042625 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://stwnewspress-cnhi.newsmemory.com/?publink=085cae212_134f95e&fbclid=IwY2xjawJ51NdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETE1TWd4VlZLRmdlT0dLOFV5AR7Q4ZhiI1bS-1qsd5e3fGpbjVZdY-YwaNnflne8OATOymF5dgVtatliqUOKCg_aem_sBHgEZN3Aafb_07ngJiYOQ 

062523 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-when-nature-bounces-back-so-do-birds/article_c904377c-111e-11ee-9d01-67e351b6de07.html 

053020 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-lake-area-booming-with-nesting-birds/article_22bbaa64-a365-11ea-b8f4-c35a15b95481.html

052220 Post-Rain Comes, More Good Birds

052120                                              American Robin in Nest

A couple of Ruddy Ducks were seen upon distant water at Boomer Lake in the morning, late birds for the season.  We may have seen our last four Spotted Sandpipers.  My figure of 145 Cedar Waxwings was conservative, there were likely more.  There were chances for an impending storm later in the day, and if that occurs, we can expect good birds on the morrow.

052220                                                    Eastern Meadowlark

                                                                   Franklin's Gull

                                                                         Willet

                                                                 Neotropic Cormorant

                                                         Juvenile Hooded Merganser


052220

There was an early morning rain/thunderstorm with wind gusts between 26 and 44 mph between 0553-0753, and we received 0.83" of precipitation.   The strongest winds were west and south of Stillwater, which were even worse with straightline storms some of which prompted winds up to 81 mph and wreaked a lot of devastation in several locales.

However, much of Payne county experienced very good birding, as birds are generally down before a storm unless they are within the wrong cell at the wrong time.  With this time period and migration waning, we were still going to get a drop before the storm.  When the storm was over, most birders were out, writer included.

We noticed more Canada Geese than usual that were either on Boomer Lake or upon the property, along with some downed trees, limbs, and branches.  The downed tree that was noticed on the east side was a deciduous tree that came out of the ground at water's edge, due to extreme saturation.

The nests on Heron Cove seemed to be intact and everything was normal, save for the above notation.  Females usually spend the night on their nests and are relieved in the morning.

Meridian had a response early and there was a Whimbrel, female Hooded Merganser, Baird's, White-rumped and Spotted Sandpipers, and a Least Tern.

First unusual item noticed on Boomer Lake was a notable Least Tern and a Ruddy Duck, a late bird for the season.  Another birder was already at Shorebird Jetty to count several Franklin's Gulls, two Willow Flycatchers, and a Willet.  There were no Spotted Sandpipers located, yet only one Cedar Waxwing.

There was also an Eastern Meadowlark, Least Flycatchers, and Yellow Warblers.

Continuing on, Turkey Vultures were riding thermals, as were Mississippi Kites.  We also encountered a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a couple of Great Crested Flycatchers, and a juvenile Hooded Merganser.  The merganser came close enough to permit a nice photograph, but the nearby Pied-billed Grebe noticed writer's location, whereas the young merganser did not.

Nothing else was noteworthy at Boomer Lake.   Throughout the morning, many other locations were checked throughout the county.

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.

051219 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-abundance-of-rain-brings-elevated-shorebird-numbers/article_6e29594a-5870-5d9b-958a-3475c224782f.html

Birding On a Shoestring: Land, Shore, and Island

                                                                Tennessee Warbler

                                                                    Gray Catbird

                                                                Black-billed Cuckoo

                                                                         Willet

                                                             Brown Pelican in Flight

                                                           Black Skimmer in Flight

                                                                 Marbled Godwit

                                                         Tri-colored Heron in Flight

                                                              Tri-colored Heron

                                                                  Ruddy Turnstone

                                                               Great-tailed Grackle

                                                         Common Gallinule (Moorhen)

                                                                     Cattle Egret

                                                                Great Egret Chicks
                                                                "Triple the Trouble"

                                                                         Ditto

                                                                    Snowy Egret

                                                                         Ditto

                                                                      Great Egret

                                                                          Ditto


This was another unsettled weather day, which didn't seem to deter the area residents for
day #2 in Northeast Texas.  Again, forgive me for being a couple of days behind, but I
promise to get caught up eventually.