Showing posts with label Canada Geese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada Geese. Show all posts
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Friday, February 7, 2020
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Water Birds On the Wing and on the Lake with White-tailed Deer Upon the Supple Land
Franklin's Gull
Juvenile Bald Eagle
Female Bufflehead
110319
0915-1033/50-58 F (wind chill 54)/clear/S-15/63-54% RH/30.0-29.99 Hg and falling
Today the Franklin's Gulls were at 480 strong, with 21 Ring-billed Gulls, and a single Herring Gull.
Five Killdeer flew from Shorebird Jetty and set up in the area of the lowlands on the southeast corner, never letting us forget who and where they were. A single Great Blue Heron croaked its location from where it was to where it was going until its engine purred in a more subdued manner.
The gulls few into the air several times, the only times being blamed upon the juvenile Bald Eagle, which was followed twenty minutes late by the adult Bald Eagle.
In the meantime, we enjoyed a lone Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carolina Wren, American Goldfinch, red-winged Blackbird upon a light post, and Downy Woodpecker patrolling a snag.
Four Ruddy Ducks made appearances to prove that winter was really coming, while two Great-tailed Grackles were hard pressed to give up their summer residences.
Canada Goose
White-tailed Deer, View 1
White-tailed Deer, View 2
110519
0704-0818/43-48 (wind chill 39)/clear/NE-8/66% RH/30.13-30.17 Hg and rising
The wind chill was a little biting with the scant wind, but being greeted by Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, a Canvasback, and Buffleheads made it worthwhile. Southbound Double-crested Cormorants proved that fall was imminent, while 14 Killdeer showed that they were still southbound.
Canada Geese still flew our friendly skies while we looked on.
The House Finch and American Goldfinch were the final prizes of the day after two white-tailed deer came bounding through the southeast corner of the lake and stopped for a final still photo before continuing on. After the Blue Jays and American Crow made their locations known, the Carolina Wren uttered a final call before all was done.
American Goldfinch
Red-breasted Merganser, View 1
Red-breasted Merganser, View 2
110619
0710-0819/56-57 F clear/SSE-2/70-72% RH/30.03-30.08 Hg and steady
Water denizens, a Bald Eagle, and the Red-breasted Merganser who surveyed the center of the lake came within twenty feet of the privacy of the western end of Heron Cove in order to show itself off.
Chipping, White-crowned, and two Song Sparrows searched for the grass and fallen sunflower seeds at the Cove in the midst of all that was not lost.
The Northern Mockingbird and Eastern Meadowlark both announced themselves before going their own way, but not until the Pied-billed Grebes and American Coot directed themselves to their personal plans for the morning.
The Bald Eagle lazily made its way south while we drank in the beauty of the mildness of the day.
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Spring and Winter Birds Are Melding
American Coots
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Canada Geese
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Dark-eyed Junco (Slated-colored)
Ditto
Feb. and March 2018
The winter has been somewhat slow, and not all photos could make it into the blog. Here is a representation of a few things. Spring migrants have been coming in and dribs and drabs, like the Great-tailed and Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds (the adults and juveniles were both seen today, Killdeer, and both the Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants.
Most of the adult double-crested are heading north in order to breed, but the weather might not be quite to their liking. The northern hemisphere in general has not had the best conditions, but here in the southern states, we are more than ready for what is here and what is coming.
Much of what we're expecting is already in Texas, so it won't be more than a few weeks that more birds will be here.
Populations have increased from our own woods, and this weekend was quite good birding.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Red-breasted Mergansers and Hawks Visit Boomer Lake
Red-breasted Merganser males
in breeding plumage
Red-breasted Merganser
Ditto on Species
Pied-billed Grebe
Canada Geese
Mourning Dove
Juvenal Cooper's Hawk
Juvenal Red-tailed Hawk
Ditto
Ditto
Male Buffleheads
February to early March 2017
These are the highlights of the month, and I am proud to feature the male Red-breasted Merganser
in breeding plumage. This is a common water bird found in winter in Oklahoma, but to see the male in its gorgeous breeding plumage was a first for me. A single male was first seen March 2 and the two males were seen the day after. They were gone after that, but not until they gave me several wonderful photo ops.
Even though these birds are less common on inland lakes, they do tend to show themselves on Boomer Lake upon occasion. Even though they summer in Canada, it was nice to be able to get shots of these two in high breeding plumage with their black, shaggy crests, thin red bill and dark breast.
A young Cooper's Hawk (juvenal or juvenile bird) also came to Heron Cove where I captured the likeness of a similar bird almost in the same vicinity drinking water in the winter. Cooper's Hawks are in the eastern part of the state year round, but they tend to be uncommon. There will tend to avail themselves on an open perch, though.
Winter is never complete without the tiny Bufflehead, which means Buffalo Head. These classic
little ducks are easy to identify with the male's large head and the female's classic chocolate color with oval white patched head.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)