SHARE
When birds get used to one another
Oklahoma Mesonet reported reported no precipitation over the past week.
Payne County rare birds for the same period included Neotropic Cormorant at Boomer Lake and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher off Cimarron River between Olivet Church and Grey Snow Eagle House in Perkins.
An estimated 1,300 birds crossed Payne County between Monday, March 16, 2026 at 1940 hours and Tuesday, March 17, 2025 at 0730 hours.
Peak migration traffic was an estimated 2,200 birds in flight. Direction, speed, and altitude cannot be reliably determined with such low numbers. Not all birds may fully cross a region in one night, resulting in a greater number of birds in flight than total birds crossed.
If we can navigate March’s orneriness, we can see a few interesting things like the normal Downy Woodpecker pair that frequents the area of the sycamore by Lakeview Rd. just east of Lakeview Road Bridge. They will get on the thinnest strands of poison ivy about three feet from the ground, which isn’t far from foot traffic. They pay us no attention, just eat the shriveled berries, then meet up again in a little better cover, but still visible.
We are all aware of how frigid it has been some days, yet hummingbirds manage to come early enough if they choose to find nectar in different scenery, so again, be prepared for those winged jewels.
If you get the chance, especially in Colombia if you wish to hone in on some remarkable hummingbird diversity, get ready for the plethora of hummingbirds, antbirds, Wood Quail, brushfinch and many more that can be found on the private property of local guides. They take the time to sometimes plant thousands of saplings and carefully cultivate the land to give us the birds that we want in America, sometimes those that have not been seen for decades. However, book yourselves EARLY, get a temporary second job if you have to, and just go, because you will kick yourselves in your later years
DEB HIRT
if you do not do so.
This is one of my favorite times of year, when winter birds just naturally meld into spring birds, and they just peacefully coexist together. But why wouldn’t they? Many species are used to one another in deeper southern climates during our offseason. Writer his seen tyrant flycatchers just calmly and peacefully sit side-by-side, enjoying and sharing fruit with one another. The tables turn when they come to their northern breeding grounds and the hormones kick in, then they have to battle and be disagreeable with everything. I will tell you that one of my highlights has been photographing the behavior of Red-winged Blackbirds, Scissor- tailed Flycatchers, and Western Kingbirds as they irritate and torture unsuspecting hawks just minding their own business flying past the entourage.
Expected nocturnal migrants were Blue- and Green-winged Teals, Yellow-rumped and Black-and-white Warblers, Song and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Western Meadowlark, Rubyand Golden-crowned Kinglets, Dark-eyed Junco, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and Horned Grebe.
Boomer Lake added Canada Goose, Mallard, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Mourning Dove, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, European Starling, Common Grackle, Pine and Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers, Neotropic Cormorant, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Crow, and Redwinged Blackbird.
Lake Carl Blackwell sited Northern Shoveler, Common Goldeneye, Killdeer, Baird’s Sandpiper, Blue Jay, and slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco.
The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University recorded Turkey Vulture, Red-bellied, Pileated, and Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Phoebe, Fish Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Mockingbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, White-throated and Harris’s Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Red-tailed Hawk.
Hoyt Grove Park tagged Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Hermit Thrush.
Teal Ridge Wetland counted Blue-winged Teal and Greattailed Grackle. Ghost Hollow checked Wild Turkey, Wood Duck, and Winter Wren.
Theta Pond discovered domestic Mallard.
Keep your eyes on the ground and your head in the clouds. Happy birding!
Deb Hirt is a wild bird rehabilitator and photographer living in Stillwater.
A Golden-crowned Kinglet.
RHODODENDRITES, CC BY-SA 4.0
SHARE
