Of Wings and Wanderings: August 2010

Monday, August 30, 2010

Oxley Nature Center/ Mohawk Park - Tulsa, OK - August 29, 2010

Location: Mohawk Park--Oxley Nature Center

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=36.226048,-95.89762&spn=0.008291,0.013754&t=h&z=16&msid=103228297516276567813.00048f0aa582d627d0816

Observation date: 8/29/10

Number of species: 18

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis   15

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 2

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 4

Great Egret - Ardea alba   2

Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea   1

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura   2

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 35

Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca   1

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris 3

Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens   1

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus 7

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos   6

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis   3

Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis   1

Prothonotary Warbler - Protonotaria citrea   1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis   4

Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 2

American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis   6

-Photo courtesy of Mike Baird, via Wikipedia.org

-SPQ 8/30/2010

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Oxley Nature Center, North Woods (Sierra Club/Oxbow Lake/North Woods Trail) - Tulsa, OK - August 27, 2010

Location: Oxley Nature Center (North Woods) - Tulsa, OK

Map: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=36.224317,-95.924377&spn=0.008482,0.013754&t=h&z=16&msid=103228297516276567813.00048ee2cc824ead7288a
Observation date: 8/27/10

Number of species: 21

Wood Duck - Aix sponsa   20

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 4

Great Egret - Ardea alba   3

Green Heron - Butorides virescens   4

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea 1

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis   1

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus   2

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura   1

Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon   1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus   1

Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus   1

Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens   1

Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus   2

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 4

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica   15

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis   7

Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor   1

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus   3

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea   2

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis   5

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea   1

   With the recent drop in temperatures, Friday morning at Oxley was fantastic birding weather.

    The North Woods area of Oxley is a fantastic place to see Wood Ducks. The isolated oxbow lakes provide a perfect habitat for the ducks to feed and breed. Wood Ducks are amazingly skittish - it is very difficult to get even remotely close to a group of them for observation.

   I have been seeing several Green Herons each time I visit. I have seen them on Oxbow Lake, Mallard Lake, and the unnamed Oxbow near the North Woods trail. On this particular visit I was able to watch one at close range (20 feet) while he eyed the shallows for small fish or amphibians.

   I am really looking forward to walking these trails during the fall migration season.

-Photo courtesy of Snowmanradio, via Wikipedia.org

-SPQ 8/28/2010

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Oxley Nature Center, North Woods (Sierra Club Trail/Oxbow Lake Trail) -Tulsa, OK - August 21, 2010

Location: Oxley Nature Center (North Woods) - Tulsa, OK
Map: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=36.223071,-95.923508&spn=0.004241,0.006877&t=h&z=17&msid=103228297516276567813.00048ea8c7823f4736cd8

Observation date: 8/21/10

Number of species: 19

Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 15

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 2

Great Egret - Ardea alba 1

Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea 1

Green Heron - Butorides virescens 2

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea 1

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus   3

Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon   3

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus   1

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos   8

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica   15

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis   3

Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 1

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus   2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 3

Prothonotary Warbler - Protonotaria citrea   1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 8

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 1

Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 2

-Photo courtesy of Snowmanradio, via wikipedia.org

-SPQ 8/23/2010

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Oxley Nature Center, North Woods (Sierra Club Trail/Oxbow Lake Trail) - Tulsa, OK - August 13, 2010

Location: Oxley Nature Center (North Woods) - Tulsa, OK

Map: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=36.22359,-95.924807&spn=0.008482,0.013754&t=h&z=16&msid=103228297516276567813.00048dc91a3f7c7db7f08
Observation date: 8/13/10

Number of species: 9

Wood Duck - Aix sponsa   12

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris   1

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus   3

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos   9

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 25

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 3

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea   1

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 2

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 6

    While walking the Sierra Club trail I spotted a small group of Wood Ducks dabbling around the edge of a small pond. It took me a moment to identify them; they were sporting their non-breeding plumage (see the photo above).

-Photo Courtesy of MauriceJFox3, via Wikipedia.org

-SPQ 8/14/2010

Monday, August 2, 2010

Keystone WMA - Cimarron Unit ("Buckeye Creek") - Oilton, OK - August 1, 2010

Location: Keystone WMA - Cimarron (Buckeye Creek) - Oilton, OK

Map: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=36.108305,-96.51824&spn=0.015776,0.027509&t=h&z=15&msid=103228297516276567813.00048cdc84b242b8e4447
Observation date: 8/2/10

Number of species: 16

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 6

Great Egret - Ardea alba   2

Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea   1

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura   6

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 1

Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes   2

Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus   3

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus   2

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus   1

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus   2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea   3

Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 6

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis   4

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea   12

Painted Bunting - Passerina ciris   1

    We got a late start on Saturday morning and paid for it Saturday afternoon. It must have been at or above 100 degrees by the time we left (around 1:30 pm). So the word for the day was HOT.

-SPQ 8/3/2010

SPQ's Life List (196)

Acadian Flycatcher - 8/12/2008
American Bittern - 4/17/2009
American Coot - 9/28/2008
American Crow - 7/16/2008
American Goldfinch - 7/13/2008
American Kestrel - 7/24/2008
American Robin - 7/18/2008
American White Pelican - 9/18/2008
American Wigeon - 9/22/2008
Bald Eagle - 9/18/2008
Baltimore Oriole - 7/16/2008
Bank Swallow - 6/7/2010
Barn Swallow - 7/24/2008
Barred Owl - 2/24/2009
Bell's Vireo - 5/23/2010
Belted Kingfisher - 7/23/2008
Bewick's Wren - 10/5/2008
Black Vulture - 7/17/2008
Black-and-white Warbler - 7/27/2008
Black-billed Magpie - 6/6/2010
Black-headed Grosbeak - 6/8/2010
Blackburnian Warbler - 5/14/2011
Blue Grosbeak 7/13/2008
Blue Jay - 7/22/2008
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7/18/2008
Blue-winged Teal - 3/5/2009
Broad-tailed Hummingbird - 6/7/2010
Broad-winged Hawk - 8/13/2008
Brown Creeper - 1/23/2009
Brown Thrasher - 7/22/2008
Brown-headed Cowbird - 8/26/2008
Brown-headed Nuthatch - 4/11/2009
Bufflehead - 1/25/2009
California Condor - 10/13/2008
Canada Goose - 7/17/2008
Carolina Chickadee - 7/13/2008
Carolina Wren 7/13/2008
Caspian Tern - 5/3/2009
Cattle Egret - 5/3/2009
Cedar Waxwing - 12/19/2008
Chipping Sparrow - 2/10/2009
Clark's Grebe - 6/9/2010
Cliff Swallow - 7/16/2008
Common Goldeneye - 12/10/2010
Common Grackle - 8/17/2008
Common Merganser - 1/25/2009
Common Nighthawk - 9/14/2008
Common Raven - 6/7/2010
Common Yellowthroat - 7/13/2008
Cooper's Hawk - 1/19/2009
Curve-billed Thrasher - 6/10/2010
Dark-eyed Junco - 11/13/2008
Dickcissel - 5/15/2009
Double-crested Cormorant - 9/18/2008
Downy Woodpecker - 7/23/2008
Eastern Bluebird - 7/16/2008
Eastern Kingbird - 7/16/2008
Eastern Meadowlark - 12/19/2008
Eastern Phoebe - 8/14/2008
Eastern Towhee - 1/25/2009
Eastern Whip-poor-will - 6/7/2011
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1/29/2008
Eurasian Collared Dove - 5/1/2010
European Starling - 7/16/2008
Field Sparrow - 8/14/2008
Forster's Tern - 12/19/2008
Fox Sparrow - 2/8/2009
Franklin's Gull - 5/2/2009
Gadwall - 12/19/2008
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1/16/2009
Gray Catbird - 9/16/2008
Great Blue Heron - 7/13/2008
Great Crested Flycatcher - 5/12/2010
Great Egret - 7/17/2008
Great Horned Owl - 3/26/2009
Great-tailed Grackle - 3/25/2009
Greater White-Fronted Goose - 3/1/2009
Greater Yellowlegs - 2/25/2009
Green Heron - 7/13/2008
Green-winged Teal - 1/22/2009
Hairy Woodpecker - 8/19/2008
Harris's Sparrow - 1/8/2009
Henslow's Sparrow - 9/25/2008
Hermit Thrush - 1/16/2008
Hooded Merganser - 12/19/2008
Hooded Warbler - 8/17/2008
Horned Grebe - 3/26/2009
House Finch - 7/16/2008
House Sparrow - 7/22/2008
House Wren - 4/23/2009
Inca Dove - 4/11/2009
Indigo Bunting - 7/13/2008
Kildeer - 7/16/2008
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - 10/27/2010
Lark Sparrow - 5/2/2010
Least Bittern - 7/23/2008
Least Flycatcher - 10/5/2008
Least Sandpiper - 7/25/2008
Least Tern - 7/16/2008
Lesser Yellowlegs - 8/26/2008
Lincoln's Sparrow - 9/25/2008
Little Blue Heron - 7/18/2008
Loggerhead Shrike - 12/19/2008
Long-billed Dowitcher - 7/25/2008
Louisiana Waterthrush - 3/31/2009
Mallard - 7/18/2008
Mississippi Kite - 8/17/2008
Mountain Bluebird - 6/10/2010
Mountain Chickadee - 10/12/2008
Mourning Dove - 7/16/2008
Mourning Warbler - 9/11/2010
Nashville Warbler - 9/28/2008
Northern Bobwhite Quail - 5/25/2009
Northern Cardinal - 7/13/2008
Northern Flicker - 9/14/2008
Northern Harrier - 12/19/2008
Northern Mockingbird - 7/13/2008
Northern Parula - 9/1/2008
Northern Pintail - 1/22/2009
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow - 4/17/2009
Northern Shoveler - 1/19/2009
Osprey - 9/25/2010
Ovenbird - 4/16/2009
Painted Bunting - 7/13/2008
Pied-billed Grebe - 1/25/2009
Pileated Woodpecker - 7/16/2008
Pine Warbler - 7/31/2008
Pinyon Jay - 6/7/2010
Prairie Warbler - 6/6/2011
Prothonotary Warbler - 7/24/2008
Purple Finch - 8/1/2008
Purple Martin - 7/22/2008
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 7/18/2008
Red-breasted Nuthatch 10/12/2008
Red-eyed Vireo - 7/29/2008
Red-headed Woodpecker - 7/31/2008
Red-naped Sapsucker - 10/13/2008
Red-shouldered Hawk - 8/13/2008
Red-tailed Hawk - 7/13/2008
Red-winged Blackbird - 7/25/2008
Ring-billed Gull - 7/17/2008
Ring-necked Duck - 2/16/2009
Ring-necked Pheasant - 6/5/2010
Rock Pigeon - 7/28/2008
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 9/16/2008
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 9/28/2008
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7/17/2008
Ruddy Turnstone - 5/2/2009
Rufous-crowned Sparrow - 6/10/2011
Rusty Blackbird - 2/16/2009
Savannah Sparrow - 1/22/2009
Scarlet Tanager - 4/19/2009
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 7/16/2008
Sedge Wren - 4/17/2009
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 11/13/2008
Snow Goose - 7/28/2008
Snowy Egret - 7/18/2008
Song Sparrow - 12/19/2008
Sora - 4/30/2009
Spotted Sandpiper - 7/24/2008
Spotted Towhee - 2/8/2009
Steller's Jay - 6/8/2010
Summer Tanager - 7/31/2008
Swainson's Thrush - 4/21/2009
Swainsons Warbler - 5/14/2011
Swamp Sparrow - 1/23/2009
Swan Goose - 7/28/2008
Tree Swallow - 3/5/2011
Trumpeter Swan - 4/27/2010
Tufted Titmouse - 7/13/2008
Turkey Vulture - 7/17/2008
Warbling Vireo - 6/8/2010
Western Bluebird - 10/12/2008
Western Kingbird - 7/16/2008
Western Meadowlark - 6/8/2010
Western Tanager - 6/9/2010
White-breasted Nuthatch - 7/27/2008
White-crowned Sparrow - 12/19/2008
White-eyed Vireo - 7/31/2008
White-faced Ibis - 4/17/2009
White-throated Sparrow - 12/19/2008
Wild Turkey - 7/31/2008
Wilson's Snipe - 12/30/2008
Wilson's Warbler - 9/11/2010
Winter Wren - 2/24/2009
Wood Duck - 9/28/2008
Yellow Warbler - 4/30/2009
Yellow Warbler - 4/30/2009
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 9/11/2010
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 12/19/2008
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 7/13/2008
Yellow-breasted Chat - 4/26/2009
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - 7/13/2008
Yellow-headed Blackbird - 4/8/2009
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10/20/2008
Yellow-throated Vireo - 9/26/2008
Yellow-throated Warbler - 8/10/2008

Monthly Counts

July 2008 - 65 Species / 2,926 Individuals / 18 Checklists
August 2008 - 59 Species / 1,460 Individuals / 11 Checklists
September 2008 - 66 Species / 1,749 Individuals / 14 Checklists
October 2008 - 48 Species / 1,251 Individuals / 10 Checklists
November 2008 - 23 Species / 648 Individuals / 2 Checklists
January 2009 - 53 Species / 1,386 Individuals / 10 Checklists
December 2008 - 47 Species / 1,128 Individuals / 2 Checklists
February 2009 - 73 Species / 2,502 Individuals / 23 Checklists
March 2009 - 73 Species / 2,925 Individuals / 21 Checklists
April 2009 - 99 Species / 1,761 Individuals / 23 Checklists
May 2009 - 81 Species / 901 Individuals / 13 Checklists
April 2010 - 18 Species / 143 Individuals / 3 Checklists
May 2010 - 37 Species / 349 Individuals / 9 Checklists
June 2010 - 48 Species / 330 Individuals / 18 Checklists
July 2010 - 22 Species / 87 Individuals / 3 Checklists
August 2010 - 36 Species / 364 Individuals / 5 Checklists
September 2010 - 55 Species / 1,689 Individuals / 14 Checklists
October 2010 - 55 Species / 2,389 Individuals / 12 Checklists
November 2010 - 35 Species / 1,159 Individuals / 4 Checklists
December 2010 - 45 Species / 1,394 Individuals / 5 Checklists
January 2011 - 38 Species / 1,278 Individuals / 6 Checklists
February 2011 - 35 Species / 1,498 Individuals / 4 Checklists
March 2011 - 36 Species / 479 Individuals / 3 Checklists
April 2011 - 62 Species / 1,925 Individuals / 11 Checklists

County Bird Counts

Arizona, Coconino - 7 Species
Arkansas, Crawford - 33 Species
Arkansas, Howard - 12 Species
Arkansas, Logan - 25 Species
Arkansas, Pope - 12 Species
Arkansas, Sebastian - 7 Species
Arkansas, Sevier - 13 Species
Arkansas, Washington - 3 Species
Arkansas, White - 8 Species
Colorado, Alamosa - 6 Species
Colorado, Chaffee - 5 Species
Colorado, Costilla - 1 Species
Colorado, Las Animas - 8 Species
Colorado, Pueblo - 9 Species
Colorado, Saguache - 12 Species
New Mexico, Union - 5 Species
Oklahoma, Alfalfa - 7 Species
Oklahoma, Beaver - 2 Species
Oklahoma, Cherokee - 48 Species
Oklahoma, Creek - 83 Species
Oklahoma, Harper - 2 Species
Oklahoma, Johnston - 17 Species
Oklahoma, Le Flore - 23 Species
Oklahoma, Major - 1 Species
Oklahoma, Mayes - 21 Species
Oklahoma, McCurtain - 38 Species
Oklahoma, Muskogee - 24 Species
Oklahoma, Nowata - 23 Species
Oklahoma, Okmulgee - 58 Species
Oklahoma, Osage - 56 Species
Oklahoma, Pawnee - 27 Species
Oklahoma, Rogers - 24 Species
Oklahoma, Sequoyah - 59 Species
Oklahoma, Texas - 2 Species
Oklahoma, Tulsa - 145 Species
Oklahoma, Wagoner - 59 Species
Oklahoma, Washington - 34 Species
Oklahoma, Woodward - 17 Species
Texas, Harrison - 28 Species
Texas, Marion - 20 Species