Greetings All:
I spent a good chunk of time in Floyd County yesterday. I had two
highlights on the way: a flock of 5 Greater White-fronted Geese overflying
Kitalou (Lubbock County) and 2 Purple Martins (my first of the season)
overflying the Idalou Cemetery.
Floyd County kicked out a lot of goodies, particularly with an *invited*
visit to Plains Baptist Assembly (PBA). It is the same canyon habitat as
can be accessed at other canyon crossing in Floyd County but there is a
pond and, in dry years such as this, the vegetation is healthier.
This site is *strictly limited access* and, while they welcome the
occasional birder *during the off season* they have a very tight set of
restrictions (for example *Sundays are out of bounds!*) and one must check
in ahead of time (by phone) and then during every visit (in person) to
make sure that a visit is allowed at that time. *Trespassers will be
prosecuted and people who don't check in are dealt with as trespassers*.
*DO NOT TRESPASS AT PLAINS BAPTIST ASSEMBLY.*
Highlights included 7 Snow Geese east of Floydada, 97 Snow Geeese south of
Floydada, 2 Ross's Geese east of Floydada, 4 Ross's Geese south of
Floydada, 54 Greater White-fronted Geese east of Floydada, 46 Greater
White-fronted Geese south of Floydada, 2 Canvasbacks south of Floydada, 2
Hooded Mergansers at PBA, 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at PBA, 1 Merlin near
Lakeview, 1 Prairie Falcon near Lakeview, 2 Say's Phoebes at PBA, 1
Black-crested Titmouse at PBA, 1 Verdin at PBA, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch at
PBA, 2 Rock Wrens at PBA, 1 Canyon Wren at PBA, 1 Winter Wren at PBA, 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet north of Allmon, 2 American Pipits south of
Floydada, 24 Chestnut-collared Longspurs south of Floydada, 2 Pine Siskins
at PBA, 2 Fox Sparrows at PBA, and 1 continuing Harris's Sparrow at PBA.
Conditions remain brutally dry in the county - despite overnight rain
Friday into Saturday and I only found three playas with water in them (out
of over 100 playas that I drove past). Fortunately, both of those playas
were packed with what seem to be northbound waterfowl - according to
property owners. My competition with Brandon and Rich is, however,
contingent on more and better rains prior to spring shorebird migration as
I haven't a chance without an excellent shorebird showing.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock