Lubbock received 0.00 inches of rain during January, way below the average
monthly total of 0.50 inches - not a good start for the year, especially
considering the extremely low totals from the last three months. By the
end of the month, most of the region was in severe drought and a
significant portion of the region was in extreme drought. Birding, aside
from a few favored spots - often associated with artificial watering,
became 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.
Some December reports that I missed:
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 12/29/17 (EH,
photographs).
CEDAR WAXWING: a flock in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/31/17 (GJ, PJ).
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 12/31/17 (GJ, PJ).
And on to January:
SNOW GOOSE: 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH), 2 at Maxey
Park (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH), 2 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/19/18
(AH), 2 near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), and 150 over Lubbock
(Lubbock) on 1/29/18 (DHa) - A VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND AN
ASTONISHINGLY LOW NUMBER OF BIRDS!
ROSS'S GOOSE: 1 at Lakeridge Gofl Course (Lubbock) on 1/18/18 (JB) and 2 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH) the only reports - A VERY LOW
NUMBER OF REPORTS AND AN ASTONISHINGLY LOW NUMBER OF BIRDS!
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 3 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 1/1/18
(JCr), 3 over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 1/2/18 (DHa), 6 at White River Lake
(Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 1/16/18 (JB), 10
at Lakeridge Golf Course (Lubbock) on 1/18/18 (JB), 2 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH), 10 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH),
and 6 near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) - A DECENT NUMBER OF REPORTS
BUT STARTLINGLY LOW NUMBERS.
WOOD DUCK: 10 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 1/1/18 (GK), 5 at Lakeridge
Golf Course (Lubbock) on 1/18/18 (JB), 6 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on
1/19/18 (AH), 4 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH) the only
reports - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
NORTHERN SHOVELER, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, NORTHERN PINTAIL,
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, RUDDY DUCK -
These, our generally common species of duck, were all - IN SHORT SUPPLY
THROUGHOUT THE REGION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IN-TOWN PLAYAS IN MAJOR TOWNS
AND CITIES.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 male at/below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/18/18 (JM) and
1/19/18 (MDL) - ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION DURING WINTER - PROBABLY EASIER TO
FIND WHEN THIS WATERFOWL ARE CONCENTRATED BY DROUGHT.
CANVASBACK: 2 at Lakeridge Golf Course (Lubbock) on 1/18/18 (JB), 2 at
Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH), 3 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on
1/20/18 (AH) , and 6 at the Lockney WTP (FLoyd) on 1/27/18 (AH) the only
reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS.
REDHEAD: 10 at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on 1/1/18 (JCr), 4 at Whisperwood
Pond (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH), 6 Redheads at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on
1/20/18 (AH), and 8 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 1/27/18 (AH) the only
reports - VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY LOW NUMBERS.
GREATER SCAUP: 2 females and 2 males at Buddy Holly Park (Lubbock) on
1/1/18 (JCr) the only report - A TRIFLE LOW FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
COMMON MERGANSER: 1 female and 1 male at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/7/18
(DHa), 145 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 1 male at Lake
Six (Lubbock) on 1/20/18 (AH), and 30 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 1/31/18
(JM) - AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GOOD NUMBERS - THIS SPECIES IS NOT
MUCH IMPACTED BY DROUGHT UNTIL OUR DEEP WATER LAKES STARTED DRYING DOWN.
SCALED QUAIL: 10 in southeast Lubbock County (Lubbock) on 1/11/18 (RL) the
only report - LOW BUT LITTLE EFFORT WAS REPORTED FROM OUR BETTER COUNTIES.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) and 1 at the
Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 1/27/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW BUT LITTLE
EFFORT WAS REPORTED FROM OUR NORTHERN COUNTIES.
EARED GREBE: 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH) the only
report - VERY LOW NUMBERS.
WESTERN GREBE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG) the only
report - LOW.
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT: 1 was seen near Post (Garza) on 1/18/18 (JB) - THE
SPECIES USED TO WINTER IN CANYONS TO OUR NORTH AND NORTHEAST; THIS IS THE
FIRST WINTER REPORT FROM CANYONLANDS IN OUR SOUTHEASTERN AREA.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 5 near Wellman (Terry) on 1/4/18 (SH) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL IN WINTER; NOW KNOWN TO BE AN ANNUAL, IF PATCHILY
DISTRIBUTED, WINTER RESIDENT.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/7/18 (DHa) and 2 near
Dougherty (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) the only reports - INCREDIBLY LOW NUMBER
OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 1/6/18 (RL) and 1 at
Lakeridge Golf Course (Lubbock) on 1/18/18 (JB) the only reports - VERY LOW
NUMBERS.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 3 at the CR 31 x FM 387 Playa (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH),
10 at the FM 37 x FM 378 Playa (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), 5 near Dougherty
(Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), 4 near Windfarm (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), and 1 at
the FM 37 x FM 378 Playa (Floyd) on 1/27/18 (AH) - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS,
LOW NUMBERS, AND DECLINING WITHIN THE PERIOD AS SHALLOW WATER PLAYAS DRIED
DOWN.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 4 at Stone Lake (Lubbock) on 1/9/18 (PKi) and 3 at
White River Lake (Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG) - GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND
GREAT NUMBERS - BOTH SIGHTINGS AT DEEP WATER SITES.
GREAT EGRET: 1-2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) through the period (AH), and 1 at
Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
SNOWY EGRET: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH) and 1 at
Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
GREEN HERON: 1 at Andrews Park (Lubbock on 1/12/18 (PJ) and 1 at Miller
Park (Lubbock) on 1/12/18 (PJ) - WEIRDLY HIGH NUMBERS GIVEN A FALL AND
EARLY WINTER THAT WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY DEVOID OF SIGHITNGS OF THE SPECIES.
BALD EAGLE: 1 immature bird was seen near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 1/20/18
(AH) - A CONTINUATION OF A GOOD SEASON FOR THIS SPECIES IN THE REGION.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 1/11/8 (LM), 1
near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), and 1 near Sandhill (Floyd) on
1/27/18 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS INCREASINGLY SCARCE WINTER VISITOR.
SHORT-EARED OWL: 2 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), 1 near
Littlefield (Lamb) on 1/20/18 (AR), and 1 near Sundown (Terry) on 1/27/18
(GC, SG) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON WINTER VISITOR.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1 female and 1 male at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) on
1/27/18 (AH) - THIS SITUATION BEARS WATCHING AS THE SITE IS ALMOST GOOD
ENOUGH FOR A BREEDING ATTEMPT.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) through the
month (JB, AH, PKe), 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG),
and 1 at the White River x FM 207 crossing (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE - NO IRRUPTIVE EVENT THIS WINTER.
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1 at the White River x FM 207 crossing (Floyd) on 1/20/18
(AH) - LOW.
MERLIN: 1 at the White River x CR 121 crossing (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), 1
near Lakeview (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), and 1 at the Lockney WTP (Floyd) on
1/20/18 (AH) - LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND LOW NUMBERS.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 1/9/18 (PKi) and 1 at the
Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 1/20/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS
THIS WINTER.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), 1 near Lakeview
(Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), and 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on
1/24/18 (JCr) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS THIS WINTER.
MONK PARAKEET: 1 continuing bird at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on
1/3/18 (NP).
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 1
northeast of Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), and 2 at the Los Lingos
Creek x FM 1065 crossing (Floyd) the only reports - LOW.
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB JAY: 2 near Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG) and 1 near
Post (Garza) on 1/18/18 (JB) - FORMERLY UNCOMMON IN THE REGION; NOW VERY
RARE.
COMMON RAVEN: 1 northwest of Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 2 at the Los
Lingos Creek x FM 1065 crossing (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), and 2 near
Windfarm (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
VERDIN: 2 near Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG) the only report - FORMERLY
UNCOMMON IN THE REGION; NOW VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: up to 13 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock)
throughout the period (JB, JCr, DHa, DH, AH, PKe, LM, JM, SS), 1 in Lubbock
yard (Lubbock) throughout the period (KD), 1 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb)
on 1/15/18 (AR), 3 at the Tahoka Cemetery Complex (Lynn) on 1/16/18 (JB),
and 1 near Sandhill (Floyd) on 1/27/18 (AH) - DEFINITELY AN INVASION YEAR
FOR THE SPECIES THOUGH PATCHILY DISTRIBUTED.
BROWN CREEPER: 1 at the White River x FM 207 crossing (Floyd) on 1/20/18
(AH) and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 1/28/18 (AH) the only
reports - A TAD LOW.
ROCK WREN: 1 along FM 689 in Caprock Canyon (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) the
only report - LOW.
CANYON WREN: 1 northwest of Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG) and 1 at the
White River x FM 207 crossing (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) the only reports - A
TAD LOW.
HOUSE WREN: 1 northeast of Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG) the only report
- LOW.
WINTER WREN: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (MDL) the only report -
VERY LOW.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: up to 6 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock)
throughout the period (JB, AH, PKe, LM) - AVERAGE NUMBERS AT EXACTLY ONE
SITE - HORRIBLE SCATTER AND, OVERALL, POOR NUMBERS.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: up to 14 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) thorughout
the period (JB, JCr, DH, AH, PKe, LM, JM) and 7 at the Tahoka Cemetery
Complex (Lynn) on 1/16/18 (JB) - POOR SCATTER, AVERAGE NUMBERS.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: up to 8 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) throughout the
period (JCr, AH, PKe, LM, JM) the only reports - POOR SCATTER BUT GOOD
NUMBERS AT ONE SITE.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 25 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 4
northwest of Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 1 male along FM 689 in
Caprock Canyon (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), and 1 male at the Lubbock Cemetery
(Lubbock) on 1/28/18 (AH) - AVERAGE SCATTER BUT POOR NUMBERS; PARTICULARLY
GIVEN THE GOOD AUTUMN SHOWING.
HERMIT THRUSH: 2 near Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 4 near Post (Garza)
on 1/18/18 (JB), 1 along FM 689 in Caprock Canyon (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH),
and 2 at the White River x FM 207 crossing (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) - ABOUT
AVERAGE IN TERMS OF NUMBERS BUT PATCHY DISTRIBUTION.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) thrugh 1/23/18 (JCl) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION WINTER; CLOSING IN ON ANNUAL.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 northwest of Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG) the only
report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR A NON-IRRUPTIVE YEAR.
CEDAR WAXWING: Twelve reports of 1-9 birds, one report of 12 birds, one
report of 13 birds, one report of 27 birds, and one reports of 75 birds in
the region (Crosby, Lubbock) during the period (JB, GC, JCr, MDL, KD, SG,
DHa, DH, AH, CL, LM, JM, SS) - AFTER A VERY SLOW FALL AND EARLY WINTER,
NUMBERS ARE CLOSING IN ON AVERAGE.
PHAINOPEPLA: 1 female at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) from 1/8/18 through
the end of the period (DH, AH, PKe, LM, JM, BS, photographs) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL VISITOR,
FAVORING SITES THAT HAVE ABUNDANT MISTLETOE.
RED CROSSBILL: up to 35 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) through the
period (JB, JCr, MDL, DH, AH, KH, PKe, LM, SS), 14 near Close City (Garz)
on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 4 at Kastman Park (Lubbock) on 1/21/18 (AH), 8-12 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 1/21/18 (JCl), and 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)
on 1/25/18 (KD) - CLEARLY AN IRRUPTIVE YEAR BUT NOT AS WIDESPREAD AS DURING
THE LAST SIGNIFICANT IRRUPTION. THE SPECIES SEEMS TO BE FAVORING SITES
WITH A MIXTURE OF CONIFERS AND PECANS THIS TIME AROUND.
PINE SISKIN: 6 at Wayland Baptist University (Hale) on 1/3/18 (NP), 2 at
the Tahoka Cemetery Complex (Lynn) on 1/16/18 (JB), 3 at the Lubbock
Cemetery (Lubbock) on 1/20/18 (PKe), and 2 at the Lubbock Cemetery
(Lubbock) on 1/28/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: 15 at the Tahoka Cemetery Complex (Lubbock) on 1/16/18
(JB) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION IN WINTER; NOW AN
ANNUAL PHENOMENON.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 4 at the FM 37 x FM 378 Playa (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) and
2 near Providence (Floyd) on 1/27/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 2 near South Plains (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) the
only report - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW.
MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: 1 southwest of Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG), 6 at
the FM 37 x FM 378 Playa (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), 11 near South Plains
(Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH), 7 at the FM 378 x FM 2286 Playa (Floyd) on 1/27/18
(AH), and 4 near Providence (Floyd) on 1/27/18 (AH) - VERY LOW.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 2 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL IN THE REGION DURING WINTER; NOW KNOWN TO BE
ANNUAL, IF SPARSE, RESIDENTS.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 near Post (Garza) on 1/14/18 (GC,SG), 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) throughout the period (GJ, PJ), 1 at the Lubbock
Cemetery (Lubbock) from 1/16/18-1/31/18 (JB, AH), 1 at the Los Lingos Creek
x FM 1065 crossing (Floyd) on 1/20/18 (AH) - FORMERLY A FAIRLY COMMON
WINTER RESIDENT; NOW MORE OF AN IRRUPTIVE SPECIES.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 1/11/18-1/20/18
(KD, photographs) - THE BIRD OF THE MONTH; THE FIRST CONFIRMED WINTER
RECORD FOR THE ENTIRE REGION!
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male at Higginbotham Park (Lubbock) on 1/19/18 (EC) -
THE EARLIEST SPRING ARRIVAL TO THE REGION FOR THE SPECIES ON RECORD
(UNLESS, OF COURSE, IT WAS A MISSED OVERWINTERING EVENT).
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 at White River Lake (Crosby) on 1/14/18 (GC, SG)
and 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery from 1/16/18-1/31/18 (JB, AH) the only
reports - FORMERLY AN UNCOMMON WINTER RESIDENT THROUGHOUT THE REGION; IN
RECENT YEARS CONSIDERABLY LESS COMMON AND MUCH MORE PATCHILY DISTRIBUTED.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, EC=Elijah Clark, JCl=Jeremy Clark, SC=Sheridan
Coffey, GC=Greg Cook, JCr=Jim Crites, KD=Ken Dixon, SG=Steve Glover,
DHa=Danny Hancock, DH=Drew Harvey, SH=Susan Heath, AH=Anthony Hewetson,
EH=Ellen Hildebrandt, KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury,
GK=Glenda Kelly, PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, CL=Carol Lee, RL=Rob
Lee, LM=Liam McGuire, JM=Jennifer Miller, NP=Niler Pyeatt, MR=Martin Reid,
AR=Anona Roberts, BS=Brad Shine, SS=Sue Smith.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock