102426 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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113024 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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061122 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

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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.

040820. Migrants Continue to Trickle In

        040720                                           Neotropic Cormorant

This small cormorants will breed here, but it is just a matter of time.  The species has been coming to the area for five years, and though there are not many, it's more than just a vagrant at this point.  Will you get a load of the pose?

                        
     040820                                          Savannah Sparrow

This beauty was a surprise and we're looking at some lovely breeding plumage.  This is a northern breeder in the US, as well as the boreal forest.  My thanks go to the many species that stop over in our fair state on the way to the north.

                                                                American Robin

I had to snap this shot, as this little lady kept coming beside me while I was on the way to check for shorebirds.  It's remarkable how she could see to fly with all of this nest material in her area of vision.

                                                                    Canada Gosling
                                                                        "I'm Late!"

An area resident told me that she saw a gosling last week, but this was my first sighting.  There were four in this clutch.  The male knew me, as he gave me the head bob greeting, and the First Family brought them closer and let me take my shots.

                                                                   Canada Gosling
                                                                     "Who, Me?"

It really does seem little this little one really DID have that on his mind with this shot.

                                                                      Least Sandpiper

The smallest of sandpipers, this peep breeds on the tundra.  It is common, though declining.
It is believed that the eastern populations on their southbound migration fly from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to wintering ground in northeast South American, which is from 1800 to 2500 miles.  Shorebirds are amazing animals.

                                                                      Lesser Scaup

These birds came from the south and are winging their way to their breeding grounds.  Some breeding nearer in the US, and others may make it to Alaska and just below the tundra.

                                                            Double-crested Cormorant

If you look hard, you can see the double crests on the dark male on the far right.  We can see them as far ahead as the third week of May, and they are steadily increasing the time in the south before they head to their northern breeding grounds.

A Warbling Vireo was heard at Heron Cove this morning, but had no interest in showing itself, also today.  It was early.  Usually the Baltimore Oriole arrives with the Warbling Vireo mid-April.

                                                       

040620 Spring Migrants and More at Boomer Lake

032920                                                     Abatement Team

I had seen small orange flags on metal wires in the ground at Goose Island over the years, but never knew that it was for egg addling by licensed abatement teams.  Having observed what appeared to be biologists banding Canada Geese, I never gave it a second thought, as there were usual several large families of Canada Geese in some instances.  This is how we keep birds from getting too overpopulated, since these geese are residents.  Canada Geese are known as pest birds in many communities, and there are federally licensed abatement teams that perform this service.  The geese are uninjured, while their eggs are no longer fertile.  The geese try to hatch dead eggs and nobody is killed.

033020                                                       Ruddy Ducks

The lead bird is a beautifully fully plumaged duck.  Note his bright coloration and bright blue bill.  This animal is a show stopper in breeding plumage.  The rest of the birds are female.  They should be heading north to breed soon.

040220                                                       Lesser Scaup

The Lesser Scaup winters in the southern part of the country as well as in the west.  Some of them are already in their way to the boreal forest and northern parts of the US to breed.  This is a lovely example of the adult male.  The species favors fresh water and smaller lakes, and is a common and widespread duck.

                                                                  Ditto, View 2

040520                                                     Baird's Sandpiper

This High Boreal breeder has long, tapered wings making it well adapted for lengthy flights.  They usually complete their migration from Tierra del Fuego to the High Arctic in as little as five weeks!  Known as the "grasspiper," they forage in drier, more vegetated habitats than most other sandpipers.

                                                                   Lesser Yellowlegs

This thin, long-legged shorebird is unable to hide those bright legs, which is its namesake.  It will run after prey on land, usually found walking in shallow water picking up food either at or just below the surface.

040620                                             American Avocets in Flight

One of the most beautiful of birds, the American Avocet is sometimes involved as a brood parasite, laying their eggs even in the nests of other species.  Other shorebirds will sometimes to the same to the avocet.  They often place their nests on the ground with nothing to provide shade.  However, they will dip the bellies in water in water during incubation.

                                                          American Avocet, View 2

                                                          American Avocet, Detail

                                                                   Northern Cardinal

Isn't she lovely?

112419 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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092219 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

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012719 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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121618 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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111818 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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Rare Bird Alert--Lark Sparrow, and Uncommon Bird Alert--Vesper Sparrow

                                                                     Carolina Wren

                                                                       Vesper Sparrow

                                                                      Lesser Scaup

                                                                 American Robin

                                                             Male Northern Cardinal

                                                          Male Red-winged Blackbird

                                                                     Song Sparrow

                                                                     Lark Sparrow

                                                           Female Downy Woodpecker

                                                                Carolina Chickadee


35 to 54 degrees F/0740-1150 hrs./sunny/lights and variable winds

These were pictures from the 15th, 16th, and today.  By far, even though it was much cooler,
this was a much better birding day out of the week.  Sometimes the cold does out things, by bringing out a few more birds.  In general, there were many sparrows more prevalent over the week, including
the Lark Sparrow, who is easily a good month early.  This is a bird that is relatively rare to Boomer Lake, and we might see it once or twice a year if we are very fortunate.

Another somewhat uncommon bird to the area is the Vesper Sparrow, the first that I have seen, very
nearly in the same vicinity as the Lark Sparrow, but four days earlier.  It makes me wonder if I might find another new sparrow next week, but that is likely wishful thinking.

The picture for the Carolina Wren is my first, even though I have been hearing the bird call for
several years.  I happened to visit one of my hot spots and there were several there to choose from, so I was patient and waited for one to come to me.

It was a remarkable day, and perhaps tomorrow will bring even more surprises.