Boomer Lake's Juveniles and Shore Visitors

                                                                Green Heron Juvenile

                                                          Northern Mockingbird Juvenile

                                                  Second Northern Mockingbird Juvenile

                                                     Northern Cardinal During Molt

                                                               Spotted Sandpipers

                                                                       Ditto


July 2018

These are all birds of the month.  Our shorebirds have been returning, included our Killdeer which
have not been noticed breeding at Boomer Lake anymore, since the cement on the edges of the lake have been covered with plants, grass, and trees.  Spotted Sandpipers have been seen over the past few days, but I have not noticed any due to the recent heat wave keeping me away from my longer walks this year.

The last photo of the Green Heron is the one displayed above, as even they have departed Heron Cove.  My assumption at this point is that it could be heat related for them, both for breeding purposes, and possibly even food resources going elsewhere.

The Northern Cardinal is molting, which is why you see missing and indiscriminate down on him.

Stay cool if you can, and happy birding in the earliest part of the day.

The Clocks Are Ticking For Fall

                                                                Great Blue Heron

                                                                     Great Egret

                                                                   Downy Woodpecker

                                                         Northern Cardinal in molt

                                                                American Robin
                                                         on rough-leafed dogwood

                                                                   Mississippi Kite


0703-0942/69-81 degrees F/partly cloudy/light and variable winds

As cooler mornings befall us, leaves drop from the trees in a spiral, and raptors come to
the forefront.  It appears that there is light migratory movement going on, which will pick up
steam as fall comes closer.  There are still baby birds in nests, young birds exercising their wings
in preparation for a long flight ahead, and the adults are coming out to gain weight.  Time is of
the essence now, and since there is plenty of food available, we should see some good stopovers
here in Oklahoma while birds head south.

Keep your feeders full, your birdbaths clean and at the ready, as there will be plenty of birds
looking for food soon enough in their fall movement.