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Sunday, March 25, 2018

Put Hackberry Flats in Tillman County, OK On Your Birding List

03-24-18   Hackberry Flats WMA/Tillman County, OK 
1037-1600 hrs./69-82 F/partly cloudy



                                                               Male Cinnamon Teal


                                             Eared Grebe Approaching Breeding Plumage


                                                      Eared Grebe (Front) Showing Size
                                                Difference in Comparison to Ruddy Duck


                                                  Cinnamon Teal Showing Characteristic
                                                                 Speculum Coloring


                                                      Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
                                                              (Last Year's Late Hatch)


                                                            Golden Eagle (Larger Bird)


03-25-18 Boomer Lake Park, Stillwater, OK
1127-1239/53-29 F/partly to mostly cloudy/E-13/75-72% RH/29.87-29.91 Hg and steady


                                                     Franklin's Gulls Highlighted Among
                                                                   Ring-billed Gulls


                                                   Franklin's Gull (Second Plumage View)


                                          Five Franklin's Gulls Showing Plumage Attributes



Hackberry Flats is the first set of photos, followed by three photos of  Franklin's Gulls the following day.

Hackberry is about four hours from Stillwater, unless one chooses Rte. 44, which we did not do on the way.  Consequently, we got there on the late side, but that could well have worked in our favor.

We had an exemplary day, as we observed several things of interest, but we were unable to locate a Snowy Plover which had been reported for a couple of days.

Not only did we see a Great Horned Owl at 1500 hrs. on an electrical pole, we managed a Golden Eagle, also observed on an electrical pole.  We both got shows of its underside, which proved beyond a shadow of a doubt what we had.  As a matter of fact, this is such a rare record, because the only other sightings listed on eBird were two others in February 2017.

It was an outstanding day, as many shore/water/wading birds tend to change as often as teens change their clothing.  For that reason we visited the waterways a few times in order to maximize what we could list on eBird.

Leaving the Stillwater residence, I was not expecting such a spectacular day, since barometric pressure was flat, but all in all, the four hour drive was well worth it.

It was my first time at Hackberry, as it was another birder's, but the third person had been there before.

Do I recommend this location?  Absolutely!  It is hard to plan great birding, especially if one has never been to a location, but it was encouraging due to the fact that this is a wetland.  It is in
pristine condition, which makes it a good spot for wildlife, knowing that it remains unspoiled by humanity.

Birds Matter More Than You Think

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/23/the-radical-otherness-of-birds-jonathan-franzen-on-why-they-matter

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/25/how-can-we-save-the-countrys-birds

032518 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake


http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-spring-birds-are-arriving/image_2f557681-f47c-561b-9a4b-6faaae02dbfb.html

Carbon Turnover Could Well Cost and Add Birds in Mount Rainier, WA


http://www.thenewstribune.com/outdoors/article206401874.html

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Spring and Winter Birds Are Melding


                                                                  American Coots


                                                                    Tufted Titmouse


                                                                    Carolina Wren


                                                                      Canada Geese


                                                                    Carolina Wren


                                                                      Carolina Wren


                                                       Dark-eyed Junco (Slated-colored)


                                                                               Ditto


Feb. and March 2018

The winter has been somewhat slow, and not all photos could make it into the blog.  Here is a representation of a few things.  Spring migrants have been coming in and dribs and drabs, like the Great-tailed and Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds (the adults and juveniles were both seen today, Killdeer, and both the Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants.

Most of the adult double-crested are heading north in order to breed, but the weather might not be quite to their liking.  The northern hemisphere in general has not had the best conditions, but here in the southern states, we are more than ready for what is here and what is coming.

Much of what we're expecting is already in Texas, so it won't be more than a few weeks that more birds will be here.

Populations have increased from our own woods, and this weekend was quite good birding.

Secrets of the American Robin


https://www.courierpress.com/story/life/columnists/sharon-sorenson/2018/03/18/birds-robin-visits-arent-exactly-omen/422665002/

031818 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake


http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-winter-birds-and-spring-birds-together/article_ebca8553-5030-583e-b1a7-ab2db7e0360a.html

A Simple Nest Can Be Quite Diverse (and Elaborate!)


http://www.heraldnet.com/life/this-column-will-build-up-your-knowledge-about-bird-nests/

Bowerbirds are known for structures that are tailor made and most welcoming, as well as very unusual, until the next female shows up.


Wednesday, March 14, 2018