120724. Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/columns/birding-today-owls-dont-always-hide-deep-in-woods/article_9617c972-b321-11ef-bc49-0b9df98ae8fb.html 

112324. SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://stwnewspress-cnhi.newsmemory.com/?publink=00bcd23e6_134d507&fbclid=IwY2xjawGuy2xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRzN3-Qb5CvKvcOi-RdRR_AAyZ-OoMfgV_f7CRVazR_st4VoMDBeGVN5hg_aem_H871gKB08d9BFduprilTcQ 

022424 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://stwnewspress-cnhi.newsmemory.com?selDate=20240224&goTo=C002&artid=0&editionStart=The%20Stillwater NewsPress 

010224 Life at Boomer Lake(123023)

https://stwnewspress-cnhi.newsmemory.com?clip_article&token=0sLNzM3V3s7UtKvN3tnG4szhwsra4dHoztSzoZKilJ6dmZ%252BGmJSglKaY1K6yjqSSl6GUoIaSlp6O2ZaRcHSQpJOSo5uciJeam5etoZBw

032623 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-on-the-lookout-for-spring-birds/article_f7c0cf96-c919-11ed-b86d-0b6697527558.html 

031923 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-an-unusual-scarcity-in-reported-rare-birds/article_ca9b3b82-c3a6-11ed-9129-f7d08a809d91.html 

103022 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-warm-memories-of-cool-season-birds/article_ef168a86-563f-11ed-b740-53759d336156.html 

123121. SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-where-are-all-the-songbirds/article_7d010a18-68fe-11ec-a58f-433ea5b732dd.html 

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-birds-most-vulnerable-to-dangers-while-asleep/article_1f8b0bd9-0c54-51cd-92e6-4a1aa1274479.html 

021721 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-plethora-of-wonderful-birds-despite-the-chills/article_847b3d44-70d5-11eb-9e3d-e362f456e70a.html 

031520 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-birds-making-sure-we-know-spring-is-coming/article_4a4f6017-ef2f-5e9b-b33a-aa525309ad32.html

111719 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-most-owls-nocturnal/article_8e041ffe-e9c0-5dfc-bd21-221c393420ce.html

031818 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-winter-birds-and-spring-birds-together/article_ebca8553-5030-583e-b1a7-ab2db7e0360a.html

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.    

Summer Relinquishes to Fall's Finer Showings

Eastern Bluebird

Double-crested Cormorants

Killdeer

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk

Female Downy Woodpecker

Great Horned Owl

Adult Red-shouldered Hawk

Great Blue Heron Holding Berries

Great Blue Heron Releasing Berries

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron

Redheads

American Goldfinch


11-20 through12-02-16

El Nino still holds on fast to many things, even though its time should be up.  Global warming 

 has taken on a stronger foothold, so birds that should have been on their way to more southern climes are still with us in mid-December, like the Great Egret, juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron, and even a vagrant Brown Pelican from the briny waters.  I did not see the pelican yesterday, but my sources are very trustworthy, so I know that it was on Boomer Lake. 

Rumor has it that winter will be warm and wet for the Great Plains, but the northern areas will be even colder and snowier.  Good fortune to all, and keep warm. 

Owl Be Seeing You

                                                                  Rusty Blackbird

                                                                         Redheads

                                                         Northern Flicker(yellow shafted)

                                                               Great Horned Owl

                                                                  Song Sparrow

The Rusty Blackbird surprised me a little, since it rarely ventures out at the lake, but the calm day must have had something to do with it.  These photos were taken over the past two days; yesterday was a bright and windless day, and today had gusting winds at 20 mph.  Each day had its good points, so I chose the best photos between the two.  This is what I came up with, and tomorrow is another day.

Best of Boomer

                                                         Male Northern Shoveler(left)
                                                         Canvasbacks(Male in center)

                                            American Robin with Eastern Red Cedar Berry

                                                                Pied-billed Grebe

                                                               Pileated Woodpecker

                                                                Great Horned Owl

                                                          Buffleheads(Male on right)

                                                         Immature White-crowned Sparrow

                                                                  American Robin

                                                       Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker


0730-1020 hrs./34-50 degrees F/partly cloudy to sunny/light and variable winds

Today was more like a spring day, rather than going into the throes of winter.  Bird behavior
was about the same for spring, as well.  Besides these beauties, there were also plenty of
Brown-headed Cowbirds, large groups of American Robins, Slate-colored Juncos, and other
birds that are normally making an entrance for the season.

The biggest surprise of the day was a clear shot of the Pileated Woodpecker and a rather respectable shot of an adult Great Horned Owl, who I have been hearing on-and-off.  I know that there is
another one in the area.  Hopefully, Boomer Lake will host a nest for them, and if I can keep a handle on their whereabouts, maybe I can get photos of the young, too.  We'll just have to hope for the best.