Lubbock received 0.18 inches of rain during February, well below the
average monthly total of 0.71 inches bringing us up to 0.18 inches for the
year, way below the year-to-date average of 1.21 inches. With almost no
rainfall in the past five, close to 2/3rds of my region is in extreme
drought and the remainder is in severe drought Birding, aside from a few
favored spots - often associated with artificial watering - remained fairly
grim.
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
listserve 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.
One January report that I missed:
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 1/28/18 - PART OF A
GOOD WINTER SHOWING BY THIS SPECIES.
And on to February:
BLACK- BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK: 3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 2/25/18 (PKe,
photographs) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; NOW ANNUAL AND, WITH THIS
WINTER REPORT, CLOSING IN ON PERMANENT RESIDENCY.
SNOW GOOSE: 7 east of Floydada (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH), 97 south of
Floydada (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH), 200 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
2/20/18 (LZ), and 7 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 2/28/18 (AH) the only
reports - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
ROSS'S GOOSE: 2 east of Floydada (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH), 4 south of
Floydada (Floyd() on 2/17/18 (AH), 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on
2/20/18 (LZ), and 2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 2/28/18 (AH) the only
reports - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 54 east of Floydada (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH),
46 south of Floydada (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) and 5 near Idalou (Lubbock) on
2/24/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
CACKLING and CANADA GOOSE: LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS AWAY FROM
LUBBOCK. IN LUBBOCK, SOME CITY PLAYAS SUPPORTED STAGGERING NUMBERS
THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. THIS IS TYPICAL OF BAD DROUGHT YEARS.
WOOD DUCK: 6 at Whisperwood Playa (Lubbock) on 2/28/18 (AH) the only report
I received - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
NORTHERN SHOVELER, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, NORTHERN PINTAIL,
GREEN-WINGED TEA - dabbling species are normally common to abundant
throughout the region in winter - LOW NUMBERS AWAY FROM LUBBOCK; SOME
LUBBOCK PLAYAS SUPPORTED LARGE NUMBERS OF DABBLERS.
REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER,
RUDDY DUCK - these species are usually common to abundant in the region in
winter - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
CANVASBACK: 2 south of Floydada (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the only report -
EXTRAORDINARILY POOR SHOWING.
COMMON MERGANSER: 2 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 2/7/18 (SK) and 7 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 2/25/18 (PKe) - ABOUT AVERAGE; ALSO TYPICAL OF
DROUGHT YEARS - THE TRULY DEEPWATER SPECIES PERSIST AT THE TRULY DEEP
WATERS.
EARED GREBE: 2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 2/28/18 (AH) the only
report - EXTRAORDINARILY POOR.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 northeast of South Plains (Floyd) on 2/25/18 (AH)
the only report received - LOW; THIS IS TYPICAL OF THE ONSET OF DROUGHT
YEARS DURING WHICH THE SPECIES CAN COME CLOSE TO VANISHING FROM THE REGION.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 1 at the O'Donnell Playa (Lynn) on 2/1/18 (DH, EM) and on
2/23/18 (JB) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER - PERSISTING LATER AND
ARRIVING EARLIER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 2 at the FM 378 x FM 2286 Playa (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH)
the only report - LOW.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 at the Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 2/17/18 (NP) the only
report - STUNNINGLY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 2/21/18 (GK) and 1 at
the FM 378 x FM 2286 Playa (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) the only reports - VERY
LOW.
HERRING GULL: 2 at the I-27 x FM 54 Playa (Hale) on 2/18/18 (NP) and 7 in
Abernathy (Hale) on 2/18/18 (NP) - WERE MOST SURPRISING AS THE SPECIES,
FORMERLY FINDABLE IN MOST WINTERS, HAS BECOME VERY RARE IN RECENT YEARS.
GREAT EGRET: 2 persisted at playas along Quaker Avenue (Lubbock) throughout
the period (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT WINTERING STANDARDS.
SNOWY EGRET: 2 persisted at playas along Quaker Avenue (Lubbock) throughout
the period (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE BY RECENT WINTERING STANDARDS.
BALD EAGLE: 1 near Lockney (Floyd) on 2/8/18 (WH) - A CONTINUING BIRD; A
GOOD YEAR FOR THE SPECIES, SO FAR, IN THE REGION.
HARRIS'S HAWK: 1 adult bird in southwest Lubbock (Lubbock) on 2/15/18 (LZ,
photographs) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW CLOSE TO ANNUAL WITH
OCCASIONAL ATTEMPTS AT BREEDING.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 2 near Lockney (Floyd) on 2/8/18 (WH) and 1 near Close
City (Garza) on 2/26/18 (JB) the only reports - FORMERLY UNCOMMON IN
WINTER; NOW VERGING ON RARE IN MOST WINTERS.
SHORT-EARED OWL: 1 near Wilson (Lynn) on 2/22/18 (JB) the only report - LOW
BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 2/9/18 (JM) and 1 at
Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the only reports - A TAD
LOW.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at McaLister Park (Lubbock) on 2/8/18 (JM) and 1 at the
O'Donnell Playa (Lynn) on 2/23/18 (JB) the only reports - A BIT LOW; THIS
COULD BE DUE TO A FAIRLY STRONG PIGEON ERADICATION EFFORT IN LUBBOCK.
EASTERN PHOEBE: up to 9 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) through the period (SK),
up to 2 at Lake Alan Henry (Kent) through the period (SK), 1 at the CR 76 x
FM 1065 Woodlot (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH), and 2 at the Los Lingos Creek
crossing of FM 1065 (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) - AFTER A POOR JANUARY A BIT OF
A PICKUP DUE, MOSTLY, TO REPORTING FROM ONE OF OUR BETTER LAKE REGIONS.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/3/18 (AK, NP) and
on 2/17/18 (AH), 1 at CR 120 x FM 378 (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH), and 1 at the
FM 378 x FM 2286 Playa (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
COMMON RAVEN: 2 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) through the period (SK), 2 at
Lake Alan Henry (Kent) through the period (SK), and 1 near Cedar Hill
(Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) - LOW.
PURPLE MARTIN: 2 at the Idalou Cemetery (Lubbock) on 2/17/18 (AH) - A TAD
EARLY; NO SUBSEQUENT REPORTS FROM THE MONTH.
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18
(AH) - FORMERLY FAIRLY EASY TO FIND AS FAR WEST AS A LINE RUNNING FROM
FLOYD TO LUBBOCK TO LYNN COUNTIES; NOW QUITE RARE WEST OF A LINE RUNNING
FROM MOTLEY TO DICKENS TO KENT COUNTIES.
VERDIN: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/3/18 (AK, NP) and on
2/17/18 (AH) the only reports - - FORMERLY FAIRLY EASY TO FIND AS FAR WEST
AS A LINE RUNNING FROM FLOYD TO LUBBOCK TO LYNN COUNTIES; NOW QUITE RARE
WEST OF A LINE RUNNING FROM MOTLEY TO DICKENS TO GARZA COUNTIES.
BUSHTIT: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/3/18 (AK, NP) the only
report - FORMERLY FAIRLY EASY TO FIND AS FAR WEST AS A LINE RUNNING FROM
FLOYD TO LUBBOCK TO LYNN COUNTIES; NOW QUITE RARE WEST OF A LINE RUNNING
FROM MOTLEY TO DICKENS TO KENT COUNTIES.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18
(AH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/17/18 (LZ), and 1 near Leroy
Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 2/22/18 (JB) - A RATHER ABRUPT WINDING DOWN OF
WHAT HAD BEEN A VERY GOOD WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION.
ROCK WREN: 2 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the only
report - LOW.
CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 2/9/18 (JM) and 1 at Plains
Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE.
WINTER WREN: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the only
report - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 near Allmon (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) and 1 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 225/18 (PKe) the only reports - A BIT LOW.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 7 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/3/18 (AK, NP),
3 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH), 2 at the Lubbock
Cemetery (Lubbock) on 2/18/18 (PKe), 2 at the White River crossing of FM
207 (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) - GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 6 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 2/18/18 (PKe) -
CONTINUING BIRDS; OUR BLUEBIRD EVENT, HOWEVER SMALL, CONTINUES!
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 6 at Thunderbird Playa (Hale) on 2/17/18 (NP), 1 at
Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 2/20/18 (fide LZ), and 32 near Cedar
Hill (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE WITH THE LAST REPORT TYPICAL
OF ALONG THE ESCARPMENT IRRUPTIVE NUMBERS.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/3/18 (AK,
NP) and 1 along the Caprock Canyon Trailway (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR A NON-IRRUPTIVE YEAR.
HERMIT THRUSH: 3 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 2/9/18 (SK) and 1 at Lake
Alan Henry (Kent) on 2/12/18 (SK) the only reports - LOW.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 2/14/18 (SK) - ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR A NON-IRRUPTIVE WINTER.
CEDAR WAXWING: 7 over a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/6/18 (AH) and 5 over
the same yard on 2/11/18 (AH) the only reports received - LOW.
AMERICAN PIPIT: 2 south of Floydada (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the only report
- VERY LOW; FAVORED PLAYA HABITAT FADING FAST THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
PURPLE FINCH: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/22/18 (LM, PKe,
photographs) - FORMERLY AN UNCOMMON WINTER VISITOR; NOW VERGING ON CASUAL
OR ACCIDENTAL - A VERY GOOD SIGHTING!
RED CROSSBILL; 10 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 2/18/18 (PKe) and 20
near Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 2/22/18 (JB) - THIS WINTER'S IRRUPTIVE
EVENT PEAKED IN JANUARY - UNLESS THERE IS A HEADING BACK NORTH BOUNCE IN
MARCH.
PINE SISKIN: 25-30 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) from 2/1/18 through 2/15/18
(AR) and 2 south of Floydada (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) - LOW.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 18 near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) the only
report - LOW.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 24 south of Lockney (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the
only report - VERY LOW.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 12 northeast of South Plains (Floyd) on 2/24/18 (AH) the
only report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
FOX SPARROW: 2 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the only
report - LOW.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through the period
(GJ, PJ) and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/6/18 (JC) the only reports
- A BIT LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
HARRIS'S SPARROW: up to 3 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/3/18 (AK,
NP) and 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 2/17/18 (AH) the only
reports - LOW.
ORANGE-CROWNED SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 2/6/18 (JCr), 2 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 2/9/18 (JM), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on
2/27/18 (PJ) - FORMERLY MORE COMMON IN THE REGION DURING WINTER; WITHDRAWAL
INTO CITIES DURING DROUGHT YEARS IS TYPICAL.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, JCr=Jim Crites, SG=Steve Glover, DH=Drew
Harvey, AH=Anthony Hewetson, WH=William Hill, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury,
AK=Andrew Kasner, SK=Stephen Kasper, GK=Glenda Kelly, PKe=Peter Keyel,
RL=Rob Lee, LM=Liam McGuire, JM=Jennifer Miller, EM=Eric Moore, NP=Niler
Pyeatt, AR=Anona Roberts, LZ=Lena Zappia.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock