Sequoyah State Park - Cherokee Section - Hulbert, OK (May 3, 2009)

About Sequoyah State Park:

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:

Location: Sequoyah State Park (Cherokee Area) - Hulbert, Oklahoma

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

Taylor Ferry Beach - Wagoner, OK (May 3, 2009)

Map of Taylor Ferry Beach:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&safe=active&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=X9IBSty_LaSgM5faseEH&msa=0&ll=35.939934,-95.278866&spn=0.008495,0.013733&t=h&z=16&msid=103228297516276567813.000469424fe36ad249314

May 3rd Outing:

I was driving from Tulsa to Sequoyah State Park and spotted a large concentration of shorebirds along the banks of Lake Ft. Gibson. I turned off of HWY-51 into a closed US Army Corps of Engineers beach named Taylor Ferry Beach.

Along the bank of Lake Ft. Gibson I counted 14 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Cattle Egret, and 47 Caspian Terns. Both the Cattle Egret and the Caspian Terns would be new additions to my lifelist. This group of birds would take flight when I exited the car, only to come back several minutes later. I took several photos of them (a couple are posted above) but the overcast skies hindered the needed light for the shots.

On the large trees found in the deeper sections of the lake I could see dozens of egret/heron nests clustered among the branches. I counted 9 Great Blue Herons and 14 Great Egrets in the trees, though some of the GEs may actually be juvenile GBHs, a difficult determination to make from 100 yards away. I also spotted a pair of American White Pelicans swimming near the trees, a strange sight considering I usually see groups of 20+ AWPs. I counted 15 Barn Swallows as they swooped about catching insects in flight from just above the water's surface.

Location: Taylor Ferry Beach - Wagoner, OK

Observation date: 5/3/09 Number of species: 9

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 2

American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 2

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 9

Great Egret - Ardea alba 14

Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis 2

Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis 14

Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia 47

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 15

New Additions to SPQ's Lifelist:

162) Cattle Egret (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cattle_Egret/id)

163) Caspian Tern (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/caspian_tern/id)

Photos:

Top: A mixed group of Caspian Terns, Ring-billed Gulls, and Cattle Egrets takes flight as I exit my car.

Bottom: A view of the trees housing the Great Blue Heron and Great Egret nests.

-SPQ 5/6/2009

"Big Day 2009, Tulsa County" - Washington Irving Park - Bixby, OK (May 2, 2009)

About Washington Irving Park:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~okbhs/bixby/washington_irving.html

(From the Bixby Historical Society Online Website):

Washington Irving Memorial Park and Arboretum, a 32.5 acres public park and arboretum, is located just north of the Arkansas River Bridge between 131st & 141st Streets on South Memorial Drive in Bixby, Oklahoma.

The park is named in honor of American writer, Washington Irving, who camped in the area in October 1832 while participating in a federal expedition to the American West led by Judge Henry L. Ellsworth of Connecticut. The expedition included a 31-day, 350-mile circular tour of central Oklahoma.

The park contains a wooded walking trail, the Laci Dawn Griffin Hill butterfly garden, and memorials to the children of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing and to the September 11, 2001 attacks. It also contains a statue of Irving seated on the porch of a replica of his home, Sunnyside at Tarrytown, New York.

Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=35.967899,-95.883694&spn=0.016985,0.027466&t=h&z=15&msid=103228297516276567813.0004693e4fcbcf1f81986
May 2nd Hunt:

I met my father at the parking area for WIP at around 10:30 am. We began by walking west through the park towards the river, watching for birds on the way.

The first pair of birds we encountered were a pair of male Blue Grosbeaks foraging around the base of several trees. They were somewhat difficult to identify because of how high the surrounding grass was. The best view was available when they both flew to the lower branches of a nearby tree, confirming my Grosbeak suspicion (I suspected at first glance they were Indigo Buntings in molt). Several American Robins were looking for prey among the damp grass nearby as well.

We walked a few yards further to the west, stopping to look for more birds near a picnic pavilion. A dark shape darted from a tree to the pavilion, finding a perch on the handle of the grill. The persistent bobbing tail helped me identify the dark shape as an Eastern Phoebe. As I pointed it out to my father another EP darted into the pavilion and took up a perch on the opposite end of the other.

Our trek lead us to the west, bearing slightly south to walk along the jogging path that encircles WIP. As we searched in vain for a strange trill vocalization a hyperactive trio of Carolina Chickadees called out to each other overhead in the branches. The high-pitched spew of a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers could also be discerned among the forested area. One male and one female Northern Cardinals flushed from the undergrowth, conspicuously relocating to a grove of trees near the edge of the park.

At the southwest corner of the park we followed an informal trail to a small pond that has formed on some of the land owned by the nearby concrete company. This small pond and surrounding land are between the Arkansas River and the park, making for an ideal site for migrating birds. A long-defunct elevated railroad track still runs through the area, the rotting wood trusses making for an interesting ad-hoc structure upon which to hang Wood Duck boxes. Due to the vast amount of rain the area had received during the previous week the small pond was 4-5x larger than usual, an even larger draw for birds.

The first birds we noticed were the pair of Spotted Sandpiper probing the soft banks of the pond for morsels of food. We spooked the pair several times as we walked along the pond, yet when they relocated it was always back to the edge of said pond. All the while we could hear and see the splashing and thrashing of carp spawning along the edge of the water. If one found a advantageous spot to watch the pond they could surely get some stellar photos of a Great Blue Heron or Great Egret capturing fish.

As we were admiring the Wood Duck boxes a pair of Wood Ducks emerged in flight from the forest to the north, possibly coming to nest in one of the boxes. They squawked an alarm call and flew back north, offering very little opportunity to identify them. Small groups of sparrows flew about in the tall grasses found along the pond. When we could get a good look at them we noticed the reddish caps of the Chipping Sparrow, another bird to add to our "Big Day" list. My father spotted a vocal Carolina Wren singing from an exposed perch close the rotting trusses. A lone Turkey Vulture could be seen floating above the banks of the river, possibly zeroing in on a carcass.

A strange shorebird could be seen flying around near the pond, a large black stripe along his head and rufous brown along his back. I had been short-sighted an forgot to bring my Sibley Guide so we had very little to go from identification-wise. Even when we consulted the guide at home, neither of us could find a species that matched the bird we had seen. It was ultimately the "Bird Watch" (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=25&articleid=20090503_25_B9_Anadul101767&archive=yes) column provided by the Tulsa World that helped us identify the suspect, a migrating Ruddy Turnstone!

As we walked back, a single Yellow Warbler was spotted hopping among the branches of a tree in search of a meal. I had heard a thrush vocalization earlier but could not identify the source. Fortunately, as we walked back I caught a quick look at a Swainson's Thrush, most likely the source of the thrush vocalization I heard earlier. At the same time my father pointed out a group of 4 American Goldfinches actively foraging among some low shrubbery.

Near the parking area a bold Northern Mockingbird could be observed patrolling his territory, as well as a group of European Starlings looking for food among the grass. My father called attention to the Baltimore Oriole singing from the top of one of the taller trees, another welcome addition to the "Big Day" list.

Location: Washington Irving Park - Bixby, OK

Observation date: 5/2/09 Number of species: 26

Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 2

Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors 6

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 1

Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius 2

Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus 2

Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 2

Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 2

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus 1

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 5

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 3

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 2

Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus 1

American Robin - Turdus migratorius 2

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 1

European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 4

Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia 1

Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata 4

Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 6

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 3

Blue Grosbeak - Passerina caerulea 2

Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea 3

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 2

Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 1

Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 1

American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 4

New Addition to SPQ's Lifelist

161) Ruddy Turnstone (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruddy_Turnstone/id.aspx?spp=Ruddy_Turnstone)

Photos:

Top/Bottom: 2 views of the small pond found south of Washington Irving Park. This is where we spotted the Ruddy Turnstone.

-SPQ 5/5/2009

"Big Day 2009, Tulsa County" - Indian Springs Sports Complex - Broken Arrow, OK (May 2, 2009)

About "Big Day 2009":

The "Big Day" event is very similar to the Christmas Bird Counts; Both events are good examples of Citizen Science in action. "Big Day" counts are taken all day on a specific day and take place within a specific county. One of the focuses of such counts is to get a rough idea of what migratory birds are within an area during the spring migration.

May 2nd Trip:

I chose Indian Springs Sports Complex as my first destination because it is not as popular a birding spot as other places in Tulsa (i.e.- Oxley, Riverparks, Chandler, Haikey Creek, etc). ISSC is great because the fields provide a prime location for flycatchers, bluebirds, and mockingbirds while the Arkansas River's edge can offer a habitat or hunting ground for dozens of species. Unfortunately, it rained during the majority of Saturday, making the "Big Day" a difficult day to bird.

I first parked along a small creek that flows through ISSC, ultimately emptying into the Arkansas River. I followed the creek towards the river, the increasingly familiar call of a Northern Cardinal coming from a grove of riparian trees. During the walk I spotted 2 Baltimore Orioles among the higher branches, a welcome addition to my "Big Day" list.

At the end of the trail is a small cleared area next to the river, most likely a locale favored by fisherman. I setup my scope near the water's edge, careful to use the trees nearby to conceal my location. As I began to scan the small lagoon I noticed a large raptor heading my direction flying low over the river. The white head and brown body allowed me to quickly identify the raptor as an adult Bald Eagle, a straggler by avian standards, considering most BE have moved north by now.

On a small sandbar between the lagoon and the river I observed an active group of Eastern Kingbirds as they moved from stalk to stalk in search of insects to eat. Buzzing along the water's surface was a group of 8~ Barn Swallows, their rusty brown necks and forked tails acting as the main identifiers. Several Red-winged Blackbirds could be seen and heard on the sandbar as well, their rattle becoming a staple of wetland birding.

A group of Wilson's Snipes flew into the lagoon, landing along the sandbar in the shallow water to search for food. The Eastern Kingbirds did not like the competition and harassed the Snipes, finally forcing them to choose a new location to hunt. In the surrounding trees one could hear several gregarious Carolina Chickadees as they called to each other while scaling the branches.

I walked back to my car and drove to the eastern section of ISSC, an area favored by flycatchers.

I walked along the river, my trek disturbing a group of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers perched on grass near the bank. Near the south bank I spied a group of gulls, the most obvious feature being their black heads. After consulting my guidebook I determined the gulls to be Franklin Gulls, a new addition to my lifelist.

Feeling satisfied with the list I compiled for ISSC I made my way back to my car; Washington Irving Park being next of my list of destinations for the day.

Bird Count:

Location: Indian Springs Sports Complex - Broken Arrow, OK
Observation date: 5/2/09 Number of species: 15

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 2
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1
Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus 1
Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus 1
Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 8
Franklin's Gull - Leucophaeus pipixcan 14
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus 3
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus 4
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 5
Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 1
European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 14
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 5
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 6
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 2

New Addition to SPQ's Lifelist:

160) Franklin's Gull (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/franklins_gull/id)

-SPQ 5/5/2009

Oxley Nature Center - Tulsa, OK (April 30, 2009)

April 30th Outing

It rained during the early morning of April 30th but by the time I decided to leave the house (7:15 am) it had stopped. I arrived at Oxley Nature Center around 7:30 am.

As I parked my car in the NE part of Mohawk Park I noticed a group of 30 European Starlings searching for food among the mowed grass. Rarely do I ever see many starlings in ONC proper. As I unloaded my equipment I heard the familiar squawk of a Red-bellied Woodpecker emanating from a tree 20 yards south of my car. I peered through my scope and confirmed the RBWP, yet I couldn't determine its gender because the head was obscured.

As I entered ONC I could see several male Northern Cardinals singing boldly from exposed perches above Coal Creek. I first heard then spotted a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers aggressively bounding through grouping of leaves in hopes of scaring up some hidden insects. From the bridge over Coal Creek (not Warren Bridge) I could see a Great Egret posted along the creek 30 yards upstream. I entertained the idea of stalking the bird in hopes of snapping a photo, but it must have seen me on the bridge and flew off to the north.

I walked along the trail to the embankment along the south side of Blackbird Marsh. I spotted 2 male Red-winged Blackbirds in the marsh, each perched upon a tall stalk of grass emitting their usual rattle. Later I would see another male RWBB, however I would not see any female RWBBs during this particular outing. I spent some time photographing the marsh then decided to walk over to the boardwalk.

I walked along the boardwalk in search of a subject to photograph. While I was taking photos of some cattails using my tripod I could hear a strange whinny coming from a dense cluster of grass several feet from the boardwalk. I was unable to gain a advantageous view of the suspect, so I walked on not knowing the source of the whinny. As I neared the corner of the boardwalk a small bird fluttered (a labored flight) up from the marsh, landed on the railing, then frantically flew to the cover provided by a group of cattails 10 yards from the boardwalk. I quickly flipped through my guide, searched for Rails, and confirmed the fleeing bird as a Sora. I am sure that the strange whinny I heard earlier had been a concealed Sora.

I walked to the edge of Lake Sherry, careful not to spook the pair of Blue-winged Teal foraging along the banks. The pair flew off and I continued on the path to the observation deck, my attention diverted by the loud honks of the Canada Geese in Lake Sherry. I mounted my camera on the tripod in hopes of catching some decent photos of the Blue-winged Teal that ventured close to the shores. As I waited quietly a small shorebird landed on a small log ten yards from the observation deck, well within range of the 135mm lens. I snapped several photos of the shorebird which I used later to identify him as a Spotted Sandpiper.

A group of 12 Northern Shovelers could be observed foraging along the banks of Lake Sherry, never venturing very close to my position. I counted 4 other Blue-winged Teal in Lake Sherry, bringing the total of BWT seen to 6. I counted 7 Canada Geese on Lake Sherry as well as 33 Gadwall, most of which were congregated on the east side of the lake.

I scanned the surrounding trees for birds, my eye attracted to a small passerine relocating to a new perch overhead. I trained my binoculars on the bird, obviously a warbler, his head and breast a bright yellow. I noticed the light streaking on the breast and quickly remembered seeing such a pattern of the breast of a Yellow Warbler. I confirmed my suspicion by consulting my Sibley guide; the warbler being a new addition to my Lifelist.

I walked to Warren Bridge with the intention to take the Heron Loop of the trail before heading back to my car. As I was crossing the bridge I saw a small dark shape dart across the creek and land on a perch. I quickly identified the shape as a Eastern Phoebe, the constant tail-dipping a clear identifier.

Overhead the clouds rumbled and a flash of lightning lit the sky to the west, throwing my plans to take the Heron Loop into question. I opted to head back to my car, a good idea since it began to pour when I was within 10 yards of my car.

Location: Mohawk Park--Oxley Nature Center

Observation date: 4/30/09 Number of species: 22

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 7

Gadwall - Anas strepera 33

Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors 7

Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 12

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1

Great Egret - Ardea alba 1

Sora - Porzana carolina 1

Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius 2

Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 12

Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 1

Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 1

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 1

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 3

Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 1

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 2

Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 2

European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 30

Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia 1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 9

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 3

New Additions to SPQ's Lifelist:

158) Sora (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sora/id)

159) Yellow Warbler (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow_warbler/id)

Photos (Numbered from top to bottom)

1) A lilypad in Blackbird Marsh.

2) Cattails growing along the boardwalk in Blackbird Marsh.

3) A group of Northern Shovelers forage along the banks of Lake Sherry.

4) A Spotted Sandpiper hunts bugs along the water's surface in Lake Sherry.

5) Another photo of the Spotted Sandpiper.

6) An overcast day at Lake Sherry.

7) Some wildflowers growing along Coal Creek.

-SPQ 4/30/2009

Heyburn WMA - "Park 02" - Kellyville, OK (April 26, 2009)

April 26th Excursion

I arrived at Heyburn WMA at around 8:30 am, hoping to get some quick birding in before the fore casted storm rolled in. It was overcast and incredibly windy during my outing, but their were dozens of bird vocalizations echoing about the area. I spent the entire time around the perimeter of a large field, occasionally dipping into the forested section to try and pinpoint a specific vocalization.

As I strolled into the field I could immediately recognize the calls of a Northern Cardinal and a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds. Along the forested section I could hear two Blue Jays calling back and forth, each using multiple vocalizations(my favorite is the Red-shouldered Hawk mimicry) , an admirable ability among birds. I could hear the frantic calls of two Red-shouldered Hawks coming from some distance, most likely closer to the lake.

I reached the edge of the field and paused to deploy my tripod. I heard a loud series of varied calls, almost reminiscent of a Mockingbird or Brown Thrasher. I struggled to find the source but eventually noticed a large yellow object among some green leaves. I trained my scope on the yellow and watched an excited Yellow-breasted Chat belting out his eclectic vocalization. Even though I was only able to stay an hour and a half, I was thrilled to be able to add a new species to my Lifelist.

Location: Heyburn WMA (Park 02) - Kellyville, OK

Observation date: 4/26/09 Number of species: 10

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 2

Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus 2

Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 2

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 2

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2

Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 2

Yellow-breasted Chat - Icteria virens 1

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 1

Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 6

New Addition to SPQ's Lifelist:

157) Yellow-breasted Chat (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-breasted_Chat/id)

Photo:

The field that I observed during my visit to Heyburn WMA.

-SPQ 4/27/2009

Copan WMA - Bois d'Ark - Copan, OK (April 23,2009)

April 23rd Excursion:

I drove a mile north on road N3950 from the Tallgrass section of the Copan WMA to a section labeled "Bois d'Ark" (translated: "Wooden Ark", though I am guessing the name stems from the Osage Orange tree, Maclura pomifera, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osage_orange, which is often referred to as a Bois d'Ark tree). The access road to the area was closed to vehicles, so I parked along the county road and gathered my gear. As I was assembling my tripod I noticed the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher perched on a telephone wire overhead.

The access road snaked between maintained agricultural fields for about for a mile or so, ultimately leading to a WDU. The trail then crossed an embankment (most likely a levy/dike), which was flanked on both sides by a pond. As I crossed the dike I alerted a dozen Blue-winged Teal to my presence, resulting in their departures east to another section of the WDU. As I stood on the dike's east bank I could hear a chorus of Red-winged Blackbirds coming from the more forested sections of the WDU. A Great Blue Heron, 1 Great Egret, and a lone American Bittern all burst into flight as I trod close to the stream where they were fishing.

The trail progressed east to an a large field where it split to form a circle around the perimeter on the WDU, a large planted field remaining in the center. I crept through a forested strip to get a better look at a group of ducks. While creeping through the forest I spotted a small brown bird energetically bounding along the undergrowth. I was able to inspect him via my binoculars, then consulted my guide, happily adding a House Wren to my list (and Lifelist!). Large puddles had formed around between the field and the road, on which I could see a large grouping (55~) of Blue-winged Teal with three Northern Shovelers among them.

After identifying the group of ducks in the field, I turned back and began to follow the trail back to my car. As I walked past the dike I noticed a single Brown Thrasher singing emphatically from the top of a tree along the access road. When I passed he flew on, but picked up his song as soon as he landed. To the south I could see a female Northern Harrier gliding above the agricultural fields, all the while effortlessly maneuvering in the heavy winds.

While walking along the access road I spotted a small bird flitting about among the branches of a small tree. When I first focused my binoculars on the suspect I noticed red markings along his head, very similar to several species of sparrows, so I guessed it might be a Chipping or Song Sparrow. However, as I watched, the suspect flipped around and revealed a solid yellow rump, a puzzling new piece of information. The closest match I could find at the time was an Olive Sparrow, but their range is restricted to far south Texas and Mexico. The Green-tailed Towhee seemed plausible, but the yellow rump is not quite the same as what I saw. I would like to believe it was some type of Warbler, but the markings on the head strongly reminded me of a sparrow. With no picture to reference I can't pursue the issue much further, but it is certainly intriguing.

All in all, I really enjoyed birding at the Copan WMA. I saw some interesting groupings of large birds (herons/pelicans) at the Tallgrass section and the discovery of a WDU at Bois d'Ark (not to mention the House Wren there in) was a pleasant addition to a nice day. Copan WMA and Lake Copan may be a fun place to look for migratory birds this winter.

Bird Count:

Location: Copan WMA - Tallgrass Section - Copan, OK

Observation date: 4/23/09 Number of species: 20
Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors 67

Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 3

American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus 1

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1

Great Egret - Ardea alba 1

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 2

Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus 1

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 1

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 2

Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus 2

Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 3

House Wren - Troglodytes aedon 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 1

Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum 1

Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla 2

Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 4

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 1

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 9

Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna 1

New Addition to SPQ's Lifelist:

156) House Wren (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_wren/id)

Photos: (Numbered from top to bottom)

1) A shallow slough found in the Bois d'Ark WDU.

2) A photo of the stream running through the dike I walked across.

3) One of the maintained agricultural fields found on the south side of the WDU.

4) A ladybug scrambles for cover as I take photos of her.

-SPQ 4/28/2009