Berryhill Park - Searcy, AR (May 25, 2009)

About Berryhill Park:

http://www.searcy.com/city/parks-and-rec/parks

May 25th Stroll:

We arrived at the Berryhill parking area at around 8:45 am. Instead of walking south into the park we followed the paved trail north along Gin Creek.

I must admit that much of my time during this outing was spent photographing the various plants and wildflowers growing along the trails. The last few days off had been rainy or overcast, so I had very few opportunities to take pictures, thus I took full advantage of the sunshine on Monday.

The first thing I noticed was the small groups of Barn Swallows soaring near the creek and above the field in search of insects. These little acrobats were gliding and swooping all over the area, their forked tails a good identifier to help distinguish between Barn and Cliff Swallows (Cliff Swallows tend to have more of a squared tail).

As I strolled along Gin Creek I could hear an incessant call coming from the peak of one of the larger nearby trees. After several minutes of sleuthing I spied the source: a male Eastern Towhee, his black and orange plumage a dead giveaway. The Eastern Towhee song is often described as drink-your-tea! , a decent translation considering the interesting trill at the end. I was able to point the bird out to both my father and grandmother, who, like me, were amazed at the volume of the song coming from such a tiny source. I first spotted an Eastern Towhee this winter in the North Woods of Oxley Nature Center and first heard the song while in Pawnee County near Lake Keystone.

While photographing some flowers I noticed a large form flying overhead. I looked up, watched the form land on a tree, and identified it as a Mississippi Kite. The small raptor then glided out from the tree, drifting on the breeze in search of insects to feast upon. In the past 3 weeks I have seen a large number of Mississippi Kites gliding about over the Tulsa metro area, some in surprising locales (a couple were spotted above a dilapidated industrial lot in Midtown Tulsa). Unfortunately, the MK did not hang around long enough for me to point him out to my father and grandmother.

As we walked back to our vehicle we spotted a small group of European Starlings vocalizing from their perch on an electric line.

Location: Berryhill Park - Searcy, AR

Observation date: 5/25/09 Number of species: 8

Mississippi Kite - Ictinia mississippiensis 1

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 1

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 10

European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 3

Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus 1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 3

Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 2

Photos (Numbered from top to bottom):

1) A photo of some dew-covered Yucca blossoms found along Gin Creek.

2) An (as-of-yet) unidentified purple wildflower.

3) A developing blackberry.

4) A photo of the towering tree in which we spotted the singing Eastern Towhee.

5) A small white flower known as Daisy Fleabane. (From Kansas State Wildflower Website): Ancient Europeans believed that the odor of this genus repelled fleas, thus the name fleabane. This seems to have no basis in fact.

6) Another photo of a dew-covered Yucca blossom.

7) A small insect crawling along one of the petals of a Yucca blossom.

8) A grouping of some (as-of-yet) unidentified yellow wildflowers.

-SPQ 5/28/2009

Holla Bend NWR - Auto Tour - Dardanelle, AR - (May 24, 2009)

About Holla Bend NWR:

http://www.fws.gov/hollabend/

http://www.fws.gov/Refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=43590

(From the Fish and Wildlife Service Website):

Holla Bend NWR, established in 1957, is located 8 miles down river from Dardanelle, Arkansas. The refuge is situated on a bend of the Arkansas River which was cut off when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers straightened the river in 1954 for flood control. Refuge lands include over 7,000 acres of agricultural fields, bottomland forest, and open water.

The refuge's primary purpose is to provide a winter home for a portion of the millions of ducks and geese that use the Mississippi Flyway each year. During these spring and fall migrations as many as fourteen species of ducks and four kinds of geese will stop by the refuge for a short visit. During the winter, it is not uncommon for the refuge to host up to 100,000 ducks and geese at once. Bald eagles are also common in the winter from December through February.

Spring brings thousands of neotropical migratory songbirds that use the refuge as a rest area on their journey from Central and South America. Many species of vireos, warblers, buntings, and orioles inhabit the woodlands, during this time. Most only stay for a short time to rest, but others use the refuge as a nesting area. Herons, egrets, and other wading birds feed in shallow pools and alligators can be seen in the refuge lakes and ponds.

Refuge lands include agricultural fields, bottomland forest, and open waters. Portions of Holla Bend's wetlands were bottomlands surrounding remnants of the old Arkansas River channel. The largest open-water portion of the old river bed consist of approximately 390 acres. The remainder of the old channel has filled in leaving three small lakes connected by shallow willow sloughs. The other wetlands areas on the refuge consist of impoundments scattered throughout refuge farm fields. These units produce a variety of natural foods including a predominance of smartweeds, as well as sedges and panicums.

The Refuge supports a wide diversity of wildlife, including three endangered and threatened species: the bald eagle, American alligator and the Arkansas endangered barn owl. Eagles can be seen along the river and field impoundments in the winter months along with migratory and resident waterfowl. Alligators stay close to the small lakes and willow sloughs feeding on fish and unlucky wading birds. Barn owls use nest boxes under the Refuge equipment shed and their nest can be seen in thick willow stands along the old river channel. Other commonly seen wildlife species include raccoon, bobcats, deer, turkey, egrets, herons and gulls.

May 24th Tour:

A series of scattered thunderstorms were present throughout much of western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma on May 24th. We drove through rain for the majority of our drive from Tulsa to Holla Bend. The past week had also seen a decent amount of precipitation, making for especially marshy conditions at the refuge (considering the NWR is built on a flood plain).

As we began down the main road for the refuge a pair of Wild Turkey hurriedly crossed the road 15 yards in front of us.

We decided to drive through the refuge following the auto tour path which would allow us to stop and watch the fields for birds. At our first stop we rolled down the windows so as to allow for a better view but within 30 seconds we had swarms of mosquitoes surrounding the car with a dozen making their way into the car. Given this development, we were forced to observe the refuge through the windows of the car.

On almost every stop we made one could hear the distinctive call of a Dickcissel. Often we would be able to observe the bird singing from an exposed perch on a shrub or small tree. I first encountered these fellas at Tishomingo 2 weeks ago, though they were far more abundant at Holla Bend. We also noticed a single House Finch singing from atop a stalk of grass.

While driving along the northern road we saw a single Northern Bobwhite Quail scrambling out of the path of our car and then fly several yards to a overgrown area in an adjacent field. When we stopped at the observation tower found on the western side of the refuge we could hear numerous quail vocalizing, the namesake of the bird : "b, Bob white!" . Though I have seen these before at the Nickel Preserve near Tahlequah, Oklahoma , this would be the first recorded sighting.

From the observation tower one can observe the former path of the Arkansas River, a large oxbow lake. We spotted three Great Egrets perched on a series of snags in the middle of the old river channel. As mentioned above, we could hear numerous Dickcissels and Northern Bobwhite vocalizing as we stood on the observation tower.

Several Indigo Buntings ( 3 male, 1 female) were seen throughout the drive as well as a couple of male Red-winged Blackbirds. While parked near the refuge HQ one could hear the high-pitched calls of several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

Location: Holla Bend NWR - Auto Tour - Dardanelle, AR

Observation date: 5/23/09 Number of species: 12

Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo 2

Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus 2

Great Egret - Ardea alba 3

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 1

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus 4

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 8

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 2

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 4

Painted Bunting - Passerina ciris 1

Dickcissel - Spiza americana 12

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 2

House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 1

New Addition to SPQ's Lifelist:

165) Northern Bobwhite Quail ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Bobwhite/id)

Photos:

Top: A view of one of the many agricultural fields found throughout the refuge.

Bottom: A view of the Arkansas River's former path (Old River Channel) as seen from the observation tower.

-SPQ 5/28/2009

Mohawk Park / Oxley Nature Center - Tulsa, OK - (May 24, 2009)

May 24th Outing:

A series of storms had rolled through northeast Oklahoma the previous night so the ground at MHP-ONC was noticeably soggy. While walking through MHP to the entrance to Oxley I spotted a Red-bellied Woodpecker searching for insects along the trunk of a tree. I could not get a clear look at the RBWP's head, so I was unable to determine it's sex. Males have a red cap that extends to their bill, while females' caps do not extend that far. Hence, it is often easy to identify a RBWP from far away, but determining the sex requires a closer look.

I walked north along Coal Creek and noticed unusually large concentrations of mosquitoes were present, bringing to mind my unfortunate encounter at Tishomingo NWR. Such swarms of insects force me to adopt a "touch-n-go" approach to photography/birding; that is I try and stay moving to keep the 'squitoes from attacking me, stopping occasionally to locate a bird or take a photo.

As I was about to pass Warren Bridge when I noticed a White-tailed doe foraging on the opposite bank of Coal Creek. My first attempt to capture a photo without my tripod was unsuccessful (@ maximum focal length too), but when I used the tripod I took several decent pictures.

I climbed the stairs to the observation deck, deployed my tripod and scope, and watched the Lake Sherry area for avian activity. Strangely, by being 6 feet above the ground on the observation deck I had no problem with the mosquito hordes. 20 yards north of my position a Snowy Egret mucked about in the mud, its jerky strides intended to scare up hiding morsels. When the SE became aware of my presence it took wing and relocated to the other side of the lake. 2 Spotted Sandpipers remained along the banks, probing for food among the mud. The unmistakable rattle call of a Belted Kingfisher could be heard coming from the southeast portion of Lake Sherry, an area out of view for me.

On the surface of the lake I could see a group of ducks foraging in the shallows. Upon closer inspection I could see that there were 3 male Mallards and a single male Green-winged Teal composing the group.

While scanning the lake with my scope I heard a squawking commotion to the west of the platform, near the area where Coal Creek meets Lake Sherry. I saw a 2 wading birds fly from the creek to a large tree on the opposite bank of Lake Sherry, quite a distance from my position, but not out of range for my scope. I zeroed in on the top branches of the tree and identified 2 Little Blue Herons perched atop the tree. 2 more LBHs flew past the observation deck toward the east part of Lake Sherry, possibly to avoid some predator or threat.

Suddenly, I heard another squawk from the same area and spotted a Yellow-crowned Night Heron heading to the east part of Lake Sherry. YBH have a much more stubby bill than other wading birds, an specialization that allows them to eat more shellfish. While watching the YCNH disappear on the other bank, a small buzz and squeak could be heard coming from behind me. As I swung around I saw a small blur fly past my head and land on a branch nearby. I peered through my binoculars at the suspect, a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. He remained perched for 15-20 seconds before blazing off into the canopy.

When I descended the staircase for the observation deck I was greeted by a swarm of mosquitoes. I walked briskly back along Coal Creek to MHP; stopping only to identify a pair of Tufted Titmice and a male Red-winged Blackbird.

Location: Mohawk Park--Oxley Nature Center

Observation date: 5/23/09 Number of species: 16

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 3

Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca 1

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1

Snowy Egret - Egretta thula 1

Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea 4

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea 1

Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius 2

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris 1

Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 1

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 4

Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 3

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 3

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 2

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 3

Photos:

Top: An oak leaf covered in the early morning dew.

Bottom: A photo of the White-tailed Doe I spotted on the west bank of Coal Creek near Warren Bridge.

-SPQ 5/27/2009

Mohawk Park / Oxley Nature Center - Tulsa, OK (May 17, 2009)

Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=36.229164,-95.891247&spn=0.008464,0.013733&t=h&z=16&msid=103228297516276567813.00046a708c7dc634016e1

May 17th Adventure:

My car was being repaired during the past week so I opted to ride my bike to Mohawk Park to bird watch on Sunday. I was able to navigate the neighborhoods to Virgin & Sheridan, where I was forced to ride on the side of Sheridan for roughly a mile. Fortunately, it was early on Sunday morning so there wasn't too much traffic to contend with.

I rode northeast through Mohawk Park to an area which is closed to auto traffic but not bicycle or foot traffic. I chained my bike to a large picnic table on the lower level of the pavilion overlooking the Mohawk Livestock Corral. On the posts of the corral several Eastern Kingbirds sat attentively waiting to spot insects to eat.

I spent 20 minutes of so watching for birds from the upper part of the pavilion. I saw a small flash of yellow darting among the leaves of a nearby tree. It took several minutes to get a clear look at the flash, but when I did I quickly identified it as a Yellow Warbler, the breast streaks being a good identifier. An Eastern Phoebe was spotted on the railing, it's call attracted my attention.

I proceeded north along the road to an area dominated by unmaintained fields, a perfect habitat for sparrows and buntings in spring. Here I spotted several male Indigo Buntings as well as a pair of male Painted Buntings. A troop of 4 American Goldfinches could be observed frolicking in a tree along the road, unfortunately I could not determine their gender. From the road I could see a group of 9-12 Barn Swallows sitting on an old telephone wire. Periodically, one or two would abandon their perches and glide about the surface of Lake Sherry in pursuit of insects.

I followed the path that runs along the north bank of Lake Sherry, stopping to count Canada Geese that floated on the lake. Usually, I see several types of waterfowl in the lake, but on Sunday I only saw Canada Geese. Last summer it was not unusual to see 4 types of wading birds along the edge of water (Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, and the Snowy Egret were the most common, though the Green Heron and American Bittern were often present). Maybe some other visitors spooked them before I arrived.

I followed the small trail known as "DC's Trail" north across a small bridge to another road and headed back east. I saw a small group (15-20) of Chipping Sparrows foraging for seeds and the like on the pavement. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds were seen waiting on a perch for passing insects.

I returned the my bike at around 10:40 am and headed home via my earlier route.

Bird Count:

Location: Mohawk Park--Oxley Nature Center

Observation date: 5/17/09 Number of species: 16

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 10

Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 2

Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 2

Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 1

Eastern Kingbird - tyrannus Tyrannus 3

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 1

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 250

Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 2

Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia 1

Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 18

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 3

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 6

Painted Bunting - Passerina ciris 2

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 2

American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 4

Photos: (Numbered from Top to Bottom)

1) A top-down shot of a Prairie Larkspur.

2) A colorful series of leaves of an (as-of-yet) unidentified plant.

3) A purple wildflower known as "Red Clover".

4-6) Several photos of unidentified wildflowers growing around the livestock corral.

7) An unidentified cluster of white and yellow wildflowers.

8) A yellow wildflower known as "Goat's Beard" or "Western salsify". The head in fruit looks very similar to a dandelion (wispy, cotton-like seeds).

9) A photo of the small stream over which one crosses when hiking on "DC's Trail".

10) The early morning dew on the slender leaf of a plant.

11) An unidentified flower that I noticed growing in my front yard following the MHP-ONC outing.

-SPQ 5/21/2009

Midland Valley Trail / Riverparks Trails / Newblock Park Trail - Tulsa, OK (May 16, 2009)

Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103228297516276567813.00046a4902786328cf377&ll=36.141202,-95.997505&spn=0.021002,0.068321&z=14

About the Midland Valley Trail:

http://www.incog.org/transportation/trailguide/MidlandValley/midlandvalley.htm

(From the INCOG Website):

The Midland Valley Trail runs along the abandoned rail corridor once used by the Midland Railroad. Now the trail connects Tulsa's Central Business District with with Riverparks.

About Tulsa River Parks:

http://www.riverparks.org/

(From the Tulsa River Parks Website):

Spread along miles of the Arkansas River, as it flows through Tulsa, River Parks provides some of the metropolitan area's finest outdoor recreation. More than 26 miles of asphalt-surfaced recreation trails weave past picnic areas, playgrounds, fountains and sculptures. The park's landscape ranges from manicured lawns to the rugged terrain of the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area.

About the Newblock Park Trail:

http://www.incog.org/transportation/trailguide/Newblock/newblockpark.htm

(From the INCOG Website):

The Newblock Park Trail serves as a connector from the Riverparks trail system to the KATY trail that goes to Sand Springs.

The Newblock Park Trail is a beautiful connector to the KATY Trail for those wanting to visit Sand Springs. This trail passes Newblock Park as well as the Tulsa Police and Tulsa Fire vehicle storage buildings. This short 1.5 mile trail connects with the KATY trail at Gilcrease Museum Road. There is one semi-difficult street crossing at Charles Page Blvd, just after leaving Newblock Park. This is a 4-lane road without a signal. Usually traffic is not enough to make this crossing difficult.

There is a Tulsa Police Memorial located where the trail intersects Charles Page Blvd. It recognizes the bravery of Tulsa Police Officers.

May 16th Ride:

I followed 15th over to the north edge of Maple Park. There I joined the Midland Valley Trail and followed it south its terminus at the Pedestrian Bridge just north of 31st and Riverside. I crossed the pedestrian bridge, followed the River Parks Trail north to the bridge near HWY-75 where I crossed the river again. I then rode a portion of the Newblock Park Trail before turning back and following 11th back home.

Photos (Numbered from Top to Bottom)

1) A view of the spillway from above on the Pedestrian Bridge just north of 31st and Riverside.

2) A photo of the downtown skyline from the north side of Maple Park.

3) A view of the 21st-31st Corridor along the Midland Valley Trail.

4) A building along the Arkansas River.

5, 8-9) Several photos of the sunset taken on the east edge of Newblock Park.

7) The 21st Street bridge and the Arkansas River.

-SPQ 5/20/2009

Tishomingo NWR - HQ Boat Ramp - Tishomingo, OK (May 15, 2009)

May 15th Observations:

The recent rains had flooded large sections of the Tishomingo NWR making many areas inaccessible, most notably the observation tower found to the east. I decided to park at a parking lot near the Refuge HQ, appropriately named the HQ Boat Ramp.

I took several pictures of Cumberland Pool (a part of the larger Lake Texoma) and used my spotting scope to scan the water for birds. I could hear a very distinctive song, one I had heard before, so I searched the nearby trees and shrubs for the source. Very quickly I spotted the source perched atop an exposed branch, a male Dickcissel.

Last summer I was able to shoot a small amount of video of an unknown bird singing in a drainage ditch near Bixby. I first thought the mystery bird was a Meadowlark, but the beak was much more reminiscent of a Sparrow or Bunting. After hearing several of the Dickcissels singing at Tishomingo I made the connection between last summer's mystery bird and the Dickcissel.

Bird Count:

Location: Tishomingo NWR "HQ Boat Ramp" - Tishomingo, OK

Observation date: 5/15/09 Number of species: 1

Dickcissel - Spiza americana 7

New Addition to SPQ's Lifelist:

164) Dickcissel - 5/15/2009

Photos (Numbered from Top to Bottom)

1) The small field near Cumberland Pool where I spotted the Dickcissels.

2) A half-submerged tree in Cumberland Pool.

3) A view of the clouds over Cumberland Pool.

-SPQ 5/19/2009

Tishomingo NWR - Craven Nature Trail - Tishomingo, OK (May 15, 2009)

About Tishomingo NWR:

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/tishomingo/

(From the Tishomingo NWR Website):

The 16,464 acre Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 540 refuges throughout the United States managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge lies at the upper Washita arm of Lake Texoma and is administered for the benefit of migratory waterfowl in the Central Flyway. Most of the refuge including the 4,500 acre Cumberland Pool, was acquired in 1946.

Whether you're here to view wildlife, fish for crappie or catfish, or to enjoy a little peace and quiet, you'll find Tishomingo NWR a place where it's easy to imagine a past era when great herds of wild animals grazed the prairies and bird flocks darkened the skies. It's appropriate that the refuge is named for a famous Chickasaw Indian chief.

Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=34.207809,-96.643982&spn=0.005377,0.008926&t=h&z=16&msid=103228297516276567813.00046a0c83070c0dbdc60

May 15th Excursion:

I arrived at the refuge at around 8:00 am following a 170 mile drive from Tulsa. The first parking area I came across was for a 3/4 mile nature trail dubbed the Craven Nature Trail. The sign indicated that the loop led to a boardwalk on Dick's Pond where one could observe wildlife. I opted to take the left fork first and eventually loop back to the trailhead.

As I exited my car I could hear the ascending call of a Black and White Warbler ring through the forest. I often have difficulty distinguishing between calls of a B&W Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and an Ovenbird. Fortunately, after walking several yards into the forest I spotted the suspected male BWW perched on an exposed branch of a snag. Throughout the remainder of the hike I would hear several of these guys singing.

I followed the left fork towards the boardwalk hoping to catch a glimpse of some waterfowl near the pond. Above the trail I could hear the persistent spew! of several (6 or more) Blue-gray Gnatcatchers as they bounded along the branches, the leaves provided an effective cover. As I was watching the canopy for signs of the Gnatcatchers I heard a woodpecker drumming against a hollow tree. I zeroed in on the source, a female Hairy Woodpecker situated on the tip of a snag.

After a short 1/4 mile hike I reached the boardwalk. The boardwalk juts out from the shoreline about 20 yards, providing one with a great position from which to watch for wildlife. I used my scope to scan the water before I proceeded out onto the boardwalk and noticed a single Pied-Billed Grebe foraging near the southwest corner of the pond. I also noticed a pair of Green Herons ( my favorite nickname for them is "Fly-up-the-creek", due to their tendency to relocate after being disturbed) flying along the water's edge, ultimately landing along the bank to search for prey. As I watched him through the scope one of the Green Herons inched his way along a branch just above the water's edge. The GH moved ever-so slowly into place then snapped up a small frog from the mud.

A flock of 15 Snowy Egrets flew overhead, their bearing suggested that they were heading for the Cumberland Pool to the south. Several Canada Geese could be heard honking along the north side of the pond, the dense pond vegetation making visual confirmation difficult. While searching for the Canada Geese I noticed two American Coots among the reeds along the east bank. Perched atop some of the reeds were a couple Of Eastern Kingbirds watching the pond for insects to intercept.

I began to follow the trail leading to north which completed the second half of the loop. When I stopped to deploy my tripod I noticed that I would be attacked by several mosquitoes. I looked at the ground and could see swarms of mosquitoes hovering a foot from the ground. The recent rains had created a perfect breeding scenario for the mosquitoes. Even being doused in DEET didn't help my situation; I had to turn around and head back to the trailhead.

Bird Count:

Location: Tishomingo NWR - Craven Nature Trail - Tishomingo, OK

Observation date: 5/15/09 Number of species: 16

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 3

Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 1

Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps 1

Snowy Egret - Egretta thula 15

Green Heron - Butorides virescens 2

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 2

American Coot - Fulica americana 2

Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 2

Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1

Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 1

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus 2

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 3

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 5

Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia 1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 3

Photos (Numbered from Top to Bottom):

1-2) A couple of shots of the north end of Dick's Pond.

3) A sign displaying pictures and information about the types of wading birds found in and around Dick's Pond.

4) Another view of the pond.

5) A wildflower found along the Craven Nature Trail.

-SPQ 5/19/2009

Evening Thunderstorm - Tulsa, OK (May 13, 2009)

On Wednesday Night (5/13/09) a series of thunderstorms rolled across the Tulsa Metro Area. I setup my camera and tripod on the front porch of my house in hopes of capturing a lightning strike on film. Fortunately the porch awning provided a great barrier against the precipitation.

The photo above was taken using the Bulb setting at F-3.5 or F-4. I was informed later that the ideal F-stop would have been around F-20 or higher, so as to capture the actual lightning strikes more starkly. I was pleased to capture a lightning strike, though it took me 115 shots to get it!

-SPQ 5/16/2009

Night Photography - 14th & S. Peoria / 13th & S. Frankfort / 13th & S. Cincinnati - Tulsa, OK (May 9, 2009)

Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103228297516276567813.000469b8406a072de6004&t=h&ll=36.145083,-95.980897&spn=0.008473,0.013733&z=16

Photos:

1-2) Photos were taken above HWY-51 from the Peoria overpass (near 14th St. S). Refer to the easternmost marker on the map above.

3-4) Photos were taken near the IDL, close to 13th and Frankfort. Refer to central marker on the map above.

5-6) These photos of the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church were taken from a church parking lot at 13th and Cincinnati. Refer to the westernmost marker on the map above.

7) This photo was taken from the parking lot directly north of the Boston Ave. Church.

-SPQ 5/16/2009

Heyburn WMA - "Park 02" - Kellyville, OK (May 9, 2009)

May 9th Jaunt:

I arrived at the parking area for "Park o2" of Heyburn WMA at around 8:30 am. The sun was out and the sky had cleared to some degree, so I expected an ideal morning for birding. Within 90 minutes I would be proven wrong.

As I began down the trail the familiar call of a Northern Cardinal could be heard nearby. I was able to identify a single Baltimore Oriole among the upper branches of a tree, just before he disappeared from sight among the leaves. While scanning the tree in which I saw the oriole, the actions of 2 Red-eyed Vireos caught my eye.

The path I followed leads though a small forested section before opening onto a large unmaintained field. Much of the southern section of Heyburn WMA is like this, numerous fields surrounded by small to medium sections of forests. As I passed through the first field I noticed a single male Indigo Bunting perched on the top branch of a small tree. Last summer I complained about how common Indigo Buntings were (dubbing them "The Ubiquitous Indigo Bunting"), yet I am happy to see them back this spring.

As I came to the end of the field I could see a bird slowly hopping through the foliage, careful to keep his movements from being noticeable. The shade of the leaves aided in keeping him hidden, but when I was able to discern the silhouette and yellow beak of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a common migratory bird found in Oklahoma during the spring and summer.

I stopped about a mile north of the parking area to try and see some of the birds I could hear in the area. A male and female Brown-headed Cowbird could be observed vocalizing from the top of a small tree. Several Blue Jays could be heard nearby, their metallic cries a distinct bird vocalization to me. A pair of Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers could be heard and seen bounding about the branches of a tree in search of insects.

As I was scoping out the area I could see flashes of lightning and thunder coming from the west of my position. At first I thought I could ignore the rain and hope for it to blow north or south of me. However, I quickly realized that I would be a mobile lightning rod, since much of the area consists of fields free of tall trees.

As I neared the parking area it began to rain steadily, bringing an end to birding for the day.

Location: Heyburn WMA (Park 02) - Kellyville, OK

Observation date: 5/9/09 Number of species: 16

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura - 1

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 1

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus 1

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus 1

Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus 2

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 3

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 4

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 2

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 2

Summer Tanager - Piranga rubra 1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 2

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 1

Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 2

Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 1

Photos:

Top: A view of the approaching storm clouds.

Bottom: An example of a typical field found in the southern section of the Heyburn WMA.

-SPQ 5/11/2009

Backyard Photos - Tulsa, OK (May 7, 2009)

May 7th:

Unforeseen auto troubles kept me from visiting Oxley Nature Center as planned on Thursday. I decided to take some photos of the various plants growing in our backyard. The early morning fog and the dew it left on the plants made for some interesting photos.

-SPQ 5/8/2009