Lubbock received 0.00 inches of rain during January, well below the
average January total of 0.50 inches, getting us off to a great,
drought-ridden start for the year. It was also, in general, a mild
month and a full month of warm, dry, and windy conditions didn't do
much for local birding.
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.
A late report for January
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 12/2/18 and
12/11/18 (SK) - ONE OF OUR RARE WINTER REPORT.
And on to January:
SNOW GOOSE: 7 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/9/19 (AH), 12 near
Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 1/22/19 (JoC, JrC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
1/25/19 (SP, AvH, BK, PKi, DW), and 110 near Skeen Playa (Lynn) on
1/27/19 the only reports - LOW NUMBERS; VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS.
ROSS'S GOOSE: 2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/9/19 (AH), 1 at
Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 1/14/19 (GK), and 2 at Ransom Lake
(Lubbock) on 1/26/19 (PKi) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS; VERY
LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE:1 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock)
on 1/21/19 (JoC, JrC), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 1/26/19 (JoC), 3
near Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 1/27/19 (LM), and 10 near Skeen Playa
(Lynn) on 1/31/19 (JM( the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS; VERY LOW
NUMBER OF REPORTS.
WOOD DUCK: 3 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/9/19 (AH), 4 at Leroy
Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 1/14/19 (GK), and 2 at the 103rd x Chicago
Playa (Lubbock) on 1/21/19 (JoC, JrC) the only reports - VERY LOW
NUMBERS.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 male at Butler Park (Lubbock) on 1/9/19 (DH) and
1/12/19 (BSc) and 1 north of Dougherty (Floyd) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS SCARCE WINTER RESIDENT.
MEXICAN DUCK: 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 1/12/19 (DH) appeared to be
the real deal - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION.
CANVASBACK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 1/6/19 (DH) and 1 north of
Dougherty (Floyd) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG) the only reprorts - VERY LOW
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS.
REDHEAD: 2 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 1/8/19 (SK), 2 at Whisperwood
Pond (Lubbock) on 1/9/19 (AH), 3 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 1/12/19
(DH), and 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/17/19 (GK) the only reports -
VERY LOW NUMBERS.
COMMON MERGANSER: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/26/19 (PKi) and 12 at
Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 1/26/19 (PKi) - ABOUT AVERAGE, GIVEN NO
EFFORT REPORTED FROM WHITE RIVER LAKE.
EARED GREBE: 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/9/19 (AH) and 1 at
Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 1/20/19 (DH, LM) the only reports -
LOW NUMBERS.
INCA DOVE 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 1/2/19 (CR, FR), 1 in the
same yard (Lubbock) on 1/5/19 (CR, FR), and 1 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 1/26/19 (LM) the only reports - A BIT OF DECLINE FROM THE
RECENT RESURGENCE.
SORA: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/26/19 (SP, AvH, BK, PKi, DW) the
only report - A BIT LOW, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE MILD CONDITIONS.
WHOOPING CRANE: 1 near the Skeen Playa (Lynn) from 1/22/19 through
1/31/19 (DH, JoC, JrC, JM) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; NOW CLOSING IN ON ANNUAL AS A WINTER VISITOR.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 2 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 1/21/19
(JoC, JrC) the only report - LOW.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 5 in Tahoka (Lynn) on 1/13/19 (MDL), 1 at Maxey
Park (Lubbock) on 1/13/19 (AH), and 18 in Tahoka (Lynn) on 1/20/19
(MDL) and 1/21/19 (MDL) - FEW REPORTS BUT GOOD NUMBERS.
HERRING GULL: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 1/13/19 (AH), 1 at the TTU
HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 1/22/19 (AH) the only reports - A BIT LOW,
GIVEN THE PROMISING NUMBERS EARLIER IN THE SEASON.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 1/20/19
(DH, LM) - THE ONLY REPORT; ODDLY FROM A SITE OTHER THAN THE POPULAR
ROOST AT LEROY ELMORE PARK.
GREAT EGRET: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 1/16/19 (AH) the only report
- EVIDENCE OF WINTERING.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 1/16/19 (AH) the only report
- EVIDENCE OF WINTERING.
TURKEY VULTURE: 1 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 1/16/19 (AH), 1 over
Lubbock (Lubbock) on 1/18/19 (DH), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on
1/21/19 (AH), and 1 at Meadowbrook Golf Course (Lubbock) on 1/21/19
(LM) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER BUT WE ARE AWAITING THE DAY
WHEN THE SPECIES WINTERS IN SMALL NUMBERS.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) throughout the month
(JoC, JrC, EH, BS) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW AN ANNUAL,
CLOSING IN ON PERMANENT, RESIDENT.
GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 near Aiken (Hale) on 1/20/19 (JB, AHu), 1 near Cedar
Hill (Floyd) on 1/22/19 (MDL), and 1 near Skeen Playa (Lynn) on
1/31/19 (JM) - GOOD NUMBERS AND GREAT SCATTER.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1-2 at the 50th x Indiana perch (Lubbock) throughout
the period (DHa, AH, LZ), 1 at the TTU Campus (Lubbock) throughout the
period (LM), and 1 at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) throughout the
period (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
EASTERN PHOEBE: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Garza, Kent,
Lubbock) during the period (DH, SK, LM) - ABOUT AVERAGE; GOOD GIVEN
THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 adult male in Tahoka (Lynn) from 1/13/19 (MDL)
through the end of the period (MDL, LM) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE
REGION; NOW A REGULAR, IF RARE, VISITOR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
COMMON RAVEN: Eight reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Floyd, Garza,
Kent, Motley) during the period (GC, SG, SK) - ABOUT AVERAGE; THE
RECOVERY OF THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION IS PRETTY MUCH A DONE DEAL ...
FOR THE TIME BEING.
CAROLINA CHICKADEE: 1 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 1/23/19 (SK) -
FORMERLY UNCOMMON THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN 3/5THS OF THE REGION; NOW A
VERY RARE VISITOR, GENERALLY IN WINTER.
BUSHTIT: 4 north of Johnfarris (Floyd) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG) - A NICE
REPORT OF A SPECIES THAT SEEMS TO HAVE ALMOST VANISHED FROM THE
REGION.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 1/3/19 )JCr),
1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) n 1/4/19 (BSc), and 1 at Buffalo Springs
Lake (Lubbock) on 1/20/19 (DH, LM) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE
WINTER VISITOR.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 1/4/19 (BS) and 1 at
Meadowbrook Golf Course (Lubbock) on 1/21/19 (LM) - A TAD LOW.
CANYON WREN: 2 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 1/29/19 (SK) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS CANYONLANDS RESIDENT.
ROCK WREN:1 at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 1/29/19 (SK) - ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS CANYONLANDS RESIDENT.
WINTER WREN: 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 1/20/19 (DH, LM)
the only report - LOW.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 29 at the Los Lingos Creek x FM 1065 crossing
(Floyd) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG) - A GOOD NUMBER FOR A SINGLE SIGHTING.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 1/26/19 (PKi)
the only report - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 20+ at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 1/8/19 (SK), 5 at
the Los Lingos Creek x FM 1065 crossing (Floyd) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG),
40 near Whiteflat (Motley) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG), 7 at Lake Alan Henry
(Garza) on 1/14/19 (SK), 20+ at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 1/23/19
(SK), another flock of 15+ at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 1/23/19 (SK),
and 20+ at Lake Alan Henry (Garza) on 1/29/19 (SK) - GOOD NUMBERS AND
SCATTER.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (JoC,
JrC, ML) and 4 north of Johnfarris (Floyd) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG) - POOR
NUMBERS AND SCATTER.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (JoC,
JrC, DH, ML) - CASUAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; CLOSING IN ON ANNUAL.
CEDAR WAXWING: Four reports of 1-10 birds and seven reports of 11-30
birds in the region (Floyd, Lubbock, Motley) during the period (JoC,
GC, KD, SG, DH AH, LM, BSc) - REASONABLY GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER.
CASSIN'S FINCH: 1 male in a Plainview yard (Hale)on 1/1/19 (NP) - A
GOOD REPORT OF A SPECIES THAT HAS BEEN POPPING UP, HERE AND THERE, IN
THE REGION THIS WINTER.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 1/28/19 (LM) the
only report - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; NOW KNOWN
TO LINGER EVERY YEAR.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at the Los Lingos Creek x FM 1065 crossing (Floyd)
on 1/13/19 (GC, SG) and 3 near Whiteflat (Motley) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG)
- FORMERLY CASUAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; NOW ANNUAL ALBEIT IN LOW
NUMBERS.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 1/4/19 (BSc) -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE WINTER VISITOR.
RUSTY BLACKBIRD: 4 near Whiteflat Lake (Motley) on 1/13/19 (GC, SG) -
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS A RARE WINTER
RESIDENT.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 1/3/19 through
1/16/19 (JCr) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER THOUGH NOT
UNPRECEDENTED.
OBSERVERS: JB=Jeff Boatright, JoC=Joe Cochran, JrC=Jordan Cochran,
GC=Greg Cook, JCr=Jim Crites, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon,
SG=Steve Glover, DHa=Danny Hancock, DH=Drew Harvey, AH=Anthony
Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson, EH=Ellen Hildebrandt, AHu-Ashley
Hughes, SK=Stephen Kasper, BK=Barry Keith, GK=Glenda Kelly,
PKi=Phillip Kite, ML=Mark Lee, LM=Liam McGuire, JM=Jennifer Miller,
SP=Skyler Parks, NP=Niler Pyeatt, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd
Robertson, BSc=Bobby Schat, DW=Don Warner, LZ=Lena Zappia.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock