Lubbock Area: Buffalo Springs Lake, Lake Ransom, Twin Ponds, Boles Lake, & Mackenzie Park

Buffalo Springs Lake is a county-owned recreation area ($2 entry fee) that offers camping, picnicking, fishing, water sports, and hiking. The Llano Estacado Audubon Society maintains a 55-acre portion of the area, where a 1.7-mile nature trail is available for birding. The 542-acre Mackenzie Park, named for General Ranald Mackenzie and operated by the city of Lubbock, is primarily a recreational area, with playgrounds and a swimming pool. Key birds: Greater Roadrunner, Burrowing Owl, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Chihuahuan Raven, Rock Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Canyon Towhee, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow are present yearround. Mississippi Kite, Swainson’s Hawk, Snowy Plover, Red-headed Woodpecker, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, Painted Bunting, Dickcissel, and Cassin’s Sparrow occur in summer. Hooded and Common Mergansers; Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks; Golden Eagle; Prairie Falcon; Long-eared and Short-eared Owls; Eastern and Mountain Bluebirds; Townsend’s Solitaire; Sage Thrasher; and American Tree, Fox, and Swamp Sparrows can usually be found in winter. This eTrail provides detailed information on birding strategies for this specific location, the specialty birds and other key birds you might see, directions to each birding spot, a detailed map, and helpful general information.