062523 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-when-nature-bounces-back-so-do-birds/article_c904377c-111e-11ee-9d01-67e351b6de07.html 

010619 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/birding-today-too-late-to-rid-country-of-invasive-species/article_67f93bb0-5efd-5e8d-a997-2cbb29986fab.html

Boomer Birds Are Readying For Movement

                                                       European Starling with Cicada

                                                           Eastern Cottontail Juveniles

                                                  One of Two Eastern Cottontail Juveniles
                                                                   "Jumping For Joy"

                                                   Same Two Eastern Cottontail Juveniles
                                                                "Catch Me If You Can"

                                                                      Green Heron

                                                            Juvenile Carolina Wren

                                                               Juvenile Carolina Wren
                                                                           View 2


072318 through 080418

Much has been going on over the past several weeks, which includes the fact that the Green Herons all left Heron Cove and relinquished it to Great Blue Heron.  The last observation on the Green Herons was that a third nest had been built, then abandoned when the heatwave hit Boomer Lake.

Two weeks after their dispersal, one had been heard in the area, then this one was seen a few days later.  Basically, they deserted the area six weeks early, including the handful of young birds reared this year.

Many, many young birds were raised this year besides Green Herons, which include, but are not limited to Northern Mockingbirds, Western Kingbirds, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Northern Cardinals, Brown Thrashers, Mallards, Canada Goslings, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, and the list continues.  The Carolina Wren above, is one of those birds reared at Boomer Lake.

Several sets of eastern cottontail rabbits also are pictured above for your viewing pleasure.  Three of them were frolicking while I was present and a few shots were obtained.  There are thirteen species of the eastern cottontail, which is the most common in the US.

Low to medium migratory movement has already begun in the area, most notably with Mallards, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpipers, Green Herons, and many of the blackbird family.  Increased populations will be noticed upon local bodies of water, such as small ponds and lakes.  Larger numbers of Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets have already been making their way south due to cooler weather, which means food sources are also on the move.  Purple Martins are gathering in numbers, which is why fewer insects have been a source irritation around waterways.  They will be heading south in due time, since most of the young are capable of reasonable flight.

Since our Mississippi Kites were some of our later spring arrivals, they are still actively rearing young, so they will be some of our last birds to head south.  Recent violent storms over the past couple of weeks have hindered them to some degree, but they will prevail.  Rehabilitators have taken over the job of raising the young that were thrown out of these nesst, and this year, they should all have ample time to safely carry themselves to all points south.

Keep your eyes on the ground and your head in the clouds.  Happy birding!

061718 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-birds-have-astounding-song-capabilities/article_1e1928d6-ef3a-5abd-a16b-d70a445c4b9b.html

Green Heron Clutch #5 Makes Debut In Nest on 072917

                                                              European Starling

                                                   First Green Heron Nestling, Clutch 5
                                                                         072917

                                                   Black-crowned Night Heron Subadult

                                                   Two Green Heron Nestlings, Clutch #5
                                                                        080417

                                                           Black-crowned Night-Heron

                                                        Green Heron Parent For Clutch 5

                                                             Green Heron Nestlings
                                                                         080517

                                                                      Ditto 080517

                                                             Black-crowned Night-Heron



07-25 through 08-05-17

This was a longer stretch than usual, but most of these days got hot very quickly.  With both black metal camera and tripod, it was difficult to keep sweat out of the eyes and any kind of comfort level.  Now that I have a few photos, I am proud to announce that we have another clutch of young.

It is unknown what happened with clutch 4, which I never saw.  I had a bird on its nest, but no young were produced.  It appeared to me that one of the Green Herons was a little young, so I am assuming that the male was not yet reproductively mature.  It was also possible that there was a malady or perhaps the nest was infested with something malicious.  Since we will never know, let us be grateful that we have young that I was able to capture at a very early age.

The first photo with clutch #5 was on Saturday, 07-29, nine days ago.  I could only see one bird at the time, and I am almost certain that we now have three nestlings, some of whom are now sitting on the rim of the nest, just itching to escape.  In order to obtained the photos that you see here, I have to have at least 12 mph wind gusts, enough to move both leaves and branches out of the way in order to view the youngsters.  Luck gave me a few shots over the past nine days.

I also believe that I missed seeing the subadult Black-crowned Night-Heron every day, but I don't think it ever left the area.  Going to the west side of Heron Cove each day has sometimes afforded me the opportunity to see the bird perched in a tree.  The photos tell the story, and I am grateful that this bird is allowed to co-exist in the area of the Green Herons.  If it returns as an adult in 2018, we'll see
if they are willing to allow it nesting space.

Even though it has been a terrifically hot summer in this part of the country, it appears that we'll see a reprieve in August.  Perhaps we can all get in some long overdue birding.  If the month is cooler, we might even see an earlier migration, as the days are shortening slightly.  Perhaps the cooler month will give us a push with a few early birds in the area.  I saw three Forster's Terns cruising the lake on Saturday, so we'll see what is in store for us this season.

Dr. Deb

And After the Rain, Sunshine Flows Like Gold

                                                       Great Blue Heron with Fish

                                                           Striped Skunk(polecat)

                                                                     Bell's Vireo

                                                                    European Starling
                                                                   (Recently Fledged)

                                                                           Ditto

0830-1040/68-73 degrees/partly cloudy/20 mph wind gusts

Finally, I was able to get out without being rained upon for seven days!  The highlight is
the first fledgling that I have seen for the season, the European Starling.  There's also
a beautiful Carolina Wren that has been perching upon my fence for several days, so the
camera is set up at the back door.  He is calling for a female, and if he permits me to get a
photo, I will help him locate one.

The striped skunk is the first that I have seen at the lake this year, which was actually a week
ago, between raindrops, of course.  It is definitely a female, as she raised her head when a crying baby was being pushed past her in a buggy.  Any female in the animal kingdom takes notice of that.

It's All a Matter of Location

                                                              Male Eastern Bluebird

                                                                  Brown Thrasher

                                                      Male Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                         Female Red-winged Blackbird

                                                                 European Starling

                                                                  American Robin

                                                           Male Red-winged Blackbird

                                                      American Robin with Nest Material

                                                      Male Downy Woodpecker at Nest Cavity

These shots were taken  over a few days, and we are in high nesting season.  The spring migration from Central and South American is at low momentum at this time, but it will not be long before it is at a fevered pitch.  For the past few days, we have been experiencing rain, which will keep southern birds temporarily at bay, as they don't like to ravel in inclement weather any more than we do.

Just Singin' The Blues (and the Whites)

                                                                Little Blue Heron

                                                              Mallard Drake in Flight

                                                         Female Brown-headed Cowbird

                                                              "A Canada Goose Melee"

                                                               Male Eastern Bluebird

                                                          Male Downy Woodpecker

                                                       Great Egret in Breeding Plumage

                                                                           Ditto

                                                                 Great Egret in Flight

                                                                 Song Sparrow
                                                          "Just Singin' the Blues"

                                                          Female Red-winged Blackbird

                                                                     European Starling

0730-1110/partly cloudy/37-59 degrees/light and variable winds

There was a chill in the air due to a cold front band going through, but it didn't dissuade some
from making an appearance, like the Little Blue Heron.  I have never seen this bird at the lake,
but it is well within its range.  Our ducks are still holding over, and a couple of breeding Great Egrets are in the area.  There is much more to come, as migration is just beginning.  There will be a lot
more to see, so dust off that copy of your birding guide, and get ready to travel in my wake.

Stunning Superlative Show

                                                              White-throated Sparrow

                                                                   Pied-billed Grebe

                                                              American Wigeon Pair

                                                             Blue-winged Teal Pair

                                                                 European Starling

                                                                   Painted Turtle

Once Upon the Fall

                                                                 Brown Thrasher

                                                                  Great Egret
                                                                "Wings Wide"

                                                                       Great Egret

                                                                           Ditto

                                                                   Ready to Fly

                                                                       In Flight

                                                            Juvenile Common Grackle

                                                              Northern Mockingbird

                                                          Juvenile European Starling

                                                               Northern Mockingbird

15 mph winds/0730-1000 hrs./partly cloudy/63-76 degrees

There were a good twenty Great Egrets on the water with a handful of Great Blue Herons.  This is the time of year when the Egrets have always outnumbered the herons, which means that they won't be with us much longer.  The Scissor-tailed Flycatchers still remain with s, the young ones strengthening their wings for their southern voyages.  Some may stay as near as Texas, but others will go to Central and South America, where they will set up camp for our winter.  They won't even have a climate change, other than the fact that they will be in the tropics.

The persimmons are getting riper, and with first frost, they will be exquisite for cookies, chutney, persimmon butter, pudding, cake and pie.  We are fortunate that these can be obtained on the roadsides, along with pawpaws, and pecans.  During this time of year, we can live of the land to some degree.