071225 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://stwnewspress-cnhi.newsmemory.com/?publink=0df65c858_134fa7c&fbclid=IwY2xjawLfnBNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnVSSWe5wD-OrS9xm8M7sVCcNSmTPEOnzLoxH8H_03BjsKng-ou8s-CyfJGI_aem_kvYVnNeRVdF6W9LNxL0g_Q 

062224 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://stwnewspress-cnhi.newsmemory.com?selDate=20240622&goTo=C002&artid=0&editionStart=The%20Stillwater NewsPress 

051622 Excessive Early May Rains, Migrant Travels, and Grand Father of Heron Cove

 050622                                                  Greater Yellowlegs

This was the day after the crazy four inches of rain that hit us.  The two shots were taken

at the Lowlands, which is off Husband Street near Lakeview Rd.  In attendance were a Spotted Sandpiper, Blue-winged Teal, two Mallards that paid me no mind, both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and the star of the show, multiple Wilson's Phalaropes, that are not seen very often in these parts.

                    Wilson's Phalaropes Flanked by Lesser Yellowlegs (L) and Greater Yellowlegs (R)

By the way, did you know those gorgeous phalaropes are the females? 

051122                                                       Clay-colored Sparrow

                                                          Female Brown-headed Cowbird

We all call this birds a scourge due to their behavior (dumping eggs in other species' nests),

but it was how the evolved.  They probably made horrible parents, so now they leave it up to someone else.  There are other subspecies that raise their own...to some degree.   

                                                            Male Brown-headed Cowbird

051322                                                        Clay-colored Sparrow

They are usually gone by the 15th, but it is now the 16th.  Are we going to press our luck?  This is an appropriate spring shot, and the buzzy call will be remembered well until next spring.

051622                                                     Great-tailed Grackle

My old birding buddy always says, "get some action shots."  Okay, Susan, will this suffice? 

                                                                       Brown Thrasher

This fluffy beauty was quiet just sitting under second growth cover, minding its own business in the shade, but it was a nice shot, so here were are at the original flood plain.

                                                             Male Eastern Bluebird (Dad)  

The same day of this posting this sweet little male finally emerged with three strapping fledglings.  Unfortunately, writer was too far in the distance for a nice photo, but they were seen via poor photos and binoculars.  By the time that I slowly meandered over, the young were nowhere to be seen, but dad was perched (actual photo), so the three young were around SOMEWHERE.  We'll be trying to get shots of them, as well as the proud mother.     

050222 Migratory Action in the Heat of 2022

042522                                                      Eastern Bluebird

                                                                    Warbling Vireo

042722                                                    Clay-colored Sparrow

042922                                                        Lincoln's Sparrow 

                                                          Green Heron, First of Season

  There was also a second one in the area.

042122                                                         Gray Catbird

Every year a pair come to breed.

042022                                                        Snow Goose

At the end of March, this bird who was a juvenile at the time, and in the company of 19-20 Canada  Geese remained at Boomer Lake until close to the end of April.  It simply disappeared, even though it went everywhere with its Canada Goose entourage.  Writer believes that nature finally struck and it reached the time when Zugunruh made it restless.  It could easily be in its northern breeding area now doing what comes naturally. 

                                                                    Brown Thrasher

Several thrashers appeared in the area all calling for mates, which was fine for a day or two, but even nest mates will become angered and expect the others to move on, even if they must be forced to do so.  This is the male that is left and he has a mate.  As a matter of fact, just on May 4, one was seen collecting nesting material.

041522                                                      Yellow-rumped Warbler

We still have a sparse amount of Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers that hatched later than the first group, which should be in breeding territory now.  As one can observe, this male was in breeding plumage when this photo was taken.

 
 

033022 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-a-beautiful-time-for-a-lot-of-birds/article_2db44dc0-c74b-11ec-96e0-df1186e4fd6f.html 

042422. Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/birding-today-this-area-of-us-enjoys-large-varieties-of-birds/article_42ccc689-f1cd-5255-9c12-71cf7a99d269.html

041022 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/birding-today-migrating-birds-face-numerous-dangers/article_b0668c12-16e7-5e24-8845-31d614999a9c.html 

060621 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/2021-has-been-a-productive-year-for-the-birds/article_cd9b3686-c5ae-11eb-9eef-571505c9598a.html 

041721 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-many-different-colorful-birds-making-their-way/article_0f1cd4e6-9f2d-11eb-9682-7f6add42fcd2.html 

060820 Breeding Birds of Oklahoma

060620                                                        Brown Thrasher

060820                                                         Bell's Vireo


The Great Plains has some of the most beautiful breeding birds and I don't indicate that because it is my home, the birds are truly remarkable, as are our winter birds, though we'll get to them at another time like winter.

Even though the Brown Thrasher is a bird seen over most of the country except the west, it is far from common.  It tends to be shy and retiring, until that big voice gets in the way.  It will be heard before it is seen and it has some of the richest calls and repeats its phrases in doublets rather than triplets like the Northern Mockingbird.  If the bird is not seen, it is an easy rule of thumb to remember what one is hearing.

Bell's Vireo is another wonderful bird that is one of the few states that it uses for breeding purposes.  There are several subspecies which include the Eastern, broken further into the Bright and Drab adults.  The Western birds include the Bright and Drab Arizona and the rarest of the species is the Bright California or the Least Bell's Vireo.

A few weeks ago, writer was fortunate enough to find the Bright Eastern which is like a neon sign in comparison to this bird.

It is also sometimes confused with the Warbling Vireo, which is a browner species.  The warbling tends to stay high, while the Bell's will often forage in short bushes and shrubs, though it will sing in a high area to keep intruders from its territory.  As can be noted, the Bell's Vireo also has a green tint to its back or scapulars.  The song is also quite different.  The Bell's Vireo sings "cheedle-cheedle-chew, cheedle-cheedle-chee," which is unmistakable.


To See Bright Eastern Bell's Vireo From This Spring:

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2020/05/051320-yesterdays-rain-and-clouds.html

012620 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-hoping-for-additional-migrants/article_09880c96-3e56-11ea-9a8f-5764e23ebb83.html

112419 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-turn-your-yard-into-bird-haven/article_48106f72-89db-5f83-9ae4-5f3fa785fbde.html

End of June 2019 Heron Cove June Events

                                                           Brown Thrasher on Nest


061619

1040-1222/74-80 F/mostly-variable clouds/W-6/85-77% RH/29.92-2990 Hg and steady

All young Green Herons have fledged, with four hanging in the common near south nest tree from prior years/the blind has paid off with close sightings/parent is still not on Green Heron nest two with no sign of young, possibly due to diminutive size.

Green Thrasher nest never showed its young.  Perhaps eggs were not viable, a predator consumed them or the young.

                                                     Brown Thrasher, Right Side of Nest

                                                         Two Youngest Green Herons,
                                                                         Clutch 1

061919

0706-0750/71-72 F/partly cloudy/W-5/79% RH/29.85-29.82 Hg and steady

Green Heron clutch one totaled 5 young with all seen, plus both adults, possibly two tiny nestling heads seen in nest 2.

                                                        Next-to-Youngest Green Heron

                                                              Eldest Green Heron of three    

                                                              Middle Green Heron of 5

                                                                      Youngest of 5

                                                      Eldest of Younger 3 Green Herons

                                                               Youngest Green Heron

                                                                       Ditto, Pose 2

                                                          Green Heron On Nest 3



062019

0705-0834/74-79 F/clear/S-7/81-76% RH/29.82 Hg and rising to 29.79 Hg and steady

Three fledges from clutch 1 rapt in attentiveness.  Nest 3 well observed with its Green Heron adult occupant atop it, as viewed above.  Two House Finches, possibly a pair seen observing a predator in area of blind, but suspect not found causing same fracas.  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher heard on west side of Heron Cove among clump of trees where last fall's Palm Warbler and migrating Clay-colored Sparrows have always been found around western soapberry and Bradford (callery) pears.

                                                       Mallard Hen and Ducklings



062219

0818-0922/84-85 F (90 to skin)/variable clouds/S-12/74-73% RH/29.86-29.90 Hg and rising

                                                    Second View, Green Heron On Nest 3

062319

1218-1254/75-77/variable clouds/SE-8/84-81% RH/29.87-29.85 Hg and steady (after earlier rain)

                                                             Youngest Green Heron



062419

0712-0759/66-68 F/clear/W-8/86-84% RH/29.94-29.95 H and rising

                                                      Fledgling Red-winged Blackbird



062519

0716-0820/71-75 F/clear to partly cloudy/S-10/81-80% RH/30.01 Hg and steady to rising

                                                                   Male Bell's Vireo

                                                                     Ditto, View 2



062619

0726-0814/77-79 F/clear/SE-10/81-79% RH/30.13 Hg and rising

                                                                 Youngest Green Heron



062719

0705-0759/79 F/clear/S-9/78% RH/30.18 Hg and rising

070719 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-feeding-time-for-young-birds/article_04a87e02-9ea8-11e9-923a-239df7e5dc41.html

063019 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-rain-brings-differing-ecosystems-together/article_0487e633-50ce-5e96-b492-7e9ed3a07e65.html

Green Heron Action in Flight and Landing Mode

                                                            Brown Thrasher on Nest

                                                        Immature Green Heron Climbs
                                                   Up Branch After Immersion in Water

                                                Immature Green Heron Prepares For Flight

                                                         Immature Green Heron

                                              Immature Green Heron Emerges From Water
                                                               with Adult Pre-assist

                                               Note Adult Green Heron Holding Immature
                                                          to Balance (Between Wings)
         

   
                                            Adult Landing with Immature Green Heron
                                                                        On Snag

                                                                          View 2

                                                       Adult Green Heron Getting Ready
                                                           to Land with Immature Bird

                                                            Adult Green Heron in Flight



061319

0655-0831/63-71 F/.partly cloudy/SSE-1/71-66% RH/30.15-3018. Hg and rising

As can be noted, this is a continuation of last posting several days ago.  There was much activity, and the adult (or subadult) Green Herons ave the immatures a good exercise run, as well as a much needed feeding at some point during the day.  When the birds are young, they eat more frequently, as their stomachs cannot hold a lot of food.  As they grow and mature, feedings are less frequent, running about ever three or four hours.

Fortunately, some of the photographs came out giving an idea on how the young are able to manage well, even if they should slip and lose their footing, falling into the water.  They were even able to help themselves at a much younger age.

Even though they were late in their maturation process, they did well in order to catch up to what is appropriate for their age.

                                                       Youngest Green Heron of Five

                                                                          View 2

                                                        Second to Youngest Green Heron

                                                                           View 2

                                                                          View 3

                                                          Both Youngest Birds Together

                                                              Photo During Feeding Time

                                                                 Both Youngest Again

                                                                         View 2

                                                                          View 3



061419

0820-0917/67-69 F/variable clouds/SSE-12/75% RH/29.99 Hg and falling and steady to 30. Hg and rising

Today, observed three youngest Green Herons and three adults, including one bird on the nest.  It was basically more of the same activity with the Green Herons getting flight experience and practicing flight and landing techniques.