Oklahoma Birds

Tulsa Audubon Society

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:03:58 -0500

The Tuesday Morning Birders are now meeting at 7:30 a.m. at the Garden
Center. Hope to see you.

Jo Loyd

Re: phalarope hat-trick

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:42:21 -0500

Joe,

Terry Mitchell and I found a Yellow-Throated Warbler at that same location on April 27th while leading a field trip. Not sure if there are any previous records for that species in Alfalfa county. Wish the Red Phalarope had been there on May 14th when I last went through there. Did have

feeder bird

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:29:26 -0500

I was finally able to catch both a male and female PURPLE FINCH at my feeder this week. The male was harder to catch on camera because the House Finches and english sparrows have become so skittish.

NAN BAKER
LITTLE CITY

MARSHALL COUNTY, OK

South Jenkins this morning

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:27:22 -0500

With all the high winds, birding has been pretty slow. If there were
anything here, the wind blowing through the trees drowns it out. With my
ears (not good), I kept hearing something just at my threshold off in
the Half-Mile Woods that sounded very familiar. Finally i jumped

Re: Red Slough Kiskadee update

Fri, 25 May 2012 08:47:09 -0500

I'm going after the Kiskadee Saturday evening. Does anybody know the best place to park and walk to get to the the levee between units 31 and 16, would the southern parking lot on Mudline road be the closest? Terry.

From: David Arbour
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012

Nesting Black-necked Stilts at Red Slough

Fri, 25 May 2012 08:12:18 -0500

On Wednesday (May 23) I was scanning unit 30 Mudflats looking to see if the 2 Red-necked Phalaropes I found the day before were still present when I noticed a Black-necked Stilt sitting on a small mud island out in the water. It looked like it may have been

Red Slough Kiskadee update

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:19:41 -0500

The Great Kiskadee was observed this evening between 6:30 and 7:30 by Ford Hendershot and Matt Jung. It was in its usual spot along the levee between units 31 and 16.

David Arbour
De Queen, AR

Visit the Red Slough Photo Gallery: www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma

phalarope hat-trick

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:58:05 -0500

Was up at the Salt Plains today; helped with the shorebird survey.
Managed all three phalaropes including an adult female Red in breeding
plumage--a wow bird in Oklahoma for sure.
Lot of White-rumped and Stilt sandpipers and Wilson's Phalaropes--3 Red-necked.
A few Ruddy Turnstones (2), Dunlin (3) and Hudsonian Godwits (only

Great Horned owls in the yard - again

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:04:32 -0500

Here it is with the right link to the pictures
------------------------------
Here is my annual report on the Great Horned Owls that come to the yard to hunt
annual cicadas. I saw my first annual cicadayesterday and the owl was out there
right on schedule at 8:45 PM tonight. Last

Great Horned Owls back in the yard.

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:00:47 -0500

Here is my annual report on the Great Horned Owls that come to the yard to hunt
annual cicadas. I saw my first annual cicada yesterday and the owl was out
there right on schedule at 8:45 PM tonight. Last year the visits started about
June 11 and

blog/podcast plug: the Waterthrush Podcast

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:59:03 -0500

Dear OKbirders,

Shameless plug time: For years I've posted trip reports, photo essays, and links to many different newsletters on my personal blog eatmorecookies.wordpress.com. I still do too, but recently I've tried my hand at taking some of the things I might've linked to or written about on the

Re: ID Question

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:35:25 -0500

I call it dedicated birding Dick. Thanks Tom for the insight, I will pay more attention to the suggested behaviors.

Chase

________________________________
From: rgunn1 <(email address filtered)>
To: (email address filtered)
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 6:31 AM
Subject: Re: ID Question

Chase is the only birder I know who carries a compass.

Binoculars for child

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:54:11 -0500

Thanks all for the input! We settled on the Nikon Travelites 8 x 25. Can't wait for her to put them to use!

Best regards,
Juliette Hulen

Re: ID Question

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:53:53 -0500

thanks for the laugh

On 5/23/12, Berlin Heck <(email address filtered)> wrote:
> I once saw a Northern Mockingbird get beat up by some Redneck Grebes
> when it trespassed over the Mason-Dixon line. It should have had a
> compass.
>
> Berlin Heck
> Broken Bow
>
> On May 23, 2012, at 6:31 AM, rgunn1

Re: Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:51:43 -0500

Section 6-611 - Felony Violations - Punishment and Fines
A. No person shall intentionally or knowingly release or engage in,
sponsor, instigate, assist, or profit from the release of any hog,
boar, swine, or pig to live in a wild or feral state upon public or
private lands, except for release into a licensed

Re: ID Question

Wed, 23 May 2012 06:50:47 -0500

I once saw a Northern Mockingbird get beat up by some Redneck Grebes
when it trespassed over the Mason-Dixon line. It should have had a
compass.

Berlin Heck
Broken Bow

On May 23, 2012, at 6:31 AM, rgunn1 wrote:

> Chase is the only birder I know who carries a compass.

Re: ID Question

Wed, 23 May 2012 06:31:12 -0500

Chase is the only birder I know who carries a compass. However, he
should know that in identifying kingbirds and meadowlarks, the direction
of their flight, not the side of the road, is the most important factor
in making their ID. To wit: Eastern Meadowlarks almost always fly in an

Cache Sewage Lagoons

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:28:22 -0500

Hello Everyone,

I stopped by the Cache Sewage Lagoons on the way back from HB.
The number of Pectoral Sandpipers amazed me. Did have 1 late male
Canvasback.

Cache Sewage Ponds (restricted access), Comanche, US-OK
May 22, 2012 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
25 species

Wood Duck 1
Blue-winged Teal 81
Northern Shoveler 7
Canvasback 1 Late

Hackberry Flat 5-22-2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:26:07 -0500

Hello Everyone,

I did a Hackberry Flat survey today finding 15 shorebird species
present. Ive never seen so many Pectoral Sandpipers around like
Im seeing this year.

Hackberry Flat Survey, Tillman, US-OK
May 22, 2012 9:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.0 mile(s)
Comments: Water extremely low, wind SE 15, temp 85
46 species (+3

Re: Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Tue, 22 May 2012 21:38:06 -0500

Then the rub here may be ".... to live in a feral state .... ." If a landowner claims he is pasturing his hogs, how can anyone really tell the difference? Unless the law's authors meant that Oklahoma is a feral state, about which we could probably agree.

Re: Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Tue, 22 May 2012 21:26:36 -0500

State Law says, "No person may willfully release any hog to live in a
feral state on public or private lands."

Berlin Heck
Broken Bow

On May 22, 2012, at 7:38 PM, Sue Selman wrote:

> I am pretty sure it is illegal to release hogs in Oklahoma. As far
>

Red Slough today - R.N. Phalaropes!

Tue, 22 May 2012 21:17:47 -0500

Here are a few interesting birds I noticed while working at Red Slough today:

Green-winged Teal - 1
Neotropic Cormorant - 2
Anhinga - 1
Least Bittern - 1
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - 1
Purple Gallinule - 1
Black-necked Stilt - 5
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1
Hudsonian Godwit - 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper - ~50
Least Sandpiper - 1
White-rumped Sandpiper - ~150
Pectoral Sandpiper

ID Question

Tue, 22 May 2012 20:50:16 -0500

Hello fellow birders,

I have a very IMPORTANT identification question. This morning I was birding along South Jenkins and I spotted what looked like an "eastern" kingbird but he was perched on the "west" side of the road. Can anyone explain this phenomenon? I have never ran across such a tough

Off topic: Child's first binoculars

Tue, 22 May 2012 19:51:39 -0500

Do you have any recommendations for a pair of binoculars for a 6 year old? Better yet, if you have some you would like to sell, please contact me.

Much appreciated!
Juliette Hulen

Re: Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Tue, 22 May 2012 19:38:42 -0500

I am pretty sure it is illegal to release hogs in Oklahoma. As far as the deer goes I don't know of any state that has been able to really manage the Whitetail populations.

Sue Selman
Selman OK

On May 22, 2012, at 4:19 PM, David McNeely wrote:

> Berlin,

Re: Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:19:05 -0500

Berlin, is it legal to release hogs into the wild, even on public land? I thought feral hogs were considered a menace to nature, wildlife, livestock, cultivated crops .......... and the list goes on. I know that there is no closed season or bag limit on hunting them

Re: Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Tue, 22 May 2012 15:30:46 -0500

Appears to be like the hog situation. In the local papers, there are
often requests for live hogs. Pay is based on color, size, and other
factors. The hogs they buy are released on both public and private
lands, and they devastate the flora

Re: Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:38:50 -0500

I know this is strictly anecdotal but I had the great pleasure of
birding on a heavily managed trophy deer operation in South Texas last
month and never saw such diversity of bird life. The ground nesters that
come to mind were the Eastern Meadowlark, Wild Turkey and Bobwhite and

Re: Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:19:44 -0500

>From what I can tell, there are few (or maybe no) places in the U.S. where there is a shortage of white-tailed deer. However, that does not mean that hunters and some landowners who cater to them agree with me. Though the deer population may be higher than

Red Slough Bird Survey - May 21

Mon, 21 May 2012 21:12:46 -0500

Robert Bastarache and I surveyed birds today at Red Slough and found 68 species. This was a let down numberwise compared to last weeks 100+. But quality wise it was pretty good as we found some good birds. The weather was hot and partly cloudy. The

Deer vs warblers, birds NT Times

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:26:39 -0500

In an article in the NY Times in was purported that recent management of habitat for deer has been at the expense of birds that favor ground and low cover for nesting and foraging. Encouragement of plantings for deer to increase their population has not

Red Slough Kiskadee update

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:49:20 -0500

Robert Bastarache and I were surveying birds today at Red Slough and ran into David Eason who is doing the field research on Tree Swallows there. He showed me a pic on his camera of a Great Kiskadee he photographed an hour before along Mudline Road. We went

Re: Green heron question

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:29:40 -0500

Last year I had at least five Green Herons at the apartments. It looked like there were two adults and three first spring birds. Don't know if they were the adult pair's offspring from the previous year, or just young birds looking for a summer territory.

Bill

--- On Sun, 5/20/12, Susie

Nickel Preserve Spring Bird Count this Thursday from 8:00 to 3:00!

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:26:33 -0500

Hi Everyone,

Just a friendly reminder that the Nickel Preserve Spring Bird Count is
coming up this Thursday!! There have been lots of posts lately about
the great birds that have been seen/heard out there and now is your
chance to experience them for yourself! Hope to see you there :-)
Details below:

Mia Revels
Tahlequah,

Re: eBird Report - Varner residence, May 19, 2012

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:13:34 -0500

thanks for sharing. what a wonderful wedding march and remembrance fora dear friend.

Helen Jordan

---- MARK WILLIAMS <(email address filtered)> wrote:
>
> Sounds awesome! Congratulations! Mark Williams
> > Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 21:39:32 -0500
> > From: (email address filtered)
> > Subject: FW: eBird Report - Varner

Re: Dos Kiskadees!!!!

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:39:44 -0500

Score! Photos? Doug.

From: okbirds [mailto:(email address filtered)] On Behalf Of David Arbour
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 10:00 PM
To: (email address filtered)
Subject: Dos Kiskadees!!!!

Ford Hendershot reports having two kiskadees interacting together this evening around 7 p.m. in unit 31 at Red Slough.

David Arbour
De Queen, AR

Visit the Red Slough Photo

Re: eBird Report - Varner residence, May 19, 2012

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:37:46 -0500

And a nesting pair of Prothonotary Warblers on the porch...!

-----Original Message-----
From: okbirds [mailto:(email address filtered)] On Behalf Of O Connell, Tim
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 8:03 AM
To: (email address filtered)
Subject: Re: eBird Report - Varner residence, May 19, 2012

Hearty congratulations to Jimmy and Nadine! I agree that you really

Re: eBird Report - Varner residence, May 19, 2012

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:03:15 -0500

Hearty congratulations to Jimmy and Nadine! I agree that you really can't do better than a chorus of Wood Thrushes for a wedding march. You also can't do much better than to have a Louisiana Waterthrush attend the ceremony.
~Tim O'Connell
Stillwater

Re: eBird Report - Varner residence, May 19, 2012

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:07:58 -0500

Sounds awesome! Congratulations! Mark Williams
> Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 21:39:32 -0500
> From: (email address filtered)
> Subject: FW: eBird Report - Varner residence, May 19, 2012
> To: (email address filtered)
>
> Nadine Varner and I were married at Don and Joyce Varner's house at Welling, OK, on Saturday

FW: eBird Report - Sparrow Hawk Mtn, May 18, 2012

Sun, 20 May 2012 22:20:52 -0500

I stopped by the traditional spot on the road to Sparrow Hawk Mtn. I had one bird calling but I never actually saw it. It was at the first pullout within a half mile of turning off Hwy 10.

Jimmy

-----Original Message-----
From: (email address filtered) [mailto:(email address filtered)]
Sent: Sunday, May 20,

Re: eBird Report - Varner residence, May 19, 2012

Sun, 20 May 2012 22:14:22 -0500

How touching; congratulations!

Lisa
Okemah Lake

On May 20, 2012, at 21:39, Jimmy Woodard <(email address filtered)> wrote:

> Nadine Varner and I were married at Don and Joyce Varner's house at Welling, OK, on Saturday the 19th. Don passed away almost two years ago. For most

Dos Kiskadees!!!!

Sun, 20 May 2012 22:00:13 -0500

Ford Hendershot reports having two kiskadees interacting together this evening around 7 p.m. in unit 31 at Red Slough.

David Arbour
De Queen, AR

Visit the Red Slough Photo Gallery: www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma

FW: eBird Report - Varner residence, May 19, 2012

Sun, 20 May 2012 21:39:32 -0500

Nadine Varner and I were married at Don and Joyce Varner's house at Welling, OK, on Saturday the 19th. Don passed away almost two years ago. For most of his life, he kept a daily bird list of species seen either
at the house or during his daily travels. Don

Lake Carl Blackwell

Sun, 20 May 2012 18:41:32 -0500

Birders,
Tom Worthington, a visiting scholar at OSU, and i went to Carl Blackwell
and looked around some. Not a lot of excitement. We scanned the water
and saw almost nothing.

At the intersection of the circular road around the store and the main
north-south road, there was a stunned and/or wounded

Kiskadee?

Sun, 20 May 2012 16:09:21 -0500

Did anyone go look for the Kiskadee at Red Slough this weekend, and if so did you find it?

David Arbour
De Queen, AR

Visit the Red Slough Photo Gallery: www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Sun, 20 May 2012 15:46:08 -0500

Hello All,

Friday morning, heard a Wood Thrush on Turkey Mountain. Saturday, went to Nickel to look for the Cerulean Warbler. No trouble hearing him, but he insisted on staying about halfway up the slope in the treetops, so not the best looks I've had. Also had a singing Hooded

Blackburnian Pontotoc County

Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:28 -0500

Storm last night dropped out a Blackburnian Warbler at Bill Carter's farm. Hope some others dropped out too. DW

Doug Wood, Ph.D.
PMB 4068
1405 N. 4th Ave.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Durant, OK 74701-0609
580.745.2272
(email address filtered)

SW OK highlights Week of 12-18 May

Sun, 20 May 2012 11:00:15 -0500

SW OK Birding highlights 12-18 May 2012

American Wigeon 2 at Lake Hobert, Washita Co., 14 May (LT); also 2 in Comanche 16 May and 2 in Tillman 16 May (LT)
Northern Shoveler 74 remain at Hackberry Flat WMA 16 May (LT); 34 were at Lake Hobart 14 May (LT);

Green heron question

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:41:48 -0500

We have had two Green Herons nest in our cedar trees the last four years. this year there are three. Is it possible a chick from last year is still with the two herons or is it a competing male/female? All this assuming it is the same two herons from

Re: Birds in my yard

Sat, 19 May 2012 11:51:45 -0500

Loved your tale of woe with the Flycatchers. I watched a Brown Thrasher couple build a nest this week.....Enjoy.
----- Original Message -----
From: Berlin Heck
To: (email address filtered)
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 10:07 AM
Subject: Birds