Greetings All:
I visited three sites in my 'patch' today and kicked out highlights at
every site. Please note: in most years neither the White-crowned
Sparrows nor the Lincoln's Sparrows would have made it on to my
highlights list but this year both species had a very poor winter
showing and the birds we are seeing right now are most likely migrants
through the region.
At Clapp Park: 20 Blue-winged Teals, 2 Cinnamon Teals, 1 Chimney
Swift, 1 Sora (walking amidst the ibises), 2 Black-necked Stilts, 6
American Avocets, 1 Snowy Egret, 3 White-faced Ibises, 1 Western
Kingbird (they are running a bit late this year), 1 Warbling Vireo, 1
Swainson's Thrush, 3 Hermit Thrushes, 19 Chipping Sparrows, 4
Clay-colored Sparrows, 6 White-crowned Sparrows, 3 Lincoln's Sparrows,
1 Green-tailed Towhee, 1 Spotted Towhee, 1 male Bronzed Cowbird, 1
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 Louisiana Waterthrush, 1 Orange-crowned
Warbler, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 2 Yellow Warblers, and 1 Wilson's
Warbler.
Two hawks popped out of trees along the dike between the playas at
Clapp Park and, though I didn't get great looks, I got a
Red-shouldered Hawk vibe off of them - not good enough for my notes
but maybe some other observer might nab them.
At Lake Six: 6 Blue-winged Teals, 2 Cinnamon Teals, 1 Ring-necked
Pheasant, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Great Egret, 2 Snowy Egrets, 2 Cattle
Egrets, 1 Swainson's Hawk, 1 Broad-winged Hawk, 2 Western Kingbirds, 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 1 Cave Swallow, 2 Verdins (at an active
Verdin ball), 1 House Wren, 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 1 Swainson's
Thrush, 11 White-crowned Sparrows, 2 Lincoln's Sparrows, 1
Orange-crowned Warbler, and 1 Nashville Warbler.
In the woodlands and along the river just below Lake Six: 2 latish
Wood Ducks, 4 Blue-winged Teals, 1 Swainson's Hawk, 1 Hermit Thrush,
10 White-crowned Sparrows, 3 Lincoln's Sparrows, 1 Bullock's Oriole, 1
Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 Yellow Warbler, and 1 Wilson's Warbler.
Mostly the usual suspects but a very nice morning; Anthony Hewetson, Lubbock