081526 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

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050722 SNP Edition, life At Boomer lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-spotting-some-unique-visiting-birds/article_02830bb8-ccb0-11ec-ba67-b3eb984e2654.html 

042521 Boomer Lake's Spring Residents and Visitors

 032421                                                       Red Fox Squirrel

                                                                  American Coot, View 1

                                                                    American Coot, View 2

          041221                                                    Ruddy Duck

                                                                  Canada Goose, View 1

                                                                   Canada Goose, View 2

       042121                                                   Franklin's Gull   

                                                    Summer Tanager (western subspecies)

                                                           Eared Grebe, Breeding Plumage

                                                                White-throated Sparrow

091220 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-the-changing-of-the-robust-renegades/article_4258b248-f3b2-11ea-9125-af0619e774dc.html 

052619 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-stewardship-vital-for-ecosystems-to-thrive/article_c07bbd7b-8ea1-5468-af0b-e58f9d4884e3.html

First Week of May 2019 Boomer Migrants

                                                                    Summer Tanager

                                                               Clay-colored Sparrow

050219

The above birds were coming through for migration.  The two Summer Tanagers were at Heron Cove for two days, and the Clay-colored Sparrows stayed for several days, perhaps up to a week.
                   

                                                                  White-throated Sparrow

050319

This beautiful White-throated Sparrow visited for a day, along with several other varieties.

                                                                      Cedar Waxwing

050419

This Cedar Waxwing is an irruptive, yet they can be counted on to arrive nearly every year, as of late.  This was a very strong year, and at this time, I am not convinced that they will remain irruptive long. Since the northern winters are only getting worse, we may find these visitors to be predisposed to range expansion.

                                                                  Green Heron On Nest

050519

This was the first day that I actively searched for a nest in order to not disturb the three Green Herons.  
The nest is the lowest that I have ever seen it, though within normal parameters.  Two eg were originally discovered, but I believe there are three as of this posting.

                                                             Female Ring-necked Duck

This duck was with Northern Shovelers and Blue-winged Teal.  There were a total of two Ring-necked Ducks on this date.

                                                           Male Northern Shoveler

The group of males were feeling there oats and very intensely affected by a testosterone flow.  Some were more combative with one another than some.  The few females ignored most of the battles.

                                                             Blue-winged Teal Pair

This lovely pair is a nice example of Blue-winged Teal in breeding plumage.

                                                               Male Northern Shoveler

This photo shows a nice view of the beautiful colors of a male in breeding plumage.

                                                                          Willets


050619

Originally observed from the west end of Heron Cove, I was unable to determine what these large shorebirds were until I got much closer.  At a total of 18, these were beautiful examples of a migratory group of Willets not often seen at Boomer Lake.

050519 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-spring-brings-with-it-a-large-variety/article_10c7accc-0c0a-54c8-b208-b2a5ebf601ef.html

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Summer Tanager

Pik-a-tuck or picky-tucky

Solitary in upper canopies, this bee and wasp connoisseur will prefer pine and upland mixed forest, though it likes lower and more open forest than the Scarlet Tanager.

Males are strikingly beautiful with strawberry coloring, while females are mustard yellow.  Their specific coloring is dependent upon their diet.   These birds are in the cardinal family, yet they lack the conical bill.  They sound somewhat similar to the American Robin.

                                                             Male Summer Tanager
                                                              High Island,TX 2015

The summer redbirds will sally insects similar to a flycatcher, and they pursue nearly any stinging insect.  Their favorite trees are oak and pine, which attract many insects, so they will creep along on branches seeking same.

Flimsy cup nests are built upon horizon branches, distant from the trunk of the tree.  Usually four eggs are incubated solely by the female.  Beebirds are single brooded with an incubation period of about eleven or twelve days.  The female broods, but both sexes feed the young.

                                                          Female Summer Tanager
                                                           Santa Cruz County, AZ

Both birds keep in contact with one another by uttering clicks, very much like the Northern Cardinal.

052018 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-bird-migration-booming/image_eed4c35f-c0ae-5162-80ce-c64ec03d1cac.html

Boomer's Best For Spring Migration 2018

                                                                  Male Bell's Vireo

                                                                  Male Orchard Oriole

                                                             Female Summer Tanager

                                                                  Lincoln's Sparrow

                                                           Mallard First Family 2018

                                                                Neotropic Cormorants

                                                                Common Yellowthroat

                                                                   Green Heron Adult

                                                                   Least Flycatcher

                                                                   Brown Thrasher

                                                                     Eastern Kingbird


May 2018

No sooner did I return from southeast Arizona, sleep overtook for a few hours, then it was back at
Boomer Lake to record summer residents, as well as neotropical migrants.

Fortunately, we have had a good showing for the migratory season.  We will still gain a few birds, lose a few birds, and perhaps get some surprises as a result.

I'm sure that the Neotropic Cormorants are breeding somewhere nearby, but as yet, the mystery
remains unsolved.

Since our Green Herons set up a little early, perhaps an early clutch or two will be in order.

Even though spring migration will be slowing down for a while, there are bound to be a few more
late adventurers.  Stay tuned for more news as it breaks.

Birding On a Shoestring: High Island's Heron Island, Texas

                                                                   Summer Tanager

                                                                Snowy Egret with Fish

                                                     Great Egret, High Breeding Plumage

                                                                          Ditto

                                                                   Ditto, Preening

                                                                   Great Egret Chicks

                                                                       Snowy Egret

                                                                           Ditto

                                                               Another Snowy Egret

                                                          Same, High Breeding Plumage

                                                                            Ditto

                                                                   Nestling Great Egret

                                                                        Same Nest

                                                   Another Group, Great Egret Nestlings

                                                    Great Egret, High Breeding Plumage

                                                                 Great Egret Chick

Great Egret

                                                   Cattle Egret, High Breeding Plumage

                                                                            Ditto

                                               Great Egret, Standing Over Sleeping Chicks

                                             Great Egret Parent, Face Engulfed by Hungry
                                                                          Nestlings

                                                         Another Great Egret Chick Pose

                                                                     Snowy Egret

                                                        Another Vocalizing Snowy Egret

                                                               Snowy Egret, Landing

                                                   Snowy Egret, High Breeding Plumage

                                                              Snowy Egret in Flight

                                                          Neotropic Cormorant on Nest

                                              Male Neotropic Cormorant Standing by Nest

                                                           
                                                          Preening Great Egret at Nest

                                                                           Ditto

                                                                          Ditto

                                                                 Snowy Egret in Flight

                                                                  Great Egret on Nest

                                                                            Ditto

                                                                Same bird, at Rest

                                                      First Year Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                                         Osprey

                                                                Reddish Egret Fishing

                                                                               Ditto

                                                                Reddish Egret Closeup

                                                                      Reddish Egret

This was the Final Visit at the Rookery and along Tuna Rd. across from the Gulf of Mexico.
The only birds with young on Heron Island was the Great Egret.  The Neotropic Cormorants
and some of the Snowy Egrets were on eggs.  None of the Roseate Spoonbills had eggs, and
there was a first year pair of Tri-colored Herons trying to build a nest.  Due to inexperience,
they were unable to do so, and had been trying to create a nest for a number of days.  Most
likely that they will not raise young this year.  The Cattle Egrets didn't appear to be nesting, either, but I was unable to view the other side of the island.