Lubbock received 3.26 inches of rain during September, well above the
the average September total of 2.57 inches bringing us up to 8.99
inches for the year, still far behind the year-to-date average of
15.60 inches. This pattern did not prevail throughout the region:
heavy rains were patchy and much of the region shows little or no
rebound from the ongoing drought.
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 fashionand
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.
CACKLING GOOSE: 1 was at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on
9/10/18 (JB) and 9/11/18 (DH, KW) and 3 were at Leroy Elmore Park
(Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (LM) and 9/17/18 (JC) - A TAD LOW FOR OUR
SUMMERING POPULATION AND NO EVIDENCE OF MIGRATION AS OF YET.
CANADA GOOSE: Up to 24 were at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock)
from 9/10/18 to 9/11/18 (JB, DH, KW) - LIKELY AN ACCUMULATION OF
SUMMERING BIRDS.
WOOD DUCK: 1 male was at the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa (Crosby) on 9/22/18
(AH) - A TAD EARLY BUT MOST LIKELY AN ARRIVING MIGRANT.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Eighteen reports of 1-10 birds, nine reports of
12-24 birds, seven reports of 26 to 48 birds, and one report of 75
birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during the
period (JB, JC, DH, AH, JJ, GK, PKe, PKi, LM, JM, NP, BSc, BSh DS, KW)
- NOT JUST SUMMERING BIRDS; AN INFLUX OF MIGRANTS SETTLING IN AT NEWLY
AVAILABLE WATERING HOLES.
CINNAMON TEAL: Twelve reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, DH, AH, LM, NP, SR,
BSc, KW) - THOUGH NOT AS PRONOUNCED AS THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL BOUNCE
THIS IS A DEFINITE INCREASE OVER OUR PALTRY SUMMERING NUMBERS.
AMERICAN WIGEON: 3 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 9/3/18 (NP), 3 at
the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa (Crosby) on 9/8/18 (AH), 2-3 at the 103rd x
Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/10/18 (JB, JM), 1 at the 103rd x Chicago
Playa (Lubbock) on 9/12/18 (LM), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/18
(GB), and 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/18 (JC) - RUNNING A LITTLE
EARLY THIS YEAR BUT NUMBERS A TAD LOW.
MEXICAN DUCK: 1 at the O'Donnell Playa (Lynn) on 9/9/18 (JB) - A RARE
BUT REGULAR VISITOR TO THE REGION.
RING-NECKED DUCK: 2 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/24/18
(GK) and 3 at the 98th x Milwaukie Playa (Lubbock) on 9/29/18 (BSc) -
RIGHT ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/3/18 (NP) the only
report - VERY LOW NUMBERS.
INCA DOVE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (LM), up to 6 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) intermittently from 9/16/18 to 9/29/18 (LM), 1
in a Lubbock, 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/19/18 (CR, FR), and 1
in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/20/18 (WW) - STILL HANGING ON.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 2 at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH)
the latest report received - A POOR YEAR, AS DROUGHT YEARS ARE, FOR
THE SPECIES IN THE REGION.
COMMON POORWILL: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
9/16/18 (DH) and 1 along Los Lingos Creek (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) the
only reports - A TAD LOW.
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW: 1 south of Lorenzo (Crosby) on 9/9/18 (ML) - A
VERY RARE OR UNDER-REPORTED SUMMER RESIDENT IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES.
CHIMNEY SWIFT: 250 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (JB) and 200 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/15/18 (LM) - WHILE THE SPECIES IS NOT
NOTEWORTHY IN SEPTEMBER THESE NUMBERS MOST CERTAINLY ARE!
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: Forty-six reports of 1-5 birds in the
region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (JB, JC, DH, AH, KH,
PKe, LM, BSc, BSh) with no slackening in numbers even at the end of
the period - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER POSSIBLY DUE TO MORE
CONCENTRATION AT LOCAL FEEDERS.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 adult female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock)
on 9/1/18 (AH), 1 adult female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from
9/4/18-9/8/18 (KD), 3 south of Lorenzo (Crosby) on 9/8/18 and 9/9/18
(ML), 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 9/8/18 (PKe), 1 immature
male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (AH), 2 in a Lubbock yard
(Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (LM), 4 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/10/18 (JB), 1
immature female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 9/10/18 to 9/12/18
(AH), 1 immature male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/10/18 (AH), a
different immature male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/13/18 (AH),
an immature male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/19/18 (AH), and 1 in
a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/29/18 (LM) - A REMARKABLY STRONG
MOVEMENT FOR THIS FAR WEST.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 south of Lorenzo (Crosby) on 9/8/18 and
9/9/18 (ML) and 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (LM) - LOW
NUMBERS; GENERALLY MUCH STRONGER THAN THIS DURING FALL.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: Ten reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Lubbock)
during the period (JB, JC, AH, LM, BSc) - LOW NUMBERS; GENERALLY A
STRONG FALL MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION.
VIRGINIA RAIL: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/18 (JC) the only report - LOW.
SORA: Eight reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Floyd, Lubbock) during
the period (DH, AH, LM, BSc, BSh) - ABOUT AVERAGE IN TERMS OF NUMBERS
BUT POOR SCATTER.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: Twenty-one reports of 1-10 birds and four reports
of 11-23 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn)
during the period (JB, JC, DH, AH, JJ, PKe, LM, JM, NP, BSc, BSh, DS,
JT, KW) - NUMBERS A TAD LOW WITH VERY SPOTTY DISTRIBUTION.
AMERICAN AVOCET: Nine reports of 1-8 birds, three reports of 12-21
birds, and one report of 32 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale,
Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (JB, DH, AH, JJ, GK, LM, JM, NP, KW)
- LOW NUMBERS AND VERY PATCHY DISTRIBUTION.
MARBLED GODWIT: 1 was seen over Lubbock (Lubbock) on 9/10/18 (AH) and
1 was seen at the CR 3332 x CR Y Playa (Lynn) on 9/19/18 9MDL) -
FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BE ANNUAL
ALBEIT RARE.
UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/3/18 (NP) and 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/16/18 (DH) the only reports - VERY LOW;
SEPTEMBER IS USUALLY ONE OF OUR PEAK MONTHS.
RED KNOT: 1 first fall bird was discovered at the 103rd x Chicago
Playa (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (JM) and was subsequently observed at the
site through 9/13/18 (JB, JC, DH, DHa, AH, JJ, GK, PKe, PKi, CR, FR,
BSc, DS, KW, photographs galore) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION AND THE
BIRD OF THE MONTH; THE SIXTH RECORD FOR THE REGION!
STILT SANDPIPER: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 9/3/18 (NP), 40 at
the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa (Crosby) on 9/8/18 (AH), 12 at the O'Donnell
Playa (Lynn) on 9/9/18 (JB), and 8 at the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa
(Crosby) on 9/22/18 (AH) - VERY LOW NUMBERS AND VERY LOW NUMBER OF
SIGHTINGS.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 3 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/1/18
(BSc), 2 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/3/18 (NP), and 2 at the 103rd x
Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/3/18 (BSc) - EXTREMELY LOW NUMBERS.
LEAST SANDPIPER: Four reports of 2-7 birds and one report of 30 birds
in the region (Crosby, Garza, Hale, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period
(JB, AH, NP, JT) - ALMOST UNBELIEVABLY LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND
NUMBERS.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa (Crosby) on 9/8/18
(AH), 1 at the O'Donnell Playa (Lynn) on 9/9/18 (JB), 1-3 at the 103rd
x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) from 9/10/18 to 9/12/18 (AH, JJ, JM), 13
near Buenos (Garza) on 9/11/18 (JB), 2 at the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa
(Crosby) on 9/22/18 (AH), and 5 south of Floydada (Floyd) on 9/22/18
(AH) - UNUSUALLY GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING THE POOR OVERALL SHOWING FROM SHOREBIRDS.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 9 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/1/18
(BSc), 3 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/3/18 (BSc), and
11 at the O'Donnell Playa (Lynn) on 9/9/18 (JB) - VERY LOW NUMBER OF
SIGHTINGS AND INCREDIBLY LOW NUMBERS.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 12 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/3/18 (NP), 6 at
the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa (Crosby) on 9/8/18 (AH), 7 at the O'Donnell
Playa (Lynn) on 9/9/18 (JB), 15 at the CR 116 x FM 378 Playa (Crosby)
on 9/22/18 (AH), and 6 east of South Plains (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) -
EXTREMELY LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND NUMBERS.
WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/3/18 (BSh), 3 near
Buenos (Garza) on 9/11/18 (JB), 1 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa
(Lubbock) on 9/12/18 (LM), and 2 at the South Plains Wetlands (Floyd)
on 9/22/18 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Eighteen reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Hale,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, DH, AH, JJ, GK, PKe, PKi, LM, JM, NP,
BSc, BSh, DS) - GOOD NUMBERS; TYPICAL FOR THIS STEEP-SLOPE/ROCKY
DEBRIS LOVING SPECIED DURING DROUGHT YEARS.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on
9/11/18 (DH, LM, KW) the only report - VERY LOW NUMBERS.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: Eleven reports of 1-8 birds and three reports of
12-14 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn) during the
period (JB, DH, AH, LM, JM, BSc, JT, KW) - SOMEWHAT LOW.
WILLET: 1 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) from 9/1/18 to 9/3/18
(BSc), 2 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 9/1/18 (Sc), and 1 at
McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 9/3/18 (JT) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL
TO THE REGION ; NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL ALBEIT RARE MIGRANT.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: Twenty-three reports of 1-8 birds in the region
(Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, JJ, GK,
PKe, PKi, LM, JM, NP, BSc, BSh, DS) - AVERAGE NUMBER OF SIGHTING BUT
NUMBERS A TAD LOW.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 21 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/3/18 (NP), 5 at the
O'Donnell Playa (Lynn) on 9/9/18 (JB), and 1 at the South Plains
Wetlands (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) - EXTREMELY LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS
AND NUMBERS.
BLACK TERN: 2 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (LM)
the only report - LOW.
COMMON TERN: 1 first fall bird located at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock)
on 9/13/18 (JM) and was observed at the site through 9/17/18 (JC, DH,
AH, JJ, GK, PKe, AL, LMBSc, BSh, DS, SS) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW OBSERVED ON A REGULAR ENOUGH BASIS TO BE
UPGRADED TO CASUAL.
NEOTROPIC CORMANT:1-5 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) almost daily
throughout the period (JC, DH, AH, JJ, JM) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO
THE REGION; NOW BECOMING A REGULAR BREEDER IN THE REGION.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: up to 36 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock)
throughout the period (JC, DH, AH, JJ, PKe, LM, JM, BSc, BSh, DS, SS),
10 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 9/3/18 (NP), 1-2 at the 103rd x
Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/10/18 and 9/11/18 (JM, DS), and 8 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/18 (BSc) - HIGH NUMBERS FOR THE REGION
AND MOSTLY CONTINUING SUMMER BIRDS!
GREAT EGRET: Fifteen reports of 1-7 birds and one report of 17 birds
at favored wetlands in Lubbock (Lubbock) during the period (JC, DH,
AH, JJ, LM, JM, NP, BSc) - GOOD NUMBERS AT THE VERY FEW FAVORABLE
SITES LEFT IN THE REGION.
SNOWY EGRET: Thirty-two reports of 1-7 birds, two reports of 16 birds,
and one report of 27 birds at favored wetlands in Lubbock (Lubbock)
during the period (GB, JB, JC, DH, AH, JJ, GK, LM, JM, BSc, BSh, DS,
SS, KW) - GOOD NUMBERS AT THE VERY FEW FAVORABLE SITES LEFT IN THE
REGION.
CATTLE EGRET: 5-56 near Lockney (Floyd) throughout the period (AH), up
to 160 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (DH, AH,
JJ, LM, JM, BSc), 14 near Aiken (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), and 18 near
Lone Star (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH)- GOOD NUMBERS AT THE VERY FEW
FAVORABLE SITES LEFT IN THE REGION.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 2 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock)
on 9/1/18 and 9/3/18 (BSc), 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/4/18 to
9/20/18 (JB, DH, LM, JM, BSh), and 1 at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa
(Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH) - POOR NUMBERS AT THE FEW REMAINING SITES IN
THE REGION.
WHITE-FACED IBIS: 41 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/3/18 NP), 2 at the CR
121 x FM 37 PLaya (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), 2 in Lockney (Floyd) on
9/8/18 (AH), 3 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 9/13/18 (JJ, JM), and
6 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (DH) the only reports -
VERY LOW NUMBERS.
OSPREY: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 9/8/18 (AH) the only report -
ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 1 near Lockney (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH) the only
report - ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS THUS FAR.
COOPER'S HAWK: Six reports of single birds in the region (Lubbock)
during the period (JB, JD, DH, JM, BSh) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/16/18 (DH) the only
report - LOW.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1 adult in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/7/18
(AH), 1 adult at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), and 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/9/18 to 9/23/18 (JB, DH, LM, BSc, BSh),
and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/18 (JC) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/9/18 (KW) - BY
CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS A VERY EARLY REPORT FOR THE REGION.
MERLIN: 1 at FM 193 x FM 378 (Crosby) on 9/22/18 (AH) and 1 over a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/28/18 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS EARLY
IN THE SEASON.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at the TTU Campus (Lubbock) on 9/5/18 (LM), 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (JB), 1 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa
(Lubbock) on 9/10/18 (JB), 1 at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on
9/11/18 (AH), 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (AH), and 1
near Plainview (Hale) on 9/19/18 (AK) - GOOD NUMBER AND VERY GOOD
SCATTER FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
PRAIRIE FALCON: 1 at the Allmon Church Playa (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH)
and 1 at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/12/18 (AH) the only
reports - A TAD LOW.
BUDGERIGAR: 1 visited feeders at a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 9/1/18
to 9/12/18 (AH) - A NIFTY, HOWEVER 'UNCOUNTABLE', CRITTER FOR A
CENTRAL LUBBOCK YARD.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: Sixteen reports of 1-2 birds in the region
(Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (JB, JC, DH, AH, PKe, LM, JM, BSc)
- AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS BUT A TAD LOW IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.
WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: Twelve reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (JC, AH, PKe, ML, JM, BSc, BSh) -
REASONABLE NUMBERS BUT LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Allmon Church Playa (Floyd) on 9/8/18
(AH), 1 at the Allmon Woodlot (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/8/18 (LM), and 3 at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) on
9/22/18 (AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
LEAST FLYCATCHER: Eight reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby,
Floyd, Lubbock) during the period JB, AH, ML, JM, BSh) the only
reports - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
HAMMOND'S, GRAY, DUSKY, AND CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS: no reports at all
- A VERY POOR SEASON FOR WESTERN EMPIDS IN THE REGION.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/10/18 (DH), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 9/16/18 (DH), 2 along Los Lingos Creek (Floyd) on
89/22/18 (AH), and 2 near Fairmont (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) - A TAD
LOW.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 3 at the White River x FM 37 crossing (Floyd) on 9/22/18
(AH), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/22/18 (LM),
and 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 9/25/18 (JC) - ABOUT
AVERAGE FOR THIS SPARSE TO UNCOMMON MIGRANT.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER: 1 at the White River x FM 37 crossing (Floyd)
on 9/22/18 (AH, photographs) - FORMERLY IN THE REGION THROUGHOUT
SEPTEMBER; THIS NOW REPRESENTS A RATHER LATE SIGHTING.
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/4/18 (JM) and
1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (GB) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS
RARE FALL WANDERER TO POINTS ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
BELL'S VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/4/18 to 9/10/18 (JC,
JB) and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/8/18 (WW) - FORMERLY
ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW A LOCAL BREEDER; STILL TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT TIMING OF MIGRATION.
CASSIN'S VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/16/18 (DH) the only
report - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL; NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL THOUGH VERY RARE
MIGRANT.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/4/18 (JM) the only
report so far this fall - A TAD LOW BUT NUMBERS MAY PICK UP IN
OCTOBER.
WARBLING VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/3/18 (BSh) and 1 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/22/18 (LM) the only reports
- A TAD LOW.
TREE SWALLOW: 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (AH) the
only report - VERY LOW.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: Nine reports of 1-8 birds in the region
(Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (DH, AH) the only reports -
LOW.
BANK SWALLOW: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (DH) and 3
at the CR 121 x FM 37 Playa (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) the only reports -
LOW.
CAVE SWALLOW: 8 south of Lorenzo (Crosby) on 9/8/18 (ML), 2 near
Lockney (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), 12 at the White River by FM 378
crossign (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), 8 south of Lorenzo (Crosby) on 9/9/18
(ML), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/18 (JC) the only reports -
A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
VERDIN: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/16/18 (DH)
the only report - FORMERLY MORE COMMON IN THE REGION; NOW VERY RARE
ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT.
CANYON WREN: 2 at the White River x FM 207 crossing (Floyd) on 9/8/18
(AH) and 2 in the Gray Mule area (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) the only
reports - LOW BUT LITTLE EFFORT REPORTED FROM THE CANYONLANDS OF THE
REGION.
HOUSE WREN: Eight reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Floyd, Lubbock)
during the period (DH, AH, LM) - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW
NUMBERS; SEPTEMBER IS USUALLY A PEAK MONTH FOR THIS SPECIES.
MARSH WREN: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/21/18 (DH) and 9/23/18
(BSc) - RIGHT ON TIME; NUMBERS A BIT LOW AS OF YET.
CACTUS WREN: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/16/18
(DH) - CURRENTLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; A
GREAT SIGHTING.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: Nine reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Floyd,
Lubbock) during the period (DH, AH, RL, LM) - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS
AND NUMBERS - SEPTEMBER IS USUALLY A PEAK MONTH FOR THIS SPECIES.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (JB) and 1
near Buenos (Garza) on 9/11/18 (JB) the only reports from the first
half of the month - RUNNING A LITTLE LATE AND, EVEN AT THE END OF THE
PERIOD, A LITTLE LOW.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 2 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH)
and 5 in the Gray Mule area (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) - A BIT EARLY FOR
MIGRANTS; BOTH SITES FAVORABLE FOR BREEDING.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH: Four reports of single birds in the region (Floyd,
Lubbock) during the period (DH, AH) - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW
NUMBERS.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1 at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) the only
report - ON TIME BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS THUS FAR.
GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (LM), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)
on 9/10/18 (DH) - AGAIN, RIGHT ON TIME BUT A TAD LOW IN TERMS OF
NUMBERS.
BROWN THRASHER: 2 at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) throughout the period
(AH) and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/19/18 (JC) - THE ONLY
REPORTS FROM ATOP THE ESCARPMENT.
CEDAR WAXWING: 1 at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), 7 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (JB), 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
9/10/18 (DH), and 11 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 9/23/18 (LM) - THESE
REPORTS ARE A BIT EARLY; ONE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT A GOOD WAXWING YEAR IS
IN THE OFFING.
LESSER GOLDFINCH: Eight reports of 1-5 birds in the region (Floyd,
Lubbock) during the period (JC, DH, AH, PKe, LM, BSc) - GOOD NUMBERS
FOR LATE IN THE SEASON ESPECIALLY AS SUMMER WAS RATHER POOR FOR THE
SPECIES.
AMERICAN PIPIT: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/25/18 (KH) - A BIT
EARLY BUT A GREAT SITE FOR THE SPECIES.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 9/25/18 (KH) -
LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 2 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/3/18 (NP) and 19 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/22/18 (LM) the only reports
- ASTONISHINGLY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND OF NUMBERS.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/2/18 (BSc), 3 at
the White River x FM 37 crossing (Floyd)on 9/22/18 (AH), 23 at the
Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/22/18 (LM), 1 at the Himmel
Farm (Crosby) on 9/25/18 (KH), 2 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on
9/25/18 (BSh), and 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/26/18 (JC) the only
reports - ASTONISHINGLY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND OF NUMBERS.
BREWER'S SPARROW: 2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
9/22/18 (LM) the only report - IN THE OLD DAYS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN
GREAT; BY CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW
NUMBERS.
FIELD SPARROW: 1 near Fairmont (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) the only report
- RIGHT ON TIME FOR AN ARRIVING WINTER BIRD - VERY LOW NUMBERS.
VESPER SPARROW: 4 in Allmon (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH) and 1 at Plains
Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH) the only reports so far - ON
TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS THUS FAR.
SAVANNAH SPARROW: 5 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 9/25/18 (JC)
the only report - ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS THUS FAR.
LINCOLN'S SPARROW: 1 at the South Plains Wetlands (Floyd) on 9/22/18
(AH) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/18 (LM, BSc) the only
reports - LATE AND LOW.
SONG SPARROW: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 9/28/18 (SR) - A FAIRLY
EARLY REPORT SUPPORTED BY A SOLID DESCRIPTION.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (AH) -
WAS A TAD EARLY. 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 9/25/18
(BSh) the only other report - RUNNING ON TIME BUT SURPRISINGLY LOW
NUMBERS AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/10/18 (BSh), 1 at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/15/18 (LM), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on
9/23/18 (BSc) - COULD ALL BE THE SAME BIRD; GIVEN THE GAPS COULD HAVE
BEEN DIFFERENT BIRDS; CONSEQUENTLY AN AVERAGE SEPTEMBER FOR THE
SPECIES OR A GOOD ONE.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: Four reports of 1-5 birds and one report of
28 birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn) during the
period (JB, MDL, AH, JM) - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS FOR
WHAT IS USUALLY A GOOD MONTH.
BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 9/18/18 (JC)
- FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS A LOW
DENSITY FALL WANDERER.
BALTIMORE x BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: 1 male south of Lorenzo (Crosby) on
9/8/18 (ML) - THIS IS PROBABLY A FAIRLY REGULAR OCCURRENCE IN THE
REGION BUT IS RARELY DOCUMENTED.
OVENBIRD: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/9/18 (LM) and on 9/10/18 (DH)
- FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS AN ALMOST
ANNUAL VISITOR.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: Six reports of single birds in the region
(Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (AH, JM) - ABOUT AVERAGE.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 south of Lorenzo (Crosby) on 9/9/18 and
9/10/18 (ML) and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/29/18 and 9/30/18
(LM) the only reports - LOW.
TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/9/18 to 9/10/18
(JB, DH, LM, BS), 1 at the TTU HSC Campus (Lubbock) on 9/11/18 (AH), 1
at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/15/18 to 9/17/18 (JCo, DH, PKe, LM),
and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 9/27/18 (JCl) - ASSUMING THAT
THESE WERE ALL DIFFERENT BIRDS A PRETTY GOOD SEASON FOR THE SPECIES.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Fifteen reports of 1-9 birds and one report of
13 birds in the region (Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (JC, DH, AH,
LM, BSc, BSh) - GIVEN THE RELATIVE SCARCITY OF OTHER MIGRANT WARBLERS,
GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND NUMBERS.
NASHVILLE WARBLER: Seven reports of 1-4 birds in the region (Floyd,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, JC, AH, LM, BSc) - A TAD LOW.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: Twelve reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Floyd,
Lubbock) during the period (JB, JC, DH, AH, LM, BSc) - GOOD NUMBERS;
MOST LIKELY DUE TO HEAVY COVERAGE OF TWO FAVORED SITES.
AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/4/18 (JM, BSh), 1 at
the Allmon Woodlot (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/23/18 (LM) the only reports - A TAD LOW.
YELLOW WARBLER: Nineteen reports of 1-9 birds and one report of 16
birds in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Lubbock) during the period (JB,
JC, DH, AH, PKe, ML, LM, JM, NP, BSc, BSh) - FAIRLY CLOSE TO AVERAGE
NUMBER OF REPORTS; NUMBERS A BIT LOW.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/4/18 (JM) and 1
at the 103rd x Chicago Playa (Lubbock) on 9/14/18 (LM0 the only
reports from the first half of the month - A BIT LOW; RAMPED UP VERY
SLOWLY THROUGH REMAINDER OF THE MONTH.
PALM WARBLER: 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 9/25/18 (BSh,
JC) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED CASUAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL
ALBEIT RARE MIGRANT.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 9/3/18 (BSh) to
9/4/18 (JC, JM, BSh) and 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on
9/25/18 (BSh) the only reports - LOW.
WILSON'S WARBLER: Thirty reports of 1-10 birds, one report of 11
birds, and one report of 12 birds in the region (Floyd, Lubbock)
during the period (JB, JCl, JCo, JC, KD, DH, AH, PKe, LM, JM, BSc) - A
GOODLY NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT NOT PARTICULARLY STUNNING NUMBERS.
WESTERN TANAGER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock)on 9/14/18 (GB) and 1 female
at the South Plains Wetlands (Floyd) on 9/22/18 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS RARE MIGRANT.
PYRRHULOXIA: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 9/16/18
(DH) - THE FIRST ATOP THE CAPROCK REPORT OF THE SEASON.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 9/8/18
(PKe) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/23/18 (BSh) - ABOUT AVERAGE
FOR THIS RARE SEPTEMBER MIGRANT.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 at Lubbock Lake Landmark (Lubbock) on 9/25/18
(JC) - LOW; GENERALLY A WEE BIT MORE COMMON DURING FALL MIGRATION.
LAZULI BUNTING: 1 female at the Allmon Woodlot (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH)
and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 9/17/18 (DH) the only reports - A BIT
LOW.
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 near Abernathy (Hale) on 9/3/18 (NP), 1 immature
male at Eagle's Hall Park (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), 1 immature male at
Plains Baptist Assembly (Floyd) on 9/8/18 (AH), and 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 9/10/18 (JB) the only reports - SOMEWHAT LOW BUT LITTLE
TIME WAS SPENT AT FAVORABLE SITES IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES.
OBSERVERS: GB=Grant Beauprez, JB=Justin Bosler, JCl=Jermey Clark,
JC=Jim Crites, JCo=Joradan Cochran, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon,
DHa=Danny Hancock, DH=Drew Harvey, AH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly
Himmel, JJ=Jan Jannett, AK=Andrew Kasner, GK=Glenda Kelly, PKe=Peter
Keyel, PKi=Phillip Kite, RL=Rob Lee, AL=Alan Livingston, ML=Mark
Lockwood, LM=Liam McGuire, JM=Jennifer Miller, NP=Niler Pyeatt,
SR=Sharon Richardson, CR=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson,
BSc=Bobby Scaht, BSh=Brad Shine, DS=Dough Smith, SS=Sue Smith, JT=Jane
Tillma, KW-Katheryn Watson, WW=William Wenthe.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock
