Northern Harrier in flight
Location: McClellan-Kerr WMA - Chouteau Pool - Wagoner, OK
Map: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=211656245233415273419.0004987d799446ac9f262&ll=35.899202,-95.426066&spn=0.008465,0.013754&t=h&z=16
Observation date: 12/26/10
Number of species: 21
Gadwall - Anas strepera 20
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 75
Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 35
Northern Pintail - Anas acuta 25
Green-winged Teal (American) - Anas crecca carolinensis 100
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1
Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus 1
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1
American Coot - Fulica americana 3
Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 1
Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus 1
Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 2
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 2
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 8
Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 2
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 6
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 12
On Sunday afternoon my father and I made the drive out to the Choteau Pool section of the McClellan-Kerr Wildlife Management Area which lies between Wagoner (to the north) and Muskogee (to the south) off od Highway-69. Located near the Verdigris River (and not far from the confluence of the Verdigris, Arkansas, and Grand rivers), the WMA is a fantastic spot to watch waterfowl in the winter - it is also a ridiculously popular hunting spot, so I'm told.
We walked on the west bank of the ponds, watching the waterfowl from afar with my scope. The Choteau Pool never disappoints when it comes to waterfowl and this trip was no exception. I saw the "usual suspects" (waterfowl I see reguarly in Tulsa and the vicinity) : Mallards, Gadwall, Northern Shovelers, and American Coots. While scanning the large groups of feeding fowl I spotted a single Northern Pintail feeding. Then as we looked around more we saw close to 20 total in the area. It has been well over a year since I have seen any Pintail, so it was nice to see them again - I really appreciate the distinctive markings.
While walking near the water a shorebird of some type sprung from its hiding spot and flew to the other side of the pond. Only later was I able to spot him (after he flew away from us again): a single Wilson's Snipe.
We observed a Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a small tree in the middle of the pond - the waterfowl seemed unconcerned with his presence. A single Red-shouldered Hawk was seen soaring above us.
But the highlight of the raptor sightings (and the trip, in my opinion) was the Northern Harrier we were fortunate enough to observe. We first noticed him flying low to the water near some tall grass in the middle of the pond. We followed his flight and watched him slowly spiral up above us, all the while looking down for a rodent to feast on. I have always found harriers to be amazingly graceful - and intimidating - their hearing abilities combined with hawk-eye vision make for a formidable bird of prey.
It was a great day for birding, despite the chilly wind. We were able to see a variety of different birds at the Choteau Pool - though the Northern Harrier took the prize for best show.
Photo courtesy of Dan Pancamo, via Wikipedia.org
-SPQ 12/29/2010
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