http://www.touroklahoma.com/detail.asp?id=1+5U+3610
May 3rd Excursion:
After observing the small congregations of birds at Taylor Ferry near Wagoner I crossed Lake Ft. Gibson (and Grand River) into Cherokee County. I have visited Sequoyah State Park several times in the past year and have found it to be a great place to hike and look for birds.
I arrived at the Cherokee Campsite section of Sequoyah State Park at around 9:15 am. The rain was intermittent, offering several occasions to take photos without fear of damaging my camera. As I drove through the campsite I spotted a single Wild Turkey as it darted into the forest. Around the campsite section I could hear the call of several Common Grackle, the honks of 6-8 Canada Geese, and the mimicry of a Northern Mockingbird. The trailhead for one of the intermediate trails is located path the Cherokee campsite, though the recent rains had caused the trail to be flooded.
Instead of following the designated trail I was forced to wade around the edges of the lake looking for a path around the water. Several Yellow-rumped Warblers could be observed bounding along the shrubbery and downed branches picking insects and other food scraps from the water's surface. Throughout the ersatz-swamp I could hear the scolding call of several Tufted Titmice (most likely directed at myself) and the cheer! call of several Northern Cardinals. I heard a squeak and zeroed in on a female Downy Woodpecker looking for insects at the base of a tree. Only a few yards away I would spot the male, who was also inspecting a tree trunk for a meal.
Eventually I found my way around the flooded area and took up the trail bearing west. While taking some photos of wildflowers I noticed two small, unfamiliar birds foraging among the branches overhead. I peered through my binoculars and identified the pair as Cedar Waxwing. Later I would encounter a group of 45~ Cedar Waxwing as they moved between two forested sections. I would assume that most CWs are headed north by now, considering they nest north of Oklahoma.
As I followed the trail I noticed several birds foraging among some tall grass. I spotted two male Indigo Buntings as well as a male Painted Bunting. As I progressed further I would observe a female Indigo Bunting as she eyed me warily from her elevated perch. The trail reached a clearing, from which I could watch a dozen or so Barn Swallows glide above a retention pond in search of insects to eat. An Eastern Phoebe could be heard nearby as well.
I continued along the path into a section that contains several size able (considering the area) stands of pines which I enjoy looking for birds in. Along the trail I was able to spot a hyperactive Sedge Wren as it bounded along the stalks of grass. A small group of sparrows flushed from nearby into a group of trees, a more advantageous spot for me to identify them. I could discern several White-crowned Sparrows as well as several White-throated Sparrows, the main difference being the yellow lores found on the WTS.
I took a break in a small stand of pine trees, careful to keep my ears and eyes open for the signs of a Pine Warbler or Prothonotary Warbler. As I sat on a log a Great Blue Heron landed 20 yards downhill from me, most likely attracted to the area by the spawning fish along the shore. As I began to leave the pine stand I must have spooked a Turkey Vulture that was perched nearby because he quickly took flight as I passed.
Unfortunately, the heavy rains had completely flooded the northern sections of the trail (sections that are often difficult to pass without heavy rains). I opted to follow my path back, walk as far north as possible, and take not of as many birds along the route.
The north end of the trail was heavily flooded, yet the temporary slough offered an attractive hunting site for birds. I observed a group of Eastern Kingbirds looking for prey near the water's edge. On a nearby snag I spotted several Red-headed Woodpeckers energetically probing the tree for a meal.
On the walk back I saw the group of Cedar Waxwing mentioned earlier as they moved between forested sections in search of berries. On a perch above the trail I observed a Yellow-throated Warbler as he searched the twigs and leaves for a meal. As I neared the campground I saw the distinctive silhouette of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, the tail feathers being a dead giveaway.
Bird Count:
Observation date: 5/3/09 Number of species: 34
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 4
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo 1
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 2
Great Egret - Ardea alba 1
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 1
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius 2
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 1
Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus 2
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 2
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus 4
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 1
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 4
Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 2
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 6
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1
Sedge Wren - Cistothorus platensis 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 4
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 6
Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus 2
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 1
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 42
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata 4
Yellow-throated Warbler - Dendroica dominica 1
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis 2
White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys 3
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 7
Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 6
Painted Bunting - Passerina ciris 3
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 2
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 2
Photos (Numbered from top to bottom):
1-5) Various photos of the flooded sections of the trail.
6 & 7) Rain droplets caught in a spider's web.
8) An unidentified wildflower.
-SPQ 5/8/2009
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