Showing posts with label Double-crested Cormorant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Double-crested Cormorant. Show all posts
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Sunday, July 3, 2022
Saturday, February 5, 2022
Monday, January 24, 2022
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Friday, February 5, 2021
020520 Boomer Lake's Big League Warm Winter
012321 Harris's Sparrow
Once again, Harris's Sparrow spends the winter at our beloved Boomer Lake. Last year we hosted a pair, but this might not be any of the same birds. I suspect not, because this one has been out in the open more as it gets to observe me.
020221 American White Pelican
It is not unusual to have the American White Pelican during the winter, and this one was an active bird, as can be seen here.
020221 Double-crested Cormorant
Cormorants are coming through fast and furious, most heading south with their breeding attire.
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Saturday, May 30, 2020
053020 Migrants Are Still Northbound
053020 American Redstart
Double-crested Cormorant
Juvenile
Today was a little less productive than yesterday, BUT the highlight of the day was this late American Redstart, which I think is a first year male. The adults should already be on breeding territory, and the juveniles are last to go in the normal hierarchy. It is possible that it could be a female, but I don't believe so.
This Double-crested Cormorant is a juvenile and is still molting into its adult plumage. I have never seen the plumage in this state of dress before so felt that a photo was in order.
Monday, May 18, 2020
051820 Immature Birds of Boomer and Summer Neotropical Residents
051720 Male Orchard Oriole
Eastern Kingbird
This was an average day with a little over two miles covered, about as far as the rest area. The most noteworthy item was the Bald Eagle. Three Eastern and five Western Kingbirds were counted, as well as the Bell's Vireo around the Cove. Winds were from the NNW at 14 mph and the forty-two Cedar Waxwings were picking mulberries like fiends. There are several more trees and bushes producing fruit this year, feeding more birds than last year. One Green Heron was counted, just passing and eyeballing The Cove with no real time spent trying to find Green Heron nests. One immature American Robin was found in a bald cypress, and all the common birds are nesting.
It was ironic that the Eastern and Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (all flycatchers) were actually not perching far from one another. They are behaving like non-breeders at this point, like they would be on their wintering grounds. If they had eggs and young, they would not be this social!
Immature American Robin
Traill's Flycatcher #1
Traill's Flycatcher #3
Yellow Warbler
Double-crested Cormorant
Female Orchard Oriole
Great Crested Flycatcher
Immature American Robin #2
Today started off very well, a little cooler than the day before, winds from the north at 8 mph with a flat barometer. Expecting to see activity, I was not disappointed. A pair of Eastern Kingbirds were found at Heron Cove, along with a few Yellow Warblers, a couple of Barn Swallows were moving through the area, and there were a handful of Cliff Swallows. Looking at the side of the Lakeview Road Bridge, there were few mud nests, which is unusual. No Green Herons were seen or heard today. On the return trip home, writer even went to the waters edge, but saw none of the Green Herons.
Cedar Waxwings mostly picked all ripe mulberries, but there were a forgotten few that immature American Robins ate. Usually they are on a strict protein diet, but the three that I have seen are well flighted, and at least two birds (one above) are losing their juvenal plumage. This bird is a good five weeks old.
There are still several Least Flycatchers still with us, as well as three Black Terns that were found well before 0700. Four Turkey Vultures were riding early thermals, and both European Starlings and Great-tailed Grackles have young that are successfully making their way in the world foraging for their own food. Five Fish Crows had their morning meeting, splitting into two groups. Both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles have been represented in their new trees. The Baltimore Oriole used to nest in the large oak by the east restrooms, but now it appears that the Orchard Orioles are there now, and one pair of Western Kingbirds are possibly not going to nest on a wooden telephone pole this year.
Today we had four Bell's Vireos! One at Heron Cove, a pair just north of the culvert drainoff to Boomer Lake across from the Kicker offices. These two were performing the chase ritual, and the historic male (who could also be paired, as he is usually the first to be as well as the eldest with the best territory). There is a bit of a story with that. Last year the tall metal power poles were put in, which destroyed some of the original territory. This pair then moved over to west of the Kicker offices. The assumption is that the original pair returned to the main territory, while the young male returned to to his birthplace and just found himself a mate and is now courting her.
Also within this active area today was a traditional Warbling Vireo pair, a pair of Common Yellowthroats with a very active female today, multiple Yellow Warblers, a late Yellow-rumped Warbler, and a Least Flycatcher. I believe there was another flycatcher in the top of the cottonwoods, but he didn't call and my view wasn't good enough to be able to get a halfway decent glance. Therefore, I was unable to count an assumption.
A trip was also made to the wooded area north of Airport Road. No Swainson's Thrushes were found, but a late Eastern Towhee was sounding off, though unseen. There were also Northern Cardinals, Yellow Warblers, Great-tailed Grackles, and European Starlings in the wood, as well as a Mallard Drake. It was pretty quiet out there this morning.
Flycatchers can be so confusing, especially if they don't vocalize. Today there are three photos posted as I wasn't sure which flycatcher I had and it was necessary to get shots from as many angles as possible to try to determine what the bird was. It was either a Willow or an Alder Flycatcher, which are both in this area now. It was last year (I think) that I photographed the willow, which was south of this location at the beginning of this two acre land plot. It made sense. This year, I finally was able to capture the Traill's, which is what both species were once called, until they were renamed Willow and Alder Flycatchers. As of now, I'm still trying to get a photograph of the Alder Flycatcher, which will happen sooner or later. Unless these species vocalize, it is impossible to determine what they are.
On the return trip, there was a nice male Double-crested Cormorant with his crests that was photographed.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
050920 Boomer Lake Thunderstorm and May Cold Snap 2020
050520 Spotted Sandpiper
Cedar Waxwing
050620 Swainson's Thrush
Western Kingbird
050820 Opossum
Double-crested Cormorant (R)
Neotropic Cormorant (L)
Migrants are still coming through the area, especially with the last early morning thunderstorm on Friday, May 8. Temperatures never went over 59 F, the barometer was rising at 30.05 and the winds were N-18 - NNW-15 between 0709 and 0818 hrs. Mesonet data recorded 1.13" on rain in Stillwater at the airport. Birding numbers were excellent throughout the day.
Couch Park at first light shared Wood Ducks, the Cooper's and Red-shouldered Hawk, Mississippi Kite, a Red-bellied and Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Pewee, Least, Traill's, and Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling, Blue-headed, and Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American and Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Carolina and House Wrens, Eastern Bluebird, Swainson's Thrushes, American Robins, American Goldfinch, several Chipping Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Parulas, Ovenbird, Yellow, Tennessee, Nashville, and Blackpoll Warblers, Summer Tanager, and Northern Cardinals.
Boomer Lake Park counted the usuals plus Cliff, Barn, and a lone Bank Swallow, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorants, Cooper's Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Bell's Vireo, Common Yellowthroat and a Blackpoll Warbler.
The OSU Cross Country Course added Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrel, Willow Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Clay-colored, Lark, White-crowned, and Harris's Sparrows, Blue Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, and Dickcissels.
Meridian Tech provided Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Golden-Plover, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Baird's, Pectoral, Semi-palmated and Least Sandpipers, and Black Tern.
Lake Carl Blackwell observations included Franklin's Gulls, Forster's Terns, large numbers of Black Terns, Merlin, Field Sparrow, Black-and-White, Orange-crowned, Kentucky, Pine, and Yellow-throated Warblers, and Indigo Bunting.
Sanborn Lake tallied Bewick's Wrens.
Teal Ridge had Great Egrets and Lincoln's Sparrow.
Hoyt Grove Park added Great Horned Howl, Hammond's Flycatcher (Nice find! Reminds me of the coniferous forests of AZ. Must have been very breezy.), Philadelphia Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, and Pine Siskin.
The morning of May 9 ushered in a northern cold front. Much of the north managed a few inches of snow during this same period. Boomer Lake still has the Northern Waterthrush holding over, which it has been for several days knowing full well that the weather in the north was not in its best interests. An Eastern Towhee and American Redstart also stayed in the arms of The South, and our ubiquitous Cedar Waxwings are still dining upon every wild mulberry that they can come within ten miles for. They will continue to gain weight for the next month, if they decide to finally move to their northern breeding grounds or stay here.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
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.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
040220 Starring Eared Grebe and American White Pelican Convention
03-21-20
American Crow
Neotropic Cormorant
American White Pelicans
032420
Eastern Meadowlark
Double-crested Cormorant nearly
in full breeding plumage
032520
American Robin
03-26-20
Downy Woodpecker (female)
03-27-20
Eared Grebe nearing
full breeding plumage
Migration is clearly an event with several movements, including our late ducks and breeding plumage waterbirds. The one that I refer to especially in this arrival is the Eared Grebe, one of which I personally have never observed in breeding plumage. It was sleeping among a raft of Ruddy Ducks, including two others that I later spied. This grebe had rudely been awakened by a couple of American Coots that rudely ran noisily in front of it. The Eared Grebe made the attempt to return to sleep, but the ruddies awakened and decided to move. To my good fortune, the group swam closer to me and paraded right across me at a reasonable distance and I managed to get a fairly decent shot. At least it was enough to give a good look, since my observations in the past only included winter birds.
The Neotropic Cormorant has also been a fixture in the spring, having been visiting since at least 2015, when my original shots were obtained. We're hoping that it is breeding somewhere in OK.
The Eastern Meadowlark cannot be overlooked, as it is an iconic prairie bird in the great plains. Even though it has been losing population due to loss of habitat and pesticide use, perhaps we can manage to bring some of the numbers back with proper land management.
As of late, the Fish Crows have been more prevalent than the American Crow, and seem to be expanding their range more than the Black Vulture, which is being sighted in OK, too.
Several days prior to this photo there were nearly two dozen American White Pelicans around the Goose Island area. They stayed about four days, though numbers dropped. At one point, they were observed sleeping on the island. The Canada Geese didn't feel threatened, even with eggs in their ground nests.
Migration is clearly an event with several movements, including our late ducks and breeding plumage waterbirds. The one that I refer to especially in this arrival is the Eared Grebe, one of which I personally have never observed in breeding plumage. It was sleeping among a raft of Ruddy Ducks, including two others that I later spied. This grebe had rudely been awakened by a couple of American Coots that rudely ran noisily in front of it. The Eared Grebe made the attempt to return to sleep, but the ruddies awakened and decided to move. To my good fortune, the group swam closer to me and paraded right across me at a reasonable distance and I managed to get a fairly decent shot. At least it was enough to give a good look, since my observations in the past only included winter birds.
The Neotropic Cormorant has also been a fixture in the spring, having been visiting since at least 2015, when my original shots were obtained. We're hoping that it is breeding somewhere in OK.
The Eastern Meadowlark cannot be overlooked, as it is an iconic prairie bird in the great plains. Even though it has been losing population due to loss of habitat and pesticide use, perhaps we can manage to bring some of the numbers back with proper land management.
As of late, the Fish Crows have been more prevalent than the American Crow, and seem to be expanding their range more than the Black Vulture, which is being sighted in OK, too.
Several days prior to this photo there were nearly two dozen American White Pelicans around the Goose Island area. They stayed about four days, though numbers dropped. At one point, they were observed sleeping on the island. The Canada Geese didn't feel threatened, even with eggs in their ground nests.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
033120 Migratory and Unusual Spring Photos at Boomer Lake
03-18-20
Ruddy Shelduck vs. Canada Goose
Double-crested Cormorant
03-19-20
Blue-winged Teal
Savannah Sparrow
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
More American Toads
View #2
American Toad #4 out of 11
Top picture of the Ruddy Shelduck includes a Canada Goose in the shot. The shelduck had been strutting around the area seemingly in an aggressive manner. Unknown what affront occurred or with whom, but it appeared to be enticing aggression. At this point, it mixed it up with the goose. The shelduck left a few minutes later.
Most of the winter, the Double-crested Cormorant males were much darker than normal, which made me believe that they were in breeding plumage most of the time. They were much closer in the second photo, and the tufts on the head or "crests," were definitely showing. but not in that photo. I got to a better vantage point, as north as I could get from Goose Island, and snapped a photo of the head, which proved my assumption.
The Song Sparrow photo was a singing bird, and as we now know, "Singing Male" designations in eBird have been replaced with "Singing Bird," since so many female birds have been proven to sing, as well. We are now out of the "male only" norm. It took a century to prove that point.
Hanging in the lowlands at the southeast corner of Boomer Lake, it took an hour to get photos of the American Toad. I'd been hearing them for years but never photographed them until the date these shots were made.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Migration of the Franklin's Gull
Franklin's Gull, View 1
Franklin's Gull, View 2
Franklin's Gull, View 3
Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
103119
1335-1459/46-48 F (wind chill 43)/clear/W-8/54-50% RH/30.28-30.24 H and steady
It's always a joy to see the fall natives and migrants arrive during this time of year. The frost is getting ready to be on the pumpkins first thing in the morning, likely within the next week. In the meantime, we're enjoying Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Franklin's Gulls, and more. Here's to an eventful fall and plenty of apple cider and pumpkin pie to us all.
Franklin's Gulls
110219
0827-0910/39-41 F/clear/calm/72-70% RH/30.33 Hg and rising
Thousands of Franklin's Gulls have been passing through Payne County and resting upon Boomer Lake, along with Pied-billed Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Northern Shovelers, Canvasbacks, and many others, though not to the same degree.
Today we saw 370 Franklin's Gulls and the first Dark-eyed Junco of the season on Boomer Lake, in a tree, no less. It isn't cold enough yet for the snowbirds to be picking seeds off the ground, but that is just a matter of time. Within the sunflower and grass stalks, there are also Song and Field Sparrows, so before long there will be more than a few seeking grass seeds.
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