Showing posts with label Least Sandpiper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Least Sandpiper. Show all posts
Monday, September 30, 2024
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Saturday, July 3, 2021
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Monday, March 15, 2021
Saturday, October 17, 2020
101720 September-October Migrants at Boomer Lake, Stillwater, OK
092320 Least Sandpiper
092820 Pied-billed Grebes
Migration began in September, and this was one of the earlier photos this fall. This was the day that I found a total of 26 grebes, but I believe the highest count this year was 98 in April (spring migration) at the same location. Between spring and fall, one grebe that was chosen for food was located on Shorebird Jetty.
101220 Franklin's Gull
This was one of multiple Franklin's Gulls, which is a common migrant heading south.
101620 Orange-crowned Warbler
We're in one of the higher migrant days, and this was one of several species that was located in this general area.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
This lovely specimen was one of multiple yellow-rumps AKA butterbutts found in the same Bradford pear as the Orange-crowned Warbler, not far from where it was.
White-crowned Sparrow, View 1
This was the only example of this species that I observed in the same area as the above warblers. It also enjoyed being photographed, staying for several minutes.
White-crowned Sparrow, View 2
Broad-winged Hawk
This hawk wasn't far from where the above birds were located, but far enough to attract attention if it tried to go after all of them. They had plenty of observant eyes all about them.
Great Blue Heron
This was the highlight on Shorebird Jetty. This is a great blue that was hatched this year. The gray feathers denotes a first fall bird.
Monday, September 21, 2020
092120 Migratory Gulls, Swallows, Waders, and Shorebirds to the Rescue in Fall
090420 Spotted Sandpiper
This is a non-breeding bird, common for this time of year. Though the Spotted Sandpiper is known for its spots, not all birds will sport them now, especially those molting just before migration into winter plumage.
090920 Blue-winged Teal
090920 Blue-winged Teal
At first appearance, it appeared that these were simply Blue-winged Teal. If one looks a little closer, te green speculum can be seen at the edge of the femoral tract.
091020 Great Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
This loner was among a group of several protective Great Egrets on Shorebird Jetty on this rainy day when many waterbirds were out of the skies.
Pectoral Sandpiper
This was a nice find among the many more common individuals.
The "Silent Sentinel" at its best.
Franklin's Gull
Least Sandpiper
This may be the smallest sandpiper, but it is still beautiful in breeding plumage.
Cliff Swallow
It is rare for these birds to be perched due to rudimentary feet, but it happens on occasion.
One could say "three on a match." Note the red tip on the bill, one of the distinguishing characteristics for this species.
Some of these were before and after the Wyoming adventure, but it is always good to return to familiar grounds, especially in the midst of migration.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Summer Fun in Oklahoma
071620 Great Blue Heron
One of the area residents chooses to show himself through heavy foliage of Heron Cove. Nonetheless, he proves to be a handsome example. The area is aptly named.
072320 Eastern Phoebe
This lovely example provides a serious example of what nature offers in Central Oklahoma.
080620 Spotted Sandpiper
Great Egret
Fishing day proves to go well for this summer resident.
080620 Great Egret 2
081820 Great Blue Heron
A shining example of fun in the sun, just like Great Egret.
Least Sandpiper
A common bird in the area during migration.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
043020 The Migrant Balance Is In Check
042920 Lincoln's Sparrow
Neotropic Cormorants
043020 Forster's Tern
Least Sandpiper
Female Yellow-headed Blackbird
Clay-colored Sparrow
American Bullfrog
04-30-20
The Barn and Cliff Swallows have been building more nests under the Lakeview Rd. Bridge. There were seven swallows observed today, and several more nests. Some of the nests are the standard mud cup nests with grasses that are for Barn Swallows. Cliff Swallows make nests that are also cup shaped, but they look like they are constructed with mud pellets and are not smooth structures. Swallows can be found collecting their mud on the higher ground by Heron Cove and have all the grass removed from the ground, as well as mud puddles and along stream and river banks. Since many of the banks on Boomer Lake have concrete, that's why the swallows here create their own source.
Yellow Warblers are arriving slowly, but numbers are increasing. I listed seven today, but that was on the conservative side. Today seemed like there were less Yellow-rumped Warblers, most of them hidden within tree leaves.
An Eastern Bluebird was on the short powerlines as writer rounded the bend enroute to Shorebird Jetty. A lone Chimney Swift was overhead, my good luck sign for the day.
Our usual three Savannah Sparrows were found on Shorebird Jetty, as well as three Spotted Sandpipers. A couple of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were discovered noisily hanging around the east side of the middle portion of the scrubs. Toward the west side of the jetty, two Least Sandpipers held over from yesterday, and a female Yellow-headed Blackbird allowed photos in the same area. The Forster's Tern that had been sitting on the west side snag by the southwest jetty became mobile, and the photo here was taken on the west side of the jetty. Five Blue-winged Teal flew in from the north while I was in the area and parked themselves off the stretch where the Brown Thrasher nest was recently build on the west side of the bald cypress trees by the east side sidewalk.
A Baltimore Oriole was seen and heard in one of the trees along the sidewalk just south of the east side restrooms. I haven't discovered a females yet, or she is silently in a nest, but both usually forage. I think I saw a female Orchard Oriole in the large oak north of the restrooms. They were only twenty feet from the water, so I thought they were coming to spend some time, but they didn't. However, there were five Turkey Vultures riding the thermals skyward. Western and Eastern Kingbirds paid tribute to their own business after that, with one Western Kingbird in a tree branch. I double-checked just to make certain that it wasn't a Couch's (with the white border on both sides of the tail), but it wasn't. These days, it is necessary to check with temperature anomalies.
More Yellow Warblers were found between Finch Corner and Memorial Jetty, as well as an Eastern Kingbird.
A group of four Clay-colored Sparrows were foraging on the scrub stretch across from Kicker, which is where the above photo was made. Yellow Warblers, an Orchard Oriole and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were also seen here.
There was only one Neotropic Cormorant when I went by the usual snag off the northwest jetty, and there were five Blue-winged Teal off Goose Island.
There is still no sign of the male Bell's Vireo that has been settling the area south of the last Purple Martin House. There are some at Couch Park, but ours are usually here at Boomer around now. Disruption will force them to move on, so I am hoping for the best, even with the loss of the sixty foot tree that was across from the sheltered and treed area on the north Kicker field. A new metal telephone poles took some habitat out of the area that was critical habitat.
Twenty-seven Purple Martins were on this side of the lake today, which tends to vary on a daily basis. Peering north from the high point across from the north end of Goose Island, a Red-shouldered Hawk was sitting on a snag at Boomer Creek. Down below in the marsh grass was a Common Yellowthroat male, though not the same one from the marsh woods up ahead.
The Marsh was a lot more productive than yesterday with Northern Cardinals, a Brown Thrasher, a couple of Swainson's Thrushes, Prothonotary and Yellow Warblers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee (calling "drink your teaaaa!" This bird has been heard here more than once and is likely waiting for the mulberries to ripen before it moves on. Once nesting happens, it won't have many opportunities to get any of those and there may not be any where it nests north of here. There was even a Savannah Sparrow in a small red cedar in these woods today, and a Great Crested Flycatcher also vocalized from the area, too. There was also a White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a social Ruby-crowned Kinglet within the mostly riparian wooded region with second story trees and leaf litter in parts. This is likely going to be ideal for the Kentucky Warbler and Ovenbird before much more time passes.
I startled the leopard frog from its perch in the creek and it grunted in exasperation, but gave me this shot for being in the right place at the right time. Even though there is not break in the marsh grass, I heard a Virginia Rail, but was unable to see it. That is not unusual though, as most rails are very secretive. Oddly enough, there was a Clapper Rail in Texas that I encountered several years ago off High Island somewhere. A tip was given to my birding pal that the rail met everyone in the dirt parking lot for potential snacks. Imagine that! I also got lucky with a King Rail maybe four years ago at Red Slough that would sit out in the open. Some birds are so much more tolerant.
Today I only stayed for forty-five minutes or so and cut through the former construction area that still has what may be a generator for lighting to find my Northern Mockingbird for the day. Fifty-eight species were listed for the day.
There were a conservative five Great Blue Herons for the day, but the two Green Herons were missing today as well as yesterday. I even stood on the bank to see at least if I could hear them. Nothing. Hopefully, they are not pulling out of the area, too.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
042120 Here We Are At Migrant Central
041920 Bonaparte's Gulls
042020 Orchard Oriole
First day at the lake. Baltimore Orioles were right behind, one of which was here near my residence before this oriole.
042120 Blue-winged Teal
There was a total of eleven of these at Boomer this morning.
Savannah Sparrow
There were three on Shorebird Jetty alone. There were five or six spotted.
Least Sandpiper
Two on Shorebird Jetty. Migration is quite active active with a lot to offer today.
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Six were fueling up on Shorebird Jetty, while these three took their time.
Lesser Scaup
Still coming through the area. The scaup were not far off the point of Shorebird Jetty when they took to the air. They preferred settling on the east side of the jetty and were much closer by choice.
American Avocet
This group of 35 arrived shortly before 0800 and as is their habit they made around six passes over the lake. They were flushed a few times, by both a Bald Eagle and an Osprey, which you'll see shortly.
Lesser Scaup
As can be seen, their plumage is very striking. They were only twelve feet from the shore.
Mallard Ducklings
First of the Year
This is the first group that we've observe this year, obviously some were adopted. There were eleven. Mother and father are not far.
Mallard Ducklings
View 2
Grasshopper Sparrow
It was surprising to see this sparrow up in a cottonwood tree near the water, a typical riparian area.
It must have been desperate for a rest and sustenance.
Great Blue Heron (Rear)
Double-crested Cormorants (Front)
Writer considered this a striking pose, something not seen every day. The Great Blue Heron is a second year individual.
Osprey
Pretty close, eh? This raptor was in the area the entire morning. It was spotted on the return trip.
Green Heron
"The Patriarch"
Before we called it a day, it was in order to check The Cove to see if Green Heron was here yet. It was not disappointing. Also made a swing by to see if the Summer Tanager arrived, but not quite yet.
The mulberry bush near here has berries just starting that were pollinated over the past ten days or so.
Overall this was an excellent birding day with 56 species in a four hour day.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
041120 Spring and Migration Is Feeling More Seasonable
041020 Pied-billed Grebe
This had been a group of ten migrant grebes that was observed from Heron Cove, a group of three a short distance from the rest. Hoping to obtain a better photo, writer began to respond to location. Halfway there, a Bald Eagle flew overhead, not in their direction. Upon arrival the remains of one of these birds had been freshly killed. Knowing that the eagle was not responsible, there was no clue, other than it was not a Cooper's Hawk.
Red-shouldered Hawk
This bird was observed flying in from the south, and the Purple Martins were not happy as it was too close for comfort. They rarely had been in the area in the past, as the house was too close to trees. Ten of them were overhead calling vociferously. This is where the hawk was captured, most likely looking for a meal of coot, which had been found on land a hundred feet east of this location. Someone even sweetly put a daffodil under one of the coot's wings. The unknown suspect had it removed by the next day.
The hawk moved a little further south on the date of this photo, eventually drawing attention to itself. It was soon followed by three Fish Crows to Boomer Creek.
Eastern Phoebe
This little flycatcher was hawking insects in the area and managed to settle here for a a moment.
041120 Least Sandpiper
It appears that the same bird that has been around for about a week is molting. Its feathers appear to be more colorful.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Our State Bird seems to be warming up to the area and being less flighty around people. This was the first early bird of the years, and has since been joined by three others in the area. Two of them tend to travel from the west side of the lake across the water to the east side, and vice versa.
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