County Listing Guide to Lubbock County - Revision history

Dell.Little at 22:34, 8 March 2019

2019-03-08T22:34:10Z

Dell.Little at 20:51, 27 February 2019

2019-02-27T20:51:51Z

Dell.Little at 20:51, 27 February 2019

2019-02-27T20:51:41Z

Dell.Little at 20:45, 27 February 2019

2019-02-27T20:45:39Z

Dell.Little at 22:58, 26 February 2019

2019-02-26T22:58:42Z

Dell.Little: /* Selected Locations */

2019-02-26T20:32:04Z

‎Selected Locations

Dell.Little: /* MCALISTER PARK */

2019-02-26T20:30:47Z

‎MCALISTER PARK

Dell.Little: /* MEMPHIS AVE PLAYAS */

2019-02-26T20:30:34Z

‎MEMPHIS AVE PLAYAS

Dell.Little: /* QUAKER AVE PLAYAS */

2019-02-26T20:30:15Z

‎QUAKER AVE PLAYAS

Dell.Little: /* Selected Locations */

2019-02-26T20:29:46Z

‎Selected Locations

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:34, 8 March 2019
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	This is the best site in the county for longspurs. Chestnut-collared, McCown’s and Lapland Longspurs are all possible, and Horned Larks are plentiful, so take care in ID. Take Hwy 62 east to FM400 and turn north. Turn east on CR5300 and travel to CR3600. Typically longspurs are found across the road from the pond, or south of CR5300 west of CR3600. If they are west of CR3600, a scope will help. When the playa is unfrozen and wet, it may hold the usual dabblers. Raptors, including Prairie Falcon, may be also readily observable on the various poles, and geese traveling north/south may be readily observed flying overhead.		This is the best site in the county for longspurs. Chestnut-collared, McCown’s and Lapland Longspurs are all possible, and Horned Larks are plentiful, so take care in ID. Take Hwy 62 east to FM400 and turn north. Turn east on CR5300 and travel to CR3600. Typically longspurs are found across the road from the pond, or south of CR5300 west of CR3600. If they are west of CR3600, a scope will help. When the playa is unfrozen and wet, it may hold the usual dabblers. Raptors, including Prairie Falcon, may be also readily observable on the various poles, and geese traveling north/south may be readily observed flying overhead.
	<br/>''Access: Road only'' <br/>''Cost: free'' <br/>''Parking: Roadside''		<br/>''Access: Road only'' <br/>''Cost: free'' <br/>''Parking: Roadside''
		+	[[Category:County Listing Guide]]

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 <br/>Return to '''[[County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains]]'''
 <br/>Dell's '''[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Pq_SkiYFaxwVcDgMJr-XicF3VzyY4dyX&usp=sharing| map of Lubbock County]''' including eBird Hotspots, and routes from Peter Keyel's '''[[County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains| County Listing Guide to the Southern High Plains]].'''
-<br/>TCC's [[Lubbock County]]
+<br/>TCC's '''[[Lubbock County]]'''
 == Overview ==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 <br/>Return to '''[[County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains]]'''
 <br/>Dell's '''[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Pq_SkiYFaxwVcDgMJr-XicF3VzyY4dyX&usp=sharing| map of Lubbock County]''' including eBird Hotspots, and routes from Peter Keyel's '''[[County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains| County Listing Guide to the Southern High Plains]].'''
+<br/>TCC's [[Lubbock County]]
 == Overview ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Published with permission from Peter Keyel, revised 01/26/19
 <br/>Return to '''[[County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains]]'''
 == Overview ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:58, 26 February 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Published with permission from Peter Keyel, revised 01/26/19		Published with permission from Peter Keyel, revised 01/26/19
		+	<br/>Return to '''[[County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains]]'''

	== Overview ==		== Overview ==

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 ==== TECH TERRACE ====
 Tech Terrace refers to the neighborhood of Lubbock just south of Texas Tech University. It is an older neighborhood, which means the trees are far more mature than many other places in Lubbock. The trick to birding the neighborhood is to walk the alleyways because it is easier to see the trees. Generally, the alleys run East-West, and the alleys between Gary/Elgin and 21st and 23rd St are the most fruitful. In general, look for warblers and other migrant/irruptive passerines here. Inca Doves are also possible, though they get harder to find every year. If Tech Terrace Park has flooded, you might pick up a few birds you wouldn’t otherwise, but in general the park isn’t worthwhile.
-''Access: alleys and sidewalks. Generally, the alleys run East-West, and the alleys between Gary/Elgin and 21st and 23rd St are the most fruitful.''
+<br/>''Access: alleys and sidewalks. Generally, the alleys run East-West, and the alleys between Gary/Elgin and 21st and 23rd St are the most fruitful.''
 <br/>''Cost: free''
 <br/>''Parking: Roadside	''
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 ==== CLAPP PARK ====
 Clapp Park vies with Canyon Lake 6 as the best spot in town. Its main claim to fame is a Gyrfalcon that hung out one winter. In the winter, the junipers may attract Townsend’s Solitaire and Evening Grosbeak, while the playa will hold ducks and geese. During migration, this is one of the best places to bird for warblers and other migrants. In moderate water, mudflats open up, attracting shorebirds. There are fields that will bring in sparrows, Bronzed Cowbirds and other icterids. If you are just checking the junipers for winter finches, park on 40th Ave next to the junipers and look. Otherwise, park in the Lubbock Garden & Arts Parking lot off 44th Ave/Ave X. Bird the Arboretum area first. The patches of shrubs tend to hold a lot of migrants, and the flowers will attract hummingbirds. Bird east/northeast until you exit the Arboretum area. Check the wooded area right near the dike for birds, then proceed along the dike. Northern Waterthrush is regularly seen during migration along the dike. This will also give you views of all 3 parts of the playa. Look for herons and egrets, including Yellow-Crowned Night-heron. Once you cross the dike, you can check the fields to the east, looking through all the Great-tailed Grackles for Bronzed Cowbirds in summer. Check unmowed areas for sparrows. Loop back around and bird the junipers/conifers. During migration, warblers may move between this area and the dike. Bird the dike again and then loop south. Bird the area between Safety Town and the playa, and follow the playa until you are due south of the playa (by the water outlet, which usually has herons and/or Belted Kingfisher). Proceed SW into a denser group of trees and shrubs. This location is called “Shrubhenge”, and may hold empids and warblers the rest of the park isn’t holding. Finish by returning north to the Arboretum.
-''Access: This small park can be freely walked.''
+<br/>''Access: This small park can be freely walked.''
 <br/>''Cost: free''
 <br/>''Parking: Parking lot for the Garden and Arts Center is accessible from 44th St off University. There’s also parking off 46th St near the Safety City and at the Hodges Community Center on 40th St.''
@@ Line 123: / Line 123: @@
 These two county roads run through a massive prairie dog town and scrubby grassland habitat. Drive them from 50th St up to either 34th or 19th and then return via the other road. In the winter, look for prairie dog specialists like Ferruginous Hawk, plus other raptors like Golden Eagle and all 4 regularly occurring falcons. This site is often a good place to look for longspurs. It will often hold pipits, Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows as well as lots of meadowlarks. In the summer, look for Burrowing Owls, Blue Grosbeak, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Western Kingbird and other grassland birds in the weedy margins along the road.
-''Access: Road only'' <br/>''Cost: free'' <br/>''Parking: Roadside	''
+<br/>''Access: Road only'' <br/>''Cost: free'' <br/>''Parking: Roadside	''
 ==== BUFFALO SPRINGS LAKE ====
 Although this site has an entrance fee, this is one of the best birding spots in Lubbock county. It is located just off the Caprock, which enhances the species density, has a variety of habitats and contains a large amount of water. After paying the entrance fee, continue along High Meadow road. Grassland birds (meadowlarks, sparrows, Blue Grosbeak) are possible along this stretch prior to descending into the canyon, and Northern Bobwhite may come to feeders at the houses on the north side of the road. Follow the road as it curves down and becomes Indian Trail until you reach the dam. Pull off to the right and scope the lake. Look for diving ducks, grebes, herons and gulls. Continue along Comanche Dr until you reach the top of the incline. On your left is a small parking lot and a “Llano Estacado Audubon Trail”. Park here and follow the trail back down into the canyon. Check for Rock Wren and thrashers as you descend the canyon. Once down, bird the trees for passerines. Cross the paved emergency route and continue to the bottom of the dam spillway. Dabbling ducks may be present, along with Belted Kingfisher. Cross the wooden bridge and follow the trail into the woods. The marshy area in the middle is good for Sora and Virginia Rail. The wood margin to the north may hold Painted Buntings and other margin birds. The woods proper will potentially hold migrant passerines, including orioles, flycatchers and warblers. This is also one of the better accessible spots in the county to find Black-crested Titmouse and Carolina Wren. Once you finish birding the wooded area return to your vehicle and get back on Comanche Drive. Bird Comanche Drive all around the remainder of the lake. Where it merges with Apache Ln, there is a small parking lot down by the water. This can hold Spotted Sandpiper and other shorebirds when mudflats are present, and give you another view of the lake. Continuing west on Comanche will bring you to the campground. The tall trees may hold woodpeckers. The water here is shallow and tends to hold dabbling ducks, including Cinnamon Teal. The reeds may have Yellow- headed Blackbirds mixed in with the Red-winged Blackbirds. Loop around the lake and pick up any urban birds you may still need for the checklist. Listen/look for Inca Doves. The marina may hold gulls. You can either cross the lake on the dam and then retrace your route to exit, or exit via a left on Pony Express Lane.
+<br/>''Access: Enter via High Meadow Rd after the pay station. The Llano Estacado Audubon Trail and camping area can be freely walked. Roads and sidewalks for most of the rest.''
 ''Access: Enter via High Meadow Rd after the pay station. The Llano Estacado Audubon Trail and camping area can be freely walked. Roads and sidewalks for most of the rest.''
 <br/>''Cost: $6/person/day''
 <br/>''Parking: Roadside. There are small parking lots for the dam, the “Llano Estacado Audubon Trail”, at Comanche Dr and Apache Ln, and camping area''
 ==== RANSOM CANYON ====
 Ransom Canyon is one of the top birding locations in Lubbock. Although it is free to enter, it is completely private. Birding is from the road, with the exception of the chapel gardens, which permit visitors. From Lubbock, take 50th/FM3523 out to Ransom Rd. Turn south and continue up to the canyon. The top rim of the canyon can be birded for urban birds if desired. To reach the chapel, continue on Ransom Rd down into the canyon and make an immediate hard left near the bottom onto Brookhollow Rd. Continue until you reach the chapel. Park at the chapel and bird the gardens and continue on the bird trail behind the chapel. When you return to your car, instead of entering your car, walk down the street until you can cross to the other side of the culvert. Bird back up the other side to your car. This region will be the best part of the canyon for migrants, and often holds Golden-fronted Woodpeckers (and occasional Red-bellied Woodpeckers), warblers, vireos, juncos, Brown Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, towhees among others. The reeds may hold sparrows and Marsh Wren. There is a Canyon Wren that lives near the chapel; this is the most reliable spot to find Canyon Wren in the county. When you are done birding the chapel area, continue down to E Brookhollow to Lakeshore Drive. Follow Lakeshore Drive around the lake. When you make the turn onto Foothill Drive, the house immediately in front of you often has feeders out, which may attract finches and doves. After turning onto Foothill Dr, make another right turn onto Lakeshore Drive. When crossing the spillway at the southern part of the lake, do NOT stop on the spillway. The lake can be observed from many vantage points along the road. It typically holds deeper water birds than other parts of the county, including Common Merganser, other diving ducks and Eared Grebe. In the early morning/late evening in winter, thousands of geese may be present. At other times of day, they may be seen in the fields west of the lake from S Lakeshore Dr. Herons, cormorants and gulls may roost on the island in the middle of the lake. W Lakeshore Dr and the roads nearby can hold some interesting birds if you have the time. Exit from Ransom Canyon either via Ransom Rd (to return to Lubbock) or Hillside Dr to Johnston Rd (to head to YELLOW HOUSE CANYON).
+<br/>''Access: Birding is from the road, with the exception of the chapel gardens, which permit visitors.''<br/> ''Cost: free''
 ''Access: Birding is from the road, with the exception of the chapel gardens, which permit visitors.''<br/> ''Cost: free''
 <br/>''Parking: The chapel has a small parking lot. The rest is roadside parking.''
 ==== CR7300/YELLOW HOUSE CANYON ====
 This is the best location in the county for Scaled Quail, Greater Roadrunner and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. From Lubbock take 50th/FM3523 out to FM400. Travel south on FM400 down into the canyon. At the top of the canyon, turn left onto CR7300. Prior to descending into the canyon on CR7300, check the ranch with cows on your right for Scaled Quail feeding with the blackbirds and doves. As you travel down into the canyon, check the scrubby brush for roadrunners, sparrows, thrashers, bluebirds and other passerines. The intersection of CR3700/CR3600 may hold Golden- fronted Woodpeckers, Eastern Screech-Owl and nesting Common Poorwill. Note that at flood stage, the creek overflows and the road is impassible here. Turn north on CR3600 and travel up to the trees covering the road. Look for White-breasted Nuthatch, Wild Turkey, bluebirds, blackbirds, Black-crested Titmouse, flycatchers and other passerines around here. Although it is helpful to walk, rather than drive, this part, please stay on the roadway and do not trespass. When you come out of the canyon on CR3600, stop along the drop-off and look for Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Rock wren is also possible in this habitat. Exit either by continuing on CR3600 or returning to FM400.
+<br/>''Access: Road only'' <br/>''Cost: free'' <br/>''Parking: Roadside''
 ''Access: Road only'' <br/>''Cost: free'' <br/>''Parking: Roadside''
 ==== BECTON PLAYA ====
 This is the best site in the county for longspurs. Chestnut-collared, McCown’s and Lapland Longspurs are all possible, and Horned Larks are plentiful, so take care in ID. Take Hwy 62 east to FM400 and turn north. Turn east on CR5300 and travel to CR3600. Typically longspurs are found across the road from the pond, or south of CR5300 west of CR3600. If they are west of CR3600, a scope will help. When the playa is unfrozen and wet, it may hold the usual dabblers. Raptors, including Prairie Falcon, may be also readily observable on the various poles, and geese traveling north/south may be readily observed flying overhead.
+<br/>''Access: Road only'' <br/>''Cost: free'' <br/>''Parking: Roadside''
 ''Access: Road only'' <br/>''Cost: free'' <br/>''Parking: Roadside''

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 McAlister Park is located between spur 327 and the Marsha Sharp Freeway (Hwy 62). It can be challenging to access if you approach from the wrong direction. On the westbound frontage road for 327, there is one entrance. Northbound Milwaukee (but NOT Southbound!) is the main entrance, and on the east bound frontage road for Hwy 62, there are two entrances. Alternatively, you can access part of the park from the Bob Mills Furniture store parking lot, though you will have a lot of water between you and most of the park. McAlister is one of the best shorebird spots in Lubbock, and has also hosted rarities like Surf Scoter and American White Pelican in the pond. Ducks on the pond are usually present in good numbers along with herons and egrets. Even in low water conditions, the playa will typically hold a fair amount of water. There are Burrowing Owls present reasonably close to the road along the south drive of the park, which makes photography pretty easy. The fields will hold sparrows, especially during migration.
-''Access: It can be challenging to access if you approach from the wrong direction. On the westbound frontage road for 327, there is one entrance. Northbound Milwaukee (but NOT Southbound!) is the main entrance, and on the east bound frontage road for Hwy 62, there are two entrances. Alternatively, you can access part of the park from the Bob Mills Furniture store parking lot, though you will have a lot of water between you and most of the park.''<br/>''Cost: free''<br/>
+<br/>''Access: It can be challenging to access if you approach from the wrong direction. On the westbound frontage road for 327, there is one entrance. Northbound Milwaukee (but NOT Southbound!) is the main entrance, and on the east bound frontage road for Hwy 62, there are two entrances. Alternatively, you can access part of the park from the Bob Mills Furniture store parking lot, though you will have a lot of water between you and most of the park.''<br/>''Cost: free''<br/>
 ''Parking: Parking lots on the north and east sides. Roadside parking (in the park) for the south side.	''

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 <br/>'''Miller Park''' (Memphis Dr and 74th)
 <br/>Of the Memphis Ave playas, Guy Park and Andrews Park are the two most worth visiting. However, if you have an extra 5 minutes, Miller Park and Huneke Park can sometimes hold worthwhile birds. For Guy Park, the east side is usually drier. In moderate water conditions, check that side for shorebirds and White-faced Ibis. The west pond has deep water and usually holds diving ducks along with dabblers. The trees can hold migrants. Andrews Park may be birded with a scope from Memphis Ave. This site has deep water and occasionally holds something exciting like a Western Grebe. Otherwise, most of the birds will usually be on the north shore. In the winter, there are usually a lot of American Wigeon. I usually check them carefully in the hopes I’ll pull out an Eurasian Wigeon. Both Guy Park and Andrews Park may host summering Canada Geese and usually have lots of domestic ducks and geese. Miller Park will sometimes hold egrets and good shorebirds under the right conditions. Huneke Park is usually not worthwhile, unless you need the extra ebird checklist for the month’s challenge. Maybe someday someone will find a Brant and make stopping there worthwhile.
-''Access: These playas can be freely walked.''<br/> ''Cost: free''
+<br/>''Access: These playas can be freely walked.''<br/> ''Cost: free''
 <br/>''Parking: Roadside for all but Miller, which has a parking lot on the east end of the park, off 74th St.''

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 '''Whisperwood Pond''' is private and posted, so bird from the road only. It is deep water, so in the winter will usually hold diving ducks. It has also had Trumpeter Swan, and usually holds lots of Cackling Geese, with other geese mixed in. North of Whisperwood Pond is the TTU Rangelands, and sometimes good raptors can be seen in that area.
-''Access: Road only''<br/>''Cost: free''<br/>'' Parking: Roadside''
+<br/>''Access: Road only''<br/>''Cost: free''<br/>'' Parking: Roadside''
 '''Maxey Park''' is public access and holds a wide range of waterfowl. It has hosted Brant, American Golden-Plover and Brown Pelican in the past. Herons and cormorants will roost in the Bald Cypress on the SE side of the playa. At lower water, the western bank will have a mudflat, which may hold shorebirds and roosting gulls. The trees around the playa may hold passerines.
-''Access: This playa can be freely walked.''
+<br/>''Access: This playa can be freely walked.''
 <br/>''Cost: free''
 <br/>''Parking: The parking lot is accessed by traveling west on 26th St into the park. Roadside parking on 24th and 28th St.''
 '''Dupree Park''' is a decent location for shorebirds (depending on the water), and will sometimes hold rare gulls or terns. At lower water, the playa will shrink back, revealing large areas of mudflat. At high water, the grass south of the playa will flood, and egrets may move to that area instead of the main playa.
-''Access: This playa can be freely walked.''<br/>'' Cost: free''
+<br/>''Access: This playa can be freely walked.''<br/>'' Cost: free''
 <br/>''Parking: Roadside	''
 '''Leroy Elmore''' is the most reliable spot in the county for Wood Duck. Wood Ducks often persist through the summer here at low density. In the winter, gulls may roost in large numbers and the waterfowl diversity will increase. During summer, the island becomes a large rookery, mostly for Cattle Egret and Snowy Egret. However, this site will get Tricolored Heron in the fall, along with White Ibis and other rare wading birds. Typically in late August, the best strategy is to scope the island just before sunset, when all the herons and egrets are returning. This is also the best spot in the county to find a Neotropic Cormorant mixed in with the Double-crested Cormorants. Depending on the light, you can park just south of the safety memorial, or along Peoria and walk up to the shore. The junipers in the NE part of the park may hold Townsend’s Solitaire during irruption years. Birding the trees on the east side of the park can kick out migrant passerines.
-''Access: This playa can be freely walked.'' <br/>''Cost: free''
+<br/>''Access: This playa can be freely walked.'' <br/>''Cost: free''
 <br/>''Parking: There is a parking lot off Quaker just south of the Public Safety Memorial. Roadside parking on Peoria Ave.''