Chandler Park - Tulsa, OK (April 21, 2009)

Guide to Boulders / Rock Formations in Chandler Park:

http://fusionfortyseven.com/ChandlerPark.htm

Chandler Park is located on the west side of the Arkansas River. Chandler has a lot of neat rock formations and areas to rock climb or hike, however it also has a decent amount of ne'er-do-wells, as the increased police presence attests to.

April 21st Excursion:

I arrived at Chandler Park around 1:15 pm and parked in the lower level section. As I exited my vehicle I could hear several Northern Cardinals nearby singing, as well as the harsh call of a Brown-headed Cowbird. I hiked along the road toward the entrance to the rock climbing section, my scope and camera in tote. At the crest of the last hill before the rock-climbing area, I spotted several Carolina Chickadees flitting about among the branches of some nearby trees.

As I entered the rock-climbing area I spotted a small bird hiding under the branches of a tree. I peered at the bird through my binoculars and noted the genereal characteristics of the bird. Immediately, I could tell that the suspect was from the Thrush family, however it lacked the distinctive reddish tail of a Hermit Thrush. After consulting my Sibley guide I idenitified the thrush as a Swainson's Thrush, a relatively uncommon sight for this locale this time of year.

As I hiked on I could hear several different Carolina Wrens about, their songs echoing through the formation found along the south part of Chandler Park. A single Blue-gray Gnatchatcher was observed franircally searching the branches and leaves of a nearby tree for a meal, his spew! call catching my attention. I sat at the base of a large boulder for some time, hoping to see some birds, but I was pursueded to move on when a group with 2 small yapper-type dogs headed my direction.

I hiked up a steep trail that led to the upper level's parking area (near the playground and swimming pool). I walked to the west, spotting some familiar park citizens, a single Kildeer, a lone American Robin, and a pair of American Goldfinches. I reached the farthest rock climbing area, and spent the next 20 minutes waiting quietly for some birds to come by, however none appeared.

Being close to 3:15 pm, I decided to head back to my car, this time via a route along the road running through the upper section. As I neared my car I spotted a pair of House Finches in a tree above my car, one singing from an exposed perch.

Location: Chandler Park - Tulsa, OK

Observation date: 4/21/09 Number of species: 15

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 1

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 1

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 3

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 3

Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus 1

American Robin - Turdus migratorius 1

Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata 6

Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 13

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 5

Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 3

House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 2

American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 3

New Additions to SPQ's Lifelist:

155) Swainson's Thrush (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Thrush/id)

Photos:

Top: A view of the Arkansas River and Sand Springs from the lower parking area at Chandler Park. Notice the fire visible along the horizon.

Bottom: One of the many boulders found along the southern section of Chandler Park.

-SPQ 4/28/2009