Showing posts with label Swainson's Thrush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swainson's Thrush. Show all posts
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Saturday, April 2, 2022
Saturday, May 22, 2021
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Saturday, May 9, 2020
050920 Boomer Lake Thunderstorm and May Cold Snap 2020
050520 Spotted Sandpiper
Cedar Waxwing
050620 Swainson's Thrush
Western Kingbird
050820 Opossum
Double-crested Cormorant (R)
Neotropic Cormorant (L)
Migrants are still coming through the area, especially with the last early morning thunderstorm on Friday, May 8. Temperatures never went over 59 F, the barometer was rising at 30.05 and the winds were N-18 - NNW-15 between 0709 and 0818 hrs. Mesonet data recorded 1.13" on rain in Stillwater at the airport. Birding numbers were excellent throughout the day.
Couch Park at first light shared Wood Ducks, the Cooper's and Red-shouldered Hawk, Mississippi Kite, a Red-bellied and Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Pewee, Least, Traill's, and Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling, Blue-headed, and Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American and Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Carolina and House Wrens, Eastern Bluebird, Swainson's Thrushes, American Robins, American Goldfinch, several Chipping Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Parulas, Ovenbird, Yellow, Tennessee, Nashville, and Blackpoll Warblers, Summer Tanager, and Northern Cardinals.
Boomer Lake Park counted the usuals plus Cliff, Barn, and a lone Bank Swallow, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorants, Cooper's Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Bell's Vireo, Common Yellowthroat and a Blackpoll Warbler.
The OSU Cross Country Course added Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrel, Willow Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Clay-colored, Lark, White-crowned, and Harris's Sparrows, Blue Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, and Dickcissels.
Meridian Tech provided Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Golden-Plover, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Baird's, Pectoral, Semi-palmated and Least Sandpipers, and Black Tern.
Lake Carl Blackwell observations included Franklin's Gulls, Forster's Terns, large numbers of Black Terns, Merlin, Field Sparrow, Black-and-White, Orange-crowned, Kentucky, Pine, and Yellow-throated Warblers, and Indigo Bunting.
Sanborn Lake tallied Bewick's Wrens.
Teal Ridge had Great Egrets and Lincoln's Sparrow.
Hoyt Grove Park added Great Horned Howl, Hammond's Flycatcher (Nice find! Reminds me of the coniferous forests of AZ. Must have been very breezy.), Philadelphia Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, and Pine Siskin.
The morning of May 9 ushered in a northern cold front. Much of the north managed a few inches of snow during this same period. Boomer Lake still has the Northern Waterthrush holding over, which it has been for several days knowing full well that the weather in the north was not in its best interests. An Eastern Towhee and American Redstart also stayed in the arms of The South, and our ubiquitous Cedar Waxwings are still dining upon every wild mulberry that they can come within ten miles for. They will continue to gain weight for the next month, if they decide to finally move to their northern breeding grounds or stay here.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
042820 Migrants Hiding Within the Trees and Leaf Litter
042620 American Coot
White-faced Ibis
Swainson's Thrush
042720 Franklin's Gull
042820 Spotted Sandpiper
Clay-colored Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
Common Yellowthroat
Southwestern Subspecies
Three Barn Swallows were sailing around under the Lakeview Road Bridge with the Bald Eagle off on a distant power pole. The swallows circled around the water, then along the lowlands of the southeast corner of the lake. Writer then scanned the short grass just in case there might be Buff-breasted Sandpipers coming in early. Some of the grass is a little long, but they should be able to work with it. Hopefully, they will come here for a much-wanted photo if the grass doesn't grow much more.
Writer swung around The Cove for Yellow-rumped and the sounds of Yellow Warbler, as well as Warbling Vireo. Upon initial inspection, no Green Herons in sight, but there were Great-tailed Grackles and a couple of Red-winged Blackbirds. Eyeing the water on the north side, there were two dozen Franklin's Gulls, one Great Blue Heron cast overhead in a southeast direction, while another was discovered on the north side of Heron Cove proper, as well as one Double-crested Cormorant.
The sound of a Nashville Warbler permeated the air, but the area around the bend heading north is very thick, mostly with the dreaded Bradford pear. I have a solid fear that if they continue to be allowed to grow, they will choke out what few natives we have, and the migrants will pick and choose where they want to go. Hopefully, we won't lose them in the future.
A female Yellow Warbler was discovered in the scrub before the Brown Thrasher's nesting area. A tail was observed poking from the thrasher nest. Passing the area, a male and female Yellow Warbler were observed going through the top branches and greenery in search of insects. One Yellow-rumped Warbler was also discovered within the same area.
Shorebird Jetty hosted three Spotted Sandpipers, five Purple Martins within their plastic house, and European Starlings littered the ground around the house. A couple of Red-winged Blackbirds were foraging just west of this area. No additional birds of interest were seen beyond this area, save for a Savannah Sparrow, a lone American Coot, and a couple of House Sparrows.
Along the stretch between Shorebird and Memorial Jetties, another Yellow-rumped Warbler was heard, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was seen, and the sound of an Eastern Kingbird permeated the area, who was found atop the high wires. American Robins assaulted the ground seeking worms, while starlings searched for insect fodder. Three Western Kingbirds were enjoying their morning on the high wires. The Purple Martins were out catching breakfast.
A couple of Mourning Doves were on Memorial Jetty, Mallards were enjoying the water, and a Spotted Sandpiper patrolled its area around the north side perimeter. Social Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were in the large oak bordering the storm drain overflow ramp, attracting the three Western Kingbirds, and a Warbling Vireo announced its presence. A male Orchard Oriole kept calling for "Marguerite," until he tired of that and moved north. Three Clay-colored sparrows roved between the overflow, the bank, and the north side of the trees, while the Western Kingbirds relocated to the low wires on the east side across from Kicker. A pair of Brown Thrashers tossed leaves while foraging along the bank, sometimes sharing space with the Clay-colored Sparrows.
What could have been another Nashville Warbler sounded out along the west side of the willows/cottonwoods, but that was all. Most of the Purple Martins from the Kicker House returned from their foray to gather again and feed a female that is believed to be caring for eggs/young. With the House Sparrows that reside there, at least one bird will have to remain at all times to avoid possible harm to the eggs/young.
Cardinals were observed throughout the walk, and they still continued to call as the journey progressed. All trumpet vines remained unused, while the largest one by the Kicker martin house still shows no sign of flowering.
a single male Blue-winged Teal was discovered with a small group of Mallards along the northeast jetty, along with a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. It appeared that our eleven Mallard Ducklings were shortchanged to eight, and a Canada Goose pair were herding three of their goslings, while a nearby Mallard drake flew off and landed in the water on the south side of the jetty. Perhaps the young annoyed him. Two American Coots lazily swam along the east shoreline.
A few Canada Geese and European Starlings were holding down the Kicker field, while a single Northern Mockingbird flew west from the small group of trees west of the protected zone surrounded by trees. The mocker flashed into a small tree north of the ficus, then returned to the original group of trees. I really hope that the Bell's Vireo that has been breeding here for years will return, even though the family was displaced by the addition of the new power poles. Unfortunately some of the vireo's territory was removed with the construction. The family moved just north of there into the scrub south of the northeast jetty.
High Point Ridge had very little scenery other than a few Double-crested Cormorants and Canada Geese swimming in the water.
Below the banks where the red cedars cluster, all was quiet, as well as the new road to the line of towering giant metal electrical poles, until we reached the woods. An hour was spent observing and photographing the Southwestern subspecies of Common Yellowthroat and Tufted Titmouse. The Pileated Woodpecker, Harris's Sparrow, and Red-bellied Woodpecker were seen and not heard, as was the Northern Flicker calling from afar. The Carolina Chickadees reminded all of their presence, while a brave Swainson's Thrush let me hear its call for the first time.
Working around and back on the main trail, there was little activity, save for a single Northern Mockingbird and European Starlings. Fifty-three species for the day was respectable enough.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Pre- and Post Flood Natural Birding Wonders
Dickcissel
051919
One of many of these birds found at Sooner Lake. This was one of the few days that it didn't rain, providing a wonderful day birding.
Swainson's Thrush
Savannah Sparrow
052319
This was a couple of days after the flood. This beautiful Swainson's Thrush sat out in the open in the current swampy area, where I also located a late-migrating Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a singing male Common Yellowthroat, and both Alder and Least Flycatchers.
The Savannah Sparrow is known as a later sparrow migrant, providing a couple of nice shots in a drier area.
The lake had receded slightly, but it still was not completely back within its banks.
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Friday, May 17, 2019
Secret Lives of Birds and the Mulberry Bush
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Canada Gosling
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Cardinal
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Week of 051319
Another seven days of productive migratory and resident bird views. As can be observed, the mulberry bush drew in a lot of birds, even during nesting season. However, young birds like nestlings, fledglings and juveniles require protein, not the adults. The young need food to help them rapidly grow, so they can migrate, if necessary.
However, the mulberry allowed many adults to capitalize on sweet treats while they were working hard to feed young.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Rare Birds Are Still Gracing Payne County in Oklahoma
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Spotted Sandpiper
Great Blue Heron
First Spring Hooded Merganser
Swainson's Thrush
Eastern Kingbird
Neotropic Cormorant
05-15-16
0900-1300 hrs./58-68 degrees F/partly to mostly cloudy/15 mph wind gusts
The day before the rain provided a good showing at Boomer Lake, namely the Neotropic Cormorant
who visited me between the northern jetty and Goose Island on the east side of the lake. This bird
arrived approximately a month ago, and has been with us ever since, which has been the first spring
it has ever been at the lake. Also, two first spring Hooded Mergansers dropped right in front of me
on the north side of the lake closer to the shore near the northern part of Goose Island. Nonetheless,
even though the Hooded Merganser can be in the area this time of year, they will most likely be resident birds. Normally, these birds are in the area only during the winter, so it is quite exceptional.
The remainder of the birds were photographed off Boomer Creek in the deeply wooded area. The
Swainson's Thrush was heard calling prior to the sighting, and there were also several warblers seen
and heard in the area, including the Prothonotary and Blackpoll Warblers. If you look hard at the Red-bellied Woodpecker, you'll see its long tongue protruding from its bill, which is how it gets all those delicious ants and termites.
It is expected to be good weather on Wednesday, so it is likely that more birds could be arriving in the
area, but until then, the current visitors are probably not going anywhere.
The Spotted Sandpiper, the Red-bellied Woodpecker and the Red-headed Woodpecker are all at home in the Boomer Creek area, as well as the stately Pileated Woodpecker. There is no question that these
birds are all raising youngsters. Hopefully, I might be able to spot a nest cavity tree, even in the thick woods. Time will tell.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Birding On a Shoestring: High Island Songbirds and Bolivar Flats Shorebirds
Swainson's Thrush
Great-crested Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Female Baltimore Oriole
Male Bay-breasted Warbler
Male Scarlet Tanager
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Sanderling
Semi-palmated Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Dunlin
Semi-palmated Plover
Dunlin
Snowy Plover
Snowy Egret
Brown Pelican in Flight
Whimbrel
Most of the songbirds came from a residential street, and the next trip was to Bolivar Flats. There were some remarkable birds at both locations, as you can see,
Monday, April 27, 2015
Birding On a Shoestring: High Island, Boy Scout Woods, Heron Island, Smith Oaks, Boy Scout Woods, Big Thicket
Swainson's Thrush
Black-throated Green Warbler
Acadian Flycatcher
Neotropic Cormorant
Great Egret in Flight
Ditto
Cattle Egret
Roseate Spoonbill
Snowy Egret
Ditto
Great Egret
Neotropic Cormorant in Nest
Great Egret Chicks
Great Egret Chick Testing His Wings
Roseate Spoonbill
Great Egret in Flight
Snowy Egret
Great Egret Chicks
Great Egret
Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill in Flight
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Great Egret Feeds Two Chicks at Once
Great Egret on Nest with Eggs(Blue)
Roseate Spoonbills Had Nest Up in a Day
Great Egret Chicks
Snowy Egret
Acadian Flycatcher
Male Baltimore Oriole
Barn Swallow with Nestlings
This was the showing of the stars at High Island. Several sections of this wonderful birding
area were found early close to one another. Boy Scout Woods had many of the songbirds,
which included warblers, buntings, and other songbirds, with many pools, bubblers, and swamp
areas, made specifically to attract a number of migrating birds coming north during spring migration.
This is a very important stopover for birds to rest up coming from Central and South America on
their way northbound.
This area also includes Heron Island, where birds like the Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, and Neotropic Cormorant breed and raise their young. Most of these birds
live where they are born, but others will migrate. These areas are dangerous, as alligators also come to the island and snatch eggs, as well as youngsters that fall out of these nest or are too low to the ground.
Also an integral part of the sanctuary is Smith Oaks, another prime area for finding songbirds.
It is also swampy, a little more so than Boy Scout Woods, and attracts more birds in the afternoons.
I'm a bit behind in my pictures, so bear with me while I try to get caught up. I have been processing
anywhere between 300-500 photos each day, plus having a full day birding, so this is a working
vacation which is filled with a lot of excitement.
The photos below are from Sundew Trail, a part of Big Thicket National Preserve, which is in Kountze, TX. This area is filled with butterflies, wildflowers, birds, and other natural life.
Anole
Pitcher Plants
Blue Grosbeak
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