060124 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://stwnewspress-cnhi.newsmemory.com?selDate=20240601&goTo=C002&artid=0&editionStart=The%20Stillwater NewsPress 

052621 Spring Into Spring with Our Green Heron First Family

043021                                                     Carolina Chickadee

This little beauty was out with its mate, checking for a nest cavity.  Writer had seen where it was contemplating nesting, though a Downy Woodpecker was trying to usurp the same area even if it was much larger than the chickadee.  The Downy's size was much too great for the thin snag.

050821                                                       Red Eared Slider

This lovely was close to shore, but it was easy to stay covered by leaves to get this shot and remain hidden to the subject.

051421                                                          American Coot

Even though morning had been broken, the area coots didn't mind being observed.  Look at those unusual lobed toes that are so well adapted to uneven surfaces!

051521                                                   Canada Goose (Gosling)

Knowing a kid's parents will get you right in the front row to photograph the youngster. 

                                                                   Clay Colored Sparrow

This slightly wet all-star was with roughly eight other migrants and this one didn't mind being the center of attention.

 

                                                                     American Avocet

There were eight sandpipers wheeling around the lake multiple times, which afforded this nice shot of a bird's-eye-view.  How cliche, right?

052521                                                         Least Flycatcher

Least Flycatchers are easy to shoot IF you see one.  We were eye to eye.

                                                           Green Heron and Nestlings 1

One view of some of the first family of 2021.

                                                            Green Heron and Nestlings 2

View two with some of each bird in the photo.

                                                             Green Heron and Nestling 3

The other one must have ducked under the parent.

041920 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-birds-waiting-for-cold-to-move-back-up-north/article_a7aa4722-804b-11ea-91d0-436c10e64b80.html

040820. Migrants Continue to Trickle In

        040720                                           Neotropic Cormorant

This small cormorants will breed here, but it is just a matter of time.  The species has been coming to the area for five years, and though there are not many, it's more than just a vagrant at this point.  Will you get a load of the pose?

                        
     040820                                          Savannah Sparrow

This beauty was a surprise and we're looking at some lovely breeding plumage.  This is a northern breeder in the US, as well as the boreal forest.  My thanks go to the many species that stop over in our fair state on the way to the north.

                                                                American Robin

I had to snap this shot, as this little lady kept coming beside me while I was on the way to check for shorebirds.  It's remarkable how she could see to fly with all of this nest material in her area of vision.

                                                                    Canada Gosling
                                                                        "I'm Late!"

An area resident told me that she saw a gosling last week, but this was my first sighting.  There were four in this clutch.  The male knew me, as he gave me the head bob greeting, and the First Family brought them closer and let me take my shots.

                                                                   Canada Gosling
                                                                     "Who, Me?"

It really does seem little this little one really DID have that on his mind with this shot.

                                                                      Least Sandpiper

The smallest of sandpipers, this peep breeds on the tundra.  It is common, though declining.
It is believed that the eastern populations on their southbound migration fly from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to wintering ground in northeast South American, which is from 1800 to 2500 miles.  Shorebirds are amazing animals.

                                                                      Lesser Scaup

These birds came from the south and are winging their way to their breeding grounds.  Some breeding nearer in the US, and others may make it to Alaska and just below the tundra.

                                                            Double-crested Cormorant

If you look hard, you can see the double crests on the dark male on the far right.  We can see them as far ahead as the third week of May, and they are steadily increasing the time in the south before they head to their northern breeding grounds.

A Warbling Vireo was heard at Heron Cove this morning, but had no interest in showing itself, also today.  It was early.  Usually the Baltimore Oriole arrives with the Warbling Vireo mid-April.

                                                       

051919 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-birding-should-only-get-better-from-here/article_5fab8899-abc4-5b0e-aed0-fbf2858e89af.html

Secret Lives of Birds and the Mulberry Bush

                                                             Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                                    Canada Gosling

                                                                   
                                                                   Cedar Waxwing

                                                                   Northern Cardinal

                                                                   Swainson's Thrush

                                                                     American Robin

Week of 051319

Another seven days of productive migratory and resident bird views.  As can be observed, the mulberry bush drew in a lot of birds, even during nesting season.  However, young birds like nestlings, fledglings and juveniles require protein, not the adults.  The young need food to help them rapidly grow, so they can migrate, if necessary.

However, the mulberry allowed many adults to capitalize on sweet treats while they were working hard to feed young.

Latter Half of May 2018 Is Time to Reflect and Count Our Large Bounty of Birds

                                                             Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                                Adult Green Heron

                                                                 Mallard Ducklings

                                                               Male Orchard Oriole

                                                               Mallard Ducklings

                                                             Neotropic Cormorant

                                                 Two Out of Three Neotropic Cormorants

                                                                 American Bison

                                                              Great-tailed Grackle

                                                                 Canada Gosling


Last Half of May 2018


We were officially past migration, but as you know, there are always going to be exceptions to the
rule.  There are always going to be exceptions and no rules anymore, because with future heat
waves, we'll be see a lot more unusual birds.  Winters will be colder and things are going to be changing more and faster than we dreamed possible.

Our Green Herons returned to colonize their Heron Cove and quite frankly, I don't believe that I know any of them.  We appear to have a completely new crop, but since they are all breeding age, it could well be the hormones talking, so it would stand to reason that they would be ignoring me.

They were left alone since they arrived in the breeding area a little earlier than usual and they appeared to be anxious, so there was no reason to provide the opportunity to force them to move on, so I stayed as far away as possible.  There is no question that we now have a nest, which I believe is occupied.  There could even be a second nest, but I only saw twigs going to another spot.

The American Bison was not at Boomer Lake, so don't get your hopes up.  This beauty came to us
courtesy of the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, and I know that this its the closest that I have ever come to a male bison.  He took it all in stride, so I got my shot and returned to the confines of the car.

There are a couple of cute shots of Canada Geese and Mallard ducklings, Neotropic Cormorants, and an unusual shot of our state bird, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

The shot of the Orchard Oriole is more attuned to their wintering grounds in the tropics, as this is a common posture there.

Naturally, it was important to include at least one shot of the colorful Great-tailed Grackle.

Just because I didn't grace this segment with a lot of birds doesn't mean that they weren't here.  They certainly are and were, but I was looking for a little more unusual variety this time around.

Gratuitous Findings at Boomer Lake For All

                                                                   Green Heron

                                                          Great-tailed Grackle #1

                                                              Great-tailed Grackle #2

                                                                   Barn Swallow

                                                         Diamond-backedNorth Watersnake

                                                             Male Northern Cardinal

                                                              Mallard with Ducklings

                                                             Green Heron in Nest

                                                                Ruddy Shelduck

                                                                          Ditto

                                                                  Canada Goslings


05-29 - 06-04-17

This week gave us a little bit of everything for the season, but the Ruddy Shelduck was a
bonus, who I actually saw arrive at 1110 hrs. on 06-03.  This was the original bird that
came to stay with us for about a week.  It then left the area, and I was told by a resident that it
had spent time at The Links, also for nearly a week.

Our Green Heron has been on her nest on and off, again for what seems to be an extended
period of time.

Young birds are in abundance on the lake and many birds have been and are with young.  There are three sets of Mallard ducklings that I know about, and an easy dozen families of Canada Geese.

This male Cardinal's female refused a photograph, as she is presently molting, but he appears to be
in a fresh set of feathers.

It has been more than a challenge to find the Cliff Swallows at rest, but another Barn Swallow managed to accommodate.  When they were here, the Rough-winged Swallows sat en masse upon
a snag.

We experienced a little rough patch of weather, but it wasn't much of a deterrent for the birds.  Let's see what next week holds.

There Is Plenty of Light on Boomer Lakefront

                                                               Yellow-billed Cuckoo

                                                                   Green Heron Pair

                                                                       Green Heron

                                                               Female Orchard Oriole

                                                                   Canada Gosling

                                                                     Least Flycatcher

                                                                Female Orchard Oriole

                                                                        Ditto

                                                                  Great-tailed Grackle                                                              
                                                   
       

                                                          Female Red-winged Blackbird

                                                                    Great Blue Heron

                                                             Prothonotary Warbler

                                                           Scissor-tailed Flycatchers

                                                                Green Heron on Nest

                                                                 Male Orchard Oriole

                                                                    Least Flycatcher

                                                                     Great Blue Heron


05-22 through 05-26-17

This was an impressive workweek, as far as I am concerned.  The trumpet vine bush on Boomer
Lake's east side is nearly in full bloom, which invited the Orchard Orioles that nest nearby to partake.
They have nested in the area for years, most likely because this bush exists there, as well as the fact that their site is in the willows by the water, which really attracts a number of good birds to its habitat.

Another wonderful piece of habitat is Heron Cove and the surrounding area, which has native trees, mulberries, and plenty of wetland habitat, which attracts my beautiful Heron colony.  Right now, there are two pairs of Green Herons there, which perturbs my Great Blue Heron.  He just doesn't have the freedom to come and go as he pleases, but he really does accommodate his Green Heron cousins quite well.

Our usual suspects also enjoy the area, which includes the grackles, blackbirds, warblers, flycatchers, warblers, and when in the area, the catbirds.

Boomer Creek also has dense habitat for those birds that prefer those kinds of areas, like the breeding birds, the shy Yellow-billed Cuckoo, this year's first Least Bittern, and a good group of migratories when they come through.

There are still a few more photos in the camera, which I will save until a later date.  These include a few that are a bit on the unusual side, but I'm sure that you'll be pleased.

Until then, enjoy your own private birding areas, and as always, let me know what you are observing.