FIT IN WITH THE PATTERN OF SCATTERED, UNSEASONABLY EARLY REPORTS OF GRASSLAND SPARROWS. FOX SPARROW: Up to 4 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 3/11/12 (CC SC, QE, AnH, CR) and 2 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 3/11/12 (AnH) - CLOSED OUT WHAT WAS A VERY GOOD WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR REGION. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 persisting in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through 3/28/12 (KD) was the only report for the month - VERY LOW. BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) on 3/3/12 (AR) was the first of the season - AND THE EARLIEST REPORT EVER FOR THE REGION; THE LATEST FALL SIGHTING AND EARLIEST SPRING SIGHTING GROW CLOSER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR. PINE SISKIN: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 3/13/12 (KH) was the only report - VERY LOW THIS WINTER; OUR BEST HOPE IS SOME SPRING MIGRANTS FROM POINTS SOUTH. OBSERVERS: SB=Susan Bergeson, C=Cameron Carver, SC=Steve Collins, DD=Dan Dawson, KD=Ken Dixon, QE=Quinn Emmering, AnH=Anthony Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, FJ=Frederick Jannette, JJ=Jan Jannette, GJ=George Jury, MLe=Marlene Leiby, MLo=Mark Lockwood, CR=Clayton Rickett, IS=Iane Shelburne, LS=Leanna Smith, BS=Brady Surber, TeT=Tess Trost, ToT= Tom Trost, RT=Ross Tsai, SW=Steve Welborn. Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson terrverts@xxxxxxxxx Bird Records Compiler, Llano Estacado Audubon Society www.llanoestacadoaudubo TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds n.org Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds