County Listing Guide to Cochran County

Published with permission from Peter Keyel, revised 01/26/19
Return to County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains
Dell's map of Cochran County including eBird Hotspots, locations and routing taken from Peter Keyel's County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains
TCC's Cochran County

Overview

Cochran county holds a lot of potential, though the birding can often be very hit or miss, and access is the usual challenge. The area around Whiteface holds the most water in the county, and is consequently one of the better areas to bird. The other good spot in the county is the Morton area. If you are looking for Lesser Prairie-Chickens, you might consider searching the southern part of the county off from Hwy 214. Look in the correct habitat around dawn: small dunes with Shinnery Oak and shortgrass prairie. Generally, waterbirds are harder to find in this county. Despite their abundance in Hockley and Lubbock counties, all geese are rare here. However, you can find plenty of sparrows here.

Route (from Lubbock):
This route starts in western Cochran and travels east back towards Lubbock because the best passerine spots are further away, and it’s usually better to visit those in the morning. Take Hwy 114 west. Note the dirt road north immediately before you enter Cochran county for the last stop on the route. Turn north on FM596 and continue to CR44. Park on CR44 and bird the CR44 WOODLOT. Return to Hwy 114 and go east back into Morton. Turn north on Hwy 214 and then east on FM74. Turn north to bird the MORTON LANDFILL AND WWTP. Then return to FM74 and continue east. FM74 will turn south. Turn east on FM1780 and immediately enter COCHRAN COUNTY PARK. Then head west on FM1780 back to Hwy214. Turn south and proceed to W Grant Ave. Turn west and then bird MORTON CITY PARK. Return to Hwy 214, head north to Hwy 114 and go east until you hit CR197. Turn north and bird the COCHRAN COUNTY FEEDLOT. If you have the time, bird CR197 south to FM169, travel east on FM169 and check out a wet spot on CR237 ~3/4 of a mile south of FM169. In this case, enter the WHITEFACE CEMETERY just prior to entering town. If you lack the time, go south on FM1337 back to Hwy 114 and take it southeast to Whiteface. Turn south on Taylor St and west on FM169/2nd St. Enter the WHITEFACE CEMETERY to bird. Travel east to Taylor St, turn south and continue to Overton St. Turn around and pull into the east shoulder of Taylor St to stand on your car and scope the TAYLOR ST POND. Go north on Taylor St back to Hwy 114 and go east, back to that dirt road you noted way back in the beginning. Immediately after exiting Cochran county, turn north on that dirt road. Take the first left and then right to reach the WHITEFACE WWTP.

Locations

CR44 WOODLOT

This small woodlot can hold some water in the middle of the lot, making it attractive to migrating passerines. The woodlot is private property, so bird from the edges only. This is one of your best chances to find migrating warblers, empidonax flycatchers and other passerines. The lot across FM596 may also hold a few migrants, but this is also private property.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

MORTON LANDFILL AND WWTP

This location also has somewhat limited access; respect all posted signs. Park outside of the landfill proper and walk the fence line down to see the first WWTP. A scope is helpful here. This is a good place to find swallows, as well as longspurs and pipits. Shorebirds may be seen along the WWTP. Black Terns have been seen during migration. The fields behind the WWTP may hold Sandhill Cranes in winter. The water is deep enough that it may hold diving ducks.
Access: The landfill itself is restricted access. Walk the fence line to see the first WWTP
Cost: free
Parking: Park on the road just outside of the entrance, taking care not to block what little traffic may come

COCHRAN COUNTY PARK

This location is one of the best places in Cochran to look for passerines. It is publicly accessible. It has a lot of very tall, mature deciduous trees, along with some conifers along the side of the park. At extreme flood stage, the park may flood and attract waders. Look for migrants, especially flycatchers, Mississippi Kites and other raptors.
Access: This small park can be freely walked
Cost: free
Parking: Parking lot accessible from FM1780

MORTON CITY PARK

This location is one of the most variable sites in Cochran, but at least it is publicly accessible. Some days it may hold an Evening Grosbeak, other days, it just has domestic ducks. There is generally water here and an island, so this is one of the better chances to get herons, egrets and kingfishers for Cochran. Diving ducks and shorebirds may also be seen in the appropriate season. Urban birds are also possible here.
Access: This small park can be freely walked.
Cost: free
Parking: There is a small parking area off Grant St, but roadside parking is also available.

COCHRAN COUNTY FEEDLOT

This location holds the most potential in Cochran county, even though it is birded by road only. There is a lot of potential shorebird habitat, and a fair amount of water. If the area bounded by CR197 and CR110 holds water, it may hold diving ducks and attract larks, pipits and longspurs. Traveling east along CR110 will bring you alongside more water, which may hold an assortment of ducks, shorebirds and passerines. Rails could be possible here, too. Check trees for migrants and feedlot birds.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

WHITEFACE CEMETERY

This location is a small, though typical, cemetery. It holds a lot of arbor vitae, which will attract the usual set of wintering sparrows and other cemetery birds. It is bordered by farmland, so it is possible to find Northern Harrier, meadowlarks and other field birds as well.
Access: This small cemetery can be freely walked.
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside along roads in the cemetery.

TAYLOR ST POND

This location is challenging to bird because it must be birded entirely from the road. Park on the shoulder of northbound Taylor St. Carefully stand on your vehicle and use a scope to look in to the pond east of the road to look for shorebirds and ducks. The close side of the pond will not be visible, so hope that the birds stay to the far end. Icterids may be along the roadside, along with other urban birds.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

WHITEFACE WWTP

Park near the oil derrick, but stay out of the way of anyone needing access either to the derrick, WWTP or fields. This is one of the better locations for shorebirds because there are 4 depressions with varying amounts of water, which usually guarantees at least one will be mudflats. The water decreases counterclockwise, which is usually how I walk these ponds. Be cautious in your approach because once the ducks flush, they often do not return to the ponds. The first pond is usually wet, and may hold Wilson’s Phalaropes and dabbling ducks. The second and third pond will hold substantially less water, and may hold shorebirds and ducks. When the brush is up, sparrows and icterids may be found in between the ponds. Swallows and falcons may also be found around the ponds.
Access: The WWTP themselves are fenced, but you can walk around them and easily see the area.
Cost: free
Parking: Small parking area by the oil derrick. Avoid parking in the way of accessing the derrick, WWTP or fields.

---