Lubbock received 0.25 inches of rain during February, well below the
expected total for the month of 0.75 inches, bringing the year’s total
to 1.25 inches, a tad below the average to-date total of 1.30 inches.
According to the US Drought Monitor, 100% of our fifteen county region
remains in a state of drought, with over 50% in a state of severe to
exceptional drought. The big weather news of the month was 107
straight hours of below freezing temperatures, featuring some near
record lows and some truly invigorating snow events. This extreme
weather event froze most of the region’s shallow water playas and
quite a bit of the deep water in the region, leading to a sharp
reduction in water birds in the region for a period. This extensive
freeze also reduced the number of songbirds in rural areas and even
further concentrated what was left to the warmer microclimates and
food sources at urban sites. The siskin and waxwing wave continued
unabated.
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.
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: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds, six reports of 11-56 birds,
and one report of 180 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley, Lubbock,
Terry) during the period (SA, JBu, JoC, AH, GJ, AK, JK, JM, NP, BSh,
LZ) – LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
ROSS’S GOOSE: Three reports of 1-9 birds and one report of 36 birds in
the region (Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (AH, JN,
NP, BSh) – VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: Five reports of 1-9 birds and three
reports of 12-32 birds in the region (Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (AK, JN, NP, BSh) – VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
VERY LOW NUMBERS.
WOOD DUCK: Seven reports of 1-7 birds, one report of 14 birds, and one
report of 16 birds in the region (Lubbock, Terry) during the period
(SA, JBu, JoC, SS, BSh) – LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS FROM RURAL AREAS;
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR URBAN AREAS.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 at Post City Park (Garza) on 2/4/21 (BM, BP) and 1
at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 2/13/21 (SA) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN
THE REGION DURING WINTER; WE NOW EXPECT A FEW REPORTS.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1-2 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) from 2/5/21
through 2/10/21 (GB, RC, JoC), 2-4 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock)
from 2/8/21 through 2/27/21 (JN, BSh), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
2/11/21 (JoC) and 2/12/21 (JrC), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 2/13/21
(JN), and 1-5 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) from 2/14/21 through 2/28/21
(JH, KM, BSh) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORT AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR FEBRUARY,
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE MID-MONTH WEATHER EVENT.
EURASIAN WIGEON: 1 male continued at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) through
2/15/21 (SA, CA, MA, GB, SB, JBr, JoC, KG, GK, BM, JM, JN, BP, NP,
SS, BSh, JMS, ET, WW) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; INDEED TO THE STATE
– ONE OF HANDFUL OF RECORDS FOR THE REGION.
CANVASBACK: Eight reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Floyd, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, HB, GK, NP, BSh, KT, WW) – LOW NUMBER
OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
REDHEAD: Five reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Floyd, Lubbock)
during the period (SA, LB, BK, GK, JM, BSh) – VERY LOW NUMBER OF
REPORTS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 2 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 2/20/21 (JCr,
JoC, KT) the only report received – LOW.
COMMON MERGANSER: 21-32 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) from 2/8/21
through 2/15/21 (BSh), 61-64 at White River Lake (Crosby) from 2/9/21
through 2/26/21 (ML), 4 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 2/14/21 (HJ),
10-12 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) from 2/20/21 through 2/21/21 (SA, HB,
JoC, GJ), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 2/21/21 (AH), 2-9 at Leroy
Elmore Park (Lubbock) from 2/23/21 through 2/27/21 (SA, JBu, JoC), 1
at Brashears Lake (Hockley) on 2/24/21 (BSh), 4 at Lake Six (Lubbock)
on 2/26/21 (PKi), and 3 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 2/27/21 (BSh)
– OUTSTANDING NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) throughout the
period (ML) the only report – LOW.
SCALED QUAIL: Up to 14 at a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) throughout the
period (KM) the only report received – LOW BUT LITTLE EFFORT REPORTED
FROM BEST AREAS.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 4 north of Lubbock (Lubbock) on 2/12/21 (SA) and
2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 2/18/21 (BSh) the only reports – LOW BUT
LITTLE EFFORT REPORTED FROM NORTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES.
HORNED GREBE: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 2/1/21 (JCr) the
only report – LOW.
EARED GREBE: 1-3 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) throughout the
period (JBu, JCr, BSh) the only reports – LOW.
INCA DOVE: 1-6 at a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) throughout the period (NN),
and 1-4 at another Lubbock yard (Lubbock) throughout the latter half
of the period (CR, FR) – ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
BARELY-HANGING-ON-IN-THE-REGION SPECIES. TWO DECADES AGO THE SPECIES
COULD BE FOUND, IN GOOD NUMBERS, IN ALL FIFTEEN COUNTIES IN THE
REGION!
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 12 at Whitr River Lake (Crosby) on 2/26/21 (ML)
and 18 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 2/27/21 (BSh) the only reports
received – AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS; GOOD NUMBERS.
WILSON’S SNIPE: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) from 2/1/21
through 2/15/21 (BSh) and 1-2 near Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock)
from 2/12/21 through 2/13/21 (SA, JoC, JCr) the only reports – VERY
LOW; MOST FAVORED SITES FROZE SOLID FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND NO SIGHTING
CAME IN AFTER THIS FREEZE.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Six reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock) during the period (SA, BK< RL, ML, NP, BSh, KT) – AT THE LOW
END OF AVERAGE.
HERRING GULL: 1 subadult bird at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 2/13/21
(JrC) and 1 adult over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 2/26/21 (AH) – LOW;
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE ABOVE AVERAGE PERFORMANCE OF LARGE GULLS TO THE
NORTH THIS WINTER.
COMMON LOON: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 2/13/21 (JoC) –
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 1 persisted at Maxey Park (Lubbock) through
2/17/21 (SA, AH, GK), 2-3 at White River Lake (Crosby) throughout the
period (ML, BSh), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 2/26/21 (BK, PKi, BSh),
and 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 2/27/21 (JoC) – VERY GOOD
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
OSPREY: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 2/6/21 through 2/23/21 (SA,
TA, JoC, JH, KH, RL, CL, NN, SN, BSh, WW) and 1 near Lake Two
(Lubbock) on 2/17/21 (SA) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER PROPER; WE
NOW EXPECT A FEW REPORTS.
BALD EAGLE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 2/9/21 (ML), 2 near
Lorenzo (Crosby) on 2/12/21 (GK) and 2/13/21 (JBu, GK, BSh, MS), and 1
near Lorenzo (Crosby) on 2/20/21 (ML) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
GOOD NUMBERS; PROBABLY OVERSPILL FROM THE IRRUPTIVE EVENT IN THE
PANHANDLE PROPER.
HARRIS’S HAWK: 1 in Lubbock (Lubbock) on 2/4/21 (SA) and 1 in
Brownfield (Terry) on 2/22/21 (JBu, BSh) – THIS SPECIES IS BEST
DESCRIBED AS SPORADIC TO THE REGION WITH REPORTS FAIRLY EVENLY
DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE SEASONS.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 2/8/21 (KHi), 1 at
MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 2/13/21 (SA), and 1 at the Lorenzo Playa
(Crosby) on 2/13/21 (JBu, BSh) – FORMERLY UNCOMMON IN THE REGION
DURING WINTER; NOW RARE ENOUGH TO BE NOTEWORTHY.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 2/13/21 (PKi) and 1
in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/27/21 (HB) – VERY RARE THIS FAR WEST
IN THE REGION.
GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER: 1-2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) through the
latter half of the period (SA, JoC, JM), 1 at Plainview City Park
(Hale) on 2/17/21 (BSH), and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on
2/18/21 (BSh) – VERY RARE ATOP THE CAPROCK THESE DAYS.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: Five reports of 1-2 birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (JoC, WC, BK, GK, PKi, ML, PM, SS,
BSh, MS, TT, LZ) – FAIRLY LOW; MAY HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY THE
SEVERE WINTER WEATHER EVENT.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale)
throughout the period (AK, NP), 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on
2/4/21 (PKi), 1-2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 2/6/21 through
2/23/21 (JoC, WC, BK, GK, PKi, PM, SS, MS, LZ), and 1 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 2/13/21 (PKi) – A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE AND MORE
CONCENTRATED IN URBAN AREAS THAN USUAL.
BLACK PHOEBE: 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 2/5/21 (JoC) and
2/6/21 (JrC, WC) and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 2/14/21 (BSh) –
OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES THE SPECIES HAS GONE FROM ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION TO ANNUAL IN THE REGION WITH REPORTS SPREADING STEADILY
NORTHWARD AND SCATTERED ACROSS ALL SEASONS.
SAY’S PHOEBE: 1 near Lorenzo (Crosby) on 2/13/21 (GK, MS) the only report – LOW.
COMMON RAVEN: Six reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd)
during the period (KHi, GK, ML, BSh, MS) – ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT
WINTERS’ STANDARDS.
TREE SWALLOW: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on2/11/21 (BSh) and
on 2/12/21 (BSh) – AN INCREDIBLY EARLY REPORT; GIVEN THE EXTREME
WEATHER EVENT THAT OCCURRED DAYS LATER, THIS BIRD’S GAMBLE PROBABLY
DID NOT PAY OFF.
PURPLE MARTIN: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/27/21 (GJ, PJ) and
one over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/27/21 (AH) – RIGHT ON TIME.
CAROLINA CHICKADEE: 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
2/1/21 (AK, NP) – EXTRAORDINARILY RARE THIS FAR WEST IN THE REGION.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 2-4 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) from
2/1/21 through 2/4/21 (JBu, JCr, BSh) and 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock)
on 2/18/21 (BSh) – OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO, THIS SPECIES HAS
RETREATED EASTWARD ENOUGH THAT LUBBOCK COUNTY SIGHTINGS ARE
NOTEWORTHY.
BUSHTIT: 2 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 2/4/21 (PKi) – VERY
RARE THIS FAR WEST IN THE REGION.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) through
2/19/21 (PKi, BSh), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 2/13/21 through
2/14/21 (SA, BSh), and 1 in a Plainview yard (Hale) on 2/18/21 (NP) –
At THE LOW END OF AVERAGE IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 2/13/21
through 2/18/21 (SA, JBu, JCr, BSh, WW) the only report – A BIT LOW.
ROCK WREN: 1 at/near Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) from 2/5/21
through 2/10/21 (SA, JoC, JrC, WC) the only report – VERY LOW>
CANYON WREN: 1 at the Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 2/13/21 (BSh)
the only report – VERY LOW.
HOUSE WREN: 1 at the Wheeler Ranch (Crosby) on 2/7/21 (ML) and 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/7/21 (AH) the only reports – ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS RARE WINTER PERSISTER.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 2/19/21 (PKi) –
THE ONLY REPORT FROM ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: Seven reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Crosby,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SA, TA, JoC, WC, JH, KH, BK, GK,
PKi, RL, ML, CL, ML, PM, NN, SN, SS, BSh, MS, WW, LZ) – ABOUT AVERAGE;
EARLY EVIDENCE OF AN IRRUPTIVE EVENT DIDN’T CONTINUE.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 1 on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 2/4/21 (AH)
and 1 near Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 2/13/21 (JoC) – GIVEN
THE NUMBER OBSERVED EARLIER IN THE YEAR, IT SEEMS THAT AN IRRUPTIVE
EVENT DID HAPPEN BUT MOVED SOUTH AND EAST THROUGH AND THEN OUT OF THE
REGION.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE: Seven reports of single birds in the region
(Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (JoC, JrC, JCr, WC, JCr, AH, BK,
GK, PKi, ML, PK, JN, SS, BSh, MS, LZ) – GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT
NUMBERS LOW GIVEN THE NUMBER OF REPORTS.
HERMIT THRUSH: Nine reports of 1-2 birds at various sites in (Lubbock)
during the period (JrC, AH, GK, JM, JN, BSh, WW) – ABOUT AVERAGE AFTER
A POOR JANUARY, SUGGESTING THAT BIRDS WERE PUSHED INTO THE REGION FROM
THE NORTH.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 2/13/21 (PKi) and 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) throughout the latter half of the period (GK) –
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION DURING WINTER; NOW CASUAL CLOSING ON
ANNUAL.
SAGE THRASHER: 3 at the Wheeler Ranch (Crosby) on 2/7/21 (ML), 1 at
the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 2/8/21 (KHi) and 2/10/21 (KHi) and 2/20/21
(KHi), 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 2/13/21 (LZ), 4 at Buffalo
Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 2/25/21 (BSh), and 2 at Buffalo Springs Lake
(Lubbock) on 2/27/21 (JoC) – VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR FEBRUARY … AND NO
IDEA WHERE THEY CAME FROM OR WHY THEY SHOWED UP NOW.
CEDAR WAXWING: Twelve reports of 1-10 birds, eighteen reports of 11-25
birds, ten reports of 26-50 birds, ten reports of 51-100 birds, and
four reports of 145-200 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock)
during the period (SA, JoC, JrC, WC, JCr, KD, KG, AH, KHi, HJ, GJ, PJ,
BK, GK, PKi, ML, PM, BM, JM, JN, BP, SS, BSh, MS, ET, LZ) – THE
STRONGEST MOVEMENT OF THE SPECIES INTO THE REGION THAT I CAN RECALL –
ALMOST QUALIFIES AS BIRD OF THE MONTH ON THE BASIS OF NUMBERS.
EVENING GROSBEAK: 1 in a Plainview yard (Hale) on 2/16/21 (MO,
photographs) and 1 in another, fairly distant Plainview yard (Hale) on
2/18/21 (NP, photographs) – ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; A REVIEW SPECIES
FOR THE STATE; MAKING AN EVEN STRONGER SHOWING IN THE PANHANDLE PROPER
– THE BIRD OF THE MONTH BY VIRTU OF SCARCITY!
PINE SISKIN: Sixteen reports of 1-10 birds, eighteen reports of 11-25
birds, twenty-six reports of 26-50 birds, four reports of 51-100
birds, five reports of 101-200 birds, and one report of 100s of birds
in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (SA, GB, CC,
JoC, JCr, SG, DHa, AH, HJ, GJ, PJ, GK, ML, JM, KM, NN, MO, NP, CR, FR,
BSh, TT) were reports received – A DAZZLING CONTINUATION OF AN ALREADY
STUNNING IRRUPTIVE EVENT!
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/12/21 (SG) and 1
in a Plainview yard (Hale) on 2/18/21 (NP) – FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN
WINTER; WE NOW EXPECT A FEW REPORTS.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 2/9/21 (JoC, JrC,
JBu, JM, BSh) – A RARE WINTER REPORT FOR THE REGION.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/27/21 (AH) – A
VERY RARE WINTER LINGERER.
HARRIS’S SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/17/21 (AH) the
only report received – A VERY POOR WINTER FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE
REGION.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
2/1/21 (AK, NP), 1 on the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 2/1/21 (AH), and
1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/17/21 (AH) – A POOR WINTER FOR THIS
SPECIES AS WELL.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1 male near Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock)
on 2/5/21 (BM, BP), 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 2/25/21 (KHi),
15-19 in southeast Lubbock (Lubbock) on 2/25/21 (SA, JoC, BSh), 2-3 in
southeast Lubbock (Lubbock) on 2/26/21 (BK), 1 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 2/27/21 (BSh), and 2 at the Lockwood Farm (Crosby) on
2/28/21 (ML) – GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND GREAT NUMBERS FOR
FEBRUARY.
RUSTY BLACKBIRD: 1 persisted along the ditch near Lubbock Lake
Landmark (Lubbock) through 2/13/21 (SA, JoC, JCr, BM, BP, BSc) –
FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW REGARDED AS ANNUAL
BUT RARE IN WINTER.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/16/21 (KT)
grew to 3 in the same yard (Lubbock) on 2/25/21 (KT) – WITH RECORDS IN
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, THE SPECIES JUST BECAME A PERMANENT RESIDENT IN
THE REGION!
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 2/5/21 (SA, JM)
the only report received for the month – LOW.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 at Post City Park (Garza) on 2/4/21 (BM, BP)
the only report received – LOW.
PYRRHULOXIA: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 2/5/21
(BSh) – WELL NORTH AND WEST OF THE SPECIES’ USUAL HAUNTS IN THE
REGION.
OBSERVERS: SA=Sheri Anderson, CA=Connie Andrus, MA=Marlin Andrus, TA=
Theresa Atiee, GB=Grant Beauprez, SB=Susan Bergeson, JBu=Joel Buford,
HB=Holly Bundock, JBr=John Burge, LB=Lorena Burkett, RC=Rachel
Chevan, CC=Cathy Cochran, JoC=Joe Cochran, JrC=Jordan Cochran,
WC=Whitney Cochran, JCr=Jim Crites, KD=Ken Dixon, KG=Kandace
Glanville, SH=Sheryl Gonzales, DHa=Danny Hancock, JH=Joe Heppert,
KH=Kathy Heppert, AH=Anthony Hewetson, KHi=Kelly Himmel, HJ=Heather
Jenkins, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, AK=Andrew Kasner, BK=Barry
Keith, GK=Glenda Kelly, PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, JK=Jim
Kringle, RL=Rob Lee, ML=Mark Lockwood, Cl- Cienna Lyon, PM=Patsy
Malin, BM= Beth McBroom, JM=Jennifer Miller, KM=Kassie Moore,
NN=Nancy Neill, SN=Seth Neill, JN=Johny Nelson, MO=Melba Olsen,
BP=Barbara Pankratz, NP=Niler Pyeatt, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd
Robertson, BC=Bobby Schat, SS=Sheila Shallcross, BSh=Brad Shine,
MS=Matt Smith, JMS=Joyce Marie Stewart, KT=Kathy Teague, ET=Edward
Tiede, TT=Tess Trost, WW=William Wenthe, LZ= Lena Zappia.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock