Sunday, January 26, 2020
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
December 2019, Northwest Payne County Christmas Bird Count, and a Bald Eagle Vigil at Sooner Lake
Dark-eyed Junco
120219
0750-0833/33-36 F (28 wind chill)/partly cloudy/W-3/68-67% RH/30.15-30.12 Hg and rising
Plenty was going on, as much in the water as on land. The Red-shouldered Hawk was on a telephone pole, two Northern Flickers were looking for ants, jays were vocalizing, robins were triangulating as is popular this year, both Harris's Sparrows were on the Cove, while one Song Sparrow kept itself in seed. One Northern Cardinal was near the water's edge at the Cove and a Carolina Wren claimed its territory.
A single Pied-billed Grebe and an American Coot were on the water, while four Killdeer searched for sustenance on Shorebird Jetty. Four Great Blue Herons were either in or just off the water, while a few Herring and several hundred Ring-billed Gulls flew between the water and their private jetty.
Harris's Sparrow
120519
0800-0853/51-54 F (48 wind chill)/clear/SE-6/56-55%/29.76 Hg and steady
Here's one of the two Harris's Sparrows that could well be making Heron Cove their home for the winter. This is the cluster of trees on the west side of the area, where the Northern Cardinal nest is still visible and intact. Three Song Sparrows also were making their way around gleaning food. They have scoured just about every inch of the earth and the shore in this small area.
Ruddy Ducks are still in migration with a high number of ten birds, just lazily floating upon the water, half the eyes still open while they temporarily rest.
Canada Geese numbers are still at a low, and some of them are migratory. Near three dozen Mallards seek rest and food, while two Pied-billed Grebes rise and fall as much as some of the waves.
We've been averaging three Double-crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons pre-winter, and the Heron numbers will increase as the weather chills. Dark-eyed Juncos are still sparse, though their numbers were also increase. If we get lucky, we may come up with an Oregon Junco from time-to-time over the dead of winter.
While robins are still few and far between, we'll get American Goldfinches passing through, and perhaps the occasional Purple Finch will come in with them. Yellow-rumped Warblers are around already and their numbers will also grow later on.
American Robin
120719
0815-0904/33-36 F/clear/calm73% RH/30.13 Hg and steady to 30.11 Hg and falling
Loggerhead Shrike
122119
0800-1500-40s/cloudy
Christmas Bird Count was done in Payne County centered upon Redlands Rd., just east of Lake Carl Blackwell on this date.
A few uncommon birds were observed, which included the Black Vulture and Common Yellowthroat. Second recordings were listed for Orange-crowned and Pine Warblers, as well as Marsh Wren increases. Writer's count area was in the northwest fifteen-mile circle with two other companions and tallied 59 species. There were more ducks than usual, most likely because there were more streams and ponds due to rainfall during the later part of the year instead of simply dry areas in our count area.
Doe and Fawns
122119
About seven deer including a buck, a spike, a couple of does and several female fawns crossed our path during the count, and we stopped to observe and photograph them. There are certainly more photos than this, so the best were chosen. Observations were made for about twenty minutes.
Doe and Fawn
212119
Buck
122119
Doe
122119
Savannah Sparrow
122119
Spider web, Backlit
122619
0856-0934/46-48 F/early dense fog to partly cloudy conditions/W-3/76-77% RH/29.87-29.91 Hg and rising
Savannah Sparrow, Backlit
010520
0730-1050/40-54 F/clear/N-15/63-50% RH/30.04 Hg and falling to 30.13 Hg and steady
Sooner Lake, Pawnee County area with 39 species observed
A few scant ducks were observed, which included Redheads, Northern Shovelers, Bufflehead, and Mallards.
The raptor representation was exceptional, which included four Bald Eagles, one of which was on a nest. Three additional juveniles were seen two from last year's clutch and one from the previous year. The second adult was not observed. Also seen were Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, a Harlan's Hawk, Northern Harrier, and American Kestrel, Merlin, and Prairie Falcons. Only one kestrel was located.
Seven sparrow species were found in scant numbers, mostly Dark-eyed Juncos. Eastern Bluebirds were not prevalent, either.
Better numbers of Canada Geese, Ring-billed Gulls, Mallards, American Robins, Eastern Meadowlarks, and European Starlings were noted.
Larger numbers of species were expected.
Juvenile Bald Eagle #1
010519
Juvenile Bald Eagle #2
Monday, January 6, 2020
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