Sunday, May 31, 2020
Saturday, May 30, 2020
053020 Migrants Are Still Northbound
053020 American Redstart
Double-crested Cormorant
Juvenile
Today was a little less productive than yesterday, BUT the highlight of the day was this late American Redstart, which I think is a first year male. The adults should already be on breeding territory, and the juveniles are last to go in the normal hierarchy. It is possible that it could be a female, but I don't believe so.
This Double-crested Cormorant is a juvenile and is still molting into its adult plumage. I have never seen the plumage in this state of dress before so felt that a photo was in order.
Monday, May 25, 2020
052520 The Rain in Oklahoma Doesn't Always Fall On the Plain
052320 Female Baltimore Oriole
and Nest Under Branch (R)
052320 This Baltimore Oriole nest has been repaired every other year and used every other year. It has been in that location since at least 2013. I know this, as I looked up the photo from the same area. Orioles are one of the best nest fabricators for strength and longevity. Amazing, is it not?
052420 Great-tailed Grackle
We still have the Ruddy Duck visiting with us. It is already a late migrant. I wonder if the species will be gone by June 1?
Ruddy Ducks, Late Migrants
Female Purple Martin
Gathering Nest Material
052520
Alder Flycatcher
Neotropic Cormorant
052520 Another cloudy day and weather.com tells me that the rain is holding off until 1230. Hopefully writer will not be rained upon like happened yesterday. Fat chance, pretty much the same area, too.
Approaching the top of the berm, one of the first things witnessed are two Green Herons heading south and a third bird out of view, but vocal. Swallows are everywhere after insects, and seem to be catching them, too. There are plenty of Canada Geese out again, just like yesterday, which tells me it will be raining again. Great Blue Herons are winging their way across the lake and are also actively in pursuit of fish for breakfast. It is also another active fishing day for the general populace.
A Northern Flicker is heard, and eventually seen in another twenty minutes atop a telephone pole. Two Warbling Vireos are sounding off, American Robins are seeking food beside a pair of Brown Thrashers, who no doubt have young. The European Starling population is growing on a daily basis, more young than adults. Purple Martins have been active for the past couple of days, capturing their own insects with plenty more left to go around. A pair of Eastern Kingbirds are savoring theirs, as well, but we're missing the Ruddy Ducks out on the water. Are they finally gone?
A Blue Jay is calling in the distance, and as always, our nomadic Cedar Waxwings are seeking those sweet mulberries. This is the first year that we've had so many trees and bushes, and if they were as common as the Bradford pear, we'd be doing well. I think the pear has a disease going around, as the leaves seem to be browning up.
Orchard and Baltimore Orioles are a-plenty. It's actually amusing, as there was a time when the Orchard Oriole would not leave Boomer Creek. Now there are more of them than the Baltimore Oriole. They are being fruitful and prospering in more way than one. Western Kingbirds are doing the same, and I still look for the Couch's to turn up. It will eventually transpire. We have more Mallard ducklings, and more Canada Geese than I thought we'd have with the addlers having been here over a month ago.
Two Spotted Sandpipers are on Shorebird Jetty, and the martin population is still working on nests and nest repair. Looks like it is time for another clutch's eggs. It is getting harder to spot Yellow Warblers, who could well be on their way northbound. The Great Crested Flycatcher was back out and it appears that they have young, which I thought was possible since I saw mom with a brood patch several days earlier.
Bell's Vireo was silent across from Kicker, but there was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the same area, AND the highlight of the day was a fairly decent shot of an Alder "free beer!" Flycatcher. I've been trying to get a photo of one for years without it being questionable. Yes! The rain can come at any time, because that photo made it all worthwhile. And it started slowly.
The final agenda was a Neotropic Cormorant, another nice way to end the birding, even though this is the year where it is most common at the snag between Goose Island and the northeast jetty
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Friday, May 22, 2020
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.
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