The Pre-Storm Impetus

                                                      One of Three Eastern Meadowlarks

                                                       Male Yellow-rumped Warbler

                                              One of Three Migratory Savannah Sparrows

                                                    Migratory American White Pelicans



04-13/04-15-17

The winds have definitely been sweeping down the plains with a good southern push and trying to get the birds through the area before the rains come rushing down again.

Today was by far the best migratory movement that I have observed in the past two days.

Two days ago brought a group of three Savannah Sparrows that landed in this tree right in front of me.

Today brought two hundred American White Pelicans through the area, which was a sight to behold.  I was in awe watching those birds wheeling through the air with the sun hitting their feathers and causing an explosion of white.  They were also circling in different directions, which provided a show that was better than a flat three dimensional image, since they were in different planes in front of me. Fortunately, I saw them coming, but the group was so large, I could not get them all in one image.

Both Eastern and Western Kingbirds sported one member each, and a very early Baltimore Oriole female sang to me from on high.

These are the kinds of memories that show the true beauty of migration at its finest hours before the storm.

A Little Action Between the Purple Martins and a Cooper's Hawk

                                                             American White Pelicans

                                                                    Cooper's Hawk

                                                                       Turkey Vulture

                                                                   Brown Thrasher

                                                             Neotropic Cormorants

                                                                   Harris's Sparrow

                                                           American White Pelicans


03-20 to 04-01-17

Quite a storm came in several days ago and with it, came a number of water birds and shore
birds, all distributed in a number of areas in Payne County.  Some of them are still hanging on
and it is POSSIBLE that we might be in for another storm tonight.  We shall see, as we don't
always get the bad weather since we are in a valley.

The pelican population has been growing since the storm.  All of these beautiful birds appear
to be in breeding plumage, but I have not been able to see all their lovely faces.  Some have
managed to sleep during some tumultuous Canada Goose uproars.

We could have more than seven Purple Martins on the east side of Boomer Lake, but it seems
that many of these birds have been exhibiting more kingbird behavior than their usual manners.
Some of their houses had been infiltrated by European Starlings and House Sparrows.  They
have graciously allowed these birds to stay, but they forced their way in to their settlements.

What few of the martins there are, they are also patrolling an additional house, so they each
have two homes.  Imagine that!

Now here's the kicker (sorry).  The house across from Kicker (Stillwater Designs), has been the most active and the most watched by a Cooper's Hawk.  Yesterday, I had a group of four martins over my head carrying on, and they were following me.  A quarter of a mile later, I found out why, as you can see in the above photo.  Their home was being used as a lookout post by this Cooper's Hawk, who didn't like the fact that I was photographing his transgression.  The hawk then settled in the trees west of the martin house, whom I again photographed on my return trip from Boomer Creek.  He then flew across the lake and the martins returned home from where they were sitting on the electric wires just east of their home.

Today, our brave heroes were in hot pursuit of the Cooper's Hawk, which I noticed upon my return
from Boomer Creek.  These birds are relentless and apparently, fear very little.

The Brown Thrasher was my first of year bird a couple of days ago, and now there are two.

These three Neotropic Cormorants were from last month, and they were conveniently all seated together.

Tomorrow, I will see you in the paper with Life at Boomer Lake.  Happy birding!

Days 8-10--More Birding On a Shoestring At the Lower Rio Grande Valley

                                                                 Green Kingfisher

                                                              Blue-winged Teal Pair

                                                           American White Pelicans

                                                           Reddish Egret, White Morph

                                                                  White-tailed Hawk

                                                             Black-crested Titmouse


01-21 through 01-23-17

The weather has been excellent from the start, save for a couple of overcast days, but I
didn't even think about your ice storm, since I was able to leave a day early.

Highlights of this period were the Green Kingfisher and the Gray Hawk, but I must boast
several raptors during the trip that I never would have had in Oklahoma.

On the way back to the hotel was the best bird viewing, including this rare Reddish Egret,
the white morph.  The usual Reddish Egret is difficult enough to find unless you're in
this area, so I took full advantage and waited a few minutes for proper conditions.

This trip also hosted a few parrots, but since we had never been to the area, it was more difficult to get good shots.  I do promise that you'll see a couple of wild parrot species later!

I was also on a mission to get all the doves, and I did that, so there are more of those to come, too.