| Previous reports |
Recorders Report A cold front with sleet did arrived in Oklahoma for a token winter weather spell in February; but the unusually warm, dry, windy weather continues to change the landscape and birds seen in Oklahoma. Up to March 4th over 500,000 acres have burned in Oklahoma, but now the fires are getting bigger, becoming fiercer and more dangerous. More homes are being burned and one firefighter is fighting for his life. Small amounts of moisture occasionally fall in different sections of the state, but is quickly absorbed by the desperately moisture-seeking plants, soil, and animals. Really unusual bird records include a Bullock’s Oriole in Elkhart, Kansas in early February and a Baltimore Oriole in Miami, OK on February 23. On February 8 Chris Butler took his ornithology class to Lake Arcadia and found 45 species. The highlight of the day was two Bald Eagles visible form the park offices. Out of season species included four early (or overwintering?) Greater Yellowlegs, a single Great Egret, and an early (or overwintering?) Eastern Phoebe. Other interesting species seen included Northern Bobwhite, Wilson’s Snipe, Bonaparte’s Gull, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Field Sparrow, and Western Meadowlark. Swimmers included Green-winged Teal, all three Mergansers, Pied-billed Grebes, American White Pelican and Double-crested Cormorants. The class found an Eastern Phoebe in Fink Park in Edmond on the 14th. Chris and his family visited Guthrie Lake on the 12th. The wind was howling, so birds were scarce, but they did see two Bald Eagles soaring over the lake. On the afternoon of February 16 Chris saw his first of season Turkey Vulture while visiting the Oklahoma City Zoo. It flew overhead as he was touring the (under construction) native Oklahoma animals exhibit. The weather changed to winter with sleet over parts of the 17th, 18th, and 19th. The GBBC was scheduled for the weekend, but most spent it watching backyard birds. Terri Savage reports a lone Northern Flicker and was treated to by a visit by a male House Finch. Lyn Pearce and Pat Velte report White-winged Doves at their backyard feeders in or near the Village. Our backyard in Piedmont had 30 American Goldfinches clustering on the mesh feeding tubes and much to our surprise the striped LBJs turned out to be 5 Pine Siskins. A lone Song Sparrow joined the White-throated Sparrow and Harris’s Sparrows. On February 18 June Ketchum reported 2 Purple Finches at her feeder near Blanchard. Kim Wiar of Cleveland County had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in her yard two or three times in January, a Carolina Wren once, and several times enjoyed watching a Brown Creeper gleaning the Bald Cypress in her back yard. She also reports from her Winter Bird Atlas plots in Pottawatomie County a Loggerhead Shrike, Swamp Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, a Purple Finch and others. On February 22 at Lake Hefner Northern Shovelers had returned, and other swimmers included Pied Billed Grebes, Horned Grebes, and Redhead ducks. In the forest around it were Yellow-rumped Warblers, and the number of American Robins is beginning to increase in numbers. On February 27 Larry Mays took a long run in the Newcastle area and did a little birdwatching along the route. He reports there were quite a few singers revving up for the coming season. He heard Tufted Titmouse calls just about everywhere. Carolina Chickadees were just starting to think about it. Found one chickadee DOR, which was a bummer as chickadees are near and dear to his heart. A Brown Thrasher was a little shy about its delivery so it stayed low in the bushes and called rather softly. Heard and saw one Eastern Phoebe who had already claimed a bridge as its own. Northern Cardinals, too, were getting into the act. Crows today were really into weird noises. What's that about? Yesterday he had a flock of 63 pass through--migrants he supposes. Normal numbers around here are about 5 or 6. Heard one Field Sparrow claiming its bit of the world. Saw a pair of Red-tailed Hawks. He suspects they have a nest around, but he couldn't locate it. Other raptors were one really big Cooper's Hawk, and a Red-shouldered Hawk with a fox squirrel for lunch. This bird was not happy with him jogging past, but didn't want to leave its prey, so he got a nice close look at a gorgeous bird. He wonders if the hawk killed the squirrel or if perhaps it had acquired the squirrel as a road kill. Ah, the mystery. Lots of juncos around as well as Harris's Sparrows, Song Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows, too. Saw a couple flocks of Cedar Waxwings which seem to have suddenly discovered elm buds. Quick running list of "running list" species: Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, Northern Mockingbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Meadowlarks and other usual roadside stuff. Oh and a pair of Mallards…. Thanks for the report Larry! On February 26 Patti reports that Brian Muzny took advantage of a morning of fishing at Dolese Park, located at NW 50th between Meridian and MacArthur on Sunday, February 26. He caught no fish, but heard a Purple Martin in the area. He also saw a pair of Inca Doves. Maybe he was too busy watching birds to pay attention to the fishing? American Robins are appearing in flocks, Northern Mockingbirds are singing, Killdeer are crying their name in multiple locations, and House Sparrows have strings of grass in their beaks…. Yes, winter is ending, and spring is just around the corner. Have you cleaned out your Eastern Bluebird nest boxes and/or Purple Martin houses and placed them in their nesting sites?? Love waits for no one. 69 species were reported in February for a year-to-date total of 97 species for Oklahoma/Canadian County. Some are still missing such as Pileated Woodpecker and Eastern Screech Owl. For Cleveland County the year-to-date total is 23 species. It’s not too late to turn in reports for January and February 2006. Question: What animal spends more of its time during the year in the sunshine and why? I appreciate those who help provide the history of central Oklahoma birds by turning in their reports of bird species seen at home and in the field. I can be contacted by email at emok@earthlink.net, leave a message at 405-373-2738 or mail to PO Box 291, Piedmont, OK 73078. Monthly backyard reports are welcome. Esther M. Key Added by Patti Muzny: Byars Cabin 3/12 – Lark Sparrow and Black and White Warbler. Sooner Road and SW 59th Street – Green Heron by Brian Muzny.
|