Showing posts with label Yellow-headed Blackbird. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yellow-headed Blackbird. Show all posts
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Saturday, July 3, 2021
Sunday, April 4, 2021
Monday, March 15, 2021
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Thursday, April 30, 2020
043020 The Migrant Balance Is In Check
042920 Lincoln's Sparrow
Neotropic Cormorants
043020 Forster's Tern
Least Sandpiper
Female Yellow-headed Blackbird
Clay-colored Sparrow
American Bullfrog
04-30-20
The Barn and Cliff Swallows have been building more nests under the Lakeview Rd. Bridge. There were seven swallows observed today, and several more nests. Some of the nests are the standard mud cup nests with grasses that are for Barn Swallows. Cliff Swallows make nests that are also cup shaped, but they look like they are constructed with mud pellets and are not smooth structures. Swallows can be found collecting their mud on the higher ground by Heron Cove and have all the grass removed from the ground, as well as mud puddles and along stream and river banks. Since many of the banks on Boomer Lake have concrete, that's why the swallows here create their own source.
Yellow Warblers are arriving slowly, but numbers are increasing. I listed seven today, but that was on the conservative side. Today seemed like there were less Yellow-rumped Warblers, most of them hidden within tree leaves.
An Eastern Bluebird was on the short powerlines as writer rounded the bend enroute to Shorebird Jetty. A lone Chimney Swift was overhead, my good luck sign for the day.
Our usual three Savannah Sparrows were found on Shorebird Jetty, as well as three Spotted Sandpipers. A couple of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were discovered noisily hanging around the east side of the middle portion of the scrubs. Toward the west side of the jetty, two Least Sandpipers held over from yesterday, and a female Yellow-headed Blackbird allowed photos in the same area. The Forster's Tern that had been sitting on the west side snag by the southwest jetty became mobile, and the photo here was taken on the west side of the jetty. Five Blue-winged Teal flew in from the north while I was in the area and parked themselves off the stretch where the Brown Thrasher nest was recently build on the west side of the bald cypress trees by the east side sidewalk.
A Baltimore Oriole was seen and heard in one of the trees along the sidewalk just south of the east side restrooms. I haven't discovered a females yet, or she is silently in a nest, but both usually forage. I think I saw a female Orchard Oriole in the large oak north of the restrooms. They were only twenty feet from the water, so I thought they were coming to spend some time, but they didn't. However, there were five Turkey Vultures riding the thermals skyward. Western and Eastern Kingbirds paid tribute to their own business after that, with one Western Kingbird in a tree branch. I double-checked just to make certain that it wasn't a Couch's (with the white border on both sides of the tail), but it wasn't. These days, it is necessary to check with temperature anomalies.
More Yellow Warblers were found between Finch Corner and Memorial Jetty, as well as an Eastern Kingbird.
A group of four Clay-colored Sparrows were foraging on the scrub stretch across from Kicker, which is where the above photo was made. Yellow Warblers, an Orchard Oriole and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were also seen here.
There was only one Neotropic Cormorant when I went by the usual snag off the northwest jetty, and there were five Blue-winged Teal off Goose Island.
There is still no sign of the male Bell's Vireo that has been settling the area south of the last Purple Martin House. There are some at Couch Park, but ours are usually here at Boomer around now. Disruption will force them to move on, so I am hoping for the best, even with the loss of the sixty foot tree that was across from the sheltered and treed area on the north Kicker field. A new metal telephone poles took some habitat out of the area that was critical habitat.
Twenty-seven Purple Martins were on this side of the lake today, which tends to vary on a daily basis. Peering north from the high point across from the north end of Goose Island, a Red-shouldered Hawk was sitting on a snag at Boomer Creek. Down below in the marsh grass was a Common Yellowthroat male, though not the same one from the marsh woods up ahead.
The Marsh was a lot more productive than yesterday with Northern Cardinals, a Brown Thrasher, a couple of Swainson's Thrushes, Prothonotary and Yellow Warblers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee (calling "drink your teaaaa!" This bird has been heard here more than once and is likely waiting for the mulberries to ripen before it moves on. Once nesting happens, it won't have many opportunities to get any of those and there may not be any where it nests north of here. There was even a Savannah Sparrow in a small red cedar in these woods today, and a Great Crested Flycatcher also vocalized from the area, too. There was also a White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a social Ruby-crowned Kinglet within the mostly riparian wooded region with second story trees and leaf litter in parts. This is likely going to be ideal for the Kentucky Warbler and Ovenbird before much more time passes.
I startled the leopard frog from its perch in the creek and it grunted in exasperation, but gave me this shot for being in the right place at the right time. Even though there is not break in the marsh grass, I heard a Virginia Rail, but was unable to see it. That is not unusual though, as most rails are very secretive. Oddly enough, there was a Clapper Rail in Texas that I encountered several years ago off High Island somewhere. A tip was given to my birding pal that the rail met everyone in the dirt parking lot for potential snacks. Imagine that! I also got lucky with a King Rail maybe four years ago at Red Slough that would sit out in the open. Some birds are so much more tolerant.
Today I only stayed for forty-five minutes or so and cut through the former construction area that still has what may be a generator for lighting to find my Northern Mockingbird for the day. Fifty-eight species were listed for the day.
There were a conservative five Great Blue Herons for the day, but the two Green Herons were missing today as well as yesterday. I even stood on the bank to see at least if I could hear them. Nothing. Hopefully, they are not pulling out of the area, too.
Monday, April 27, 2020
042720 Migrants of Central Oklahoma and Resident Raptor
Yellow-headed Blackbird, View 2
Yellow-headed Blackbird, View 3
Cackling Goose, View 1
Canada (L) and Cackling Goose (R)
Eastern Kingbird
Red-shouldered Hawk
Saturday, 042520 was another excellent birding day. There is a possibility that there are three Green Herons at The Cove. It is suspected that we're looking at the patriarch male and two females, both to be nesting in different trees. The nest, if there is one or more, hasn't been established yet, as writer wishes to give the birds adequate space this early in the season. One of the usual Northern Flickers was heard just below the berm east of there around the mulberry/Bradford pear tree cluster.
Several Spotted Sandpipers were observed on Shorebird Jetty. South of the jetty, five Lesser Scaups were discovered and a few American Coots closer to the west side of Heron Cove. On the west side of the jetty was a lone Yellow-headed Blackbird with a suspected wing and foot injury. The area rehabilitator was contacted, but it was learned a short time later that the blackbird disappeared. Possibly it was really well enough to fly or a predator took care of the situation, though none was observed while at location. There are still two or three Savannah Sparrows connected to this area.
Two Orchard Orioles are still in the area (males) and one Baltimore Oriole has been in the large oak by the east side restrooms, as well as a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. The other two Baltimore Orioles had relocated themselves at my residence and the next door neighbor's oak tree. There are still two or three singing Warbling Vireos at Boomer Lake, along with another near writer's location.
A possible Richardson's Cackling x Canada Goose was discovered on Memorial Jetty with what might be its Canada Goose mate. It is possible that this might be the same individual that another birder had seen within the past several days. Looking at the photo, the small bill and smaller stature is seen, but there is clearly a mix of Canada in there.
It has also been noticed that more than one pair of Canada Geese had nests on all three east side jetties. It appears that all eggs are either dead or had been addled. A Mallard may still be brooding eggs, but we did see a trail of eleven ducklings earlier in the week with some that could have easily been adopted. I have not seen the family since that initial finding.
There were two Western Kingbirds across from the Kicker plant, as well as a pair of Mourning Doves and what may be a lone Eurasian Collared-Dove. A pair used to nest in a small tree once near the large oak beside the restrooms, but that area has been cleaned up to allow the storm drain appropriate function. A lone Eastern Kingbird, who has been vascillating around the northeast jetty, along with two more Scissor-tailed Flycatchers whose territory runs to the Kicker field, and two more Savannah Sparrows are temporarily residing there. Many more birds felt comfortable at the marsh grass before the old rotten snag collapsed into several pieces. A male Eastern Bluebird was found on the Boomer Lake side of Kicker this morning. The Orchard Oriole has been patrolling that area as far as the large oak south of there.
We're still finding interesting things around Goose Island, like Northern Shovelers and Blue-winged Teal. Cormorants are still roosting in the tree, mostly by the lilac on The Island.
The wooded area has still been providing many interesting species, including Yellow, Yellow-rumped, and Black-and-White Warblers, as well as Swainson's Thrush, Red and White-eyed Vireos, and even the Pileated Woodpecker stopped by from Boomer Creek for a short time. The Clay-colored Sparrows were also close by with Harris's and Field Sparrows, and Carolina Chickadees. There's likely still more in the area that haven't yet been discovered. It is a nice treasure trove of bustling activity in the midst of migration. A Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher was also heard, as well as an Eastern Phoebe out around the Kicker Field, along with an Eastern Meadowlark and Killdeer.
Since our American Kestrel has been attending to nesting and feeding duties, he has not been on the north end of the Kicker fence on the electrical lines. When the youngster(s) fledge, he will return, possibly with his mate and the young until they are ready to depart for the season.
On the return trip, coming around the stretch bordering Kicker's north and approaching the west gates, a Red-shouldered Hawk blew past me, no more than seven feet away. It was not overhead, it was directly in front of me. It was so close, it could see the red shoulder patch and see the yellow nares, which determined that this was a first year bird. It landed in a cottonwood tree, which was where this photo was made. A nice end to a glorious birding day!
Too bad there was no Bald Eagle nor Osprey today. They were getting to be a great habit. Now I'm looking for their presence. Many times the eagle is atop the new metal electrical poles just surveying its territory. The Osprey was getting to be familiar, too, as it was found three or four days riding the air currents while it was peering into the lake looking for fish. Both of these familiar denizens were missed.
Today gave us a respectable 64 species.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
042120 Here We Are At Migrant Central
041920 Bonaparte's Gulls
042020 Orchard Oriole
First day at the lake. Baltimore Orioles were right behind, one of which was here near my residence before this oriole.
042120 Blue-winged Teal
There was a total of eleven of these at Boomer this morning.
Savannah Sparrow
There were three on Shorebird Jetty alone. There were five or six spotted.
Least Sandpiper
Two on Shorebird Jetty. Migration is quite active active with a lot to offer today.
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Six were fueling up on Shorebird Jetty, while these three took their time.
Lesser Scaup
Still coming through the area. The scaup were not far off the point of Shorebird Jetty when they took to the air. They preferred settling on the east side of the jetty and were much closer by choice.
American Avocet
This group of 35 arrived shortly before 0800 and as is their habit they made around six passes over the lake. They were flushed a few times, by both a Bald Eagle and an Osprey, which you'll see shortly.
Lesser Scaup
As can be seen, their plumage is very striking. They were only twelve feet from the shore.
Mallard Ducklings
First of the Year
This is the first group that we've observe this year, obviously some were adopted. There were eleven. Mother and father are not far.
Mallard Ducklings
View 2
Grasshopper Sparrow
It was surprising to see this sparrow up in a cottonwood tree near the water, a typical riparian area.
It must have been desperate for a rest and sustenance.
Great Blue Heron (Rear)
Double-crested Cormorants (Front)
Writer considered this a striking pose, something not seen every day. The Great Blue Heron is a second year individual.
Osprey
Pretty close, eh? This raptor was in the area the entire morning. It was spotted on the return trip.
Green Heron
"The Patriarch"
Before we called it a day, it was in order to check The Cove to see if Green Heron was here yet. It was not disappointing. Also made a swing by to see if the Summer Tanager arrived, but not quite yet.
The mulberry bush near here has berries just starting that were pollinated over the past ten days or so.
Overall this was an excellent birding day with 56 species in a four hour day.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Monday, April 29, 2019
Migrant and Nesting Birds of the Southern Great Plains
Green Heron
American Robin
Lincoln's Sparrow
Great-tailed Grackle
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Lincoln's Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Western Kingbird
Mallards in Flight
04-15 through 04-19-2019
Migration is and has been very good this year due to plenty of natural resources for all animals. The bottom photo of the Mallards included some very unusual activity with these migrant birds, who wheeled around the sky over a dozen times before they settled in a private spot just north of Heron Cove. While the males exercised their breeding behavior and aggressive nature due to raging hormones, the female kept away from the pack.
This was one of the early Western Kingbirds, who normally grace a telephone pole across from Kicker. There is what appears to be at least one pair in this vicinity. As we recall last year, most of this species settled in my own residential area permitting me wonderful viewing of the young birds as they made their way around the local skies.
The youthful Harris's Sparrow is receiving its basic adult plumage. The senior adults have more black upon their heads than the subadults.
Several Lincoln's Sparrows have been located around the area, usually around riparian and quiet areas.
Two male Yellow-headed Blackbirds were a real treat, usually remaining upon the ground seeking insects. The two later took to the trees to survey the area and call while they preyed upon the delicacies on the cottonwoods. They will gather in reeds and around cattails in more suitable habitat unless they are around dairies to take advantage of the insects that cattle stir up for them.
Many individuals consider the Great-tailed Grackle a pest, but they also travel in icteric packs, so it is best not to judge all "black birds" as one. Many times the Brewer's and Rusty Blackbird will be mixed in, so scan those flocks.
The American Robin is usually in the area during the spring raising young. Not all of them are created equally, especially those that are nesting for the first time. An experienced robin will build a weak nest that might fall apart while it is being observed.
Green Heron came to Heron Cove, but as we recall, last year they vacated the area six weeks early. Perhaps the best way to handle this is to nest early before the oppressive heat arrives like it did last year when young perished in the nest. Hopefully, the colony will not leave the area.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Yellow-headed Blackbird
The Yellow-headed Blackbird offers a harsh, unmusical utterance, even harsher than the Red-winged Blackbird, sounding quite like a rusty hinge. They will roost and nest within thick, reedy marshes. Sometimes these flocking birds will mix with other blackbirds to forage for invertebrates and seeds in pastures and fields, where they can obtain sufficient food in both arenas. They can be found often in cow pastures where refuse from the animals is readily found to attract a variety of insects and flies.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful of blackbirds, the male of the species boasts a bright yellow head, throat, and breast with white primary wing coverts.
They are colonial nesters in marshes west of the Great Lakes, with the nest being attached to vegetation in marshes. They often sit upon cattails to keep intruders out of their little piece of real estate by displaying and announcing their territorial rights, and often nest with Red-winged Blackbirds. Breeding males usually have eight females at their disposal for breeding purposes and females will often mate with males in adjacent territories. They have a cooperative relationship with Forster's Terns to mob predators or give alarm calls. Yellow-heads may still be breeding in Texas County, OK, and are generally a new breeding species.
In winter, they often migrate to Mexico and the southwestern US, joining large flocks with other birds. Northern wintering populations are mostly males, while the southern group is usually females.
An interesting feeding technique is opening their bills in the ground like a post hole digger to unearth food and they will also overturn stones for the delectables underneath.
For Views of the Yellow-headed Blackbird and Other Species:
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2017/05/pre-and-post-storm-events.html
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2017/04/springs-migrants-have-been-dropping-in.html
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2016/07/alls-quiet-before-proverbial-storm-not.html
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Pre- and Post-Storm Events
On May Day, We Recovered From the Blows of the Storm:
Male Warbling Vireo
Ditto
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Male Clay-colored Sparrow
Cliff Swallow
Forster's Tern
Female Yellow-headed Blackbird
On the Day of the Storm's Final Hoorah, April 30th, At Approximately 5 p.m., When Winds Were Between 18-24 MPH:
Clay-colored Sparrow
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
04-30 and 05-01-17
The more migrants that I have coming in, the more photo ops there are.
On 04-29, there were plenty of birds that had come down the day prior due to impending storm conditions, and there were a few that were dealing with wind and rain that showed themselves. On 04-30, when we were still dealing with higher winds and light rain throughout the day, and even higher winds in the afternoon, a few birds from the fallout showed themselves looking for food.
Even though you can't see a lot of it, the second to the last photo with the Clay-colored Sparrow in a bad cypress tree is being buffeted by the wind with the head feathers showing wind direction. The camera just happened to freeze the movement of the branch.
The last photo of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, was also showing a bouncing birding the wind, again frame frozen. My photo of the Yellow Warbler, also in the same area, was covered by the branches due to wind gusts and by the time I photographed her, her view was not as I liked it. Most of the birds that were out were water birds, Mallards, Canada Geese, Franklin's Gulls, Spotted Sandpipers and Forster's Terns.
Most of the smaller birds were taking cover within the confines of branches and bushes. They were quieter, but could still be heard to some degree.
As you can see, I did reap the benefits of our latest storm, which was a little more powerful than today's rain.
On Sunday, the last day of the month, Boomer Lake managed to swell its banks in some spots and Spotted Sandpipers were on land along with Mallards. Land depressions also contained water, which was fitting for the few Blue-winged Teal who had taken refuge here.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Spring's Migrants Have Been Dropping In
Green Heron
Red-w
Yellow Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
White-crowned Sparrow
Pied-billed Grebe
Northern Rough-winged Swallows
Savannah Sparrow
Franklin's Gull
White Pond Lily
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Clay-colored Sparrow
Red Eared Slider
Green Heron Nest
Yellow-headed Blackbird
04-23 through 04-28-17
It was cooler, cloudier, and rainier this week, but when it was clear, rising barometric pressure
and a good south wind, the migrants came through as expected.
My most productive days were Sunday and Thursday, which broke a couple of those general rules, which is why one can't alway leave everything to chance. Some of my best visitors were there on top migrant days, though. This is why one must look everywhere, especially behind you from time to time, as once those birds pass, those rear ends don't make for good photos.
The Green Herons built a nest, but circumstances are not the best for them. One of my adults is paired with a juvenile, which means that they can't breed quite yet. Last week's photo shows a bird in breeding plumage. However, if you compare it with this week's bird, you'll see the difference. The above bird doesn't have bright orange legs and still has juvenile plumage. The third bird also seems to have gone elsewhere, too.
I'm pleased that I was able to get a decent shot of the migratory Franklin's Gull in flight. It wasn't out of range of my camera lens, so you're able to see its distinguishing characteristics and see the dark wingtips which differentiate it from the Bonaparte's Gull. Bonaparte's shouldn't even be here at this time of year, either.
It's good to see those sparrows coming in. The water's edge grasses are filled with Clay-colored Sparrows, and I also found a beautiful adult White-crowned Sparrow, too. The above Savanah Sparrow came from the OSU Dairy Barns property, and the water lily was located at Sanborn Lake.
My best photo of the Yellow-headed Blackbird was at Boomer Lake, not the dairy barns! You will find more of them with the cattle, though.
I was both pleased and surprised to get all the Northern Rough-winged Swallows perched on a snag, and it was even better that I was fortunate enough to have them all looking at me. They are plain brown birds with hooks on their wingtips.
The warblers haven't really infiltrated the lake, but those crowds of Yellow-rumped Warblers are on their way north. Our Western Kingbirds are around as well, as I saw a good group on the wing on Friday. I heard and observed the Orchard Oriole, and with any luck, the rain needs to hold off tomorrow so I can get out there and let you know what birds came in before the storm.
Happy birding!
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