With 0.02 inches of rain during the month, stunningly below the average
August tally of 2.35 inches, Lubbock was at 22.06 inches of rain for the
year, still over twice the average year-to-date total of 10.70 inches - due
entirely to the incredibly heavy rains of May. The continued impact on
waterbirds is evident, with quite a few reports of summering waterfowl,
summering waders, and arriving shorebirds though shorebird migration was
poorly captured by the ever smaller number of reporting birders.
I am unable to create a usable summary of eBird data of sightings in the
region during the period covered - IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE AVAILABLE.
Comments at the end of each species summary have been adjusted, to the best
of my abilities, to reflect this reduction in reports.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period (AH,
PKe), 1-3 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) through the period (AH), 14 at Andrews
Park (Lubbock) on 8/8/15 (GJ, PJ), and 6 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on
8/23/15 (AH) - AN UPTICK FROM EARLIER IN THE SUMMER, SUGGESTING THAT
MIGRATION HAS STARTED.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 persisted a Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the
period (AH, PKe), 15 at Andrews Park (Lubbock) on 8/8/15 (GJ, PJ), 4 at
Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH), 12 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 12/22/15
(AH), 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 8/23/15 (AH), 10 at Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 8/24/15 (RM) - AN UPTICK FROM EARLIER IN THE SUMMER,
SUGGESTING THAT MIGRATION HAS STARTED.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 5 near Post (Garza) on 8/2/15 (AH) and 25 in (Hale) on
8/6/15 (MDL) the only reports - SEEMS A BIT LOW BUT COULD REPRESENT AN
EARLY DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION WITH THE ONSET OF DRY CONDITIONS.
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 6 at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) 8/28/15 (NP) the only
report - LOW.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (JT) the only
report - LOW.
RUDDY DUCK: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH) the only report
- LOW.
SCALED QUAIL: 35 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/9/15 (JB) and 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (MD, JS) - PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS AT ONE SITE, OTHER
REGIONS POORLY COVERED DURING THE PERIOD.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 9 in (Hale) on 8/6/15 (MDL) - A GOOD NUMBER FOR A
SINGLE DAY'S WORK. PROBABLY DOING WELL THIS YEAR BUT COULD USE BETTER
COVERAGE.
EARED GREBE: 4 at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP) the only report -
A TAD LOW GIVEN THE NUMBERS REPORTED EARLIER IN THE SUMMER.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 1-2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the
period (AH, PKe) and 2 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL IN SUMMER; NOW KNOWN TO BE A LOW-DENSITY RESIDENT.
LEAST BITTERN: 1 adult flying at Lake Six (Lubbock) on8/30/15 (AH) - QUITE
POSSIBLY PART OF THE SMALL BREEDING POPULATION AT THIS SITE.
GREAT EGRET: Seven reports of 1-7 birds at various sites in Lubbock
(Lubbock) during the period (AH, GJ, PJ) - A SLOW BUILDUP FROM THE PREVIOUS
MONTH SUGGESTING SOME POST-BREEDING WANDERING.
SNOWY EGRET: Nine reports of 1-10 birds, two reports of 11-25 birds, one
report of 50 birds, and one report of 62 birds at various sites in Lubbock
(Lubbock) during the period (AH, JJ, GH, PJ, AL, TM, JW) - A NICE BUILDUP
FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH SUGGESTING SOME POST-BREEDING WANDERING.
CATTLE EGRET: 50 in (Hale) on 8/6/15 (MDL), 62 at Leroy Elmore Park
(Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH), 8 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH),
and 35 at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP) the only reports - A BIT
OF A TAPERING OFF SUGGESTING AN EARLY DEPARTURE - OR POOR COVERAGE.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the period
(AH, JJ, JW) and 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 8/30/15 (AH) the only
reports - SURPRISINGLY LOW THIS YEAR GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF WATER STILL
PRESENT AT FAVORED SITES.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 40 in (Hale) on 8/6/15 (MDL), 1 immature at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH), and 1 at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP)
the only reports - LOW.
OSPREY: 1 along the Canyon Lake (Lubbock) on 8/21/15 (PKi) the first of the
season - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL DURING SUMMER, WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT A BIRD
OR TWO BY THE END OF AUGUST.
SORA: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 8/23/15 (AH) - A TAD EARLY BUT THIS
SEEMS TO BE A YEAR FOR EARLY MOVEMENT OF RAILS THROUGH THE REGION.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/3/15 (AH) - A TAD EARLY BUT
THIS SEEMS TO BE A YEAR FOR EARLY MOVEMENT OF RAILS THROUGH THE REGION.
COMMON GALLINULE: 1 at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP) - RARELY
SEEN IN THE REGION AWAY FROM THE CANYON LAKES OF LUBBOCK; EVEN MORE
SURPRISING AS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN SEEN AT THE LAKES THIS YEAR!
BLACK-NECKED STILT: 5 in (Hale) on 8/6/15 (MDL), 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey)
on 8/9/15 (JB), 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (JT), and 8 at the
Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP) - POOR NUMBERS BUT GOOD SCATTER.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 5 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB), 2 near Post
(Garza) on 8/2/15 (AH), 12 in (Hale) on 8/6/15 (MDL), 2 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH), and 14 at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP)
- ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF POOR NUMBERS BUT GOOD SCATTER.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/9/15 (JB) - ANNUAL IN
THE REGION IN LOW NUMBERS; THIS MAY BE THE BEST SITE IN THE REGION.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH) - RARE BUT
ANNUAL IN THE REGION DURING MIGRATION.
SNOWY PLOVER: 35 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 had declined to 8 by
8/17/15 (JB) - MORE EVIDENCE OF SUCCESSFUL BREEDING AT ONE OF THREE KNOWN
SITES IN THE REGION.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Seven reports of single birds at sites in Lubbock
(Lubbock) during the period (AH) - A SLOW START ... OR ALL WE'RE GOING TO
GET.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/3/15 (AH), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (JT),
and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 8/23/15 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
RARE TO UNCOMMON MIGRANT.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (JT), 2 at the
Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP), and 5 near Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
8/29/15 (AH) the only reports - VERY LOW.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/17/15 (JB) the only
report - EXTREMELY LOW!
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB), 5 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 8/17/15 (JB), 3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (MD,
JS), 4 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (JT), 10-20 near Tahoka (Lynn)
on 8/23/15 (MDL), 1 at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP), and 2 small
groups over Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/30/15 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
FAIRLY COMMON BUT RARELY DETECTED MIGRANT THROUGH (OR OVER) THE REGION.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/9/15 (JB) the only
report - A TAD LOW.
MARBLED GODWIT: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (JT, photographs) the
only report - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BE
ANNUAL BUT RARE AS A MIGRANT.
STILT SANDPIPER: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB), 22 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 8/9/15 (JB), and 1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH)
the only reports - LOW.
SANDERLING: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB) - RARELY DETECTED IN
THE REGION BUT PROBABLY AN ANNUAL, ALBEIT RARE, MIGRANT.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 350 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB), 275 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/9/15 (JB), 4 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15
(AH), 7 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/17/15 (JB), and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH) - INCREDIBLE NUMBERS BUT POOR SCATTER.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 4 in (Hale) on 8/6/15 (MDL), 5 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on
8/9/15 (JB), 12 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH), 2 at Muleshoe NWR
(Bailey) on 8/17/15 (JB), 3 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH), and 6
at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP) - POOR NUMBERS BUT BETTER
SCATTER AS BEFITS OUR 'WILL SETTLE FOR ANYTHING' PEEP.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 25 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB), 2 at Maxey
Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH),and 5 at Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP)
the only reports - LOW.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 2 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH) the only
report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/15/15 (AH) the only
report - VERY LOW.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 40 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB), 120 in
(Hale) on 8/6/15 (MDL), 300 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/9/15 (JB), 12 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/17/15 (JB), 12 at Muleshoe NWR (Bialey) on
8/20/15 (JT), and 30 at the Aiken Playa (Floyd) on 8/28/15 (NP) - GOOD
NUMBERS AND DECENT SCATTER - ABOUT AVERAGE.
BLACK TERN: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/17/15 (JB) and 2 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (JT) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS AND NO SCATTER.
FORSTER'S TERN: 1 very bedraggled bird at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15
(AH) the only report so far this season - LOW.
INCA DOVE: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 8/21/15 (PKi) the only
report - ONCE COMMON IN CITIES IN THE REGION, THIS SPECIES HAS ALMOST
VANISHED.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: Reported in small numbers throughout the region and
period - NICE TO HAVE THEM BACK AFTER A TWO YEAR NEAR ABSENCE.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH) the first report
of the season - A TAD EARLY.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 immature male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
8/3/15 (AH) the only report - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION;
NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL, IF RARE, MIGRANT.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 adult male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15
(AH) and 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 8/29/15 (NP) the
only reports - A TAD LOW.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 8/7/15 (GJ, PJ), 1
adult female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH), 1 adult male in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 8/11/15 (AH), 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa
(Hale) on 8/29/15 (NP), and 1 immature male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
8/29/15 (AH, JJ, JW) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON FALL MIGRANT.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: 1 adult female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15
(AH) the only report - AVERAGE FOR THIS ANNUAL BUT RARE MIGRANT.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 8/23/15 (AH), 3 at
the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 8/29/15 (NP), 1 below Lake Six
(Lubbock) on 8/30/15 (AH), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/30/15 (AH) - A
TAD LOW.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: Seven reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, MD, AH, JJ, AL, NP, JS, JW) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: Seven reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Lubbock)
during the period (AH, JJ, AL, JW) - A TAD LOW.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, MD, AH, NP, JS) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
DUSKY FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH, AL) - A TAD
EARLY; FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BE AN
ANNUAL, THOUGH RARE, MIGRANT.
GRAY FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH, JJ, AL, JW) -
ABOUT AVERAGE; NUMBERS USUALLY PICK UP IN SEPTEMBER.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD: 1 west of Plains (Yoakum) on 8/5/15 (RC, WE) - FORMERLY
CONSIDERED CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BE AN ANNUAL, IF RARE,
MIGRANT THROUGH THE WESTERN COUNTIES.
BELL'S VIREO: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) through 8/20/15 (JB, MD, JS) -
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW SPREADING NORTH AND WEST AS A
LOW-DENSITY BREEDER.
WARBLING VIREO: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 8/30/15 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS LOW-DENSITY MIGRANT.
TREE SWALLOW: 3 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB) and 1 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 8/17/15 (JB) - LOW; NUMBERS SHOULD PICK UP IN FALL PROPER.
BANK SWALLOW: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB) and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
CAVE SWALLOW: 15 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/2/15 (JB) and 20 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 8/9/15 (JB) - THOUGH THE SPECIES IS WELL ESTABLISHED AS A
BREEDER THROUGH MOST OF THE REGION WE ARE STILL TRACKING SIGHTINGS IN OUR
NORTHWEST COUNTIES.
CAROLINA WREN: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 8/10/15 (KD), 2 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 8/14/15 (KD), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock)
on 8/30/1 (AH) - A GOOD SHOWING FOR ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 8/15/15 (AH), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15
(MD, JS) - VERY LOW; AUGUST IS GENERALLY THIS SPECIES PEAK OF FALL MOVEMENT
THROUGH OUR REGION.
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH,
photographs) - A TAD LATE: GENERALLY PASSES THROUGH THE REGION DURING EARLY
AUGUST.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 8/27/15 (KH) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH) - A TAD EARLY; GENERALLY NOT EXPECTED
UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH), 1 at
Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/17/15 (JB), 1 male at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock)
on 8/23/15 (AH), 1 adult female and 1 adult male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on
8/30/15 (AH) - ALL COULD BE LINGERING BREEDERS OR EARLY MIGRANTS.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
8/29/15 (NP) - EARLY; GENERALLY NOT EXPECTED UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 8/30/15 (AH,
photographs) - EVER SO SLIGHTLY EARLY; GENERALLY NOT EXPECTED UNTIL
SEPTEMBER.
YELLOW WARBLER: Thirteen reports of 1-8 birds in the region (Bailey, Hale,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the second half of the month (MDL, MD, AH, JJ, AL,
JS, JW) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR TIMING AND NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS; NUMBERS GOOD.
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH, JJ, JW,
photographs) - ACCIDENTAL, THE REGION'S 24th RECORD, AND EARLY, THE
REGION'S FIRST AUGUST RECORD!
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER: 1 adult male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH) -
ANOTHER VERY EARLY BIRD; THE REGION'S 2nd AUGUST RECORD.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER: 1 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on
8/29/15 (NP) - ANOTHER EARLY WARBLER; OUR REGION'S 4th AUGUST RECORD.
WILSON'S WARBLER: Seven reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock)
during the last week of the month (AH, JJ, AL, NP, JW) - RIGHT ON TIME AND
IN AVERAGE NUMBERS.
CASSIN'S SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/3/15 (AH) - NOT AN UNUSUAL
SPECIES FOR THE REGION DURING THE MONTH BUT THIS IS AN UNUSUAL LOCATION.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/9/15 (JB), 3 at Muleshoe
NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (MD, JS), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15
(AH), 5 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 8/29/15 (NP), and 7 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH, JJ, AL, JW) the only reports - ON TIME
BUT NUMBERS QUITE LOW.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 4 at the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 8/29/15
(NP) and 26 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH, JJ, AL, JW) - A TAD
EARLY AND SURPRISING IN SUCH NUMBERS RELATIVE TO THE LOW NUMBERS OF
CHIPPING SPARROWS.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH) the first
report of the season - A TAD EARLY; GENERALLY NOT EXPECTED UNTIL WELL INTO
SEPTEMBER.
SUMMER TANAGER: 1 adult male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH) the
only report - A TAD LOW FOR THIS GENERALLY MORE COMMON MIGRANT.
WESTERN TANAGER: 1 adult male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/15/15 (AH), 1 at
the Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 8/29/15 (NP), and 1 adult female
and 3 immature at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH, JJ, JW) - A BIT
BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 adult male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/15 (AH),
2 immature males at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 8/20/15 (MD, JS), 1 at the
Plainview Apartments Playa (Hale) on 8/29/15 (NP), 1 adult female at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH, JJ, JW), and 1 immature male at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH) - MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS
EARLY IN THE SEASON.
LAZULI BUNTING: 1 immature male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/29/15 (AH, JJ,
AL, JW) the only of the season so far - LOW.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 immature male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/3/15 (AH), 1
immature male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/9/145 (AH), 1 immature male at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/15/15 (AH), 1 adult female and 1 immature male at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/22/15 (AH), 2 at the Plainview Apartments Playa
(Hale) on 8/29/15 (NP), and 2 immature males at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
8/29/15 (AH, JJ, JW) - EITHER ABOUT AVERAGE OR PRETTY GOOD, DEPENDING ON
WHETHER SOME OF THE CLAPP PARK BIRDS WERE JUST RECOUNTS OF THE SAME BIRD
FROM ONE WEEK TO THE NEXT.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1 adult female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/15/15
(AH, photographs) - A TAD LOW.
COMMON GRACKLE: 1 in Plains (Yoakum) on 8/5/15 (RC, WE) - WELL WEST OF THE
SPECIES' NORMAL RANGE IN OUR REGION; VERY RARELY ENCOUNTERED IN OUR WESTERN
COUNTIES.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 8/3/15 (AH) and 1 in a
Littlefield yard (Lamb) on 8/4/15 (AR) the only reports - VERY LOW NUMBERS
BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARD AND, SEEMINGLY, AN EARLY PULLOUT.
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, RC=Roger Clark, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken
Dixon, MD=Michael Driebelbis, WE=Wyatt Egelhoff, AH=Anthony Hewetson,
KH=Kelly Himmel, JJ=Jan Jannett, GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, PKe=Peter
Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, AL=Alan Livingston, TM=Tom Miller, NP=Niler
Pyeatt, AR=Anona Roberts, JS=Joanna Sblendorio, JT=Jane Tilman, JW=Janice
Whittington.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
