Lubbock received 0.59 inches of rain during November, below the
expected total for the month of 0.80 inches, leaving us with 13.95
inches for the year; well below the average year-to-date total of
17.58 inches. According to the US Drought Monitor, 33% of our
fifteen-county region is now in moderate drought, 34% is in severe
drought, and 3% is in extreme drought; a bit worse, in terms of
drought, than the end of the last month. There are several irruptive
events going on, ranging from small songbirds such as kinglets and
nuthatches up to a god range of winter finches.
Regional summaries of eBird data cannot be acquired in a timely
fashion. As a result, records submitted to eBird may not appear in
this report. Reports from the region that are submitted to the
texbirds or leasbirds listservs can be reviewed in a timely fashion
and should appear. Due to the abundance of records now supported by
photographs, I only report photographs for exceptional birds.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned
by virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity. Water
Treatment Ponds have come to feature so prominently in these reports
that they will, henceforth, be referred to as WTP.
SNOW GOOSE: Seven reports of 1-7 birds, four reports of 15-52 birds,
and one report of 300 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Lubbock,
Motley) during the period (SA, GE, JG, AH, BSh) the only reports
received directly – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND CLOSING ON GOOD NUMBERS
FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
ROSS’S GOOSE: Five reports of 1-7 birds and one report of 35 birds in
the region (Lubbock, Motley) during the period (SA, GE, AH) – ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: Three reports of 1-2 birds, two reports
of 13 birds, one report of 67 birds, and three reports of 150-316
birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock, Motley) during the period (SA,
CD, AH, ML, JM, LZ) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
TUNDRA SWAN: 1 near Lockney (Floyd) on 11/24/22 (SF) – A RARE VISITOR
TO THE REGION; ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING REPORTS OF THE MONTH.
WOOD DUCK: Seven reports of 1-8 birds and three reports of 12-52 birds
in the region (Cochran, Crosby, Garza, Lamb, Lubbock) during the
period (SA, TD, AH, ML, KM, BSc, BSh, KT) – ASIDE FROM A COUPLE OF
EXCEPTIONAL REPORTS, A TAD LOW IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
NUMBERS.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 2 at the CR 3000 x CR 5700 Playa (Lubbock) on
11/11/22 (CD) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/20/22 (DHo) –
FORMERLY VERY RARE THIS LATE IN THE YEAR; NOW EXPECTED WELL INTO
NOVEMBER.
MEXICAN DUCK: 1 at the Littlefield Cemetery (Lamb) from 11/4/22
through 11/11/22 (BSh), 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 11/12/22
(JG), and 1 at the Littlefield Cemetery (Lamb) on 11/25/22 (BB)
survived eBird review (thus far) – STATUS UNCERTAIN IN THE REGION BUT,
EVIDENTLY, RARE.
CANVASBACK: Sixteen reports of 1-10 birds, four reports of 11-16
birds, one report of 32 birds, and one report of 60 birds in the
region (Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Lamb, Lubbock, Motley) during the
period (KA, SA, JrC, TD, AH, DHo, ML, JM, AR, BSh, LZ) – VERY GOOD
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND EXCELLENT NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
REDHEAD: Nineteen reports of 1-10 birds and six reports of 13-35 birds
in the region (Bailey, Crosby, Kent, Lamb, Lubbock, Motley) during the
period (KA, SA, JoC, JrC, WC, CD, JG, AH, DHo, ML, JM, AR, BSh, HW,
LZ) – VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN
THE SEASON.
LONG-TAILED DUCK: 1 female at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/19/22
(AR, JoC, JrC, WC, AR) through 11/20/22 (SA, AH) – ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; A DEFINITE CANDIDATE FOR SIGHTING OF THE MONTH.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 1 female at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/19/22
(ML, AR) the only report received – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN
THE SEASON.
COMMON MERGANSER: 5 males at Whiteflat Lake (Motley) on 11/6/22 (SA,
AH), 2 at Enochs Cemetery Playa (Bailey) on 11/11/22 (BSh), 4 males at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/20/22 (SA, AH), and 1 at MacKenzie
Park (Lubbock) on 11/30/22 (DHo, SR) – VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/7/22
(ML), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 11/14/22 (BSh), 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 11/16/22 (SA, JoC, AH), 1 female at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 11/20/22 (SA, AH), and 2 females at White River
Lake (Crosby) on 11/20/22 (JM, LZ) – VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
SCALED QUAIL: up to 25 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) throughout the
period (GK), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/6/22 (ML), and 11
north of Plains (Yoakum) on 11/15/22 (SA, AH) – ABOUT AVERAGE; SOME
RECOVERY APPEARS TO BE IN THE MIX.
HORNED GREBE: 1 at Whiteflat Lake (Motley) on 11/6/22 (SA, AH) and 1
at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/20/22 (ML) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
EARLY IN THE SEASON.
EARED GREBE: Five reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Baily, Cochran,
Crosby, Lubbock, Motley) during the period (SA, AH, ML, BSh) – ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 at Whiteflat Lake (Motley) on 11/6/22 (SA, AH), 1 at
White River Lake (Crosby) from 11/7/22 (ML) through 11/20/22 (SA, AH),
1 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 11/11/22 (SA), 1 at McAlister Park
(Lubbock) on 11/11/22 (JCr), and 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock)
from 11/23/22 (BSh) through 11/27/22 (SA, JoC, JrC, WC) – VERY GOOD
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD SCATTER.
INCA DOVE: 1 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 11/2/22 (SA, AH), 1 at
Lake Six (Lubbock) on 11/23/22 (BSh), 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery
(Lubbock) on 11/23/22 (SA, AH), and 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
11/28/22 (JCl) – STILL HANGING ON.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 in a Lubbock alley (Lubbock) on 11/4/22 (SA) and
one in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 11/5/22 (AH) – LATE REPORTS BUT
THIS IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED IN UNUSUALLY MILD FALLS.
AMEERICAN AVOCET: 1 at the CR 3000 x CR 5700 Playa (Lubbock) on
11/11/22 (CD) and 3 at the 130th Street x MLK Boulevard Playa
(Lubbock) on 11/27/22 (SA) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE
SEASON; NOW BORDERLINE EXPECTED INTO LATE NOVEMBER.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER: 3 near Ralls (Crosby) on 11/7/22 (ML) – A RATHER
LATE REPORT.
STILT SANDPIPER: 1 at the CR 3000 x CR 5700 Playa (Lubbock) on
11/11/22 (CD) – ANOTHER RATHER LATE REPORT.
LEAST SANDPIPER: Four reports of 1-4 birds and one report of 23 birds
in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (SA, CD, GE, AH, ML)
– ACTUALLY A BIT LOW.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at the Littlefield Cemetery Playa (Lamb) on
11/5/22 (TD, BSh) – A VERY LATE REPORT.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 23 at the Becton Cemetery Playa (Lubbock) on
11/4/22 (SA) and 18 near Ralls (Crosby) on 11/7/22 (ML) – LOW NUMBER
OF REPORTS BUT GOOD NUMBERS.
WILSON’S SNIPE: Seven reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Kent,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, AH, DHo, WW) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
EARLY IN THE SEASON.
AMERICAN WOODCOCK: 1 was turned into the South Plains Wildlife
Rehabilitation Center from south Lubbock (Lubbock) on 11/18/22 (fide
BSh) – CASUAL, AT BEST, TO THE REGION WITH REPORTS COMING IN EVERY 2-5
YEARS.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 2 at the CR 3000 x CR 5700 Playa (Lubbock) on
11/11/22 (CD) and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/20/22 (SA, AH)
the only reports received – VERY LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at the 130th Street x MLK Boulevard Playa
(Lubbock) on 11/21/22 (GE) the only report received – A BIT LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Sixteen reports of 1-9 birds in the region
(Crosby, Garza, Lamb, Lubbock, Motley, Terry) during the period (SA,
TD, CD, DHa, AH, GH, ML, JM, AR, BSh, LZ) – AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS;
NUMBERS A TAD LOW.
SABINE’S GULL: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/7/22 (ML) –
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION ; ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR SIGHTING OF THE
MONTH.
BONAPARTE’S GULL; 1-21 birds at White River Lake (Crosby) throughout
the period (ML, SA, AH, JM, AR, LZ), 1 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on
11/11/22 (SA), 6-7 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 11/16/22 (SA, JoC, AH),
3 at the Shallowater WTP (Lubbock) on 11/17/22 (SA), 3 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock)on 11/22/22 (AH), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on
11/23/22 (WW) – OUTSTANDING NUMBER OF REPORTS, GOOD SCATTER, AND
EXCELLENT NUMBERS – IF THIS WERE A SONGBIRD, THIS MOVEMENT MIGHT BE
DESCRIBED AS IRRUPTIVE.
HERRING GULL: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/16/22 (ML) and 1 at
Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 11/29/22 (GE) the only reports received
thus far – A BIT LOW.
COMMON LOON: 1 at Whiteflat Lake (Motley) on 11/6/22 (SA, AH), 1 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/7/22 (ML), and 1 at Buffalo Springs
Lake (Lubbock) from 11/11/22 through 11/27/22 (SA, JoC, JrC, WC, JG,
AH, BSh, HW) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND SCATTER FOR THIS EARLY IN
THE SEASON.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 11/1/22 (AH)
and on 11/4/22 (SA), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 11/1/22 (AH), and 1
at Gillham-Howell Park (Terry) on 11/14/22 (SL) – GETTING TO BE PRETTY
REGULAR THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 3 at Whiteflat Lake (Motley) on 11/6/22 (SA,
AH), 81 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/7/22 (ML), 1 at Mae Simmons
Park (Lubbock) on 11/12/22 (GE), 1 along the Canyon Lakes (Lubbock) on
11/13/22 (HB, DHa, KM), and 2 at Travis Trussell Park (Hale) on
11/14/22 (MO) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, GOOD NUMBERS, AND GOOD
SCATTER.
GREAT EGRET: Seven reports of 1-2 birds at various sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (SA, JoC, JG, AH, HW) – LOW BY RECENT YEARS’
STANDARDS.
SNOWY EGRET: Nine reports of 1-3 birds at various sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (SA, AH) the only reports received – LOW.
GREEN HERON: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/6/22 (JG) – FORMERLY THIS
WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY NORMAL; SINCE THE FOUR YEAR DROUGHT LATE FALL
REPORTS HAVE BECOME SCARCE.
OSPREY: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Lubbock, Motley)
during the period (SA, GE, JG, AH, BSh) – ABOUT AVERAGE.
BALD EAGLE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/7/22 (ML), 1 at City
Farms (Lubbock) from 11/17/22 through the end of the period (JoC, LZ),
and 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/20/22 (SA, AH, JM, LZ) –
ABOUT AVERAGE BY THE LAST FEW YEARS’ STANDARDS.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 11/29/22 (GE)
– FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; NOW VERGING ON RARE BUT
REGULAR IN WINTER.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 over Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 11/25/22 (AH)
and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 11/28/22 (JCl) – FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; NOW VERGING ON RARE BUT REGULAR IN
WINTER.
LEWIS’S WOODPECKER: 1 at Yoakum County Park (Yoakum) from 11/14/22
(SL) through 11/16/22 (SA, JB, AH, KM, BSh) – ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR SIGHTING OF THE MONTH.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region
(Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, JrC, WC, AH,
ML, BSh) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
HAIRY WOODPECKER: 1 at Swenson Park (Dickens) throughout the period
(SA, AH, AR) – CASUAL, AT BEST, TO THE REGION WITH REPORTS COMING IN
EVERY 2-5 YEARS.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 11/5/22 (WW) the
only report – LOW.
PEREGRINE FALCON: Four reports of single birds at sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (JCa, AH, BSh) the only reports received – LOW.
PRAIRIE FALCON: Four reports of single birds in the region (Cochran,
Crosby, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (SA, AH, BSh) the only
reports received – LOW.
WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 along Olive Street (Lubbock) on 11/16/22 (JrC,
photographs) – AN INCREDIBLY LATE DATE FOR THE REGION – THOUGH A
COMMON SPECIES FOR A LARGE CHUNK OF THE YEAR, THIS IS A CANDIDATE FOR
SIGHTING OF THE MONTH.
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD: 1 at the Morton Cemetery (Cochran) on 11/6/22 (TD,
BSh) – WAS A TAD LATE.
HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 11/23/22
(BSh) – RATHER LATE BUT THIS IS ONE OF AT LEAST THREE EMPIDS WHICH
REGULARLY PERSISTS INTO WINTER.
EASTERN PHOEBE: Four reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SA, AH, ML, AR, BSh) the only
reports received – LOW.
CMMON RAVEN: Nine reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Lubbock, Motley) during the period (SA, JrC, AH, ML, BSc, BSh) – ABOUT
AVERAGE WITH ALL REPORTS FROM EXPECTED PORTIONS IN THE REGION.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 2 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 11/18/22
(BSh) – STILL PERSISTING A TAD WEST OF THE REGION TO WHICH THEY PULLED
BACK AFTER THE FOUR YEAR DROUGHT.
BARN SWALLOW: 1 over the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 11/11/22 (AH) –
MORE THAN A BIT LATE BUT IT HAS BEEN A VERY MILD FALL.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: Thirteen reports of 1-5 birds in the region
(Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (SA,
JCl, JoC, JrC, WC, AH, DHo, ML, BSh) – VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS,
VERY GOOD NUMBERS, AND VERY GOOD SCATTER – DEFINITELY FELT IRRUPTIVE.
CEDAR WAXWING: Eight reports of 1-8 birds, three reports of 20-35
birds, and one report of 122 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens,
Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (SA, JB, JG, AH, LEAS Trip, ML,
BSh, HW) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, GOOD NUMBERS, AND GOOD SCATTER BUT
AS IRRUPTIVE EVENTS GO A BIT UP AND DOWN.
PHAINOPEPLA: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 11/15/22 (SA, AH) and on
11/16/22 (JB, BSh) – CASUAL, AT BEST, IN THE REGION WITH REPORTS EVERY
2-5 YEARS.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: Nineteen reports of 1-4 birds in the region
(Cochran, Dickens, Kent, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (SA, JCl,
JoC, JrC, WC, TD, AH, BSh, WW) – VERY GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, VERY
GOOD NUMBERS, AND VERY GOOD SCATTER – FELT LIKE THE START OF A STRONG
IRRUPTIVE EVENT.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Ribble Park (Lubbock) on 11/1/22 (AH), 1
at Gillham-Howell Park (Terry) on 11/9/22 (GH), 1 along the Afton Loop
(Dickens) on 11/12/22 (ML), 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 11/15/22
(SA, AH), and 2 along the Afton Loop (Dickens) on 11/19/22 (ML) – GOOD
NUMBER OF REPORTS; SLIGHTLY SUGGESTIVE OF AN IRRUPTIVE EVENT.
BROWN CREEPER: Five reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Cochran,
Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (SA, JCl, WC, AH, WW) – AVERAGE
NUMBERS BUT BETTER SCATTER THAN USUAL.
ROCK WREN: Seven reports of single birds in the region (Dickens,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, JrC, WC, JG, AH, LEAS Trip, BSc,
BSh, HW) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR LATE FALL.
HOUSE WREN: Seven reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Bailey, Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock, Motley) during the period (SA, JG, AH, ML, BSc, BSh)
– ABOUT AVERAGE FOR LATE FALL:
WINTER WREN: Nine reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Crosby, Dickens,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, JCl, AH, ML, BSh) - GOOD NUMBER OF
REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON; IRRUPTIVE?
CAROLINA WREN: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/12/22 (LEAS
Trip) – THE ONLY REPORT FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 11/1/22 (JCr), 1 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/6/22 (ML), 1 north of Bledsoe
(Cochran) on 11/13/22 (SA, AH), and 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 11/23/22 (BSh) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR THIS LATE IN
THE YEAR; VERGING ON LOW-DENSITY WINTER RESIDENCY.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/23/22 (SA,
AH) – THE ONLY REPORT FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: Eight reports of 2-7 birds in the region (Crosby,
Dickens, Lubbock) during the period (SA, JoC, JrC, WC, AH, ML, AR) –
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR LATE FALL AND FROM EXPECTED PORTIONS OF THE REGION.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 35-40 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/3/22
(SA, AH, BSh), 4 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/12/22 (LEAS
Trip), 5 in Bledsoe (Cochran) on 11/13/22 (SA, AH), and 35 at the
Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/23/22 (AH) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND GREAT NUMBERS; A BIT UP AND DOWN BUT IT DOES FEEL LIKE AN
IRRUPTIVE EVENT.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: Five reports of 1-4 birds, one report of 17 birds,
one report of 20 birds, and one report of 50 birds in the region
(Crosby, Lamb, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (SA, AH, ML, BSh) –
THOUGH IT STILL SEEMS STRONGER TO THE NORTH, THERE MAY BE AN IRRUPTIVE
EVENT IN THE OFFING.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE: Twenty-four reports of 1-5 birds in the region
(Cochran, Crosby, Kent, Lubbock, Terry, Yoakum) during the period (SA,
JB, JCl, JoC, JrC, WC, TD, AH, DHo, LEAS Trip, ML, BSh) – POSSIBLY
THE STRONGEST MOVEMENT OF THE SPECIES I HAVE SEEN IN THE REGION SINCE
I MOVED HERE IN 1998 AND IT APPEARS TO BE PICKING UP.
EVENING GROSBEAK: 1 male east of Plains (Yoakum) on 11/5/22 (TM), 1 in
a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 11/14/22 (JCl), and 2 in an Abernathy yard
(Hale) on 12/17/22 (fide PKi) – BY CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS, A STRONG
MOVEMENT.
RED CROSSBILL: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 11/5/22 (KA), 5 at White
River Lake (Crosby) on 11/16/22 (ML), 13 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
11/20/22 (DHo), 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/22/22 (JoC,
JrC, WC), and 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 11/28/22 (JG, HW) –
BASED ON HISTORICAL RECORDS, THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE START OF AN
IRRUPTIVE EVENT.
PURPLE FINCH: 1 male at the 438 Pond (Kent) on 11/15/22 (TF) the only
report – FINCHES MAY BE IRRUPTIVE THIS YEAR BUT, AT LEAST IN OUR
REGION, IT HAS A WESTERN FEEL TO IT.
CASSIN’S FINCH: 3 females at the Morton Cemetery (Cochran) on 11/12/22
(SA), 2 females at the Morton Cemetery (Cochran) on 11/13/22 (SA, AH),
1 female at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/22/22 (JoC, JrC, WC)
and on 11/23/22 (SA, AH), and one female and one male near Lubbock
Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 11/30/22 (GE) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS,
GOOD NUMBERS, AND VERY GOOD SCATTER – IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF
WE HAVE THE FORAGE TO SUPPORT A WINTER FINCH EVENT.
PINE SISKIN: Four reports of 2-6 birds and one report of 21 birds in
the region (Cochran, Crosby, Kent, Lubbock) during the period (SA, TF,
JG, AH, ML) – POOR NUMBER OF REPORTS AND POOR NUMBERS; ESPECIALLY
GIVEN THE GOOD NEWS WITH OTHER FINCHES.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 6 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 11/2/22 (SA,
AH), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/6/22 (JG), and 5 at the
Brownfield Cemetery (Terry) on 11/8/22 (SA) – HISTORICALLY, THESE
WOULD HAVE BEEN LATE REPORTS – WE NOW EXPECT PERSISTENCE INTO, EVEN
THROUGH, WINTER.
SPRAGUE’S PIPIT: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 11/1/22 (JCa) – A
VERY RARE MIGRANT AND EVEN MORE RARE WINTER VISITOR.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 11/2/22 (SA,
AH) – RUNNING A TAD LATE.
LARK SPARROW: 23 along the Afton Loop (Dickens) on 11/19/22 (ML) and
19 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/20/22 (ML) – LARGE NUMBERS;
POSSIBLY UNREMARKABLE GIVEN PERSISTENT MILD CONDITIONS.
CHIPPING SPARROW: Eleven reports of 1-5 birds and one report of 14
birds in the region (Cochran, Crosby, Lamb, Lubbock, Yoakum) during
the period (SA, TD, AH, GK, ML, AR, BSh) – GOOD NUMBERS AND GREAT
SCATTER FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
FOX SPARROW: Eleven reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Bailey,
Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock, Motley, Yoakum) during the period (SA, AH,
ML, BSh) – GOOD NUMBERS AND GREAT SCATTER FOR THIS EARLY IN THE
SEASON.
HARRIS’S SPARROW: 1 along the Afton Loop (Dickens) on 11/12/22 (ML), 1
along the Afton Loop (Dickens) on 11/19/22 (ML), and 1 at White River
Lake (Crosby) on 11/20/22 (ML) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR THIS EARLY
IN THE SEASON.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: Seventeen reports of 1-6 birds in the region
(Cochran, Crosby, Dicken, Lubbock, Motley, Yoakum) during the period
(SA, AH, ML, AR) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS, GOOD NUMBERS, AND
OUTSTANDING SCATTER FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 11/17/22 (SA) the
only report received – A TAD LOW.
EASTERN TOWHEE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 11/6/22 (ML) –
FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL, AT BEST, TO THE REGION – NOW VIEWED AS
ANNUAL BUT VERY RARE.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 5 near Idalou (Lubbock) on 11/4/22 (SA), 1 at
the Morton WTP (Cochran) on 11/6/22 (TD, BSh), 3 at the Morton WTP
(Cochran) on 11/7/22 (SA), and 4 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on
11/26/22 (JoC, JrC, WC) – LOW BY THE LAST FEW YEARS’ STANDARDS.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 13 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 11.1.22 (SA), 4 at
City Farms (Lubbock) on 11/13/22 (BSc), and 29 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 11/20/22 (WC) – REMARKABLE NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE
SEASON – OR NOT – THE SPECIES IS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO
YEAR-ROUND RESIDENCY IN THE REGION.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Ten reports of 1-3 birds in the region
(Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (SA,
JCl, AH, ML, BSh) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AFTER SEVERAL LATE FALLS OF
POOR NUMBERS.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at the Whiteface WTP (Cochran) on 11/13/22 (SA,
AH) and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 11/16/22 (SA, AH) the only
reports received – LOW.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 11/10/22 (JG, HW) –
AN INCREDIBLY LATE REPORT FOR THE REGION.
PINE WARBLER: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/12/22 (JG) –
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE LATE FALL/WINTER VISITOR.
OBSERVERS: KA=Kelly Aldridge, SA=Sheri Anderson, BB=Bradley Banner,
JB=Joel Buford, HB=Holly Bundock, JCa=Jennifer Caulson, JCl=Jeremy
Clark, JoC=Joe Cochran, JrC=Jordan Cochran, WC=Whitney Cochran,
JCr=Jim Crites, TD=Tucker Dangremond, CD=Colten Dornbach, GE=Grant
Ellis, SF=Stephen Falick, TF=Todd Fitzgerald, JG=Joe Girgente,
DHa=Danny Hancock, GH=Greg Havner, JH=Joe Heppert, AH=Anthony
Hewetson, DHo=Daniel Horton, GK=Glenda Kelly, PKe=Peter Keyel, LEAS
Trip (Sheri Anderson, Tucker Dangremond, Joe Girgente, Len Hovey,
Barry Keith, Glenda Kelly, Phillip Kite, Rob Lee, Jessica Lewis, Nancy
Neill, Brad Shine, Matt Smith, Lena Zappia), ML=Mark Lockwood,
SL=Scotty Lofland, TM=Tom Mc, KM=Kassie Moore, MO=Melba Olsen, AR=Ari
Rice, SR=Sarah Riney, BSc=Bobby Schat, BSh=Brad Shine, KT=Kathy
Teague, WW=William Wenthe, HW=Hannah Wojo, LZ=Lena Zappia.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock