Common Loon
Franklin's Gulls Amid Ring-billed Gulls
Purple Martin
Double-crested Cormorant
Adult in Breeding Plumage (head tufts)
Eastern Bluebird
Brown Thrasher (FOY)
Northern Mockingbird
Greater White-fronted Geese
Close Up Greater White-fronted Goose
04-07 - 04-08-18
This was the weekend that is proving that winter birds meet spring birds, and it was amazing.
The main winter birds were both the Common Loon and The Greater White-fronted Goose, neither of which are here the entire winter. Both usually pop on by either in the midst of the coldest part of the winter, or while in transit to their northern breeding grounds, and none of the pictures show the birds well due to the distance. Both species tend to be in the middle of the lake, but not this year. As you can see, both of them were fairly close. This was the first time that the Greater White-fronted Goose has come onto land, and it is about two weeks late on its breeding territory. I assume that the adult male waited for the juvenile female to grow in most of her adult plumage and they will be northbound shortly. This now makes her a second year bird.
The Franklin's Gulls are migratory birds, breeding on either side of the US/Canadian border.
The Purple Martins began trying to settle in last weekend.
If you look closely on the head of the Double-crested Cormorant, you'll note its namesake crests, which denotes a breeding age bird.
The Eastern Bluebird breeds in Oklahoma and stays with us year round, just like the Northern Mockingbird.
This Brown Thrasher showed up on Saturday, as did the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.
There will be many more birds to see as time progresses.
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