PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEB HIRT

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Wilson's Warbler Is a Common Fall Migrant in Oklahoma

Wilson's Warbler

091719

0728-0835/75-78 F/partly cloudy/SSE-3/78-76%/29.98-29.97 Hg and steady

After having caught a glimpse of this bird on Saturday, 091419, It was again observed on Monday, 092319, which was a much better look.

It was heard before it was spotted this date, so my intent was to stick for a photo, since the warbler had been used to finding me in the area. The hunch paid off that it would do so, and even though it is a rapid mover, my luck came through. It was observed in a sycamore, and the rest is history.

This was the last day that it was here, apparently continuing on its southern trek. It was last spotted by writer on 091918. Most of these fast moving birds winter in Central America.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Warbler and Monarch Central On Boomer Lake

Yellow Warbler

Juvenile Male Common Yellowthroat

Ditto, View 2

Monarch Butterfly on
Sunflower

The Yellow Warblers have been on Boomer Lake for the past two weeks and have been far reaching, spending much of their time around willows, sunflowers, Bradford pears, sycamores and many other woody stemmed native plants. Monarchs have been in the area of nectar giving plants, clustering around sunflowers, along with many of the lepidoptera, like swallowtails.

The juvenile male Common Yellowthroat is a warbler and has been in the midst of the Yellow Warblers around the sunflowers on the northern and western side of Heron Cove. This area tends to be a warbler and general songbird magnet due to the native deciduous trees that attract beneficial insects.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Boomer Lake's Soon-to Be Migrant and a Later Resting Migrant

Immature Mississippi Kite

082719
0805-911/76-77 F/variable to partly cloudy/N-8/81-80% RH/29.96-29.94 Hg and rising

This was about ten days before the kites left for their South American wintering grounds. My last observation of an adult was on 091019. Even at the time of this photo, this immature bird was still begging for food. The adults let it beg, as it was old enough to find its own.

Kites usually nest near or even have a wasp's nest within it, which could protect the young from climbing predators. Smaller birds also nest nearby and coexist peacefully. However, if one injects a human in the picture, the adult kites are very territorial with parental duties, and unless the person is wearing a hat, his scalp could well be scraped by those talons.

Great Blue Heron

090119
9745-0926-71-77 F/partly cloudy/E-1/84-83% RH/30.05-30.11 Hg and rising

This lovely adult in breeding plumage was on the last southern jetty just north of Goose Island. It calmly permitted this photo and with the backlighting, provided a nice accent.

Possible Least Flycatcher

View 2

09-01-19
0745-0926/71-77 F/partly cloudy/E-1/86-80% RH/30.07 Hg and rising

Definitive ID of this empidonax species was not possible, but it is believed that this is the Least Flycatcher. Most adults in fall are silent, but it would give occasional "piks."