March 17th Excursion
Upon entering Mohawk Park I realized that Spring Break is this week for the state of Oklahoma. Hordes of cars (SUVs-a-plenty) were parked anywhere there was space in the vicinity around the zoo. Most people were concentrated around the zoo and playgrounds, but I knew plenty of groups would be touring Oxley. The area where I normally park wasn't very crowded.
I decided it would be best to stay in Mohawk Park, skirting the south, east, and north banks of Lake Sherry as well as a stop at the Rodeo Outlook. Very few people ever venture out to this section, mainly because the area is closed to traffic because of ice storm damage. Sections of road and several parking lots have been closed for over 2 years now.
As I began walking down the Herb Beattie Trail I heard some strange vocalizations I could not identify. I then saw 5-6 blackbirds flush out of the brush and land in a large tree 50 yards from my position. I was able to see a couple through my scope and determine that they were the rapidly dwindling Rusty Blackbirds. I later checked the vocalization at the Cornell site and confirmed the Rusty Blackbird identification. The only other place I have seen Rusty Blackbirds was at the Kerr-McClellan (Choteau Pool) near Wagoner.
I made my way around the south and east sides of Lake Sherry and stopped at the Rodeo Outlook. The Rodeo Outlook is a small two-story structure built next to a small livestock pen on the far east side of Mohawk Park. I am still unsure about what the structure's intended purpose was, but it works quite well as an observation point. I need to send an e-mail over to the Tulsa Parks Department and ask them about it.
From the Rodeo Outlook I was able to spot half a dozen American Robins, a lone Northern Mockingbird, and 4 female Red-Wing Blackbirds foraging about in the mowed area inside the livestock pen. Several American Crows landed in nearby trees and a pair of Eastern Phoebes could be heard calling to each other from the nearby stream.
I left the outlook and walked to the path that runs along Lake Sherry's north bank. The area consists of several tallgrass fields surrounded by wooded strips. Numerous sparrows could be seen and heard along this route. The sparrows I could identify were 3 Songs Sparrows, 2 White-throated Sparrows, 6 Harris' Sparrows, and a dozen Dark-eyed Juncos. I spotted a bird that looked remarkably like a Swamp Sparrow, but I could not be certain.
The path along Lake Sherry's north bank eventually enters Oxley Nature Center, which is considerably more wooded than Mohawk Park. I walked quietly towards the northeast corner of Lake Sherry to count the different foraging waterfowl. As I approached the water I noticed a white heron wading about near the shore looking for food. Using me scope, I was able to identify the heron as a Great Egret, the first wading bird, other than Great Blue Herons, that I have seen this season. Hopefully in the coming weeks the Snowy Egrets will return to Oxley as well.
The usual suspects were present on Lake Sherry. Between 30-40 Gadwall, 8 Northern Shoveler, and 6 Canada Geese were foraging in and around the lake. I could hear more Canada Geese within the park, but since I could not see (or count) them they were left off the list.
I then doubled back and followed the path back to my car. During the walk back a couple of Turkey Vultures could be seen riding the thermals in search of a meal.
Bird Count:
Location: Mohawk Park--Oxley Nature Center
Observation date: 3/17/09 Number of species: 23
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 6
Gadwall - Anas strepera 36
Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 8
Great Egret - Ardea alba 1
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus 1
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 3
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 8
Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 7
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 2
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 2
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 2
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 14
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata 1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 3
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis 2
Harris's Sparrow - Zonotrichia querula 6
Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis 12
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 7
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 4
Rusty Blackbird - Euphagus carolinus 6
Photos:
Top: A raccoon searches for food in the mud along the banks of Lake Sherry. Photo taken in August 2008.
Bottom: The Rodeo Outlook
-SPQ 3/18/2009
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