County Listing Guide to Lynn 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 Lynn County including eBird Hotspots, routes taken from Peter Keyel's County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains
TCC's Lynn County

Overview

Lynn county sits almost entirely atop the Caprock, but is one of the better-birded counties in the South Plains. There are many playas with a mix of water levels, making it relatively straightforward to find at least one location with water at most water levels. However, many of the locations are accessible from dirt roads and/or gravel roads that may become less passable immediately after heavy rains. There is one cut in the Caprock that is publicly accessible (CR EE WETLANDS), and the town of Tahoka holds other wooded locations that can be walked. The best birding spot is the restricted access TAHOKA LAKE PASTURE. On the western side of the county, there are some wetlands in the NEW MOORE area. In terms of species mix, shorebirds and herons are easier to find than in other counties.

Route (from Lubbock):
This route aims to hit most of these hotspots in one route, and assumes a lack of access to TAHOKA LAKE PASTURE. If you can visit TAHOKA LAKE PASTURE, start there, and then it may be worth visiting the FM3332 PLAYAS, CR EE WETLANDS and returning to Lubbock via the FM1054 PLAYAS. For faster trips, the FM3332 PLAYAS and CR EE WETLANDS together make a good trip. The route described here starts SE of Lake Tahoka at CR20 B/W CR X AND CR Y (to maximize time in the morning at the passerine spots) and completes a square with CR EE WETLANDS, SKEEN PLAYA and TAHOKA as the corners. With enough time, the detour to O’DONNELL—US 87 PLAYA and the NEW MOORE AREA can be included.

Take Hwy 87 south from Lubbock to FM211. Take FM211 east through Wilson and turn south on FM1054. Take FM1054 south until you turn west on CR20 and start by birding CR20 B/W CR X AND CR Y. Depending on your preference for dirt roads, travel south on CR X, CR Y or FM1054 to Hwy 380. Proceed east on Hwy 380 (if coming from CR X or Y) or west on Hwy 380 (if coming from FM1054) to CR AA. Turn south on CR AA and immediately park. Bird US380 x CR AA FORESTED AREA by foot and then drive east on Hwy 380 and turn south on FM1054. Continue south on FM1054, birding both FM1054 PLAYAS as you go by them. Travel east on CR28 until you reach CR EE. Turn south on CR EE and continue until you reach the CR EE WETLANDS. Return north to CR 28 and travel west back to FM1054. Turn south and travel to FM3332. Turn west and bird the FM3332 PLAYAS as you reach them: FM3332 x CR Y PLAYA, then FM3332 x SAM RD PLAYA. Turn north on Sam Rd and west on CR29 to reach REDHEAD PLAYA. Return east on CR29 and south on Sam Rd to FM3332. Continue west on FM3332 to US87, birding the road and any seasonal playas as you go.

If birding O’DONNELL – US 87 PLAYA and the NEW MOORE AREA, turn south on US87 until you reach O’Donnell. (Otherwise turn north on US87 and continue the route from SKEEN PLAYA). At O’Donnell, exit US87 for FM2053 west (eg turn right) and immediately turn south onto the US87 frontage road. Bird O’DONNELL – US 87 PLAYA from the frontage road and then return to FM2053. Turn west on FM2053 and follow FM2053 as it turns south and then west again. Where FM2053 turns into FM179, stop and bird FM179 x FM2053 WETLANDS. Continue west on FM179 and follow it as it turns north. Turn west on CR34 and bird NEW MOORE WETLANDS (CR34). Return to FM179 and continue north. Turn east on FM213 and return to US87. Turn north on US87 and continue to FM3332.

Bird SKEEN PLAYA, then continue north and bird LITTLE SKEEN PLAYA. Continue north on US87 until you reach CR24. Turn east and then north into the TAHOKA CEMETERY AREA. If you plan to further bird TAHOKA, the alleyways in the northwest part of town are the most promising. From the cemetery, travel north to US380, then west on US380 to Ave M. Turn north and continue to 4th or 5th St. Bird that general area and then return to US87 north by way of US380. Take the exit for FM400 (towards Wilson) and continue on FM400 until you just pass Wilson. Turn north on CR Y and bird COUNTY RDS X AND Y (N OF WILSON). Return to Lubbock by taking FM211 west to US87 north.

Locations

TAHOKA LAKE

TAHOKA LAKE PASTURE (restricted access)
CR20 B/W CR X AND CR Y
Tahoka Lake Pasture is the top birding location in Lynn county. However, access is restricted and must be secured in advance. CR20 between CR X and CR Y gives a chance to view parts of the area without entering the restricted area. The lake itself may hold all of the expected waterfowl and shorebirds. Snowy Plover typically breed in good numbers here. In addition to the lake, there is a large riparian corridor here that may support a good diversity of migrating passerines, including warblers, flycatchers and sparrows. A good birding day here could get you most of the way to your century.
Access: Contact for access to TLP. CR20 by road only.
Cost: free
Parking: Park in designated area for TLP. Roadside for CR20

FM1054 PLAYAS

FM1313 x FM1054 PLAYA
FM1054 x CR28 PLAYA
These two playas sit off of FM1054. FM1313 x FM1054 is a very large, very deep playa that may hold an abundance of waterfowl. Waterfowl numbers may trip the ebird filters here, and a scope is very helpful to pulling out birds on the opposite side of the playa. All regularly occurring species of goose and swan have been reported from this playa. Good shorebirds and gulls/tern numbers are also possible here. Reeds along the playa edge may support herons, egrets, sparrows and rails. Swallows may nest on the power substation in front of the playa. In the winter, longspurs may come in to water. The FM1054 x CR28 PLAYA typically holds lower numbers of waterfowl, but makes up for it with a large complement of potential passerines and raptors. Harris’s Hawk has been reported here.
Access: Road.
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside. There is a small parking lot at the power substation at FM1313 x FM1054

US380 x CR AA FORESTED AREA

Park on CR AA and walk along US380, taking care to stay well onto the grass and away from any traffic. There are a large number of trees to the north and south of the road, which may hold passerines and raptors. The grasses and edge habitat near the trees may hold Blue Grosbeak, meadowlarks and other species.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

CR EE WETLANDS

This gem sits on the far eastern end of Lynn county. Although Google Maps may suggest that CR31 or other access via and East/West road, those roads mostly do not actually exist. The easiest access is traveling south on CR EE itself from CR28 or CR29. Bird strictly from the road because this is private property. This site is a cut in the Caprock, which means this is the most reliable spot in the county for species such as Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Harris’s Hawks have also been seen in the area. The wetlands bring in marsh birds like Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, but also Dickcissel, buntings, sparrows and others. Other woodpeckers, flycatchers, sparrows, warblers and other passerines may also be found in this location.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

FM3332 PLAYAS

LITTLE SKEEN PLAYA
SKEEN PLAYA (US87 x FM3332)
FM3332 x SAM RD PLAYA
REDHEAD PLAYA
FM3332 x CR Y PLAYA
The stretch of playas off, or immediately close to, FM3332 is one of the best stretches of birding in Lynn county during reasonable water levels. At low water levels, these playas may dry out (especially SKEEN PLAYA), though FM3332 x CR Y and REDHEAD PLAYA tend to stay the wettest. If the playas are dry, there will likely be very few species present. LITTLE SKEEN PLAYA and SKEEN PLAYA are best birded from the shoulder of US87. Note that this is a highway, so take extreme care if you exit your vehicle. For SKEEN PLAYA, the eastern side is deeper and stays wetter longer than the western side. Shorebirds, ibises and waders are often found when water is present, and ducks, cormorants and other waterfowl when the water levels are high enough. Passerines tend to be grassland birds or icterids. FM3332 x CR Y PLAYA holds more deep water, but it is hard to access and the close shore holds a lot of dead trees. Those trees may hold swallows, warblers, thrashers, wrens, sparrows or other passerines. The water may hold diving ducks, but a scope is very helpful. REDHEAD PLAYA may hold Redhead in the summer, along with other diving ducks and grebes. Shorebirds may be close in. It is best to park before you descend to the playa and instead walk down to reduce flushing any birds close to the road. If the road is muddy, this will also facilitate leaving. FM3332 X SAM RD PLAYA has a lot of trees, so tends to hold shorebirds and dabbling ducks more than divers. The trees also may hold passerines like Bullock’s Oriole, Blue Grosbeak and flycatchers. The views are better along Sam Rd than FM3332.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

O’DONNELL – US 87 PLAYA

This playa sits just north of the Dawson county line along Hwy 87. There is a short frontage road along US87. Bird the site primarily from this road (do not trespass!), though FM2053 also gives some views of the farm. Typically this playa has water and decent shorebird habitat at most levels. Check the edges for migrant shorebirds and the water for waterfowl. Dabbling ducks are typically more common, but divers can be found here, too. The trees between the playa and the road may hold warblers, flycatchers and sparrows in the correct season. Closer to FM2053 are where the cattle typically roam. Check this area for icterids and doves.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

NEW MOORE AREA

NEW MOORE WETLANDS (CR34)
FM179 x FM2053 WETLANDS
These sites sit on the far western edge of the county and may provide some of the wetlands species that may be harder at bigger playas and other parts of the county. They may also provide migrating warblers, sparrows, buntings, flycatchers, rails and game birds. The FM179 x FM2053 WETLANDS have held Burrowing Owl in the past.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

TAHOKA

TAHOKA CEMETERY AREA The town of Tahoka may hold a mix of urban birds and migrants. Drive the streets and walk the alleys to check for hummingbirds, warblers and other passerines. The cemetery area may be an easier location to walk around, and it has a little water that may hold egrets, shorebirds and Mississippi Kites. Raptors, flycatchers, warblers and others are all possible. In the winter, the usual cemetery birds may be found, including all three bluebird species.
Access: The cemetery may be freely walked. Roads, alleys and sidewalks for the town.
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside parking along town or cemetery roads.

COUNTY RDS X AND Y (N OF WILSON)

These two county roads run alongside a wastewater treatment pond (which is not viewable from the road), a farm and open water. Since the roads are dirt, they become rapidly impassible following rain. The open water may hold ducks, geese, herons, Mississippi Kites and shorebirds in the correct seasons. The treatment pond makes this location a favorite for swallows. A prairie dog town means Burrowing Owl is possible. Sparrows and icterids may also be seen.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside