County Listing Guide to Terry 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 Terry County including eBird Hotspots, Other locations and route from Peter Keyel's County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains, and more.
TCC's Terry County

Overview

Terry is perhaps best known for the Common Crane that was present in the county, mixed in with the thousands of Sandhill Cranes. It also holds large concentrations of both Chihuahuan Ravens and American Crows in the winter, especially at the Brownfield dump. The presence of two productive parks in Brownfield makes access to passerines easier than in some other counties. Rounding out the Brownfield locations are the usual county roads and occasional playas. Brownfield is 45 min from Lubbock, so birding can easily be staged from there. However, there are hotels in Brownfield if you prefer that. For the species mix, shorebirds are harder to find due to the challenges of finding good habitat for them.

Route (from Lubbock):
This route focuses on Brownfield and points east, with the western locations added for later possible birding. Take Hwy 62 SW to Brownfield. In Brownfield turn east on E Buckley St/Old Lamesa Rd and then south on CR395 into COLEMAN PARK. Exit south on CR395 and bird the BROWNFIELD DUMP/FIELDS until you hit Hwy 137. Turn left on Hwy 137 and immediately left again on CR470. Turn north on Old Lamesa Rd and continue back into Brownsfield. Although not really a hotspot, some worthwhile birds can be seen along this road. Turn south onto S Ballard St and bird S Ballard St and BROWNFIELD WWTP. Return to Old Lamesa Rd and turn right and then left on Elm St. Take Elm St to Cardwell and turn east. Just after Cardwell merges on Tate, turn north on Cheryl Dr. Turn west on Main St to enter GILLHAM PARK. Exit onto Hwy 380 and travel east. Turn south on FM168. If you plan on sifting through thousands of Sandhill Cranes in the winter/early spring, or just want to bird more farmlands, turn west on CR490 and bird the CRANE LOCATIONS. Otherwise, north of CR490 is CR480. Turn east on CR480 and bird CR480 to the CR480 PLAYA. Travel south on CR595, and then south again on CR705. Turn west on CR630 and bird PROPANE PLAYA (CR630 x CR705). Return along CR595 to Hwy 380. Take Hwy 380 west until you hit TOKIO PLAYA. Then continue west on Hwy 380 and turn north on CR121. Bird CR121 (BETWEEN US380 and FM2196). Turn east on FM2196 and then north on CR303. Turn west on FM211 and then north onto CR305 to bird CR305x CR303 PLAYA. Take FM211 east until you hit Hwy 62 and return to Lubbock.

Locations

BROWNFIELD LOCATIONS

Brownfield is one of the largest concentrations of trees in Terry county, and tends to be the most productive area to bird. In addition to the locations below, it can be worthwhile to drive the streets and/or walk some of the alleys to look for migrants and urban birds.
Access: Bird from roads, sidewalks and alleys.
Cost:free
Parking:Roadside

COLEMAN PARK

Coleman Park is accessed by turning east off Hwy 62 onto E Buckley St, making the immediate turn SE onto Old Lamesa Rd and next immediate turn SW onto CR 395. The trees along the creek are often worth checking for migrants, and urban birds may be found throughout the park. However, the best location for passerines is the small stand of trees at the S end of the park. This area may hold Great Horned Owl, rare woodpeckers like Red-bellied Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, warblers and Pine Siskin. Across Webb street, you may see Red-winged Blackbirds and hear other marsh birds. Meadowlarks and other grassland birds may be seen and heard from the eastern boundary of the park. To get to the Brownfield Dump, follow CR395 S to S 1st St and continue south.
Access: Turn east off Hwy 62 onto E Buckley St, make the immediate turn SE onto Old Lamesa Rd and next immediate turn SW onto CR 395. Alternatively, it can be accessed from the south by turning north onto CR395 from Webb St. The park can be freely walked, though the woodlot on the extreme southern end of the park is usually the best.
Cost: free
Parking: Roadsides and parking lots interspersed throughout the park.

BROWNFIELD DUMP/FIELDS

Due south of Coleman Park lies the Brownfield Dump. This area holds hundreds of Chihuahuan Raven and American Crow in the winter. The fields will also hold geese in the winter, along with grassland type birds. There are a few trees at the dump entrance that may hold Dark-eyed Junco and Mourning Dove in the winter. Old Lamesa Road passes through vineyards that may hold Long-billed Curlew and Ferruginous Hawk.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

BROWNFIELD WWTP

To access these ponds, turn south from Old Lamesa Rd onto S Ballard St. En route to the ponds, you will pass a couple small woodlots and a farm. The farm (33.168262, -102.265505) is the best place in the county to find Bronzed Cowbirds, sometimes even into the winter. Check for other blackbirds, and proceed south towards the WWTP. Just before you reach the ponds, you can scope the ponds south of Coleman Park from the road; these may hold dabbling ducks. The WWTP are not accessible; park in front of the fence and stand on your vehicle to see into the ponds. The ponds may hold diving ducks, dabbling ducks and geese in the winter. The fields will sometimes hold Killdeer and Meadowlarks.
Access: Bird from parking lot and road only. Stand on your vehicle to see into the ponds.
Cost: free
Parking: Small parking area in front of gated fence

GILLHAM PARK

This park provides the most accessible water in Brownfield. There is an island in the park which allows ducks and herons to roost with less human disturbance. In high water, the west-most pond will hold water; otherwise it will often hold people walking their dogs. The trees along the water may hold warblers and other passerines during migration. In the winter, thousands of Cackling Geese may be present, plus American Crows in the fields south of the park. Domestic Mallards are resident here.
Access: Can be directly accessed from US380 or from E Main St on eastern end of park. This small park can be freely walked.
Cost: free
Parking: Pulloffs/roadsides within the park.

CRANE LOCATIONS

(area bounded by FM1076 x FM168 x CR490 x CR555)
This is the area that held a Common Crane in 2016, and typically hosts thousands of wintering Sandhill Cranes. Pull-offs are harder on the FM roads, which are paved and more heavily traveled. Aside from Sandhill Cranes, field birds may also be found here, including pipits and larks.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

CR480 PLAYA

This area is private property so bird from the road only. This playa is very close to the road, so any waterfowl on the playa often flush if you drive right up to it. It is usually best to park before the playa and walk along the road up to it to bird. The playa may hold both dabblers and diving ducks, including Canvasback, Redhead, and Ring-necked Duck. In lower water, shorebirds may be present. The salt cedars north of the road (and west of the playa) may hold passerines like Bullock’s Oriole, Orange- crowned Warbler, Marsh Wren, and possibly in the winter a Long-eared Owl.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

CR595

This area is private property so bird from the road only. This road will have several spots that become muddy when water levels are high, so bird with caution or find alternate routes. In moderate water, the field at the corner of CR490 and CR595 may flood and sometimes hold shorebirds. North of CR490, Swainson’s Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Scaled Quail and other birds are possible. South of CR490, check the scrub for passerines like Bullock’s Oriole, Blue Grosbeak and others.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

PROPANE PLAYA (CR630 x CR705)

This playa is so-named for the propane gun used to flush the birds in the cropland. CR630 is usually flooded, which makes for a nice playa that can hold waterfowl and shorebirds, but also means that access is usually via CR705.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

TOKIO PLAYA

This playa can be very hit or miss, depending on the water levels. When dry, it is very easy to drive right past without noticing the playa, and it is technically a little east of Tokio. The water south of the road is deeper and more reliable than the water north of the road. When the water levels are optimal during migration, rails, shorebirds and herons may be found here, along with Black Tern and Ring-billed Gull. In the winter, ducks may be found when water levels are good. The farm near here may also hold icterids and doves.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

CR121

(BETWEEN US380 and FM2196)
This county road tends to be particularly productive in this part of the county. A number of abandoned homesteads make this area good for Barn Owl, flycatchers, and orioles. The old trees help hold warblers in migration.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

CR305 x CR303 PLAYA

This playa may be hit or miss, depending on water levels. Expect the usual grassland birds that may be more concentrated around patches of water.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside