County Listing Guide to Hale County

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

Overview

Next to Lubbock, Hale competes with Crosby for second best county to bird. Most of the action is in Plainview, but there are many spots around the county that add to species diversity. In winter, Hale can host large American Crow roosts, and will get some northern rarities (eg Common Redpoll, Glaucous Gull) more regularly than Lubbock. Geese can be prevalent on the in-town playas. There are several places to look for passerines, which gives you multiple options for starting routes. In general, there are several potential routes to run, depending on starting point, and where you choose to focus your morning hours.

Route (from Lubbock):
This route starts in Hale Center, birds Plainview and surrounding county roads, then heads over to HALE CO CR G and returns via HALE CENTER FEEDLOT. HALE CO CR G, Plainview and other locations also make excellent starting locations. Take I-27 north to Exit 36 and then turn east on CR 185 to bird the HALE CENTER WWTP south of the road. Return to I-27 and continue north to Exit 49/Hwy 70 east. Turn north on Ennis St and then left on W 10th St and immediately park on the side of the road to bird the PLAINVIEW DUCK POND on the SW corner of the intersection. Continue north on Ennis St to W 16th St and turn east. Turn north on Utica St and then west on W 18th St. Park on the street and bird PLAINVIEW APARTMENTS PLAYA. Return to Utica St and go south to S 16th St. Turn west, and proceed to Yonkers St. Go south until you reach 8th St, turn east and park by the baseball stadium. Look for the Monk Parakeet on its nest or in the trees nearby Wilder Field. Return to Yonkers and continue south to Hwy 70. Travel east on Hwy 70 to Quincy St and turn south. Turn east almost immediately onto W 4th St and park to bird the PLAINVIEW RUNNING WATER DRAW BIKE/WALK TRAIL. Return to Hwy 70 and continue east to Joliet St. Take Joliet St north until you hit Industrial Blvd. Turn right and park on the side of the road to bird THUNDERBIRD PLAYA. Continue east on Industrial Blvd until you hit FM400. Turn north on FM400 and then east on CR 60. Bird HALE CO CR 60/BB until you hit CR95. Then travel east to HALE CO CR95 PLAYA. Return to Hwy 70 either by going west to CC and then south, or east to DD and then south. From Hwy 70, turn south on FM789 and travel down to the bridge over reeds. That is HALE CO FM789 WETLAND. Return to Hwy 70 and travel west until you hit Quincy St. Turn north on Quincy and then NW on Hwy 194. Take Hwy 194 NW to Edmonson. Shortly after Edmonson, turn west on CR20. In the winter, the stretch along CR20 may hold large numbers of American Crows. Continue west to CR G. Turn south and bird HALE CO CR G. When you return to Hwy 70 by CR G, continue south on FM179 until you reach HALE CENTER FEEDLOT. Turn east on CR165 while birding the feedlot from the road, and make sure to stop at HIDDEN PLAYA just east of the feedlot. Continue on CR165 to CR I and turn south to FM1914. Take FM1914 east to FM400. Turn south on FM400 and continue to the intersection with FM784, which holds the FM400 BREWER’S BLACKBIRD SPOT. Continue south on FM400 to FM37, turn west and return to I-27. Exit at FM54 to bird HALE CO I-27 x FM54 PLAYA and then return to Lubbock.

Locations

HALE CENTER WWTP

These waste water treatment ponds often hold a good mix of ducks, shorebirds and herons. Grassland birds may be found to the north, while flycatchers may rest on the fence west of the ponds. Scan the far shore of the close pond for shorebirds like Long-billed Dowitcher, Stilt Sandpiper and others.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

HALE CENTER FEEDLOT/HIDDEN PLAYA

This feedlot can be birded from the roads (FM179 and CR 165). In the winter, large groups of geese may forage on the fields south of the feedlot. American Crows may also be found here. The ponds in the feedlot are visible from the road and may hold dabbling ducks. In summer, egrets and shorebirds may be present, along with raptors, grassland birds and swallows. Further east down CR165 from the feedlot is Hidden Playa, which is difficult to directly see from the road. Because of the shelter, hundreds of ducks may roost on it in winter. View parts of the playa from the road a little east of it, standing on your vehicle as needed. The house east of the playa also can be a little birdy.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

HALE CO CR G

County Rd G runs from the intersection of FM179/Hwy 70 in the south up to FM2881 in the north. The first mile or two north from Hwy 70 tends to hold minimal birds. The best stretch is where the county road drops into a broad gully between CR20 and CR40 (eg where the hotspot is pinned on ebird). This area holds taller trees that may hold raptors, owls and woodpeckers. Sparrows may also hide in the brush along the road, or stop at the water tank. In the winter, you may hear or see American Crows here moving to/from the large crow roosts along FM2881. As you approach FM2881, you may see more icterids and doves.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

FM400 BREWER’S BLACKBIRD SPOT

This farm located on the SE corner of FM400 and FM784 can hold Brewer’s Blackbirds in the winter. Check along FM784 to see if any flocks are present. Other field birds and farm birds are also possible.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

HALE CO CR 60/BB

CR60 east from FM400 to CR BB and CR BB south to CR95 has several wet/partially wet areas that often hold birds in most seasons. Orioles, grosbeaks, roadrunners, shorebirds, Dickcissel, Black- and Yellow-Crowed Night Herons, raptors and grassland birds are all possible along these roads. Burrowing Owls may be seen along CR BB. At the intersection of CR BB with CR95, there are a few ponds that may hold water birds.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

HALE CO CR 95 PLAYA

East of CR BB is a playa that may hold dabbling ducks, wading birds like White-faced Ibis and shorebirds including Wilson’s Phalarope and local rarities like Red-necked Phalarope. When wet, Black Terns and swallows may stop at this playa during migration. Raptors and grassland birds, including Ring-necked Pheasant, may be found around the playa.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

HALE CO FM789 WETLAND

This wetland is entirely private property and must be birded from the road only. The stretch worth examining is the bridge over the wetland, though Cattle Egrets may sometimes be seen in the yard just SW of the bridge. Baird’s Sparrow has been seen here in migration. Look here for marsh birds and listen for rails.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

PLAINVIEW RUNNING DRAW BIKE/WALK TRAIL

This trail stretches along the southern part of Plainview. Parking is available on 4th St off of Quincy St. The trail continues from Quincy and 4th all the way to Dale and 2nd St, which also has parking. Typically the best birding is closer to Quincy and 4th. The trees along the draw may hold passerines, including Yellow-billed Cuckoo, warblers and sparrows. They may also hold Mississippi Kites, and in reasonable water, Belted Kingfisher and swallows may be present. This site will also get the usual city birds.
Access: This is an easily accessible walking trail.
Cost: free
Parking: Parking lots on 4th St off of Quincy St and at Dale and 2nd St.

PLAINVIEW DUCK POND

This fenced in pond is surprisingly good for waterbirds. Along with a wide variety of geese and diving ducks, it has recently hosted Black-bellied Whistling Ducks mixed in with the domestics. In winter, the pond may attract rare gulls, including Glaucous Gull. Typically a few injured Cackling Geese will spend the summer at this location, as can herons and egrets.
Access: A fence separates you from the hungry ducks, but you should be able to survey the entire pond from the sheltered area on 10th St just off Ennis.
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

PLAINVIEW APARTMENTS PLAYA

This playa is almost entirely fenced in from the apartments. There is foot access from the alley by 18th St. This area may hold many migrating and vagrant passerines, including Black-capped Vireo, and at higher water levels, shorebirds and/or ducks like Wood Duck. In the winter, Red-bellied Woodpecker and sparrows may be seen.
Access: Foot access from the alley by 18th St.
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside along 18th St. Do not park in the apartment alleys.

PLAINVIEW THUNDERBIRD PLAYA

This playa is often dry, though the gully north of the road will often hold water longer. When water levels are good, look for herons and egrets. When water levels are lower, look for meadowlark and other field birds. This site has held Vermilion Flycatcher in the past, so it is worth a stop to see what is present.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

HALE CO I-27 x FM54 PLAYA

The playa SE of the intersection may hold migrating shorebirds and waterfowl in season. Bird from FM54. A scope is very helpful for seeing the far end of the playa. At higher water levels, other areas around the intersection may hold water and birds.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside