Boomer's Late Winter-Early Spring Bird Bash

                                                          Red-breasted Mergansers

                                                                         Ditto
                                                               

                                                                       Ditto

                                                         Northern Shovelers in Flight

                                               Assorted Ducks in Flight, Including Scoters

                                                                    Song Sparrow
                                   

                                                                        Killdeer

                                                         Male Brown-headed Cowbird

                                                       Canada Geese Effecting Landing

                                                   Baird's and Single Pectoral Sandpiper

                                                               Juvenile Bald Eagle

                                                                         Ditto

                                                                    Adult Bald Eagle

                                                                    Eastern Phoebe

                                                            Irruptive Cedar Waxwings

                                                                  American Robin

                                                       Dark-eyed Junco (slate colored)

                                                                      Song Sparrow

                                                   Northern Mockingbird Mating Dance

                                                                 Bonaparte's Gull

                                                                               Ditto


mid-March/April 2019

Apologies are in order for such a late posting, but due to a challenging work schedule, it is the best that I could do.

Winter was somewhat difficult with lower and sometimes higher temperatures, and Mother Nature
did not give us expected birds at any given time.  This meant that there were sleepers, like a both the White-winged and Surf Scoter.  They can both be seen in the rear portion of the assorted ducks in flight photo above.

We also had late-arrival Bonaparte's Gulls in April and late Song Sparrows have also been located in assorted Payne county locations.  Both their song and chunky countenance will keep them from being confused with the more normal and thinner Savannah Sparrow in mid-April.

The Northern Mockingbird is quite an interesting bird for its behavior, which can include sounding just like other birds, as well as wing-flashing to confuse insects with what they might consider nightfall.  They also have a very entertaining dancing ritual during mating season, which can be difficult to photograph but most interesting to observe.

Many irruptive birds came to visit over the winter, including quite normal groups of Cedar Waxwings as well as Purple Finches and Red Crossbills.  Don't be surprised if the list of crossbill subspecies keeps growing due to the fact that harsh winters send them to assorted locales for food.  They will develop better attributes over short periods of time to assist them in gleaning cone crops depending upon where they hang their hats and coats over bitter and snow laden winters.

Over the past few years, it had come to my attention that our local Payne County Bald Eagle pair raised young more than once.  This three-year-old youngster pictured above was in the company of an adult over Boomer Lake in early April, which was my first actual time to see it, let alone photograph it.  I apologize for the poor quality, but we must take what the birds give us.

Shortly after the northern winter storm Wesley arrived, some shorebirds did a reverse migration right around this time.  Subsequent birds took a more eastern transit to their breeding grounds, but those that we hosted had to do their best under more trying circumstances, like many shorebirds and swallows.  Luckily, I was able to capture a Pectoral and a few Baird's Sandpipers in one photo.  Some of the birds spent several days on Boomer Lake to gain strength to enable them to move onward to the breeding grounds.

Many ducks also were a little late in coming though like the ducks pictured above.  Several varieties will actually breeding in the northern parts of the south, but the Red-breasted Mergansers shown were in high breeding plumage and most anxious to continue on to do their duty.  Unfortunately, weather events like we will only experience more in the future, will hinder breeding birds and make some of them miss insect crops to feed young.  However, most ducks will avoid this situation due to their nature.

Oklahoma Winter Bird Profile: Red-breasted Merganser

These thin, long-bodied ducks with the thin red bill and shaggy crest are definitely something to be seen.  They are found in small groups and will be observed in salt water in both sheltered coasts and bays.  They are less common inland, but will certainly make exceptions.

These birds are very similar to the Common Merganser who nests in cavities and favors fresh water.  These fish eaters are known as sawbills, as they are so equipped.  The most widespread of all the mergansers, this sexually dimorphic duck is a strong flyer, easily capable of reaching speeds of eighty miles per hour.  Unless it is breeding, it will be usually found at sea both inshore and well offshore.

This late breeder may not have fledged young until September, and it first breeds at the age of two, a notoriously late breeder.  Females incubate as the males tend to leave for points unknown in order to molt.  The species breeds further north and winters further south than the other species of mergansers.

                                                             Red-breasted Mergansers
                                                              Boomer Lake Park, 2017

Generally silent, during breeding times they have usually been found grunting and croaking.

Like the Common Merganser, these diving ducks will herd fish and drive them inland to have an easier time foraging.  They also hunt collectively.

030418 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-a-few-rare-birds-arrive/article_cd90ab38-e53b-5aa7-b6ec-e7badf475b80.html

Red-breasted Mergansers and Hawks Visit Boomer Lake

                                                       Red-breasted Merganser males
                                                                in breeding plumage

         
                                                                Red-breasted Merganser

                                                                    Ditto on Species

                                                                Pied-billed Grebe
       

                                                                    Canada Geese

                                                                  Mourning Dove

                                                               Juvenal Cooper's Hawk
                                               

                                                               Juvenal Red-tailed Hawk

                                                                           Ditto                      
         

                                                                          Ditto

                                                                    Male Buffleheads


February to early March 2017

These are the highlights of the month, and I am proud to feature the male Red-breasted Merganser
in breeding plumage.  This is a common water bird found in winter in Oklahoma, but to see the male in its gorgeous breeding plumage was a first for me.  A single male was first seen March 2 and the two males were seen the day after.  They were gone after that, but not until they gave me several wonderful photo ops.

Even though these birds are less common on inland lakes, they do tend to show themselves on Boomer Lake upon occasion.  Even though they summer in Canada, it was nice to be able to get shots of these two in high breeding plumage with their black, shaggy crests, thin red bill and dark breast.

A young Cooper's Hawk (juvenal or juvenile bird) also came to Heron Cove where I captured the likeness of a similar bird almost in the same vicinity drinking water in the winter.  Cooper's Hawks are in the eastern part of the state year round, but they tend to be uncommon.  There will tend to avail themselves on an open perch, though.

Winter is never complete without the tiny Bufflehead, which means Buffalo Head.  These classic
little ducks are easy to identify with the male's large head and the female's classic chocolate color with oval white patched head.