Fires have birds branching out

Oklahoma Mesonet recorded .01 inches of rainfall over the past seven-day period.

Payne County rare birds for the same time frame showed no birds reported.

Nationwide continuing rarities/vagrants listed Steller’s Sea-Eagle of Newfoundland and Yellow-headed Caracara of Florida.

Newfoundland shared Roseate Tern.

Connecticut recorded Lesser Frigatebird in the midst of a protected colony.

Wisconsin photographed a lovely breeding-plumaged Yellow-billed Loon, an Arctic soon-to-be-nesting bird, a first of state individual.

Nebraska received its share of the wandering Swallow-tailed Kites, appearing in late summer.

New Mexico counted a young Heermann’s Gull, while Arizona’s winged wonders brought sheer excitement – Eared Quetzel, Tufted Flycatcher and Blue-black Grassquit.

Land-locked Idaho enjoyed Brown Pelican.

California added Eurasian Whimbrel, tagged in Japan two years prior, as Washington found Common-ringed Plover, a rare appearance for that location.

Since writer ran out of space last week – on Aug. 2, at Arcardia Conservation Education Area on south side of Arcadia Lake in Edmond, a vocal flyover Red Crossbill near the Education Building was noted. Crossbills have been observed likely in response to wildfires across core ranges. It could be a sign of more to come with their classic jip-jip calls.

Basic adult and fresh juvenile Laughing Gulls had also been seen off Prairie Dog Point at Lake Hefner in North OKC. First four southbound alternate Franklin’s Gulls also observed. The lake level was still dropping, exposing shorelines, mudflats and sandbars, which could improve shorebirding.

Two days later a Least Flycatcher and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron were seen along the creek at Yukon Park, with the Night-Heron in the trees.

On the 5th, things were getting better at Prairie Dog Point with Black-necked Stilts, avocets, Marbled Godwit and shorebirds, both times of the day. Significant pulse of Bluewinged Teal, as well.

Boomer Lake tagged Mallard, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Mississippi Kite, Bell’s Vireo, Tufted Titmouse, Fish Crow, crow sp., Carolina Wren, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Canada Goose, Redbellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Barn and Cliff Swallows, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, House

See HIRT on C6

Deb Hirt

LIFE AT BOOMER LAKE

CONTINUED FROM C1

Sparrow, House Finch, Baltimore Oriole, Common Grackle, Northern Yellow Warbler, Pine Warbler, Rock Pigeon (feral), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Whiteeyed Vireo, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Indigo Bunting, Green Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Orchard Oriole and Dickcissel.

Lake Carl Blackwell counted Eurasian Collared-Dove, Killdeer, Black and Forster’s Terns, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Yellow-throated Warbler and Summer Tanager.

The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University penciled in Painted Bunting, Doublecrested Cormorant, Black Vulture, American Kestrel, Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Parula, Painted Bunting and Blue Grosbeak.

Keep your eyes on the ground and your head in the clouds.

Happy birding!