Warbler and Monarch Central On Boomer Lake

                                                                Yellow Warbler

                                                    Juvenile Male Common Yellowthroat

                                                                    Ditto, View 2

                                                              Monarch Butterfly on
                                                                      Sunflower

The Yellow Warblers have been on Boomer Lake for the past two weeks and have been far reaching, spending much of their time around willows, sunflowers, Bradford pears, sycamores and many other woody stemmed native plants.  Monarchs have been in the area of nectar giving plants, clustering around sunflowers, along with many of the lepidoptera, like swallowtails.

The juvenile male Common Yellowthroat is a warbler and has been in the midst of the Yellow Warblers around the sunflowers on the northern and western side of Heron Cove.  This area tends to be a warbler and general songbird magnet due to the native deciduous trees that attract beneficial insects.

090819 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-ecosystems-need-our-help/article_d0d69bef-de2c-515b-be54-ea130ed60a67.html

Highlights of the Great Salt Lake National Wildlife Refuge

                                                               White-faced Ibises

                                                American Avocet, Non-Breeding Plumage

                                                                Little Blue Heron

                                                                 Monarch Butterfly

                                                                     Fox Squirrel

                                                               Downy Woodpecker

                                                                   Shelf Mushroom

                                                                  Red-tailed Hawk
                                                        Buteo jamaicensis borealis, light morph


These shots were taken in Alfalfa County, OK, mostly with the various confines of the
Great Salt Lake NWR, yesterday 09-26-15.

There was one particular area on the Eagle's Nest Trail, which was a virtual smorgasbord of
avian life.   All in the same vicinity were the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy and Red-bellied
Woodpeckers, a Northern Flicker, a female Blue Grosbeak, an unknown warbler, and possibly a
female American Kestrel.

We were there during the height of monarch butterfly migration, and observed them, as well as other butterfly species by the thousands.  With any luck, the butterflies will see some increases next
year, so keep your fingers crossed.

There were water birds galore, and even the Salt Flats on Sandpiper Trail even provided a little
water and this wonderful Texas Horned Lizard.

                                                             Texas Horned Lizard

   And then, this guy showed up.  What a find!    

                                                                  Five Lined Skink

Dow Chemical Is Destroying the Food of Monarch Butterflies

Monarch butterfly caterpillars require milkweed plants in order to survive and morph into butterflies. Not only do the weedkillers that Dow manufactures, the glyphosates, and even worse is Enlist Duo, kill weeds, but they also destroy the invaluable milkweed.  Don't let butterflies become a thing of the past, as they are strong pollinators.  Help me help them.

Spring and Boomer Lake Are at One

                                                                      Bald Eagle

                                                                 Red Eared Sliders

                                                                 Monarch Butterfly

                                                              Red-winged Blackbird

                                                  House Finch Pair in Breeding Plumage

                                                          Male Blue-winged Teal

                                                           Great Blue Heron in Flight

                                                                     Bald Eagle

                                                               Black Swallowtail

                                                               Great-tailed Grackle

                                                              Monarch Butterfly

light and variable winds/56-82 degrees/0725-1025 hrs./sunny

Made it to the Northern Reaches, and found one of the resident Bald Eagles.  It was a fabulous sight to be able to see, almost like greeting an old friend.  He was searching for fish, but didn't come up with any while I was in the area.  Great Blue Herons flew from the rookery to the open area, but it was quiet and uneventful.  Yes, it was a perfect morning.