Fall migration has birds on the move

Oklahoma Mesonet reported no precipitation over the past seven-day period.

Payne County rare birds for the same time included Pine Siskin and a late Orchard Oriole at Lake Carl Blackwell, the ‘kip’ call of a Red Crossbill in the area of a private residence on Glenwood, a fall-plumaged Bay-breasted Warbler at Will Rogers Woods (private), Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Cimarron River between Grider Farms and GMP Automotive, Great Crested Flycatcher at Bearded Birding Wildlife Refuge (private), late Bell’s Vireo at Teal Ridge, and early Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University.

A high estimated 3,117,300 birds crossed Payne County between Monday, Sept. 21, 2026 at 1930 hours and Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 0710 hours.

Peak migration traffic was a high 770,900 birds in flight recorded Monday, Sept. 21 at 2040 hours from the SSW, wind speed of 21 mph at an altitude of 1,200 feet.

Expected nocturnal migrants were Scissor-tailed, Least and Great Crested Flycatchers, Painted Bunting, Baltimore Oriole, Snowy Egret, Gray Catbird, Bell’s Vireo, Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Kingbird, Dickcissel, Little Blue Heron, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Forster’s Tern.

Nationwide rarities/vagrants include ongoing Steller’s Sea-Eagle of Newfoundland, Far Eastern Curlew of Quebec and the Texas Mottled Owl.

September can be an interesting month, especially with a Super El Nino, which is rare anyway, and when the weather cooldown hits, its is even more of a good chance for our migrants, some of which can be quite notable. New Hampshire received what was expected being almost completely landlocked, a Great Skua, as well as twice observed Chilean Skua, which usually breeds around the southern tip of South America, stopping no further north than Uruguay.

A private citizen, non-birder no less, found a young Baillon’s Crake in Virginia, who attempted to transport same to a rehabilitator, but it died in transit. Luckily, photos were taken to prove the existence. This is a central Asian species.

Georgia commandeered its first Garganey, while Florida captured its first Gray Flycatcher.

Oklahoma discovered three for the price of one, though assorted locations – Cactus Wren, Western Gull, and American Three-toed Woodpecker.

Alberta tagged two – Little Blue Heron and Laughing Gull, and British Columbia tagged Red-footed Booby, who seems to be partial to the lower 48.

Arizona discovered their first Piratic Flycatcher, but was not first of nation.

Southern California enjoyed Siberian Sand-Plover, with Oregon’s Blue Rock-Thrush, and Washington State’s Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Golden-winged Warbler.

Alaska bounded forth with Willow and Dusky Warblers, Gambell’s Middendorff’s Grasshopper- Warbler, and Common Chiffchaff. There were a couple of non-warblers--Pechora Pipit and Siberian House-Martin.

Boomer Lake added Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, multiple Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Carolina Wren, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Chimney Swift,

See BIRDS on C2

Deb Hirt

COLUMNIST

CONTINUED FROM C1

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Coot, Killdeer, Pied-billed Grebe, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebird, House Sparrow, House Finch, Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Yellow and Pine Warblers.

Lake Carl Blackwell shared Black Tern, Doublecrested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, American White Pelican, Black and Turkey Vultures, Osprey, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, American Crow, Whitebreasted Nuthatch, Orchard Oriole, Upland Sandpiper, Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers, Yellowthroated Vireo, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Greater Roadrunner, and Common Grackle.

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

A Greater Roadrunner keeps an eye out for fresh grub.

Mike’s Birds from Riverside, CA, US via Wikimedia