Showing posts with label Belted Kingfisher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belted Kingfisher. Show all posts
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Saturday, January 9, 2021
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Friday, October 25, 2019
Boomer Migration Prior to Rains
Yellow-rumped Warbler, View 1
American Coots
Yellow-rumped Warbler, View 2
102219
0750-0853/45-47 F (wind chill 41)/clear/W-5/54% RH/30.06-30.09 Hg and rising
Just prior to this two day rain that began very early Wednesday October 23, birds were flying in an erratic manner and preparing by eating as much as they could.
There were a dozen or more migrant Killdeer between Shorebird Jetty and the most southwest jetty. I got the actual count when a man was walking his dog and drove them into the air and they went onto the secondary location. There were some Killdeer there, a smaller amount, but I was unable to get an exact count prior to the incident. There were at least six, but I used the dozen figure.
Since this was actually a minor seasonal cooldown, there were also a few ducks upon the water, which included eighteen Gadwall, a few Northern Shovelers (juveniles), and eight American Coots.
The coots didn't even notice me at Heron Cove, and just came nearer when the above shot was taken.
As many know, Ken Kaufman wrote a book on pishing, and gave many examples on the included CD, but I have developed many of my own calls over the years. One that I came upon was actually learned from a Palm Warbler that I once encountered at Boomer Lake. When the Palm Warbler moved out of my view, I used it to call it back last fall.
Several birds were in sycamores, western soapberry and even within the Bradford pear trees on the west side of The Cove. I'm being very conservative when I say that there were thirty-five Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers in the area, along with the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Bluebird, American Pipit, Chipping Sparrow, and Belted Kingfisher. Of course, the pipit will never be located in a tree, yet it had been clearly observed in the lowland nearby.
The warblers, kinglet, sparrow, and kingfisher all responded nicely to my own pish, and I could have shown many more photos of the warblers. The kinglet also availed itself, but was on the move, so out of the several shots that I obtained, none of them were worthy to be posted here. The chippie also hung in the brambles, but writer managed to get a lot of good looks for an extended period of time and just might have come up with other birds.
Then the rain hit and my birding adventures were curtailed. Perhaps tomorrow...
For the Palm Warbler Sighting:
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/10/oklahoma-migratory-species-profile-palm.html
Monday, October 7, 2019
Friday, September 14, 2018
End of Summer Birding Fun in Central Oklahoma
Bald Eagle
Neotropic Cormorant
One of this year's young Green Herons
Juvenile Belted Kingfisher
Hovering Belted Kingfisher
Same Belted Kingfisher
Molting Mallard Drakes
August 31 - September 14, 2018
It was a cooler, cloudier, and wetter month, mostly due to Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms, namely Gordon, which caused a lot of damage on the east coast. Sadly, Florence reared her ugly head and caused some deaths before she turned into a tropical storm. May the people there recover from that devastating event.
Let this bring you all joy from the people of Oklahoma. There is a lot of beauty that we have to offer, and our birds are some of the birds that you also see during this time of year.
Migration is still happening, though slowly in these parts. It is suspected that some birds are taking a slightly different flight pattern, and there are some still raising young, as can be evidenced here at Boomer Lake Park with eggshells on the ground.
One of our Green Herons that was hatched this year is pictured above. It has grown into a good, healthy bird from what can be observed. There should still be another one or two around somewhere, unless they have already gone elsewhere. Since they are nomadic birds, it is possible that they have already headed south.
In the meanwhile, keep your feeders filled, as birds are moving south, including warblers and water and shorebirds. There is still much to be seen if you're in the right place at the right time.
It is true that much of the wild fruit on trees and shrubs has already been consumed. There are plenty of insects for food sources, as well as some wonderful fishing opportunities for birds that require sustenance.
Happy birding!
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Belted Kingfisher
Photographers can be birders, but not all birders are photographers, and not all photographers know the difference between a male and a female Belted Kingfisher, as can be seen in this video. However, it was a good video to show how close one can get in a blind.
These uncommon but ubiquitous birds will fish for minnows on any exposed perch just a few feet over water. They will hover, often like the American Kestrel to locate prey, and will even do the same for observers that they know mean them no harm. They also will take lizard, insects, salamanders, frogs, and even mice.
Male Belted Kingfisher
Kingfishers dive headfirst to glean prey from the water and incorporate quick bursts of a couple of wing flaps with several slower ones in order for them to remain aloft and steady.
The only breeding kingfisher in Oklahoma, this pandemic breeder prefers to breed near water where they can set up nesting areas in sand- or mudbanks. Sandy clay soil seems to be the preferred substrate and nesting is near a snag or a dying tree. Nesting usually begins in late April or June.
Their preference for food lends to small fish, and the male will retire away from the nest site. They have a large territory of a mile or better. Young remain in the nest and under care for a good month. They are taught to fish, then the parent will beat the fish almost to unconsciousness to provide good practice for their understudies. Surprisingly, the young are fit to be on their own in about ten days to two weeks.
Female Belted Kingfisher
Their harsh, rattling call can often be heard before they make an appearance.
Most of the kingfishers that I have seen regularly are during the winter months where courtship is at a slow place. Both sexes will appear shy for quite some time, then suddenly they see fit to pair. After pairing, they show themselves occasionally, then get busy with nesting business. in the summer.
Male Belted Kingfisher
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