Birds keep on wandering

Oklahoma Mesonet noted 1.67 inches of rainfall over the past seven-day period.

Payne County rare birds include Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Will Rogers Woods (private access), which was noted for several days.

An estimated 118,100 birds crossed Payne County between Monday, Aug. 24, 2026 at 2010 hours and Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 at 0650 hours.

Peak migration traffic was an estimated 36,200 birds in flight from the WSW, at an altitude of 900 feet, wind speed of 14 mph on Aug. 24 at 2100 hours.

Expected nocturnal migrants were Painted Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, Least Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Upland Sandpiper, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Yellowcrowned Night-Heron, Black Tern, Common Nighthawk, Orchard Oriole, Summer Tanager and Bell’s Vireo.

Nationwide continuing rarities/vagrants include Steller’s Sea-Eagle of Newfoundland, Yellow-headed Caracara of Florida and and Tufted Flycatcher of Arizona.

Several Common Ringed Plovers were in Newfoundland fairly regularly over the years on this date with Nova Scotia eyeing Crested Caracara, two more Crested Caracara in Quebec, two additional in Ontario and one in the southernmost county of Maine, while British Columbia’s Acorn Woodpecker opened a few eyes.

Tennessee or perhaps Southern Kentucky tagged a Spotted Rail, which was brought in for rehabilitative care. This species tends to occur occasionally from Lower Mexico through South America to Northern Argentina and Uruguay.

Alabama recorded its first Golden-cheeked Warbler, which breeds in Texas Hill Country with postbreeding nomads running easterly toward the Gulf of Mexico.

Speaking of wanderers, Ohio was fortunate enough to discover a Swallow-tailed Kite earlier in the month.

Minnesota came up with Fork-tailed Flycatcher, and Illinois also did the same. Same bird? Unknown.

Iowa had a nice pair of individuals – Clark’s Nutcracker and Groove-billed Ani.

Nebraska also hosted Swallow- tailed Kite, as Colorado checked of one of those oncein- a-blue-moon Phainopeplas.

New Mexico penciled in its first generally pelagic South Polar Skua. I don’t believe they usually come inland unless they are quite hungry.

There were a lot of worthy surprises this month, and we could be just as fortunate next month. Time will tell.

Washington State recorded Common Ringed Plover, as Alaska spotted the rare Chinese Pond Heron in Utqiagvik, with Eurasian Hobby

See HIRT on C6

LIFE AT BOOMER LAKE

Deb Hirt

CONTINUED FROM C1

in the Pribilofs.

At Purcell City Lake in Cleveland County on July 9, a birder discovered something interesting – a Red-headed Woodpecker’s nest hole.

Both male and female were feeding the young, mating occasionally and the chick was seen peering out of the hole. It had fledged the next day and was flying around the area of the nest tree.

That was a wonderful slice of natural history.

Boomer Lake added Canada Goose, Mallard, Yellow- billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Great Blue Heron, Mississippi Kite, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Barn Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Carolina Wren, European Starling, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebird, House Sparrow, House Finch, Baltimore Oriole, Northern Yellow Warbler, Great Egret, Blue Jay, Green Heron, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, American and Fish Crows, Common Grackle and Northern Cardinal.

Lake Carl Blackwell shared Eurasian Collared-Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black and Forster’s Terns, Red-headed Woodpecker, Purple Martin, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Redwinged Blackbird and Painted Bunting.

Keep your eyes on the ground and your head in the clouds. Happy birding!

A Red-headed Woodpecker looks for a daytime meal.

Jim Hudgins I USFW