091926 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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101825 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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100921 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

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053021 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

 https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-hybridizing-becoming-more-common/article_1f4ebaac-967b-5593-941d-5b5516fb27d6.html

040421 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-time-to-get-birdbaths-shining-again/article_9075c072-93f0-11eb-8982-7b5010091e2b.html 

Fall Migration Still Waiting to Top Out or World of Birds On the Rise

                                                        Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored)

                                                                      Field Sparrow

                                                                Ruby-crowned Kinglet

                                                                    Field Sparrow

                                                                Field Sparrow, View 2

                                                                   Lincoln's Sparrow

                                                                 American Goldfinch

                                                           American Goldfinch, View 2

                                                                    Eastern Phoebe

                                                               Yellow-rumped Warbler

                                                          American Goldfinch, View 3

                                                          American Goldfinch, View 4


10-20 - 10-23-18

Last weekend and the first couple of weekdays brought two expected fallouts to Boomer Lake.  This turned into the sparrow capital of the world, as well as songbird numbers increased.  Being conservative, my opinion was in the neighborhood of a dozen winter Yellow-rumped warblers, but I believe it was close to twenty-five.

Also visiting were Orange-crowned and Nashville Warblers.  Making attempts to get from one habitat change to another proved interesting, but just listening to the sounds of the birds that came in together, it was easy to tell what was near.  However, finding each species was definitely another story.

After the Palm Warbler find, which was Boomer Lake's first recorded sighting, my spirits were high, and we did manage either a late migrating Gray Catbird, or the breeding catbird from these parts just decided to stay longer.

The Dark-eyed Juncos only stayed for a day, but the American Goldfinches and sparrows were eating every seed in sight.

After a brief sighting of about sixty Franklin's Gulls, Lady Luck asked me to settle down and enjoy the sights. So I did.

What I bring to you was just a basic representation of what I was able to find or at least be in view.  The sounds of the Spotted Towhee rang through, it was briefly spotted once, but it has been staying put.

After a couple of days rain, it will be time to see what else flew in.  Stand by for more information as soon as possible.

The Life of the Present Bird Party of the First Part

                                                                      Field Sparrow

                                                                  Common Goldeneye

                                                                    Mourning Doves

Great Horned Owl

03-03 - 03-15-17

March was off to a slow start with a fair amount of inclement weather and cold wind chills in the early mornings.  Migratory movement was somewhat slow, but again, when it was good, it was

much better than expected.  As of this posting, weather is much more seasonable and movements have been closer to moderate, some species earlier than normal, others slightly later.

Our Bald Eagle has been around more, and I suspect that since one bird is in the vicinity, we have surprises in the nest.  We have come a long way since that first sighting in the winter of 2012.

Ducks and other water birds have been moving through the area, and I was both pleased and surprised to see several Common Goldeneyes visiting, as well as the fact that even though they were still a little distant, I could at least provide some photos this time around.

As you can see Mourning Doves are nesting, our first Purple Martin scout showed up on the lake on March 16, which also happens to be my birthday, so that was a wonderful present.  Since the winter hadn't been cold enough for a long stretch, these birds have enough protein to fill their stomachs, and those early mosquitos, gnats, and no-see'ums, will be kept at bay.

I have seen TWO American Kestrels a couple of times this winter, and there is a possibility that one could be the offspring of our usual resident male bird.  If he stays too long, he will be pushed out of the area by the older bird, which is normal practice.

There will be more photos to come, and at present, our Blue-winged Teal have been coming through the area before they continue on, so you'll see plenty of them as time goes on.    

Steady as the Westerly Wind Blows

                                                                      Song Sparrow

                                                        Male Ruby-crowned Kinglet

                                                             Male American Kestrel

                                                                     Field Sparrow

                                                                    Ruddy Duck


0738-1104 hrs./31-40 degrees F(22 degrees windchill)/sunny/15 mph wind gusts

Who would have ever known that today would have been a fabulous birding day if I had not gone?
I thought about going back with those early wind chills, nipping through my gloves.  Now mind
you, I already have frostbite in my hands and feet, so it was sheer strength that kept me going.  I
knew that today was going to be special, just like a couple of years ago when I knew that our
Bald Eagle would give me the perfect full frame photo.  Always trust your gut instinct.

Obviously, I did just that, and I was reward with several shots of the American Kestrel, which I
have been trying to get for several months now.  Photographing birds on manmade objects are
against mob principals, which is why I decided to wait, and after today, I'm happy that I did.

Rewards tend to come at the most trying of times, including the four-inch Ruby-crowned Kinglet, who is constantly on the move and rarely sows that red crown.  Need I say more?

I STILL need to photograph the Golden-crowned Kinglet, who is generally forty feet up in a tree.

The Bar Gets Raised One Notch

                                                 Ross's Goose with Canada Goose Escort

                                                                     Ross's Goose

                                                                          Ditto

                                                 Blue-winged Teal Pair, Northern Reaches

                     
                                                                         Ditto
               

                                                          Great Egret, Breeding Plumage

                                                   First Year Male Brown-headed Cowbird
                                                          Practices Courting Techniques

                                                              Male Northern Shoveler

                                                              Red-shouldered Hawk

                                                                   Male Eastern Bluebird

                                                              Male Great-tailed Grackle

                                                             Female House Sparrow

                                                       Male Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                                         Ditto

These Shots were taken over the past couple of days, and I had to keep dodging raindrops,
as I have been for several days now.  Even though, it has been a bit of a challenge from
time-to-time, I believe the shots may speak for themselves.  The little Ross's Goose arrived
beside the east side of Goose Island yesterday with a Canada Goose escort.  This little goose,
rarely seen on Boomer Lake, preened for about twenty minutes, then climbed up the hill to
the island, where I observed him eat and take a respite.  The other geese, even though nesting,
really paid him or her no mind.

I almost forgot.  I was at Teal Ridge Wetlands a few days ago, managing to get this shot of the
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, which is a bird never seen at Boomer Lake, at least not to my knowledge.

                                                One of Two Yellow-crowned Night-Herons

                                                  Second Yellow-crowned Night Herons

Note that this second bird is displaying a beautiful yellow plume.

I also visited Couch Park on Sunday, and found this beautiful little Field Sparrow.