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
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