100723. Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/columns/birding-today-guide-to-help-with-identification-process/article_0353f2e6-62e6-11ee-9a11-3fbf6945e086.html 

Shimmering Stars of Summer

                                               Last two Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Nestlings

                                                              Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                                 Great Blue Heron

                                                                   House Finch Pair

                                                         Female Red-winged Blackbird

                                                                      Eastern Phoebe

                                                                     Bald Eagle


76-79 degrees/0640-0915/partly cloudy/17 mph wind gusts

This was the first clear day after two rainy ones.  There was no sign of the Red-headed Woodpecker,
but that could be due to the number of people in the area.  There were plenty of other winged
travelers, all eager to be a good sport for me.  To the victor belongs the spoils.

Hope For the Future of Songbirds, Oklahoma Style

                                                          Juvenile Great-tailed Grackle

                                                            Male Red-winged Blackbird

                                                             Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                                Great-tailed Grackle

                                                             Scissor-tailed Nestlings

                                                    Fledged Scissor-tailed Flycatchers

0718-0930/72-76 degrees/cloudy/18 mph wind gusts

A low-pressure system has descended upon us.  We saw rain last night with cooler temperatures
this morning, but that did nothing to deter the young birds from exercising their wings.  Even
though they have no authority yet, I believe that you'll agree that the little mockingbirds are growing rapidly, as they should.  They are nearly bursting out of that nest, as it is.  The little flycatchers are
also doing well, as you can see, and they will be joining their parents heading south in a little over
5 weeks.  It will give them plenty of time to grow, make those wings strong, and have another adventure.

Young Scissor-tailed Flycatchers Lead the Pack

                                                    Five Nestling Scissor-tailed Flycatchers

                                                      Nestling Scissor-tailed Flycatchers

                                               Eldest of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Nestlings



Sunday July 5, 2015
75-81 degrees/0640-0930/mostly cloudy/20 mph wind gusts

This was yesterday's grouping of photos.  It was the first day of discovery of the mockingbird nest,
and I was very surprised to find five little bodies in there.  As far as I know, they are still in there.




Today
77-83 degrees/0655-0955/partly cloudy/20 mph wind gusts

                                                          Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Youngsters
                                                                         All Out of Nest
                                           

                                                               Red-headed Woodpecker

                                                    Red-headed Woodpecker with mole cricket

                                                 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Yellow Form

                                                       Young Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                    All Three Scissor-tailed Flycatchers

                                              Father Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Has Arrived
                                                                      With a Meal

                                                               One Youngster Eats

                                                   Father flycatcher with the Youngsters

As was proven, today was a fine day for photo ops.  The Red-headed Woodpecker is learning to
trust after a good week, and I'm hoping for more chances.  There are at least three more of them.
These woodpeckers are monochromatic, which means that they wear the same kinds of feathers
and they cannot be told apart visually.  If observed long enough, the male will be discovered, as
he is usually more aggressive and bolder.

The flycatchers are rapidly growing.  Today, the little mockingbirds were asleep, so I left them
alone.  If the weather holds out for me, I'll try to get a shot of them tomorrow, as their growth spurts are going to be very rapid.  I expect that one or two will end up out of the nest, due to lack of space.