Showing posts with label Great Crested Flycatcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Crested Flycatcher. Show all posts
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Sunday, May 28, 2023
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Saturday, May 28, 2022
Thursday, May 26, 2022
052622 Late May Rains Hold Up Some Migrants, But Not Others
051722 Eastern Wood-Pewee
Today the Least Flycatcher was heard, but this character popped out at the end of the trip.
052422 Orchard Oriole
This Orchard Oriole was observed between raindrops on the second rainy day of four.
Great Crested Flycatcher
A pair of these birds were observed looking for protein when the rain held off for a while.
052622 Cliff Swallow
This was the snag that a two Cliff Swallows had an interest in, though many were scouring the area for gnats and other tiny insects. They rarely perch as their feet are somewhat rudimentary since they spend so much time on the wing. Writer also tried for shots yesterday, but it began to rain and that made me more interested in heading home.
Canada Goose
A pair of Canada Geese preferred this quiet wet part of The Lowlands in which to set up a respite. Photo taken to show a little water depth.
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Monday, June 15, 2020
Friday, June 5, 2020
060520 Boomer Lake's "Greats" Are In Town Today
American White Pelican AKA
Great White Pelican
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
The Great White Pelican and Great Crested Flycatcher wanted to be highlighted today, so here they are.
The Great White Pelican was observed on the south side of Shorebird Jetty among Canada Geese. It was the only pelican on the lake today. This shot was obtained as it circled the area between Shorebird Jetty and Heron Cove.
Writer had several contacts with the Great Crested Flycatcher over the past week or so. For the past couple of days, a parent has been bringing a juvenile around, which writer met yesterday (060420) at Heron Cove. Today, they both appeared just before I did at the deciduous woods across from Kicker.
The adult called several times and evidently the juvenile liked me, as it stayed in the same area that I was in, permitting several shots. What good fortune.
Thursday, June 4, 2020
060420 Different Birds, Different Responsibilities
060320 Northern Flicker
Juvenile American Robin
060420 Great Crested Flycatcher #1
Great Crested Flycatcher #2
Migrants have come and gone for the moment, but raising young is still on the minds of those that are breeding in our presence. It is just as intense to raise as many young birds as possible and the adults are doing everything in their power for them, just like we do.
Many similarities can be noticed, except for the cash outlay, but the investment of any animal is their intense struggle to be successful. Does that sound familiar?
So, writer urges everyone to be just as supportive in their work, as well as backing their needs for habitat, nourishing food and clean water, just like we ask as a basic right.
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, September 1, 2018
Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Great Crested Flycatcher
Queeep! Wheeeep! or Krreeep!
The Great Crested Flycatcher is common in mature deciduous forests, woodlots, shrubby habitat, old orchards, or parks usually found foraging for insects and berries from mid- or upper story branches. Rarely in the open, this is a large and secretive flycatcher who still takes pride in sallying for insects.
Seen before it is heard, this large flycatcher arrives in Oklahoma in early April. It is unmistakable with a bright sulphur belly and rufous wings and tail, located in eastern and central parts of our fine state.
Great Crested Flycatcher
Boomer Lake Park, 2016
This cavity nester will use snags, birdhouses, live trees, and many manmade structures for nesting purposes from May through June. Usually single brooded, the female will build the nest and incubate, yet both sexes will handle the care of the young. This insectivore is rarely located on the ground. These birds tend to weave unusual items into their nests like snakeskin or plastic, simply because they can do so and find them out of the ordinary. The former nest snag pictured above is no longer standing. It met its demise a couple of years ago in a storm.
In the east, where most of these birds breed, males tend to congregate for roosting, but will arrive at the nest cavity shortly after sunrise to handle feeding the young birds. Some of these roost sites in a large, old territory can have a couple of hundred unmated females and unsuccessful breeders. As soon as the young are old enough to do so, they will also join these groups.
Usually avoiding coniferous forests, like those found in the boreal forest, the great crested favors second growth forest with open canopy landscape. They enjoy many insects and spiders, and will consume fruit and berries to a smaller degree.
If you wish to attract a pair of these beautiful and unusual birds to your yard with the correct habitat, simply have a 1 3/4 inch hole in your bluebird nest box. You can easily obtain a proper sized spade bit or hole saw for the job.
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2016/06/fruits-of-their-labors.html
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2016/06/potpourri-for-birding-soul.html
The above links shows more photos of Great Crested Flycatchers with other birds seen that day!
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Fruits of Their Labors
Green Heron Chick
Green Heron Chicks
Green Heron Chick
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Male American Goldfinch
Female American Goldfinch
Sunday, 06-26-16
0700-1009 hrs./78-86 degrees F/partly cloudy/10 mph SW winds
A couple of surprises on Sunday morning, but one of them I was hoping to be able to prove,
which was the nesting cavity of the Great Crested Flycatcher. Both of them came out of the nest cavity and were later in possession of food, which tells me that we have young! Perhaps I'll
soon have the good fortune to be able to see and/or capture them when they fledge.
The second surprise was a sighting on the American Goldfinch in breeding plumage, a big
difference from their drab green winter plumage. Since niger/nyger/thistle is plentiful, it was
only a matter of time before these gorgeous finches made an appearance. Hopefully, we'll see
more of them.
Our second clutch of Green Herons is doing well, as can be seen.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Potpourri for the Birding Soul
Green Heron
Recently Fledged Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Kingbird
Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidis)
Great Blue Heron
Great Crested Flycatcher
Male Bell's Vireo
Green Heron
0650-1030 hrs./64-80 degrees F/partly cloudy/10 mph NNW winds
These shots were taken over the past couple of days, but I was unable to post them until today.
As of now, all photos are caught up and on line. The weather appears to be settling down, and
perhaps there will be more bird activity that I can record.
As a matter of record, the Neotropic Cormorants are still in the area and I finally observed a
Double-crested Cormorant after not seeing one for a good ten days. Also, a couple of male
Bell's Vireos have returned to the lake early last month, has been singing in search of a mate for
over 7 days, and I am pleased to report that he has a possible mate today. It was the first time that
I have seen her this year. The male birds are very aggressive, but the females are not as very passive birds. They are not dimorphic(unable to distinguish the sexes).
There are two singing males on the east side of the lake, #3 did not yet return this year. Male 2(M2) has the larger territory, approximately one acre, and will be observed going from the top of one
average sized tree to another.
There are now two Northern Flicker families on Boomer Creek, one still not yet fledged. The
recently fledglings have been out in the open and can be observed from the grassy field near the riparian forest edge.
After several tries, Lady Luck and the Great Crested Flycatcher permitted a photo shoot yesterday.
There are a couple of Yellow-billed Cuckoos (AKA rain crows or storm crows, as the Southern rumor is that their presence precedes rain), but neither has been too co-operative with pictures.
Today was the first day that I observed three Green Herons at the lake, and I have high hopes for
breeding again this year. We'll just have to see what nature holds.
There are at least one hundred assorted babies out and about this season, so do be wary and watch
where you step. They are still learning the ways of the world and don't pay much attention to people yet.
Today, a Sharp-shinned Hawk was driven out of the area by a raucous band of protection, that
included Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Great-tailed Grackles, and Red-winged Blackbirds. It had
something in its clutches, possibly a bird, and if so, I am assuming that it could have been a baby
bird. The entourage flew right over my head before 0800, and I never saw any of those in pursuit
return. I was also told that the group flew at least as far as Boomer Creek, so it was a long distance chase. If anyone is aware of this, or saw any of it, contact me through this medium.
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