[leasbirds] July Birding Highlights for the Lubbock Area - longish
- From: Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2014 14:25:06 -0500
With 2.64 inches of rain in Lubbock during the month, nicely above the
average July rainfall of 2.13 inches, the region is now at 11.36 inches for
the year - 0.68 inches above the average year-to-date total of 10.68
inches. As the region is in the midst of a multi-year drought, the impact
of recent rains on wildlife has been rather minimal and birding remains
slow across the spectrum.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.
RED-THROATED LOON: A very late report of 1 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza,
Kent) from 1/10/14-3/17/14 (SK, photos) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 3rd
RECORD.
WHIMBREL: A late report of 1 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 5/1/14 (SK,
photos) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 16th RECORD.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) almost daily (AnH) was
omitted from the June report.
CANADA GOOSE: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) almost daily (AnH) was
omitted from the June report.
PIED-BILLED GREBE: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 6/29/14 (AvH, JD, TmD,
TnD, PR, TT) were omitted from the June report.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 1 in (Lynn) on 6/8/14 (SC) was omitted from the June
report.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 1 at Earl Crow Park (Lubbock) on 7/21/14 (PKi)
- ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN SUMMER; OUR VERY FIRST JULY RECORD.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) almost daily (SC, AnH, PKe) and 2
at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 7/19/14 (PKe) - VERY RARE SUMMER RESIDENT.
CANADA GOOSE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) almost daily (SC, AnH, PKe), 5 at
Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 7/7/14 (PKe), 2 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on
7/18/14 (SC), 4 at Post City Park (Garza) on 7/19/14 (AnH), 4 at Leftwich
Park (Lubbock) on 7/20/14 (AnH), 1 at Post City Park (Garza) on 7/29/14
(JK), and 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/31/14 (CC) - RARE BUT REGULAR
SUMMER RESIDENT.
GADWALL: 2 near Floydada (Floyd) on 78/25/14 (AnH) the only report - VERY
LOW FOR THIS REGULAR, IF RARE, BREEDER.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Twelve reports of 1-6 birds at ten sites in the region
(Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Kent, Lubbock) during the period (SC, AnH,
KH, PKe, NP) - GOOD SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS FOR THIS GENERALLY MORE
ABUNDANT BREEDER.
CINNAMON TEAL: 2 at the Georgia Avenue Playa (Hockley) on 7/20/14 (SC) and
2 near Floydada (Floyd) on 7/25/14 (AnH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS FOR
THIS REGULAR, IF UNCOMMON, BREEDER.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 2 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 2 at the
Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 7/8/14 (NP), 4 in (Hale) on 7/15/14 (PKe), 2
near Floydada (Floyd) on 7/25/14 (AnH), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
7/31/14 (AnH) the only reports - GOOD SCATTER BUT LOW NUMBERS FOR THIS
GENERALLY MORE ABUNDANT BREEDER.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 2 near Lorenzo (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH) the only report
- VERY LOW NUMBERS FOR THIS REGULAR, IF UNCOMMON, BREEDER.
SCALED QUAIL: 2 near the Beach Ranch (Garza) on 7/19/14 (AnH) and 6 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/29/14 (BB) the only reports - STILL HANGING ON
BUT MUCH HARDER TO FIND THAN IN YEARS PAST.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 1-11 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) daily (SC,
AnH, PKe), 3-5 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) daily (AnH), and 2 at White River
Lake (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN SUMMER, NOW A
REGULAR RESIDENT AND OCCASIONAL BREEDER.
LEAST BITTERN: 1 first year bird at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 7/31/14 (AnH) -
AN ODD STATUS IN THE REGION; ACCIDENTAL IN TERMS OF REPORTS BUT KNOWN TO BE
A REGULAR, IF RARELY DETECTED, BREEDER ALONG THE CANYON LAKES.
GREAT EGRET: Nine reports of 1-2 birds at six sites in the region (Crosby,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, CrC, SC, JD, TmD, TnD, PaG,
PeG, KG, AnH, AvH, PR, RS, TT) - POOR SCATTER AND LOW NUMBERS BY
PRE-DROUGHT STANDARDS.
SNOWY EGRET: Up to 31 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) daily (SB, CC, CrC, SC, JD,
TmD, TnD, PaG, PeG, KG, AnH, AvH, AK, JK, PR, RS, TT), up to 31 at Leroy
Elmore Park (Lubbock) daily (SC, AnH, PKe), twelve other reports of 1-4
birds scattered across the region (Crosby, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (CC, AnH, PKe, NP, CR, FR) - ASIDE FROM THE TWO ROOSTS IN
LUBBOCK, POOR SCATTER AND NUMBERS BY PRE-DROUGHT STANDARDS.
CATTLE EGRET: 66-104 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) daily (SC, AnH, PKe),
else-wise sixteen reports of 1-10 birds and four reports of 11-25 birds
scattered across the region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Kent, Lubbock,
Lynn) during the period (SB, CC, CreC, SC, JD, AD, DD, SD, TmD, TnD, PaG,
PeG, KG, AnH, AvH, KH, PKe, NP, PR, RS, TT) - ASIDE FROM THE ONE ROOST IN
LUBBOCK, POOR NUMBERS BY PRE-DROUGHT STANDARDS.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1-4 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) daily (SB, CC, CrC,
SC, JD, TmD, TnD, KG, PaG, PeG, AvH, AnH, PR, RS, TT) and 1 at the Smyer
Playa (Hockley) on 7/13/14 (AnH) the only reports - LOW BY PRE-DROUGHT
LEVELS.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: Eight reports of 1-10 birds and four reports of 11-25
birds in the region (Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (CC,
AD, DD, SC, AnH, KH, PKe, NP) - POOR SCATTER AND LOW NUMBERS BY PRE-DROUGHT
STANDARDS.
WHITE-TAILED KITE: 2 near the Stelzer Ranch (Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH) - CLOSE
TO ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION - OUR 20th RECORD - BUT HAS BRED IN CROSBY AND
KENT COUNTIES.
NORTHERN HARRIER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 7/29/14 (BB) - EITHER ONE
OF OUR VERY RARE BREEDERS OR AN EARLY FALL ARRIVAL.
COMMON GALLINULE: 2 at the Ralls Sewage Ponds (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH) - A
RARE REPORT AWAY FROM THE CANYON LAKES OF LUBBOCK - THE SPECIES HAS BEEN
REPORTED FROM THIS SITE BEFORE.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Eleven reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 14 birds
scattered across the region (Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (CC, CrC, SC, AnH, PKe, JK, NP, RS) the only reports -
DECENT SCATTER BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS FOR THIS GENERALLY COMMON BREEDER.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Sixteen reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 11 birds
scattered across the region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during
the period (CrC, SC, AnH, KH, PKe, NP) the only reports - POOR SCATTER AND
VERY LOW NUMBER FOR THIS GENERALLY COMMON BREEDER.
SNOWY PLOVER: 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 7/23/14 (SC) the only report - LOW
NUMBERS FOR THIS REGULAR, IF PATCHY, BREEDER.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 4 in (Hale) on 7/15/14 (NP), 1 at Smyer Playa (Hockley)
on 7/18/14 (SC) and 7/19/14 (AnH), 1 near Ralls (Crosby) on 7/27/14 (PKe),
and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/28/14 (KH) - LATE AND LOW.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 in (Hale) on 7/15/14 (NP) and 2 at the Ralls Playa
(Crosby) on 7/27/14 (PKe) - LATE AND LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 3 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 7/1/14 (NP), 1
near Lorenzo (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 1 at the Williams Ranch (Kent) on
7/19/14 (AnH), 1 at Georgia Avenue Playa (Hockley) on 7/20/14 (SC), 1 near
Smyer (Hockley) on 7/20/14 (SC), and 2 near Ralls (Crosby) on 7/27/14 (PKe)
- ASSUMING THESE TO BE MIGRANTS, ON TIME BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS SO FAR.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 7/13/14 (KH), 7 in (Hale)
on 7/15/14 (NP), and 3 at the Georgia Avenue Playa (Hockley) on 7/20/14
(SC) - A LITTLE LATE AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 2 near Opdyke West (Hockley) on 7/13/14 (AnH), 1-3 at the
Himmel Farm (Crosby) regularly after 7/15/14 (KH) - RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW
NUMBERS.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 7 near Opdyke West (Hockley) on 7/13/14 (AnH) and 5
near Smyer (Hockley) on 7/20/14 (SC) the only reports - ON TIME BUT LOW
NUMBERS.
STILT SANDPIPER: 3 in (Hale) on 7/15/14 (NP) and 4 at the Smyer Playa
(Hockley) on 7/19/14 (PKe) the only reports - ON TIME BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 near Smyer (Hockley) on 7/20/14 (SC) the only report -
A TAD LATE AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 13 in (Hale) on 7/15/14 (NP) and 2 at McAlister Park
(Lubbock) on 7/19/14 (PKe) the only reports - A TAD LATE ADND
EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBERS.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 4 in (Hale) on 7/15/14 (NP) the only report - ON
TIME BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: No reports at all - LATE AND EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBERS.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 3 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/18/14 (SC) the
only report - ON TIME BUT EXTRAORDINARILY LOW NUMBERS.
INCA DOVE: 1 south of Crosbyton (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH) and 4 at Ransom
Lake (Lubbock) the only reports - BARELY HANGING ON.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: Eight reports of 1-7 birds across the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Kent, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SC, AnH) - A LITTLE BETTER
THAN LAST SUMMER BUT VERY LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 2 at Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 7/4/14
(NP) and 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/24/14 (AnH) - RIGHT ON
TIME, NUMBERS SHOULD PICK UP IN AUGUST.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/3/14 (AnH), 1
male near Clairemont (Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby)
on 7/25/14 (KH), 1 male at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/25/14 (AnH), 1-2 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 7/29/14 thru 7/31/14 (KH) - ACTUALLY A TAD
EARLY THIS YEAR AND GOOD NUMBERS SO FAR.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/26/14 (GJ, PJ) the
only report - RIGHT ON TIME, NUMBERS MIGHT PICK UP IN AUGUST.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 near Afton (Dickens) on 7/25/14 (AnH) the only
report - LOW NUMBERS BUT LITTLE TIME SPENT IN EASTERN COUNTIES.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 7/18/14 (AK, JK) - A BIT
EARLY BUT NOT UNPRECEDENTED.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 7/31/14
(SC) - RIGHT ON TIME, LET'S HOPE FOR MORE.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 in (Hale) on 7/8/14 (NP), 2 in (Dickens) on 7/17/14 (CC),
2 in Clairemont (Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on
7/26/14 (CrC) the only reports - LOW BY PRE-DROUGHT STANDARDS.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/10/14 (KH) - ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS VERY RARE BREEDER.
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 1 near Roaring Springs (Motley) on 7/25/14 (AnH)
- ONE OF THE BETTER SITES TO FIND SUMMERING GCFLs.
BELL'S VIREO: 4 (on three territories) at White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/6/14 (AnH), 1 singing male in Clairemont (Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH), 1 adult
with 3 fledglings near Jayton (Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH), 1 at Tahoka Lake
Draw (Lynn) on 7/23/14 (SC) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED
BREEDINGS SPECIES.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 near Kalgary (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH) and 2 near Clairemont
(Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH) the only reports - A BIT LOW BY RECENT YEARS
STANDARDS; NO EVIDENCE OF BREEDING IN THE REGION THIS YEAR.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 12 at White River Lake (Crsoby) on 7/6/14
(AnH), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/19/14 (KH), 1 at Tahoka Lake
(Lynn) on 7/23/14 (SC), 4 at Post City Park (Garza) on 7/24/14 (RoS), 3
near Floydada (Floyd) on 7/25/14 (AnH), and 6 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
7/26/14 (SB, JD,TmD, TnD, KG, PaG, PeG, AvH, PR, TT) - LOW BY HISTORICAL
STANDARDS BUT STATUS IS CURRENTLY IN FLUX IN THE REGION.
PURPLE MARTIN: 7 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 3 at the
Ralls Sewage Ponds (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 3 at the Plainview Apartments
Playa (Hale) on 7/8/14 (NP), 10 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 7/8/14 (GJ,
PJ), 2 in the same yard (Lubbock) on 7/10/14 (GJ, PJ), 4 in Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 7/15/14 (SC), and 7 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 7/18/14 (SC)
- LOW BY PRE-DROUGHT STANDARDS.
TREE SWALLOW: 1 at the Thunderbird Play (Hale) on 7/1/14 (NP) - A VERY
EARLY SIGHTING FOR THE REGION.
CAVE SWALLOW: No longer being tracked in the southern and eastern counties
of the region - BUT STILL INTERESTED IN REPORTS FROM BAILEY and LAMB
COUNTIES.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 4 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 1
near Jayton (Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH), and 5 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on
7/31/14 (CC) the only reports - MUCH MORE COMMON AND EASILY FOUND UNTIL THE
LAST FEW YEARS; ALL REPORTS NOTEWORTHY AT THIS POINT.
VERDIN: 1 near Post (Garza) on 7/19/14 (AnH), 1 near Floydada (Floyd) on
7/25/14 (AnH), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/31/14 (CC) the only
reports - MUCH MORE COMMON AND EASILY FOUND UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS; ALL
REPORTS NOTEWORTHY AT THIS POINT.
BUSHTIT: 5 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 7/25/14 (AnH) the only report -
MUCH MORE COMMON AND EASILY FOUND UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS; ALL REPORTS
NOTEWORTHY AT THIS POINT.
ROCK WREN: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 7/31/14 (SC) -
FORMERLY A RARE BUT REGULAR BREEDER IN THE REGION; NOW VERY HARD TO FIND.
CANYON WREN: 2 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 7/25/13 (SD, AnH) and 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 7/25/14 (AnH) the only reports - STILL PRESENT AT
TWO OF THE MORE REGULAR BREEDING SITES.
CAROLINA WREN: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) from 7/27/14 thru 7/29/14 (CC, CrC, SC, RS), and 1 at
Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 7/31/14 (CC) - A TAD LOW GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF
TIME SPENT AT FAVORED BREEDING SITES.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 4 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH) and 1
at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 7/31/14 (CC) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR BREEDING
NUMBERS AT USUAL SITES.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH) - PULLING
BACK AFTER YEARS OF MOVING NORTHWARD AND WESTWARD AS BREEDERS -
DROUGHT-RELATED?
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 1
female/1 male/3 fledglings at the Ralls Sewage Ponds (Crosby) on 7/6/14
(AnH), 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 7/23/14 (SC), and 1 male at Ransom Lake
(Crosby) on 7/25/14 (AnH) - GOOD SCATTER AND NUMBERS.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 41 (mostly singing males) at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Play (Hale) on
7/8/14 (NP), and 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 7/25/14 (AnH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE; THE HALE COUNTY BIRD WAS PROBABLY A MIGRANT.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 7/27/14 (CC, CrC, RS) -
ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION DURING SUMMER; OUR 4th JULY RECORD!
FIELD SPARROW: 2 singing birds on territory at White River Lake (Crosby) on
7/6/14 (AnH) - THIS 'COLONY' APPEARS TO BE HOLDING ON BUT HAS SEEN BETTER
DAYS.
SUMMER TANAGER: 1 singing male in Jayton (Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH) the only
report despite a thorough search of the woods north of White River Lake -
QUITE POSSIBLY A BREEDING BIRD AS THIS IS CLOSE TO THEIR EXPECTED RANGE AND
TO THE KNOWN CROSBY COUNTY SITE.
PYRRHULOXIA: 1 near Post (Garza) on 7/19/14 (AnH) and 1 near Clairemont
(Kent) on 7/19/14 (AnH) - LOW NUMBERS GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN THE
SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES.
INDIGO BUNTING: 2 females/8 males/3 fledglings at White River Lake (Crosby)
on 7/6/14 (AnH) and 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/13/14 (KH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED BREEDER.
DICKCISSEL: Eight reports of 1-8 birds scattered across the region (Crosby,
Hockley, Kent) during the period (AnH, KH) - STILL VERY LOW AND VERY PULLED
BACK TO THE EAST - BUT MUCH BETTER THAN LAST YEAR.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1 male at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/13/14
(AnH), 4 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 7/17/14 (KH), 23 at the Smyer Playa
(Hockley) on 7/18/14 (SC), 13 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 7/20/14 (SC),
and 2 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 7/27/14 (RS) - PRETTY GOOD SCATTER AND
NUMBERS FOR JULY.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 2 males at White River Lake (Crosby) on 7/6/14 (AnH), 1
female and 2 males near the Beach Ranch (Garza) on 7/19/14 (AnH), 3 males
and 1 immature at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 7/20/14 (AnH), and 4 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 7/27/14 (CC, CrC, RS) - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS'
STANDARDS.
OBSERVERS: SB=Susan Bergeson, BB=Bill Brown, CC=Cameron Carver, CrC=Craig
Carver, SC=Steve Collins, JD=Jeanne Davis, AD=Amanda Do, DD=Douglas Do,
SD=Son Do, TmD=Tom Dolan, TnD=Toni Dolan, KG=Karl Grozdanov, PaG=Paul
Grozdanov, PeG=Petar Grozdanov, AnH=Anthony Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson,
KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, ST=Steve Kasper, AK=Ann
Kessler, JK=Jim Kessler, PKe-Petery Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, JK=JS Kobes,
NP=Niler Pyeatt, PR=Paula Richardson, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd
Robertson, RS=Ryan Shaw, RoS=Ron Sinclair, TT=Tess Trost)
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson
President, Treasurer, and Field Notes Compiler
Llano Estacado Audubon Society
Other related posts:
- » [leasbirds] July Birding Highlights for the Lubbock Area - longish - Anthony Hewetson