Lubbock received 2.14 inches of rain during August, close to the
average August total of 2.35 inches, putting us at 15.59 inches for
the year, somewhat above the average year-to-date total of 13.03
inches. This sounds pretty good but it came in the form of two
late-month bouts of heavy rain and the area seemed rather dry overall.
Regional summaries of eBird data can not 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.
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.
OBSERVERS: BA=Britta Anderson, SA=Sherri Anderson, JCl=Jeremy Clark,
JoC-Joe Cochran, JCo=Jamie Court, DHa=Danny Hancock, DH=Drew Harvey,
AH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury,
BK=Barry Keith, GK=Glenda Kelly, PKi=Phillip Kite, NM=Neo McAdams,
JM=Jennifer Miller, SP=Skyler Parks, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd
Robertson, ZS=Zach Schwab.
Missed July reports:
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2 were at Erskine Marsh (Lubbock) on 7/27/19
(PKi) – ADDED A BIT OF WARBLER INTRIGUE TO AN OTHERWISE SLOW MONTH.
And on to August:
CACKLING GOOSE: 8 were at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 8/4/19 (GJ, PJ)
and 3 were at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (JM) – RATHER LOW
GIVEN VERY LARGE NUMBERS BEING REPORTED, SOMEWHAT EARLY IN THE SEASON,
JUST TO THE NORTH.
CANADA GOOSE: 26 were at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 8/4/19 (GJ, PJ) the
only report – GOOD NUMBERS FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Five reports of 1-7 birds and four reports of 15-32
birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (BA, SA, JoC,
JCo, AH, KH, BK, PKi, NM, JM, SP, ZS) – CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT OVER
AN ABYSMAL JULY.
CINNAMON TEAL: 2 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19
(AH) and on 8/26/19 (JCo) the only reports – VERY LOW.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 2-11 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) from
8/17/19 through 8/26/19 (JCo, DH, AH, JM) – LOW.
GADWALL: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/4/19 (KH) and 2 were at
the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only reports
– A BIT LOW.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/13/19 (KH) and 7
were at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH) – LOW.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 6 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on
8/17/19 (DH) and on 8/24/19 (AH) the only reports – LOW.
CANVASBACK: 6 were at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19
(AH) and 2 were at the same site on 8/26/19 (JCo) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
REDHEAD: Six reports of 3-9 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock)
during the period (JoC, JCo, DH, AH, KH, JM) the only reports – ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
RUDDY DUCK: Five reports of 1-7 birds at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa
(Lubbock) from 8/17/19 through 8/26/19 (JoC, JCo, DH, AH, JM) – A TAD
LOW.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2 near Abernathy (Lubbock) on 8/22/19 (JM), 1 at
the Becton Cemetery Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH), and 3 at the CR
2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/26/19 (JCo) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS SOMETIMES HARD TO FIND SPECIES.
INCA DOVE: 3 at a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 8/17/19 (GJ, PJ) the only
report – BARELY HANGING ON.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/17/19
(DH) the only report – LOW.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD:1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 8/1/19
through 8/22/19 (JM) and 1 male in Becton (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH)
the only reports – VERY LOW.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1-2 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) from
8/17/19 through 8/26/19 (JoC, JCo, DH, AH) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
EARLY IN THE SEASON.
COMMON GALLINULE: 1 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on
8/24/19 (AH) the only report – LOW.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Four reports of 6-10 birds, six reports of 11-25
birds, one report of 32 birds, and one report of 62 birds in the
region (Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn (JoC, JCo, AH, KH, GK, JM) – A BIT OF A
RECOVERY; GIVEN THE VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS DURING JULY.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Five reports of 4-5 birds, three reports of 12-22
birds, and one report of 150 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock)
during the period (JoC, DH, AH, KH, JM) – A NICE RECOVERY FROM THE
POOR NUMBERS OF JULY.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER: 1 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on
8/24/19 (AH, DH) the only report – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARELY
ENCOUNTERED SPECIES.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on
8/18/19 (JoC), 3 at the Becton Cemetery Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19
(AH), and 1 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH)
the only reports received – LOW.
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: 5 at the 98th Street x Milwaukie Avenue Playa
(Lubbock) on 8/20/19 (JM), 3 at the same site on 8/21/19 (JoC), and 6
at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only
reports – VERY LOW.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 2 at the 98th Street x Milwaukie Avenue Playa
(Lubbock) on 8/20/19 (JM) and 8/21/19 (JoC), and 3 at the CR 2800 x CR
5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only reports –
EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 2 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on
8/17/19 (DH) and on 8/24/19 (AH) the only reports – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 2 near McAdoo (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) and 2
at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (PKi) the only reports – VERY LOW.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 3 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on
8/17/19 (DH), 5 at the 98th Street x Milwaukie Avenue Playa (Lubbock)
on 8/20/19 (JM), and 4 at the 98th Street x Milwaukie Avenure
(Lubbock) on 8/21/19 (JoC) the only reports – VERY LOW.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 2 at the HImmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/16/19 KH)
the only report – VERY LOW.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1-2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (PKi) and 1
at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/31/19 (SP, BA, SA, BK, PKi, NM, ZS) the
only reports – VERY LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Seven reports of 1-6 birds and one report of 12
birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (JoC, AH, KH,
PKi) – LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Six reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Lubbock)
during the period (JoC, JCo, DH, AH, JM) the only reports received –
LOW.
WILSON’S PHALAROPE: 16 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/4/19 (KH), 378
at the Cone Playa (Crosby) on 8/24/19 (AH), 1 near McAdoo (Dickens) on
8/24/19 (AH), 6 at the Becton Cemetery Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19
(AH), and 30 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/26/19 (JCo)
– GOOD NUMBERS WHERE WATER COULD BE FOUND.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 3 at the Cone Playa (Crosby) on 8/24/19 (AH) the
only report received – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE MIGRANT.
LEAST TERN: 1 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/17/19 (DH)
and on 8/18/19 (JoC) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE MIGRANT.
BLACK TERN: 3-5 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) from 8/17/19
thoguh 8/24/19 (JoC, DH, AH, JM) and 5 at the Cone Playa (Crosby) on
8/24/19 (AH) the only reports – ABOUT AVERAGE.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (PKi) the
only report received – A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS’ STANDARDS BUT LITTLE
EFFORT REPORTED AT FAVORED LOCATIONS.
GREAT EGRET: Eight reports of 1-7 birds and one report of 16 birds in
the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (BA, SA, AH, BK, PKi,
NM, JM, SP, ZS) – AVERAGE NUMBERS BUT VERY POOR SCATTER THIS SUMMER.
SNOWY EGRET: Four reports of single birds, one report of 30 birds, and
one report of 40 birds in the region (Lubbock) during the period (BA,
SA, JoC, DH, AH, BK, PKi, NM, JM, ZS) – AVERAGE NUMBERS BUT VERY POOR
SCATTER.
CATTLE EGRET: Seven reports of 1-9 birds, one report of 11 birds, one
report of 33 birds, and one report of 130 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (JoC, DH, AH, KH, JM) – LOW NUMBERS AND
VERY POOR SCATTER THIS SUMMER.
YELOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1-2 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa
(Lubbock) from 8/17/19 through 8/26/19 (JoC, JCo, DH, AH), 2 at the
Cone Playa (Crosby) on 8/24/19 (AH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
8/31/19 (SP, BA, SA, BK, PKi, NM, ZS) – POOR NUMBERS AND SCATTER THIS
YEAR.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: One report of 6 birds, three reports of 12 birds,
three reports of 27-50 birds, one report of 64 birds, and one report
of 82 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period
(JoC, JCo, DH, AH, KH, GK, JM) – ABOUT AVERAGE; THE BEST PERFORMING OF
THE WADERS THIS SUMMER.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 at the Camp Rio Blanca crossing (Crosby) on
8/24/19 (AH) and 2 near Afton (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only
reports – ABOUT AVERAGE GIVEN THE LOW EFFORT REPORTED FROM FAVORED
SITES.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/13/19 (KH), 1 at
the 50th Street x Indiana Avenue roost (Lubbock) on 8/25/19 (PKi), and
1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/31/19 (SP, BA, SA, BK, PKi, NM, ZS) –
GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Camp Rio Blanca crossing (Crosby) on
8/24/19 (AH) the only report – LOW.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 2 at the CR 221 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on 8/24/19
(AH) the only report – LOW.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at the CR 221 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on 8/24/19
(AH) the only report – LOW.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 1 at the CR 221 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on 8/24/19
(AH) the only report – LOW.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 2 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) the only report
received – VERY LOW.
BELL’S VIREO: 1 near Glenn (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only report –
VERY LOW BY RECENT YEARS’ STANDARDS.
COMMON RAVEN: 2 in Dickens (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) and 1 near Glen
(Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only reports received – LOW.
PURPLE MARTIN: 3 near McAdoo (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) and 1 at the CR
2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only reports
received – LOW.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa
(Lubbock) on 8/17/19 (DH) and 1 at the Becton Cemetery Playa (Lubbock)
on 8/24/19 (AH) the only reports received – LOW.
BANK SWALLOW:2 at the Becton Cemetery Playa (Lubbock) on 8/24/19 (AH)
and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/31/19 (SP, BA, SA, MK, PKi, NM, ZS)
the only reports – LOW.
ROCK WREN: 1 at the FM 193 x FM 651 crossing (Crosby) on 8/24/19 (AH)
the only report received – LOW BUT LITTLE EFFORT REPORTED FROM
FAVORABLE SITES.
CANYON WREN: 1 at the Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 8/24/19 (AH)
the only report received – LOW; POOR EFFORT REPORTED FROM FAVORABLE
SITES.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH)
the only report – LOW.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 2 in the Afton area (Dickens) o 8/24/19 (AH) the
only report – LOW BUT ALMOST NO EFFORT REPORTED FROM NORMAL LOCATIONS.
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 8/2/19 (JCl) – A
FAIRLY EARLY, THOUGH NOT UNPRECEDENTED, REPORT FOR THE REGION.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 2 on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 8/22/19 (AH)
and 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only reports
received – LOW.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 1 in the Afton area (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH)
the only report – VERY LOW.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 4 at the CR 2800 x CR 5200 Playa (Lubbock) on
8/17/19 (DH) and 1 male at the same site on 8/24/19 (AH) the only
reports received – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH)
– A TAD LOW.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 in the Afton area (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) – VERY LOW.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 male at the CR 221 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on
8/24/19 (AH) – A TAD EARLY BUT NOT UNPRECEDENTED.
YELLOW WARBLER: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/4/19 (KH), 2 at the
CR 122 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on 8/24/19 (AH), 1 at the CR 221 x FM
193 Playa (Crosby) on 8/24/19 (AH), 1 at the FM 193 x FM 651 crossing
(Crosby) on 8/24/19 (AH), 1 at Dickens Springs (Dickens) on 8/24/19
(AH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/31/19 (SP, BA, SA, BK, PKi, NM,
ZS) – A TAD ON THE LOW SIDE BUT GOOD SCATTER.
WILSON’S WARBLER: a male at the CR 122 x FM 193 Playa (Crosby) on
8/24/19 (AH) the first report of the season – RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW
NUMBERS.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 male near McAdoo (Dickens) on 8/24/19 (AH) the only
report received – LOW.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock