030224. SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://stwnewspress-cnhi.newsmemory.com?selDate=20240302&goTo=C002&artid=0&editionStart=The%20Stillwater NewsPress 

120322 SNP Edition, Life At Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-visited-by-some-early-birds/article_37fd8e76-710b-11ed-8ad4-bbf06ecfa839.html 

100321 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-10-percent-of-the-world-s-bird-species-hybridize/article_912bbda9-51e4-5ad2-bbd5-8df81afe8fa5.html 

010621 Winter Scenery At a Rain Soaked Boomer Lake

122120                                                      Lesser Canada Goose

This little goose is very easy to notice among its bigger kin, the Canada Goose.  The bill is smaller and the breast is paler

122720                                              Red-Shafted Northern Flicker

These birds appear periodically this far east, but are more common in western Oklahoma, like the Panhandle region.  A few years ago, there was an adult in the area, and this bird might be one of the offspring.

                                                                       Cedar Waxwing

Waxwings are getting more common, no longer as "irruptive" as they once were.  They don't mind the fruit of the Bradford pear tree, an invasive tree from China and Viet Nam that is becoming ever popular in the US, is also known as the callery pear.  These trees are resistant to disease and readily eaten by birds, which disperse the seeds.  The trees can be susceptible to storm, wind, and ice/sno damage, making it a hazard.  

122220                                                      Downy Woodpecker

This young lady was picture perfect and didn't mind my company.  This shot was captured while the bird was nearly at eye level.  She'd  climb one tree, then start the same activity on another.

010221                                              Dark-eyed Junco (cismontanus)

This bird or others like it have been fairly common this winter.  I have seen it four times over the past couple of weeks.

010221                                                         American Crow

This was during the period of several inches of rain and about an inch of snow in The Lowlands.  Two American Crows were visiting, each with a pecan.  This individual was captured as it went to a lower area for a drink of water, which was also occupied by several Mallards.  The water was deep enough to cover their legs while standing.

010421                                                               Mallards

This was an attractive shot that happened to be visible while writer was photographing the crows.  They made several passes, so it was not difficult to achieve a good in flight photo.

010621                                                 Sharp-shinned Hawk

This was the third location that this raptor chose to eat what was left of a songbird at Heron Cove, as well as the best photo op.  Two Blue Jays led me to it, as they were nearly overhead.  While the hawk was in the area, most potential food sources were low to the ground, except two Mourning Doves that were motionless on another tree.  After this shot, I politely thanked the subject for its co-operation and retreated so it could dine unimpeded.

091320 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/birding-today-frigatebird-have-unusual-sleep-habits/article_b8bb81f0-111b-569d-9267-a9069aa8e3ee.html 

071120 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-birds-bracing-for-the-heat/article_ab1bf32a-bbf0-11ea-90ff-bfa8f5fce834.html

070520 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-birds-bracing-for-the-heat/article_ab1bf32a-bbf0-11ea-90ff-bfa8f5fce834.html

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.

020720 Claremore Edition, Birding Today

https://www.claremoreprogress.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-migration-can-help-keep-species-intact/article_580cb080-4999-11ea-b2ed-f3439200f312.html

101319 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-birds-arriving-in-abundance-this-month/article_b81244b8-ec8d-11e9-a585-0b0cf3b55c33.html

Young Green Heron Living

                                                                    First Real Flights

Closeup View

View 2

Return to Nest Tree

Balancing Act

                                                                            View 2

                                                                         View 3

Notice Colorful Flight Feathers on 

Immature Green Heron

Exercising Wings

                                                                         View 2

                                                                 Enjoying the Sun

                                                                   Watching the Sights

                                                        Learning How Others Get By

                                                                  All Views Covered

                                                                Rumblings of Hunger

                                                                  Three Out of Five

                                                                          View 2

                                                                        View 3

                                                              Time to Change Position

                                                                 Making the Hurdle

                                                                       View 2

                                                                 Three On a Match

                                                          Learning As Each Day Passes

                                                                   Balancing Act

                                                                    Almost Lost It

                                                                  Bill Greeting

                                                                    Wind and Balance

                                                              Watching For Family

                                                                      Exercising

                                                                         View 2

                                                                        View 3

                                                                  No Rest For the Active

                                                              Getting Ready For Flight

                                                                           View 2

                                                                 Where's the Fish?

                                                                 Dinner Will Be Served

                                                                         View 2

                                                                   What About Us?

                                                                       Here I Am

                                                              Taking Time to Stretch

       
                                                                      What Now?

                                                                    Big and Alert

                                                                    Cooler Venue

                                                                 What Was THAT?

                                                            Mallard Hen and Ducklings

                                                          Ducklings Experienced Fright

                                                                    Who's There?



061219

0715-0839/68-73 F/partly cloudy/W-11/75-71% RH/30.03-30.08 Hg and steady

The young are gaining strength and confidence, as can be seen in faster and more deliberate movement.  Flight is progressing well, but the youngest should be on their own more and seeing the world to make more discovery.  Since they can fly, they also need to be learning how to procure their own food.

These birds are very capable and require the chance to prove themselves in the world.

Nesting though, is imperative, since so much time was lost last year due to extreme heat.