April 17th Excursion
I awoke at around 7:30 am at my campsite on Mudline Road, promptly packed my things, and drove to the parking area at Paschal Lane. While I was setting up my tripod I noticed a pair of unfamiliar silhouettes flying toward the pond. Using my binoculars I spied the scythe-beak of an Ibis, but I was not sure what specific species. I watched the pair land, consulted my guide as to the most likely ibis for the area, then continued to gather my equipment. I heard a persistent, unfamiliar call coming from a nearby tree. I used my binoculars to identify the culprit as a Sedge Wren, a new addition to the lifelist.
I walked along the edge of the ponds, careful to walk on the far side of the embankment, so as to conceal myself better. A large group (30~) of Blue-winged Teal were observed foraging throughout the pond, and it was this group I would encounter several times during the morning (I would scare them to other sections of the pond). The group of BWT stirred nervously as a female Northern Harrier drifted overhead in search of prey. A lone Northern Shoveler male was observed throughout the pond nearest to the parking lot. Several Great Egrets and Great Blue Heron were present at various areas of the WMA, often fleeing from my advance.
I spotted a duck that was different from the BWTs around, later identifying her as a female Northern Pintail. Later in the morning I would spy her with her mate. Several American Coot were observed foraging among the vegetation, though I expected to see more considering the habitat.
I walked atop the embankment to gain a better view of the pond, my attention caught by the unidentified wading birds I spied some 50 yards away. 3 Snowy Egrets were busily foraging among the mud while nearby 3 White-Faced Ibises (most likely the 2 I spotted earlier) searched for food among the water. A group of 3 Raccoons were seen mucking about in the shallow areas, most likely in search of amphibians or crustaceans to eat.
I reached the end of the pond and walked down a mowed path, between two large sections of scrubby brush. At the end of the mowed walkway I could see a huge group of Red-winged Blackbirds congregated in the shallow water to forage. When I reached the flooded areas at the end of the walkway I was forced to proceed north to avoid the deep water ( I forgot to wear my wading boots).
The area to the north was enclosed by a small stream, just too deep for me to wade across. While using my binoculars to look for a shallow section to cross, I noticed a single American Bittern, head pointed vertically to look like a reed. I have read about the bittern's habit of remaining still and "Reed-like" to improve their camouflage, but it was incredible to see it in action. He almost had me fooled. Realizing that I would be unable to cross to the north or east, I followed the small creek to the west, toward the car and into a very shallow section of marsh.
From the low branches of a willow I could hear the witchety-witchety of a male Common Yellowthroat. A single Swamp Sparrow was identified among the undergrowth, as well as a pair of Song Sparrows. The nasal spew! of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher could be heard in the foliage, along with the multiple vocalizations of several Carolina Chickadees. I slowly pressed south through the scrubby brush, back to the walkway I followed originally. As I neared the pond I spied two pairs of Wood Ducks landing in the water. I crawled up along the embankment, determined to get a good photo of the ornate ducks. But alas, the skittish nature of Wood Ducks proved too challenging and the 4 rose to flight, bearing away from my position. The sky rumbled overhead and I began to notice the dark mass of clouds stretching from the west to south of the WMA.
On the walk back to my car an Eastern Meadowlark flushed from some nearby grass, casually drifting to a position closer to the pond. Once in my car I planned a route to my next destination, Pond Creek NWR near Horatio, Arkansas.
Location: Red Slough WMA - Paschal Lane Parking - Harris, OK
Observation date: 4/17/09 Number of species: 25
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 4
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 4
Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors 25
Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 1
Northern Pintail - Anas acuta 2
Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps 4
American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus 1
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 2
Great Egret - Ardea alba 2
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula 3
White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi 3
Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus 1
American Coot - Fulica americana 3
Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 16
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus 1
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 3
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 2
Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 2
Sedge Wren - Cistothorus platensis 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 1
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 2
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana 1
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 18
Eastern Meadowlark -Sturnella magna 1
New Additions to SPQ's Lifelist:
150) Sedge Wren
151) White-faced Ibis
152) American Bittern
Photos (Numbered from top to bottom):
1) A group of Blue-winged Teal foraging near the NE corner of plot/pond #5.
2) One of the small ponds found in the scrubby areas between the larger ponds (Just north of Plot #14 on the map)
3) A very beautiful and ornate flower found in the marshier areas of the WMA.
4) Another photo of one of the smaller ponds.
5) One of the marshier sections of the area north of plot #14.
6) A close-up photo of the mystery flower.
7) A view of pond/plot #5 as the storms roll in.
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