Showing posts with label cicada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cicada. Show all posts
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Saturday, July 25, 2020
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Monday, September 2, 2019
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Monday, September 24, 2018
Oklahoma Vagrants: Black-billed Cuckoo
More uncommon than local in woods with willows or alder and dense undergrowth, the Black-billed Cuckoo is believed to inhabit more of Oklahoma in the dense woods than originally thought. While migrating in both spring and fall, the species can be found occasionally in the southern states. Generally found east of the Rocky Mountains, they can also be observed in Canada. Winter ranges are in the southwestern part of South America in humid tropical forests.
This is a slender cuckoo with a dark and decurved thin bill with small white spots on the gray-brown tail. It is just as large as the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and much shyer.
This elusive bird can be heard both day and night, skulking around concentrated forests and thickets. They actually favor a wide range of habitat, most commonly located around edges of mixed or mature deciduous forests. Abandoned farmland or parks can even be appealing to them as long as they can be well hidden and along the outskirts of these locations with a source of water.
Black-billed Cuckoo
High Island, Texas 2015
As many cuckoos are obligate brood parasites, this cuckoo incubates its own. Chicks have sparse white down contrasting with dark skin. They also have wart-like protuberances on the tongue and in the mouth, but that is normal for the species.
First seen at Rose Lake in 1976, the Black-billed Cuckoo made an appearance most recently at the Illinois River east of Tahlequah in May of 2018. There have been several other sightings between the first and last notation.
During outbreaks of the gypsy moth, the Black-billed Cuckoo seems more abundant, as they tend to flock toward these areas, especially during breeding bird surveys. They also show a predisposition for webworms, cicadas, and tent caterpillars.
During a tent caterpillar outbreak, they lay eggs earlier, could produce larger clutches, and may even behave more in an obligate parasite manner. Not only will females lay eggs in the nests of other Black-billed Cuckoos, but they will also lay eggs as interspecific parasites, by choosing other species of songbirds.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Boomer Birds Are Readying For Movement
European Starling with Cicada
Eastern Cottontail Juveniles
One of Two Eastern Cottontail Juveniles
"Jumping For Joy"
Same Two Eastern Cottontail Juveniles
"Catch Me If You Can"
Green Heron
Juvenile Carolina Wren
Juvenile Carolina Wren
View 2
072318 through 080418
Much has been going on over the past several weeks, which includes the fact that the Green Herons all left Heron Cove and relinquished it to Great Blue Heron. The last observation on the Green Herons was that a third nest had been built, then abandoned when the heatwave hit Boomer Lake.
Two weeks after their dispersal, one had been heard in the area, then this one was seen a few days later. Basically, they deserted the area six weeks early, including the handful of young birds reared this year.
Many, many young birds were raised this year besides Green Herons, which include, but are not limited to Northern Mockingbirds, Western Kingbirds, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Northern Cardinals, Brown Thrashers, Mallards, Canada Goslings, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, and the list continues. The Carolina Wren above, is one of those birds reared at Boomer Lake.
Several sets of eastern cottontail rabbits also are pictured above for your viewing pleasure. Three of them were frolicking while I was present and a few shots were obtained. There are thirteen species of the eastern cottontail, which is the most common in the US.
Low to medium migratory movement has already begun in the area, most notably with Mallards, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpipers, Green Herons, and many of the blackbird family. Increased populations will be noticed upon local bodies of water, such as small ponds and lakes. Larger numbers of Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets have already been making their way south due to cooler weather, which means food sources are also on the move. Purple Martins are gathering in numbers, which is why fewer insects have been a source irritation around waterways. They will be heading south in due time, since most of the young are capable of reasonable flight.
Since our Mississippi Kites were some of our later spring arrivals, they are still actively rearing young, so they will be some of our last birds to head south. Recent violent storms over the past couple of weeks have hindered them to some degree, but they will prevail. Rehabilitators have taken over the job of raising the young that were thrown out of these nesst, and this year, they should all have ample time to safely carry themselves to all points south.
Keep your eyes on the ground and your head in the clouds. Happy birding!
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Kites, Hawks and Natural History Just For You
Mississippi Kites
Red-shouldered Hawk
Wild Sunflower
European Starlings
Great Egret
at Boomer Creek
Cicada
08-27 through 09-03-17
This appears to be the end of our Mississippi Kites for the season. They spent about ten days
at Boomer Lake and I believe we had ten or eleven at one point. You may recall that I finally managed to get a few decent photos of juveniles this year, getting me one step closer to my raptor
collection. I have a lot more to go, but eventually, I'll succeed. I'd also like to improve upon the quality of the raptors, too. Some were quite a distance away.
Our local Red-shouldered Hawks are back, and nest each year in a reasonable distance from the lake.
It wasn't close enough for a photo, but one of our Belted Kingfishers has been visiting the area for the past couple of days. I saw two males, but not the female. She will come around eventually, most likely when it is nearer winter.
A couple of evenings ago, some birding friends and I went to the lake to see some of our Scissor-tailed Flycatchers that roost elsewhere during the day. We also saw several lovely House Finches, as well as a Western Kingbird that should have gone south. I am assuming that this juvenile has been staying close to the young scissor-tails and was a late hatcher. We will most likely have several late hatching birds coming through the area on their way south this year.
Not being pressed for time today, I managed a trip to Boomer Creek, where I observed my woodpecker entourage, as well as someone that has been interested in corvids for quite some time. Actually, I have encountered several new birders recently, so I'm happy to say that the fold is growing. A couple of us have been spending time teaching the joys of birding to those with budding interests. Our biggest joys are when the new people get to observe new birds for the first time.
For those of you that have never seen one, I thought that the naturalists would enjoy looking at a cicada. They are heard everywhere, but are sometimes a little difficult to spot. This one flew right in front of me and landed on a sapling. I just had to take a photo to show you.
Until next time!
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