Newblock Park - Tulsa, OK - May 23, 2010

Location: Newblock Park - Tulsa, OK

Map:  http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=36.146877,-96.007789&spn=0.002066,0.003439&t=h&z=18&msid=103228297516276567813.000487579063a7dca12dc

Observation date: 5/23/10

Number of species: 13


Canada Goose - Branta canadensis   3

Great Egret - Ardea alba   1

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus   2

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus   1

Bell's Vireo - Vireo bellii   2

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bells_Vireo/id

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos   3

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica   6

American Robin - Turdus migratorius  1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis   1

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea   1

Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula   3

Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula   2

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus   1
 
   I have found a small hill near on the southeast corner of Newblock Park (just feet from the Newblock Park Bike Trail) that is a great place to sit and watch birds. The elevated position allows for one to looks down on the trees lining the Arkansas River.
 
 

 
   I was fortunate enough to watch a pair of Bell's Vireos bound around some small bushes calling to one another. I used a combination of guides to finally identify them - The Sibley Guide and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Website. The Sibley Guide allowed me to narrow down the most likely candidates and the Cornell Website helped me confirm that it was a Bell's Vireo by providing audio samples of the song.
 
   And the Life List ticks up one more - 170!
 
-Top Photo courtesy of INCOG
http://www.incog.org/transportation/default.htm
 
-Bottom Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
 
-SPQ 5/24/2010

The Village at Woodland Hills (68th & Memorial) - Tulsa, OK - May 22, 2010

Location: The Village At Woodland Hills - 68th & Memorial - Tulsa, OK

Map: http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=74120&sll=36.02387,-95.860895&sspn=0.004139,0.010943&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma+74120&ll=36.064495,-95.88827&spn=0.002068,0.003439&t=h&z=18


Observation date: 5/21/10

Number of species: 6


Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor   15

American Robin - Turdus migratorius   4

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos   1

European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris   4

Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum   1

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus   5
 
-Painting courtesy of Bob Hines, from Fifty Birds of Town and City (1973)
via Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chordeiles_minorEJN31CB.jpg
 
-SPQ 5/22/2010

Liberty Trail - Garnett Marsh - Broken Arrow, OK - May 21, 2010

Location:   Liberty Trail - Garnett Marsh - Broken Arrow, OK

Map:

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=74120&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.214763,56.337891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma+74120&ll=36.022672,-95.849887&spn=0.004139,0.010943&t=h&z=17


Observation date:  5/21/10

Number of species:  12

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 3

Great Egret - Ardea alba 1

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 3

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus 1

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 1

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 75

Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 1

European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 5

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 1

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 1

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 3
 
-Photo courtesy of INCOG
http://www.incog.org/transportation/default.htm
 
-SPQ 5/22/2010

Osage Prairie Trail - Hominy Creek Area - Sperry, OK - May 16, 2010

Location:  Osage Prairie Trail - Hominy Creek Area - Sperry, OK

Observation date: 5/16/10

Number of species: 18


Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura    4

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura    4

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus   1

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris   1

Western Kingbird - Tyrannus verticalis    1

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus   2

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus    4

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis    5

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea   1

Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus   1

American Robin - Turdus migratorius    4

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos   2

Summer Tanager - Piranga rubra   1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis   5

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea    5

Painted Bunting - Passerina ciris    1

Dickcissel - Spiza americana   3

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus   2


A friend and I rode our bicycles from Sperry to Skiatook via the Osage Prairie Trail on Sunday, May 16th. We stopped periodically during the ride to watch some of the birds from the trail. It was a great afternoon to birdwatch; there were so many male birds conspiciously singing their mating calls.

The Dickcissels and Buntings were particularly vocal.

-Photo courtesy of INCOG
http://www.incog.org/transportation/trails.htm

-SPQ 5/22/2010

E. 13th St. & St. Louis Ave. - Tulsa, OK - May 12, 2010

Location: E. 13th St. & St. Louis Ave - Tulsa, OK


Observation date: 5/12/10
Number of species: 2

Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus    1

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Crested_Flycatcher/id

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos     1
 
I heard a strange call coming from the large tree across the street from my apartment. I grabbed my binoculars and spied the Great Crested Flycatcher - a new edition to the lifelist! The Cornell All About Birds Bird Guide mentioned that they can often be found in suburban areas, so it's too uncommon.
 
169 species! Woohoo!

-Painting by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, courtesy of Wikipedia.org
 
-SPQ 5/13/2010

River City Trail - Sand Springs, OK - May 2, 2010

About the River City Trail:

http://www.incog.org/transportation/trailguide/RiverCity/rivercitytrail.htm

Location: River City Trail - Sand Springs, OK

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=74120&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.29802,56.337891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma+74120&ll=36.126714,-96.120425&spn=0.004142,0.006877&t=h&z=17

Observation date: 5/2/10

Number of species: 9

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus 2

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 3

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 25

American Robin - Turdus migratorius 5

European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 17

Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 3

Lark Sparrow - Chondestes grammacus 1

Another new bird to add to my Life List this weekend! Huzzah!

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lark_Sparrow/id

The Lark Sparrow was conspiciously perched on a small chain-link fence near the trail. His call was quite loud - loud enough to draw my attention (and binoculars).

-SPQ 5/5/10

25th W. Ave & N. Quincy Ave - Tulsa, OK - May 1, 2010

Location: 25th W. Ave & N Quincy Ave - Tulsa, OK

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=74120&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.29802,56.337891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma+74120&ll=36.154427,-96.020749&spn=0.00207,0.003439&t=h&z=18

Observation date: 5/2/10
Number of species: 1

Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto 2

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eurasian_Collared-Dove/id

Huzzah for a new addition to the life list! Up to 167!

The small band (or collar) found on the dove's necks really helped me successfully identify these two.

The pair were foraging along the side of the street - right along the Newblock Bike Trail near the KATY trail.

-SPQ 5/5/10

Owen Park - Tulsa, OK - May 1, 2010

About Owen Park:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Park,_Tulsa,_Oklahoma

http://www.cityoftulsa.org/culture--recreation/tulsa-parks/tulsa-parks-history.aspx

Location: Owen Park - Tulsa, OK

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=74120&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.29802,56.337891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma+74120&ll=36.159577,-96.005144&spn=0.004141,0.006877&t=h&z=17

Observation date: 5/1/10

Number of species: 4

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 12

Mallard (Domestic type) - Anas platyrhynchos (Domestic) 6

American Robin - Turdus migratorius 2

Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 10

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 25

Photos:

Top: The pond pictured is found on the western edge of the park. This is where I spotted the waterfowl listed above.

Bottom: A pair on Canada Geese forage near the pond.

-SPQ 5/5/10