Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Oklahoma Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Tuesday, June 18 at 06:48 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Vesper Sparrow,©David Sibley

18 Jun FW: eBird Report - Kiowa County, OK, US, Jun 15, 2013 [Jimmy Woodard ] 18 Jun Red Slough Bird Survey - June 18 [David Arbour ] 18 Jun Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds [Bill Carrell ] 18 Jun Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds [Doug Wood ] 18 Jun INAS Picnic [Jim Deming ] 18 Jun Re: Rose Lake [Deanne McKinney ] 18 Jun Re: Recent Photos [Steve Schafer ] 18 Jun Re: Recent Photos [Terry Mitchell ] 18 Jun Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds [amy buthod ] 17 Jun Re: Recent Photos [] 17 Jun Re: Recent Photos [David McNeely ] 17 Jun Re: Recent Photos [henthorn1 ] 17 Jun Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds [Doug Wood ] 17 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [John Kennington ] 17 Jun Re: Recent Photos [EUGENE YOUNG ] 17 Jun Re: Recent Photos [Cyndie Browning ] 16 Jun SE Oklahoma This Weekend [Chad Ellis ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Bill Diffin ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Alex James ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Alex James ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Jim Deming ] 16 Jun Fw: Re: Quiz Bird [Bill Carrell ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Anna Bennett ] 16 Jun Re: Recent Photos [bill ] 17 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [EUGENE YOUNG ] 16 Jun Recent Photos [Terry Mitchell ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Doug ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Jim Arterburn ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Michael Beilfuss ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [matthew jung ] 16 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [EUGENE YOUNG ] 15 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [Kurt Meisenzahl ] 15 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [David Arbour ] 15 Jun Re: Quiz Bird [David Arbour ] 15 Jun Re: Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts [Sue Selman ] 15 Jun Quiz Bird [John Kennington ] 14 Jun OT - High Island Area Mid-April [Bill Adams ] 14 Jun Re: off subject sort of [Mark Cromwell ] 14 Jun Re: L. Hefner yesterday [Steve Davis ] 14 Jun Wichita Mtns Thu [Steve Davis ] 13 Jun L. Hefner yesterday [matthew jung ] 12 Jun Re: Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts [Allan Mueller ] 12 Jun Re: June INAS picnic [Jim Deming ] 12 Jun Re: White-winged Dove - Enid [bill ] 11 Jun Fw: White-winged Dove - Enid [DAVID ARBOUR ] 11 Jun Red Slough Bird Survey - June 11 [David Arbour ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of [Sue Selman ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of [David McNeely ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of ["Thompson, David M. (HSC) - Faculty" ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of [Sue Selman ] 11 Jun Re: Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts [Sue Selman ] 11 Jun June INAS picnic [Jim Deming ] 11 Jun Re: Hackberry Flat update ["antoinetteverne AT yahoocom" ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of [Steph Hicks ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of [Sue Selman ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of [Lindell Dillon ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of [Sue Selman ] 11 Jun Re: off subject sort of [Michael Beilfuss ] 11 Jun Hackberry Flat update [ML2x ] 11 Jun off subject sort of [Sue Selman ] 11 Jun email hacked [Antoinette Verne ] 10 Jun Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts [Steve Sorensen ] 9 Jun Anhinga at the rookery on 10th [Terri Underhill ] 9 Jun Alfalfa Co, Jet BBS [Tom Ewert ] 9 Jun The Great Salt Plains: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly [Cyndie Browning ] 9 Jun Major County BBS highlights [Pete Janzen ] 9 Jun Rose Lake [henthorn1 ] 9 Jun Rose Lake [matthew jung ] 9 Jun May be too late [Dick Gunn ] 7 Jun White-faced ibises [henthorn1 ] 7 Jun WF Ibis, Black Terns, NW OKC [Bill Diffin ] 6 Jun Red Slough Bird Survey - June 6 [David Arbour ] 6 Jun Nesting Wrens [MORGAN FOGELSTROM ] 5 Jun Re: More LPC PROBLEMS? [Dave Woodson ] 5 Jun Re: More LPC PROBLEMS? [Steve Sorensen ] Subject: FW: eBird Report - Kiowa County, OK, US, Jun 15, 2013 From: Jimmy Woodard <j.woodard AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:33:13 -0500 Here is a compilation of species and numbers for all 50 stops from my Cooperton BBS survery route I ran on Saturday the 15th in Kiowa County. The big surprise was the single Black-necked Stilt. The spring rains had really produced good growth in all habitats. The La Waterthrushes were the first ones I have had on the route since I've been doing it for 3 years. Several species had the highest numbers I've had on the route. Especially note the Bobwhite numbers. Jimmy Woodard Mustang, OK Kiowa County, OK, US, Kiowa, US-OK Jun 15, 2013 5:30 AM - 10:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 50.0 mile(s) Comments: birds seen/heard driving to and from and conducting the Cooperton BBS route. 45 species Wood Duck 1 Northern Bobwhite 31 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 one bird heard calling. Turkey Vulture 20 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Killdeer 18 Black-necked Stilt 1 Upland Sandpiper 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove 11 Mourning Dove 213 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 4 Greater Roadrunner 3 Common Nighthawk 61 Chimney Swift 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpecker 4 Eastern Phoebe 6 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Western Kingbird 1 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 44 American Crow 9 Horned Lark 42 Barn Swallow 45 Cliff Swallow 99 Carolina Chickadee 2 Canyon Wren 1 American Robin 1 Northern Mockingbird 30 Brown Thrasher 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 2 Rufous-crowned Sparrow 6 Cassin's Sparrow 20 Lark Sparrow 54 Grasshopper Sparrow 26 Northern Cardinal 42 Blue Grosbeak 15 Painted Bunting 29 Dickcissel 85 Red-winged Blackbird 41 Eastern Meadowlark 121 Western Meadowlark 199 compilation of all 50 stops. Common Grackle 4 Great-tailed Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 21 House Sparrow 3 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14452656 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 18 From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:30:52 -0500 It was partly cloudy, warm, and humid on the bird survey today. Worked a bit of a different route today so missed some things and got lower numbers on others. Here is my list for today: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 5 Wood Duck - 18 Hooded Merganser - 7 Pied-billed Grebe - 2 Neotropic Cormorant - 6 Anhinga - 1 Least Bittern - 3 (2 sitting on nests) Great Blue Heron - 15 Great Egret - 31 Snowy Egret - 1 Little Blue Heron - 2 Cattle Egret - 6 Green Heron - 3 White Ibis - 121 Black Vulture - 1 Turkey Vulture - 18 Mississippi Kite - 3 Purple Gallinule - 1 Common Gallinule - 1 American Coot - 2 Mourning Dove - 15 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 Red-headed Woodpecker - 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 Acadian Flycatcher - 1 Eastern Phoebe - 2 Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Eastern Kingbird - 6 White-eyed Vireo - 12 Bell's Vireo - 4 Red-eyed Vireo - 1 American Crow - 16 Fish Crow - 3 Purple Martin - 4 Tree Swallow - 20 Cliff Swallow - 41 Barn Swallow - 53 Carolina Chickadee - 5 Tufted Titmouse - 3 Carolina Wren - 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3 Eastern Bluebird - 3 Prairie Warbler - 2 Prothonotary Warbler - 7 Common Yellowthroat - 11 Yellow-breasted Chat - 10 Summer Tanager - 3 Northern Cardinal - 13 Blue Grosbeak - 1 Indigo Bunting - 13 Painted Bunting - 7 Dickcissel - 19 Red-winged Blackbird - 58 Common Grackle - 19 Brown-headed Cowbird - 9 Orchard Oriole - 6 Odonates: Elegant Spreadwing Fragile Forktail Citrine Forktail Lilypad Forktail Common Green Darner Cyrano Darner Swamp Darner Regal Darner Jade Clubtail Stillwater Clubtail Mocha Emerald Prince Baskettail Four-spotted Pennant Halloween Pennant Eastern Pondhawk Slaty Skimmer Great Blue Skimmer Widow Skimmer Common Whitetail Eastern Amberwing Blue Dasher Spot-winged Glider Carolina Saddlebags Black Saddlebags Good birding! David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Photo Gallery: www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma Subject: Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds From: Bill Carrell <okdragonhunter AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:14:04 -0700 When I was out there in May, he was mostly hanging around the intersection where the big church with the bell tower is. The female was in the same area. Hopefully she's still around, sitting on a nest somewhere. Also, there were three Black-Headed Grosbeaks in the state park at that time, one male and female "pair". Made me wonder about the possibility of them nesting in the area.   Bill --- On Tue, 6/18/13, Doug Wood wrote: From: Doug Wood Subject: Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 12:18 PM We saw him hanging out on two wooden v-shaped posts on the east side of the road between the Merc and Asa and Fannie’s house.  Near some old farm equipment.  DW.   From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of amy buthod Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 6:16 AM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds   I've seen that Vermillion flycatcher in Kenton my past two visits!  He seems to like the clothesline between the Hitching Post properties.    On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 6:58 PM, Doug Wood wrote: Hi All.  Ran the Felt and Keyes BBS routes Friday and Saturday respectively.  Also did some casual birding with John Schenck and Bill Carter in the Black Mesa area.  Mesa country getting rain or runoff, so they had had some flash floods.  Rained almost an inch one night plus hail etc.  Full list below, but a couple notables including: -Vermilion Flycatcher - adult male in Kenton -Black-headed Grosbeaks (2, probably 3) different males at Camp Billy Joe - singing and looking like they were holding territory -Wilson's Phalarope at Black Mesa State Park (Lake Etling has a lot of water in it this year - variety of ducks on the lake too) -Ferruginous Hawk just north of south entrance to Black Mesa SP -Lark Buntings - 2 females, 1 male along Keyes route -Scaled Quail - seen at state park (1 hatch year bird), west of Keyes, and north of Felt - most Scaled Quail I've seen on any trip to the Mesa county -Western Wood-Pewee along Felt route -Indigo Bunting adult male along Felt route -Lesser Goldfinch male singing near low water crossing at Black Mesa SP -White-winged Dove on grounds of middle school in Woodward on drive up Thursday -Some misses too: no Bushtits, Black-billed Magpies Sites included: Boise City lagoons, Black Mesa State Park (BMSP), Felt and Keyes BBS routes, Camp Billy Joe, Easter Pageant, Kenton, road behind Black Mesa, and Hoot Owl Ranch. -At Hoot Owl, saw Juniper Titmouse along the "river" - first time seeing that species there.  Hoot Owl also welcomed a new canine greeter (Lacey).  She's a sweet dog.  Don't forget to check in with the Collins's a priori if you want to bird on their place or stay (Google Hoot Owl Ranch for contact info if you like).  Doug.   Full list: Wood Duck - 3 at BMSP American Wigeon - 1 drake - BMSP Mallard - 1  at BMSP Blue-winged Teal - half dozen at BMSP Northern Shoveler - 3 at BMSP Ruddy Duck - 13 at BMSP Scaled Quail - see above Northern Bobwhite - Felt Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey - nesting at Hoot Owl Double-crested Cormorants - BMSP Great Blue Heron - BMSP Black-crowned Night-Heron - BC lagoons Turkey Vulture Mississippi Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier - male north of Felt Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Ferruginous Hawk - see above American Kestrel Prairie Falcon - Hoot Owl American Coot Killdeer Long-billed Curlew - lots - having a good year Wilson's Phalarope - see above Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Greater Roadrunner Western Screech-Owl - pair at Hoot Owl Burrowing Owl - seem to be doing a lot better this year than last Common Nighthawk Common Poorwill - at Billy Joe Black-chinned Hummingbird Red-headed Woodpecker - lots, couldn't find Lewis's WP reported at Hoot Owl earlier this spring Ladder-backed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee - see above Eastern Phoebe Say's Phoebe Vermilion Flycatcher - see above Ash-throated Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird Western Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Western Scrub-Jay - at Billy Joe Chihuahuan Raven Common Raven Horned Lark Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Juniper Titmouse - several at Billy Joe/Hoot Owl Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - at Billy Joe Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird Curve-billed Thrasher European Starling Canyon Towhee Cassin's Sparrow - quite a few on Felt route this year, plus some on Felt route Lark Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow - pair just south of Easter Pageant on west side of road Lark Bunting - see above Grasshopper Sparrow - most on Keyes route Summer Tanager - at Hoot Owl - pair nesting Black-headed Grosbeak - see above Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting - see above Dickcissel - only 1 on Keyes route Red-winged Blackbird - numbers up a lot; moisture seems to help.... Western Meadowlark Common Grackle Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Bullock's Oriole House Finch Lesser Goldfinch - see above House Sparrow   -- Amy Buthod Subject: Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds From: Doug Wood <DWood AT SE.EDU> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:18:40 -0500 We saw him hanging out on two wooden v-shaped posts on the east side of the road between the Merc and Asa and Fannie's house. Near some old farm equipment. DW. From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of amy buthod Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 6:16 AM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds I've seen that Vermillion flycatcher in Kenton my past two visits! He seems to like the clothesline between the Hitching Post properties. On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 6:58 PM, Doug Wood > wrote: Hi All. Ran the Felt and Keyes BBS routes Friday and Saturday respectively. Also did some casual birding with John Schenck and Bill Carter in the Black Mesa area. Mesa country getting rain or runoff, so they had had some flash floods. Rained almost an inch one night plus hail etc. Full list below, but a couple notables including: -Vermilion Flycatcher - adult male in Kenton -Black-headed Grosbeaks (2, probably 3) different males at Camp Billy Joe - singing and looking like they were holding territory -Wilson's Phalarope at Black Mesa State Park (Lake Etling has a lot of water in it this year - variety of ducks on the lake too) -Ferruginous Hawk just north of south entrance to Black Mesa SP -Lark Buntings - 2 females, 1 male along Keyes route -Scaled Quail - seen at state park (1 hatch year bird), west of Keyes, and north of Felt - most Scaled Quail I've seen on any trip to the Mesa county -Western Wood-Pewee along Felt route -Indigo Bunting adult male along Felt route -Lesser Goldfinch male singing near low water crossing at Black Mesa SP -White-winged Dove on grounds of middle school in Woodward on drive up Thursday -Some misses too: no Bushtits, Black-billed Magpies Sites included: Boise City lagoons, Black Mesa State Park (BMSP), Felt and Keyes BBS routes, Camp Billy Joe, Easter Pageant, Kenton, road behind Black Mesa, and Hoot Owl Ranch. -At Hoot Owl, saw Juniper Titmouse along the "river" - first time seeing that species there. Hoot Owl also welcomed a new canine greeter (Lacey). She's a sweet dog. Don't forget to check in with the Collins's a priori if you want to bird on their place or stay (Google Hoot Owl Ranch for contact info if you like). Doug. Full list: Wood Duck - 3 at BMSP American Wigeon - 1 drake - BMSP Mallard - 1 at BMSP Blue-winged Teal - half dozen at BMSP Northern Shoveler - 3 at BMSP Ruddy Duck - 13 at BMSP Scaled Quail - see above Northern Bobwhite - Felt Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey - nesting at Hoot Owl Double-crested Cormorants - BMSP Great Blue Heron - BMSP Black-crowned Night-Heron - BC lagoons Turkey Vulture Mississippi Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier - male north of Felt Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Ferruginous Hawk - see above American Kestrel Prairie Falcon - Hoot Owl American Coot Killdeer Long-billed Curlew - lots - having a good year Wilson's Phalarope - see above Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Greater Roadrunner Western Screech-Owl - pair at Hoot Owl Burrowing Owl - seem to be doing a lot better this year than last Common Nighthawk Common Poorwill - at Billy Joe Black-chinned Hummingbird Red-headed Woodpecker - lots, couldn't find Lewis's WP reported at Hoot Owl earlier this spring Ladder-backed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee - see above Eastern Phoebe Say's Phoebe Vermilion Flycatcher - see above Ash-throated Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird Western Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Western Scrub-Jay - at Billy Joe Chihuahuan Raven Common Raven Horned Lark Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Juniper Titmouse - several at Billy Joe/Hoot Owl Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - at Billy Joe Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird Curve-billed Thrasher European Starling Canyon Towhee Cassin's Sparrow - quite a few on Felt route this year, plus some on Felt route Lark Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow - pair just south of Easter Pageant on west side of road Lark Bunting - see above Grasshopper Sparrow - most on Keyes route Summer Tanager - at Hoot Owl - pair nesting Black-headed Grosbeak - see above Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting - see above Dickcissel - only 1 on Keyes route Red-winged Blackbird - numbers up a lot; moisture seems to help.... Western Meadowlark Common Grackle Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Bullock's Oriole House Finch Lesser Goldfinch - see above House Sparrow -- Amy Buthod Subject: INAS Picnic From: Jim Deming <birdbrain.jim AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:32:09 -0500 Indian Nations Audubon Society will have their June potluck picnic Thursday, June 20 at 6:00 at my home in Broken Arrow. Since moving to Broken Arrow I have been attending Tulsa Audubon functions as well as INAS events, so I would like to invite all of my Tulsa Audubon friends to join us, and for that matter, anyone else on this list serve who would like to come. If you plan to eat please bring a dish, or you can drop by around 7:00 and join us for a glass of wine and bird stories. See you then, Jim Deming 524 S. Tamarack Ave. Broken Arrow, OK 74012 (918) 864-4707 carpe annum Subject: Re: Rose Lake From: Deanne McKinney <trialsz63 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:25:21 -0500 Yesterday we attempted to go by Rose Lake near 63rd and Sara Rd in OKC. The lake is covering the road at 63rd. There were some boys there taking advantage of a fishing opportunity. So as not to disturb them, we didn't stay around. However, on Sara road, where the small bridge is between 63rd and 39th, there was a good amount of water in the drainage area there. We stopped for a bit to watch the egrets and one great blue heron catch their dinner before driving along 50th toward Morgan Road. There weren't a lot of birds around, and nothing extraordinary to report, but we did enjoy the nice weather. My favorite bird of the day in that area was the great blue heron. Several Great Egrets Snowy Egrets Killdeer Western Kingbirds Turkey Vulture Scissor-tailed Flycatchers Mourning Doves Grackles (common and great-tailed) Subject: Re: Recent Photos From: Steve Schafer <steve AT FENESTRA.COM> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:25:09 -0400 On Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:19:18 -0500, you wrote: >It was a big rock, I’m glad he didn’t try to swallow it. Given how he's managing to hold it by one corner, I think it must be quite a bit lighter than a rock; maybe a piece of wood? It's obviously the well-known Black-and-green Blob o' Glob. -Steve Subject: Re: Recent Photos From: Terry Mitchell <terry AT PECOT.COM> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:19:18 -0500 It was a big rock, I’m glad he didn’t try to swallow it. Terry. *From:* okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] *On Behalf Of * fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM *Sent:* Monday, June 17, 2013 9:54 PM *To:* OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU *Subject:* Re: Recent Photos It's just a rock isn't it? Sent from my iPad On Jun 17, 2013, at 9:40 PM, henthorn1 wrote: Terry, I can’t even tell what he caught. But I love the photo of him looking into his reflection. Sharon *From:* okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU ] *On Behalf Of *Terry Mitchell *Sent:* Sunday, June 16, 2013 3:31 PM *To:* OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU *Subject:* Recent Photos This morning I was at a park here in Tulsa called Mclure Park and I ended up close to a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. I took photos and watched as he slowly stalked his prey. I made sure I was ready when he struck as I wanted to get a shot of what he caught. I succeeded but it was not what I expected. I can’t figure if it is embarrassed or mad in the last photo of it. You’ll have to view the photo’s to see what it caught. Terry. http://upload.pbase.com/ttownvstrom/recent_photos Subject: Re: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds From: amy buthod <amybuthod AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:16:07 -0500 I've seen that Vermillion flycatcher in Kenton my past two visits! He seems to like the clothesline between the Hitching Post properties. On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 6:58 PM, Doug Wood wrote: > Hi All. Ran the Felt and Keyes BBS routes Friday and Saturday > respectively. Also did some casual birding with John Schenck and Bill > Carter in the Black Mesa area. Mesa country getting rain or runoff, so > they had had some flash floods. Rained almost an inch one night plus hail > etc. Full list below, but a couple notables including: > -Vermilion Flycatcher - adult male in Kenton > -Black-headed Grosbeaks (2, probably 3) different males at Camp Billy Joe > - singing and looking like they were holding territory > -Wilson's Phalarope at Black Mesa State Park (Lake Etling has a lot of > water in it this year - variety of ducks on the lake too) > -Ferruginous Hawk just north of south entrance to Black Mesa SP > -Lark Buntings - 2 females, 1 male along Keyes route > -Scaled Quail - seen at state park (1 hatch year bird), west of Keyes, and > north of Felt - most Scaled Quail I've seen on any trip to the Mesa county > -Western Wood-Pewee along Felt route > -Indigo Bunting adult male along Felt route > -Lesser Goldfinch male singing near low water crossing at Black Mesa SP > -White-winged Dove on grounds of middle school in Woodward on drive up > Thursday > -Some misses too: no Bushtits, Black-billed Magpies > Sites included: Boise City lagoons, Black Mesa State Park (BMSP), Felt and > Keyes BBS routes, Camp Billy Joe, Easter Pageant, Kenton, road behind Black > Mesa, and Hoot Owl Ranch. > -At Hoot Owl, saw Juniper Titmouse along the "river" - first time seeing > that species there. Hoot Owl also welcomed a new canine greeter (Lacey). > She's a sweet dog. Don't forget to check in with the Collins's a priori if > you want to bird on their place or stay (Google Hoot Owl Ranch for contact > info if you like). Doug. > > Full list: > Wood Duck - 3 at BMSP > American Wigeon - 1 drake - BMSP > Mallard - 1 at BMSP > Blue-winged Teal - half dozen at BMSP > Northern Shoveler - 3 at BMSP > Ruddy Duck - 13 at BMSP > Scaled Quail - see above > Northern Bobwhite - Felt > Ring-necked Pheasant > Wild Turkey - nesting at Hoot Owl > Double-crested Cormorants - BMSP > Great Blue Heron - BMSP > Black-crowned Night-Heron - BC lagoons > Turkey Vulture > Mississippi Kite > Bald Eagle > Northern Harrier - male north of Felt > Swainson's Hawk > Red-tailed Hawk > Ferruginous Hawk - see above > American Kestrel > Prairie Falcon - Hoot Owl > American Coot > Killdeer > Long-billed Curlew - lots - having a good year > Wilson's Phalarope - see above > Eurasian Collared-Dove > Mourning Dove > Yellow-billed Cuckoo > Greater Roadrunner > Western Screech-Owl - pair at Hoot Owl > Burrowing Owl - seem to be doing a lot better this year than last > Common Nighthawk > Common Poorwill - at Billy Joe > Black-chinned Hummingbird > Red-headed Woodpecker - lots, couldn't find Lewis's WP reported at Hoot > Owl earlier this spring > Ladder-backed Woodpecker > Northern Flicker > Western Wood-Pewee - see above > Eastern Phoebe > Say's Phoebe > Vermilion Flycatcher - see above > Ash-throated Flycatcher > Cassin's Kingbird > Western Kingbird > Loggerhead Shrike > Western Scrub-Jay - at Billy Joe > Chihuahuan Raven > Common Raven > Horned Lark > Cliff Swallow > Barn Swallow > Juniper Titmouse - several at Billy Joe/Hoot Owl > Rock Wren > Canyon Wren > Bewick's Wren > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - at Billy Joe > Eastern Bluebird > American Robin > Northern Mockingbird > Curve-billed Thrasher > European Starling > Canyon Towhee > Cassin's Sparrow - quite a few on Felt route this year, plus some on Felt > route > Lark Sparrow > Black-throated Sparrow - pair just south of Easter Pageant on west side of > road > Lark Bunting - see above > Grasshopper Sparrow - most on Keyes route > Summer Tanager - at Hoot Owl - pair nesting > Black-headed Grosbeak - see above > Blue Grosbeak > Indigo Bunting - see above > Dickcissel - only 1 on Keyes route > Red-winged Blackbird - numbers up a lot; moisture seems to help.... > Western Meadowlark > Common Grackle > Great-tailed Grackle > Brown-headed Cowbird > Orchard Oriole > Bullock's Oriole > House Finch > Lesser Goldfinch - see above > House Sparrow > > -- Amy Buthod Subject: Re: Recent Photos From: fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:53:42 -0500 It's just a rock isn't it? Sent from my iPad On Jun 17, 2013, at 9:40 PM, henthorn1 wrote: > Terry, I can’t even tell what he caught. But I love the photo of him looking into his reflection. Sharon > > From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Terry Mitchell > Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 3:31 PM > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Subject: Recent Photos > > This morning I was at a park here in Tulsa called Mclure Park and I ended up close to a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. I took photos and watched as he slowly stalked his prey. I made sure I was ready when he struck as I wanted to get a shot of what he caught. I succeeded but it was not what I expected. I can’t figure if it is embarrassed or mad in the last photo of it. You’ll have to view the photo’s to see what it caught. Terry. > > > > http://upload.pbase.com/ttownvstrom/recent_photos Subject: Re: Recent Photos From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:51:33 -0500 Looks like a rock to me. Dave ---- henthorn1 wrote: > Terry, I can’t even tell what he caught. But I love the photo of him looking into his reflection. Sharon > > > > From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Terry Mitchell > Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 3:31 PM > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Subject: Recent Photos > > > > This morning I was at a park here in Tulsa called Mclure Park and I ended up close to a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. I took photos and watched as he slowly stalked his prey. I made sure I was ready when he struck as I wanted to get a shot of what he caught. I succeeded but it was not what I expected. I can’t figure if it is embarrassed or mad in the last photo of it. You’ll have to view the photo’s to see what it caught. Terry. > > > > > > > > http://upload.pbase.com/ttownvstrom/recent_photos > -- David McNeely Subject: Re: Recent Photos From: henthorn1 <henthorn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:40:33 -0500 Terry, I can’t even tell what he caught. But I love the photo of him looking into his reflection. Sharon From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Terry Mitchell Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 3:31 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Recent Photos This morning I was at a park here in Tulsa called Mclure Park and I ended up close to a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. I took photos and watched as he slowly stalked his prey. I made sure I was ready when he struck as I wanted to get a shot of what he caught. I succeeded but it was not what I expected. I can’t figure if it is embarrassed or mad in the last photo of it. You’ll have to view the photo’s to see what it caught. Terry. http://upload.pbase.com/ttownvstrom/recent_photos Subject: Cimarron Co. BBS Routes and Interesting Birds From: Doug Wood <DWood AT SE.EDU> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:58:26 -0500 Hi All. Ran the Felt and Keyes BBS routes Friday and Saturday respectively. Also did some casual birding with John Schenck and Bill Carter in the Black Mesa area. Mesa country getting rain or runoff, so they had had some flash floods. Rained almost an inch one night plus hail etc. Full list below, but a couple notables including: -Vermilion Flycatcher - adult male in Kenton -Black-headed Grosbeaks (2, probably 3) different males at Camp Billy Joe - singing and looking like they were holding territory -Wilson's Phalarope at Black Mesa State Park (Lake Etling has a lot of water in it this year - variety of ducks on the lake too) -Ferruginous Hawk just north of south entrance to Black Mesa SP -Lark Buntings - 2 females, 1 male along Keyes route -Scaled Quail - seen at state park (1 hatch year bird), west of Keyes, and north of Felt - most Scaled Quail I've seen on any trip to the Mesa county -Western Wood-Pewee along Felt route -Indigo Bunting adult male along Felt route -Lesser Goldfinch male singing near low water crossing at Black Mesa SP -White-winged Dove on grounds of middle school in Woodward on drive up Thursday -Some misses too: no Bushtits, Black-billed Magpies Sites included: Boise City lagoons, Black Mesa State Park (BMSP), Felt and Keyes BBS routes, Camp Billy Joe, Easter Pageant, Kenton, road behind Black Mesa, and Hoot Owl Ranch. -At Hoot Owl, saw Juniper Titmouse along the "river" - first time seeing that species there. Hoot Owl also welcomed a new canine greeter (Lacey). She's a sweet dog. Don't forget to check in with the Collins's a priori if you want to bird on their place or stay (Google Hoot Owl Ranch for contact info if you like). Doug. Full list: Wood Duck - 3 at BMSP American Wigeon - 1 drake - BMSP Mallard - 1 at BMSP Blue-winged Teal - half dozen at BMSP Northern Shoveler - 3 at BMSP Ruddy Duck - 13 at BMSP Scaled Quail - see above Northern Bobwhite - Felt Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey - nesting at Hoot Owl Double-crested Cormorants - BMSP Great Blue Heron - BMSP Black-crowned Night-Heron - BC lagoons Turkey Vulture Mississippi Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier - male north of Felt Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Ferruginous Hawk - see above American Kestrel Prairie Falcon - Hoot Owl American Coot Killdeer Long-billed Curlew - lots - having a good year Wilson's Phalarope - see above Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Greater Roadrunner Western Screech-Owl - pair at Hoot Owl Burrowing Owl - seem to be doing a lot better this year than last Common Nighthawk Common Poorwill - at Billy Joe Black-chinned Hummingbird Red-headed Woodpecker - lots, couldn't find Lewis's WP reported at Hoot Owl earlier this spring Ladder-backed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee - see above Eastern Phoebe Say's Phoebe Vermilion Flycatcher - see above Ash-throated Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird Western Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Western Scrub-Jay - at Billy Joe Chihuahuan Raven Common Raven Horned Lark Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Juniper Titmouse - several at Billy Joe/Hoot Owl Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - at Billy Joe Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird Curve-billed Thrasher European Starling Canyon Towhee Cassin's Sparrow - quite a few on Felt route this year, plus some on Felt route Lark Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow - pair just south of Easter Pageant on west side of road Lark Bunting - see above Grasshopper Sparrow - most on Keyes route Summer Tanager - at Hoot Owl - pair nesting Black-headed Grosbeak - see above Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting - see above Dickcissel - only 1 on Keyes route Red-winged Blackbird - numbers up a lot; moisture seems to help.... Western Meadowlark Common Grackle Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Bullock's Oriole House Finch Lesser Goldfinch - see above House Sparrow Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: John Kennington <johnkennington AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:08:43 -0500 The answer, as a few of you did figure out, is Bobolink! Below is Louis Bevier's analysis from the Maine Birds list: Louis Bevier Jun 15 01:45PM -0400 The answer to my quiz photo is male Bobolink in breeding plumage ( http://flic.kr/p/eJ1DrY). Perspective and comparative size made this a difficult identification. Only a few people answered correctly, and only one, Will Russell, noted the pale tips to the primaries as being a field mark. The bird is clearly long-winged, which Bobolinks are--they migrate back and forth to Argentina. I think wing shape threw many people, who considered swallows and swifts or goatsuckers. Those long wings are even vaguely like American Golden-Plover, which also flies as far. The spikey tail tips likely encouraged many to think Chimney Swift (31% submitted that), and that makes sense. The tail is too long for that species, however, among other things. Some did notice a little bit of white showing on the rump (a few pixels!), and that helped them clinch Bobolink while dismissing the wing tip pattern as wear or photo effect. In the end, I received guesses for ten different species in eight different families (only three passerine). Maybe this was too difficult. To make up for it, what follows is an explantion of why I thought this quiz was a useful lesson. This bird possibly could have been identified by shape alone, but the pale wing tips are, I think, unique to Alternate (breeding) plumage male Bobolink, which is otherwise so distinctive that these pale tips are never really necessary for identification, except in a view like our quiz bird. I have a couple of photos illustrating the wing tip pattern here http://flic.kr/p/eLoTdm and here http://flic.kr/p/ek1C5J. No field guide or monograph that I know describes this character of male Bobolinks. The Birds of North America account, for example, says: "outermost primary (P10) edged on outer web with white, 2 adjacent primaries edged with maize yellow." That describes a different pattern, which they show, and not the pattern on the entire tip of the outer 3-5 primaries. The excellent monograph on the "New World Blackbirds" by Alvaro Jaramillo and Peter Burke likewise only mentions whitish "edges" to the primaries. Peter Burke’s illustration does depict the gray wing tips, but it is otherwise not noted. Field guides sometimes mention the pale edging and ignore the wing tip, e.g. the Stokes guide, which otherwise has a glaringly obvious, and superb, photo illustrating the pattern! The only guide that will show it, I’m assured by the author, is David Sibley’s upcoming revision to his field guide. I am looking forward to that. I’ve thought about how odd this pattern is among birds, having pale tips to the primaries, which are so exposed to wear and bleaching. This isn’t the same as the far more common trait of showing white at the base of the primaries (e.g., Black Vulture to Rose-breasted Grosbeak). The only other bird that I know, of off hand, with a similar pattern is a vagrant to North America, Northern Lapwing. The wing tip pattern on that species, however, is seen in all plumages to greater or lesser degree depending on age and sex. In the Bobolink, the pattern is, as far as I know, a feature only of the spring (Alternate) plumaged male. In fall after a complete molt, the males look like females. I have never seen this pale tip to the wing on the abundant overhead fall migrants. Both species do perform flight displays, however. The Bobolink’s molt is uncommon among birds, having two complete molts per year. Complete means all feathers, including wing and tail. Unlike most small passerines that grow a new set of primaries and tail feathers once per year and then "dress up" the body feathers for spring (think Blackpoll Warbler), the Bobolink has the ability to change its wing and tail pattern, as well as its body, for the spring fashion show. That is unusual. Kenn Kaufman had a great series called the "Practiced Eye" that was published in American Birds (now North American Birds), and he highlighted the changes the Blackpoll and Bobolink. His discussion and painting of the Bobolink, however, does not show the pale wing tip, even though he carefully notes how the Blackpoll’s primaries are wear away pale edging by spring ( http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/nab/v048n01/p00029-p00032.pdf ). The unique and striking pattern of the male Bobolink is probably one reason these pale tips have not received any attention. Who needs to look for them to know what the bird is! The other reason this might have been overlooked is that once prepared as a specimen, the closed wing makes it difficult to see the pattern. Why would Bobolinks change their wing and tail patterns? (The tail tips also show pale spots not seen in fall plumage.) In their flight display, males beat their wings so rapidly that the wing tips seems to disappear. This makes them look short- and rounded-winged. Maybe that makes them seem stronger to females, which we know prefer males exhibiting longer duration display flights. These pale wing tips may be worth studying in terms of ageing Alternate plumage Bobolinks, which according Peter Pyle’s detailed plumage guide cannot be done on current understanding. I don’t think anyone has measured the breadth of these pale wing tips to see if it changes with age. Maybe older males have more (or less) dusty gray in the wing tip, and first year males might be identifiable by this method. The one study that attempted ageing criteria measured the width of black across the forehead, this becoming broader in older males (J. Nocera, North Am. Bird Bander 30: 1-5, 2005). The plumage changes in the Bobolink were last a hot topic in the early 1890s when Frank Chapman described the two complete molts. His papers from 1890 and 1893, which includes a plate of the key specimen from sw. Brazil, can be seen free on SORA: http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v007n02/p0120-p0124.pdf http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v010n04/p0309-p0311.pdf The most amazing birds are ever more amazing. Louis Bevier Fairfield On Sat, Jun 15, 2013 at 4:52 PM, John Kennington wrote: > Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few > days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns > out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very > excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. > I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. > > Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another > photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll > post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. > > http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg > > Guess away!! > > John Kennington > Subject: Re: Recent Photos From: EUGENE YOUNG <EUGENE.YOUNG AT NOC.EDU> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:56:23 +0000 Some amazing photos...wow! Gene Young Sent from my iPhone On Jun 17, 2013, at 10:29 AM, "Cyndie Browning" > wrote: What is that thing?? Cyndie From: Terry Mitchell > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 3:30 PM Subject: [OKBIRDS] Recent Photos This morning I was at a park here in Tulsa called Mclure Park and I ended up close to a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. I took photos and watched as he slowly stalked his prey. I made sure I was ready when he struck as I wanted to get a shot of what he caught. I succeeded but it was not what I expected. I can’t figure if it is embarrassed or mad in the last photo of it. You’ll have to view the photo’s to see what it caught. Terry. http://upload.pbase.com/ttownvstrom/recent_photos Subject: Re: Recent Photos From: Cyndie Browning <vermilion_flycatcher AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:28:42 -0700 What is that thing??   Cyndie      >________________________________ >From: Terry Mitchell >To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU >Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 3:30 PM >Subject: [OKBIRDS] Recent Photos > > > >This morning I was at a park here in Tulsa called Mclure Park and I ended up close to a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. I took photos and watched as he slowly stalked his prey. I made sure I was ready when he struck as I wanted to get a shot of what he caught. I succeeded but it was not what I expected. I can’t figure if it is embarrassed or mad in the last photo of it. You’ll have to view the photo’s to see what it caught. Terry. > > > >  http://upload.pbase.com/ttownvstrom/recent_photos   > > Subject: SE Oklahoma This Weekend From: Chad Ellis <chad AT ELLISFAMILYOKC.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:46:04 -0500 This weekend I birded SE Oklahoma with my father. Ford Hendershot showed us around Red Slough. A grand time was had by all! Many thanks to David Arbor for putting me in touch with Ford! Here is our species list for the past two days. In addition to Red Slough we birded Ansley Park-Hugo, Broken Bow City Park, Salt Creek Lodge-Idabel, and Tiak Work Center. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) --VERY LATE-- ID'd By all present but flew when we stopped to get the scope and camera on it. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Great Egret (Ardea alba) Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Green Heron (Butorides virescens) Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) King Rail (Rallus elegans) Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) American Coot (Fulica americana) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Barred Owl (Strix varia) Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis) Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) Empidonax sp. (Empidonax sp.) Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) wren sp. (Troglodytidae sp.) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) Dickcissel (Spiza americana) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Bill Diffin <WilliamDiffin AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:26:58 -0400 Take a look at the tail feathers in Fig. 8 at the following link, http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/bobolink.htm In a message dated 6/16/2013 1:36:32 P.M. Central Daylight Time, jimarterburn AT COX.NET writes: I first thought a woodpecker based on the tail like Gene and David, but the rest of the bird didn’t fit a woodpecker. Like Gene said the wings appear long, but I was having trouble coming up with an ID. I then started thinking about the pale outer primaries and remembered a photograph of a bird that I worked up from this spring and was puzzled by the pale primaries, checked Sibley and he doesn’t show the pale outer primaries on his bird in flight. I assumed that this was just odd on my bird. After looking at the quiz photo I went back to my bird and checked out my photo and the primaries seem a pretty good match. In addition the tail feathers on my bird seems to be starting to show the same wear as the quiz bird so I am going to say that the bird is a male Bobolink. I have photos of a female in flight and she doesn’t show these pale primaries. Below is a link to my website showing the male Bobolink that I photographed this spring. http://www.pbase.com/oklahomabirder/image/150823816 That is my best guess but I am not positive on this. Cheers, Jim Arterburn From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Beilfuss Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 12:56 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Quiz Bird I'm guessing a chimney swift Michael Stillwater --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington <_johnkennington AT GMAIL.COM_ (mailto:johnkennington AT GMAIL.COM) > wrote: From: John Kennington <_johnkennington AT GMAIL.COM_ (mailto:johnkennington AT GMAIL.COM) > Subject: Quiz Bird To: _OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU_ (mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU) Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Alex James <ivorybill15 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:01:40 -0500 Bobolink? There seems to be something "Blackbirdy" about it. If you look at the wingtips and the rump, they are lighter colored. Based on this, I'm going with a male Bobolink. Alex James Sent from my iPhone On Jun 16, 2013, at 2:04 PM, fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM wrote: > America Robin. Or Chuck-wills. Can I have two guesses? :) > > Sandy B. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jun 16, 2013, at 12:55 PM, Michael Beilfuss wrote: > >> >> I'm guessing a chimney swift >> >> Michael >> Stillwater >> --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington wrote: >> >> From: John Kennington >> Subject: Quiz Bird >> To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU >> Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM >> >> Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. >> >> Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. >> >> http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg >> >> Guess away!! >> >> John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Alex James <ivorybill15 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:59:35 -0500 Bobolink?There seems to be something "Blackbirdy" about it. If you look closely at the wingtips and the rump, they are a lighter color. Based on this and the shape, Sent from my iPhone On Jun 16, 2013, at 2:04 PM, fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM wrote: > America Robin. Or Chuck-wills. Can I have two guesses? :) > > Sandy B. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jun 16, 2013, at 12:55 PM, Michael Beilfuss wrote: > >> >> I'm guessing a chimney swift >> >> Michael >> Stillwater >> --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington wrote: >> >> From: John Kennington >> Subject: Quiz Bird >> To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU >> Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM >> >> Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. >> >> Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. >> >> http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg >> >> Guess away!! >> >> John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Jim Deming <birdbrain.jim AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:31:39 -0500 Chuck or Whip is what I am thinking. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 16, 2013, at 2:04 PM, fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM wrote: > America Robin. Or Chuck-wills. Can I have two guesses? :) > > Sandy B. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jun 16, 2013, at 12:55 PM, Michael Beilfuss wrote: > >> >> I'm guessing a chimney swift >> >> Michael >> Stillwater >> --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington wrote: >> >> From: John Kennington >> Subject: Quiz Bird >> To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU >> Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM >> >> Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. >> >> Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. >> >> http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg >> >> Guess away!! >> >> John Kennington Subject: Fw: Re: Quiz Bird From: Bill Carrell <okdragonhunter AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:57:44 -0700 --- On Sun, 6/16/13, Bill Carrell wrote: From: Bill Carrell Subject: Re: Quiz Bird To: "Doug" Date: Sunday, June 16, 2013, 3:54 PM I agree, I think that Jim may have nailed this one. There was one book here at work, the most recent Stokes guide, that showed the pale primary tips on the Bobolink. Also pointed out the long primary extension, which answered one of my reservations about the ID, that the wings seemed too long. Also, you can see pale rump feathers peeking over the base of the tail.   Bill Carrell Tulsa, OK --- On Sun, 6/16/13, Doug wrote: From: Doug Subject: Re: Quiz Bird To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Sunday, June 16, 2013, 2:44 PM #yiv690611488 body{font-size:10pt;font-family:arial, sans-serif;background-color:#ffffff;color:black;}#yiv690611488 p{margin:0px;} I'm leaning your way. Although the different perspectives of the two pics are a little problematic for me. -----Original Message----- From: Jim Arterburn Sent: Jun 16, 2013 1:36 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Quiz Bird I first thought a woodpecker based on the tail like Gene and David, but the rest of the bird didn’t fit a woodpecker. Like Gene said the wings appear long, but I was having trouble coming up with an ID. I then started thinking about the pale outer primaries and remembered a photograph of a bird that I worked up from this spring and was puzzled by the pale primaries, checked Sibley and he doesn’t show the pale outer primaries on his bird in flight. I assumed that this was just odd on my bird. After looking at the quiz photo I went back to my bird and checked out my photo and the primaries seem a pretty good match. In addition the tail feathers on my bird seems to be starting to show the same wear as the quiz bird so I am going to say that the bird is a male Bobolink. I have photos of a female in flight and she doesn’t show these pale primaries.  Below is a link to my website showing the male Bobolink that I photographed this spring.   http://www.pbase.com/oklahomabirder/image/150823816   That is my best guess but I am not positive on this.   Cheers,   Jim Arterburn   From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Beilfuss Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 12:56 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Quiz Bird   I'm guessing a chimney swift Michael Stillwater --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington wrote: From: John Kennington Subject: Quiz Bird To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too.    Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days.    http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg   Guess away!!   John Kennington   Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Anna Bennett <annabennett55 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:11:46 -0700 First thing it looks like to me is a Black Vulture...but what do I know? ________________________________ From: John Kennington To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 4:52 PM Subject: Quiz Bird Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days agoand I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too.  Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days.  http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Re: Recent Photos From: bill <bill AT SAMERICA.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:10:42 -0500 Amazing pics! -bill Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: EUGENE YOUNG <EUGENE.YOUNG AT NOC.EDU> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:41:35 +0000 After seeing Jim's pic, I think Bobolink is good too. Gene Young Sent from my iPhone On Jun 16, 2013, at 2:44 PM, "Doug" > wrote: I'm leaning your way. Although the different perspectives of the two pics are a little problematic for me. -----Original Message----- From: Jim Arterburn Sent: Jun 16, 2013 1:36 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Quiz Bird I first thought a woodpecker based on the tail like Gene and David, but the rest of the bird didn’t fit a woodpecker. Like Gene said the wings appear long, but I was having trouble coming up with an ID. I then started thinking about the pale outer primaries and remembered a photograph of a bird that I worked up from this spring and was puzzled by the pale primaries, checked Sibley and he doesn’t show the pale outer primaries on his bird in flight. I assumed that this was just odd on my bird. After looking at the quiz photo I went back to my bird and checked out my photo and the primaries seem a pretty good match. In addition the tail feathers on my bird seems to be starting to show the same wear as the quiz bird so I am going to say that the bird is a male Bobolink. I have photos of a female in flight and she doesn’t show these pale primaries. Below is a link to my website showing the male Bobolink that I photographed this spring. http://www.pbase.com/oklahomabirder/image/150823816 That is my best guess but I am not positive on this. Cheers, Jim Arterburn From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Beilfuss Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 12:56 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Quiz Bird I'm guessing a chimney swift Michael Stillwater --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington > wrote: From: John Kennington > Subject: Quiz Bird To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Recent Photos From: Terry Mitchell <terry AT PECOT.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:30:39 -0500 This morning I was at a park here in Tulsa called Mclure Park and I ended up close to a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. I took photos and watched as he slowly stalked his prey. I made sure I was ready when he struck as I wanted to get a shot of what he caught. I succeeded but it was not what I expected. I can’t figure if it is embarrassed or mad in the last photo of it. You’ll have to view the photo’s to see what it caught. Terry. http://upload.pbase.com/ttownvstrom/recent_photos Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Doug <wildlifer AT IONET.NET> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:44:22 -0500 Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:04:01 -0500 America Robin. Or Chuck-wills. Can I have two guesses? :) Sandy B. Sent from my iPad On Jun 16, 2013, at 12:55 PM, Michael Beilfuss wrote: > > I'm guessing a chimney swift > > Michael > Stillwater > --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington wrote: > > From: John Kennington > Subject: Quiz Bird > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM > > Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. > > Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. > > http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg > > Guess away!! > > John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Jim Arterburn <jimarterburn AT COX.NET> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:36:33 -0500 I first thought a woodpecker based on the tail like Gene and David, but the rest of the bird didn't fit a woodpecker. Like Gene said the wings appear long, but I was having trouble coming up with an ID. I then started thinking about the pale outer primaries and remembered a photograph of a bird that I worked up from this spring and was puzzled by the pale primaries, checked Sibley and he doesn't show the pale outer primaries on his bird in flight. I assumed that this was just odd on my bird. After looking at the quiz photo I went back to my bird and checked out my photo and the primaries seem a pretty good match. In addition the tail feathers on my bird seems to be starting to show the same wear as the quiz bird so I am going to say that the bird is a male Bobolink. I have photos of a female in flight and she doesn't show these pale primaries. Below is a link to my website showing the male Bobolink that I photographed this spring. http://www.pbase.com/oklahomabirder/image/150823816 That is my best guess but I am not positive on this. Cheers, Jim Arterburn From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Beilfuss Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 12:56 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Quiz Bird I'm guessing a chimney swift Michael Stillwater --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington wrote: From: John Kennington Subject: Quiz Bird To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Michael Beilfuss <mbeilfuss AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:55:34 -0700 I'm guessing a chimney swift Michael Stillwater --- On Sat, 6/15/13, John Kennington wrote: From: John Kennington Subject: Quiz Bird To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 5:52 PM Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too.  Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days.  http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: matthew jung <mpjung5125 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:31:51 -0700 I did likewise; my 'guess' was a swift but those white wing tips did not match.  Matt ________________________________ From: David Arbour To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 11:30 PM Subject: Re: Quiz Bird Well my curiosity got the best of me so I went and checked the quiz answer at the Maine site and looks like I Iose my head!  Unbelievable what it turns out to be!  Good quiz bird!  I'll not say what it is and let some others take a crack at it.  No cheating!  :-)   David Arbour     ----- Original Message ----- >From: David Arbour >To: OKBIRDS >Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 11:10 PM >Subject: Re: Quiz Bird > > >I guess I'll stick my neck out and take a guess.  At first look I was totally stumped.  Then I noticed the spines on the tip of the tail which almost certainly makes it a woodpecker.  The almost crowish profile and overall darkness suggests Lewis' Woodpecker to me.  I have no idea about those white wing tips.  Maybe thats the new field mark you referred to?  >  >David Arbour >De Queen, AR >  >  >Subject: Quiz Bird >Date: Sat Jun 15 2013 16:53 pm >From: johnkennington AT gmail.com >  >Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few >days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns >out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very >excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. >I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. > >Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another >photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll >post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. > >http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/be... > >Guess away!! > >John Kennington > Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: EUGENE YOUNG <EUGENE.YOUNG AT NOC.EDU> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 05:30:54 +0000 Appears black, except for wing tips, but is that true or an artifact due to lighting and cameras? Crow could be possible, but bill looks small, so I'll say a blackbird...cowbird or red-winged maybe? Tail is interesting, but I don't think it's a woodpeckers tail, looks like weathered tail feathers, making them pointed! Wings seem long..., tough! Guess it could be Lark Bunting? I'll stick with cowbird! Gene Young Gene Young Sent from my iPhone On Jun 15, 2013, at 4:53 PM, "John Kennington" > wrote: Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: Kurt Meisenzahl <meisenzk AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:51:29 -0700 My guess would be Broad-winged Hawk.   Kurt Meisenzahl Lawton, OK ________________________________ From: John Kennington To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 4:52 PM Subject: Quiz Bird Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too.  Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days.  http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:30:54 -0500 Well my curiosity got the best of me so I went and checked the quiz answer at the Maine site and looks like I Iose my head! Unbelievable what it turns out to be! Good quiz bird! I'll not say what it is and let some others take a crack at it. No cheating! :-) David Arbour ----- Original Message ----- From: David Arbour To: OKBIRDS Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 11:10 PM Subject: Re: Quiz Bird I guess I'll stick my neck out and take a guess. At first look I was totally stumped. Then I noticed the spines on the tip of the tail which almost certainly makes it a woodpecker. The almost crowish profile and overall darkness suggests Lewis' Woodpecker to me. I have no idea about those white wing tips. Maybe thats the new field mark you referred to? David Arbour De Queen, AR Subject: Quiz Bird Date: Sat Jun 15 2013 16:53 pm From: johnkennington AT gmail.com Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/be... Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Re: Quiz Bird From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:10:46 -0500 I guess I'll stick my neck out and take a guess. At first look I was totally stumped. Then I noticed the spines on the tip of the tail which almost certainly makes it a woodpecker. The almost crowish profile and overall darkness suggests Lewis' Woodpecker to me. I have no idea about those white wing tips. Maybe thats the new field mark you referred to? David Arbour De Queen, AR Subject: Quiz Bird Date: Sat Jun 15 2013 16:53 pm From: johnkennington AT gmail.com Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/be... Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: Re: Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts From: Sue Selman <selmanranch AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:17:47 -0500 Thanks for you input. I am sure you know what you are talking about but that doesn't mean the locals are very suspicious of the Feds which I am sure you are familiar with. Anything that helps with that is a good thing. Sue On Jun 12, 2013, at 8:10 AM, Allan Mueller wrote: > Sue, > I do have to comment on one statment you made, "offer a protection of sorts to landowners who maintain 50% of the grass. I am told that if the chickens are listed that landowners with these will be protected to a great degree from USF&W coming in and telling them what to do with their land." The US Fish and Wildife Service can't tell landowners what to do with thier land. FWS does have authority to prosecute "take" of listed species, which can be broadly construed to include modification of habitat for an endangered species, but FWS has never prosecute any landowner for changing habitat. Direct killing of listed species will be prosecuted, but not land management. The CCAA and other programs are designed to do just what you said, build trust and cooperation with landowners, which is the only sensible path to conservation. > > Allan Mueller > Retired FWS > > > On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 5:21 PM, Sue Selman wrote: > You kind of put me on the spot Steve. I can only tell you the little that I know and the experience we are having here at the ranch with the ODWC. We also are working with the NRCS. Many of us think this should have happened several years ago but it didn't. The donation from OG&E for mitigation has gone a long way toward helping with the issue. Our ranch is > in a program with ODWC to improve habitat through better grazing practices and with the NRCS so if we follow the program we will be paid for doing so. I have to say that this is a life saver > for us during this drought. The programs also require planned burning and Red Cedar control. I don't know how many acres are included in these programs but every acre helps. I have always > said if they want landowners to cooperate they need to make the these species that are struggling have a value to the landowner. I know these programs have helped lessen the suspicion and anger of many > landowners. Another important feature that is being offered to landowners is CCAAs Candidates Conservation Agreement with Assurances. I will try to explain but I am no expert on this subject. > CCAAs offer a protection of sorts to landowners who maintain 50% of the grass. I am told that if the chickens are listed that landowners with these will be protected to a great degree from USF&W > coming in and telling them what to do with their land. Anyone who understands this better than I can correct me. > > My biggest concern is the oil and gas industry and the wind industry which includes all the transmission lines that will be going through Beaver County which has the biggest chicken population > in the state. The oil and gas industry can work with the ODWC and the landowners to lessen the impact. If it weren't for the current administrations push for renewable energy I think these > transmission lines and wind farms would force a listing. However, there is soooooooo much political pressure from the wind and the oil and gas that I am not sure what will happen. > That is the best answer I can give you. > > Sue Selman > Selman OK > > On Jun 10, 2013, at 6:46 PM, Steve Sorensen wrote: > >> On June 4, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing entitled "Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State, and Local Stewardship Vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices." At the hearing, Members and witnesses compared the effective conservation efforts happening on state, local, and tribal levels with the seemingly never-ending cycle of Endangered Species Act (ESA) litigation that often stands in the way of recovery efforts. >> >> During that hearing Oklahoma's Deputy Secretary of Environment made the following presentation: >> >> Tyler Powell, Oklahoma’s Deputy Secretary of Environment, highlighted the successes of Oklahoma’s Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts saying, “As it stands today the Endangered Species Act does not adequately assess the work that states are undertaking and provides little or no role for the states after listing of a species. State wildlife agencies have built trust with landowners and a stakeholder that continues to benefit the Lesser Prairie Chicken and other species. We believe, and have seen in past listings, that this trust is lost when the Service takes over all management of a species. As also seen in other areas, states are best equipped to manage resources within their boundaries. Our goal remains to have Oklahoma’s work on the Lesser Prairie Chicken be an example of how species of greatest conservation need should be managed.” >> >> see http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=336590 >> >> >> Sue - is Oklahoma’s work on the Lesser Prairie Chicken the example of how species of greatest conservation need should be managed? >> >> Steve Sorensen >> Valley Center, KS >> Sedgwick County > > > > > -- > Allan Mueller > 20 Moseley Lane > Conway, AR 72032 > 501-327-8952 home > 501-339-8071 cell > > > "I ain't never did no wrong." > Elvis Presley in "One Night" > Subject: Quiz Bird From: John Kennington <johnkennington AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:52:41 -0500 Louis Bevier posted a quiz bird photo on the Maine Birding Listserve a few days ago and I was stumped by it. Today he revealed the answer and it turns out it is a bird we do get in Oklahoma also. He also included some very excellent analysis of a certain field mark that is not documented anywhere. I thought this would be of interest to our OKBirders too. Here is the photo (I've made a copy since his has since posted another photo on his Flickr stream that make it obvious what the bird is). I'll post the real link, and forward his answer and analysis in a few days. http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/bevier.jpg Guess away!! John Kennington Subject: OT - High Island Area Mid-April From: Bill Adams <ba1980 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:28:31 -0700 My mom and I went to High Island, TX in mid-April. We were there for 4 days and I shot over 7,000 pictures. Between working and having something nearly every weekend it has taken me some time to sort through, edit and upload them. They can be seen at the links below. I'm not sure on the total number of species we saw but I'm sure it was over 100. The first two days we had heavy cloud cover so the pictures aren't as good. My favorite bird of the trip was a Blackburnian Warbler on Day 1 about 15ft away and I think my mom's was an Ovenbird on Day 4. http://www.southernokphotography.com/f942577623 or on facebook: Day 1: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152810844175065.1073741834.349185650064&type=3 Day 2: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152836919740065.1073741837.349185650064&type=3 Day 3: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152855318235065.1073741839.349185650064&type=3 Day 4: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152902734230065.1073741841.349185650064&type=3 Bill Adams Duncan, OK Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: Mark Cromwell <mark.cromwell01 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:33:20 -0500 Just got back from Wichitas. Found a pair of Burrowing Owls with 3 owlets on north side road from Prairie Dog town. Also, the lizards were doing their thing! Mark On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 7:44 PM, Sue Selman wrote: > Well thanks but not much hope of getting two little boys to be still and > quiet. > Sue' > > On Jun 11, 2013, at 7:11 PM, David McNeely wrote: > > > FWIW, my only successes at seeing river otters have been of two sorts. > 1) accidental, not expecting otters at all, and one or two just appeared, > usually when I was engaged in some activity like work or fishing. 2) > Watching in a known location from a concealed spot in very early morning or > at dusk. I would recommend if you want to see them that you take the > latter approach, and expect a good long wait while keeping very still and > quiet. David McNeely > > > > ---- "Thompson wrote: > >> That's part of the Dog Run Hollow trail complex. You can access it > from the parking lot at French Lake. Stay to the left by the lakeside. > Once you pass the dam with the helical fish ladder, I'm told that next > stretch is good otter territory. > >> > >> > >> > >> From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Sue Selman > >> Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 5:28 PM > >> To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > >> Subject: Re: off subject sort of > >> > >> Thanks > >> Sue > >> > >> On Jun 11, 2013, at 1:42 PM, Steph Hicks wrote: > >> > >> > >> The Otters we saw on the trail leading to the forty foot hole. I'm not > sure the name of the trail. It was a VERY short walk from the parking lot > to actually seeing the otters, maybe 5 minutes, if that. We haven't been to > that section of the park recently but there were 3-4 otters in that area a > couple months ago. > >> > >> On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Sue Selman > wrote: > >> Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am > wondering where > >> to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? > >> > >> Sue Selman > >> Selman OK > >> > >> > > > > -- > > David McNeely > -- Mark Cromwell Enid, Oklahoma Subject: Re: L. Hefner yesterday From: Steve Davis <spd8109 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:25:46 -0500 There was one at Elmer Thomas Lake at WMNWR yesterday. Sent from my iPad On Jun 13, 2013, at 7:57 PM, matthew jung wrote: > Found 3 DC Cormorants perched among the trees and brush at the inlet channel, seemed late to me. > > Matt Jung, OKC Subject: Wichita Mtns Thu From: Steve Davis <spd8109 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:20:19 -0500 Thanks to those who provided the directions to the black-capped vireos this week. Mary and I found them easily yesterday, or rather, they found us, just past the Quanah Parker Lake dam. A pair of them seemed to be chasing us away from a nest or something and willing to get up close to do it. We also found a northern Parula and a couple of barn swallows below the dam, an adult white-eyed vireo feeding a young one near the education center, and some beautiful OK state birds in other places around the refuge. There were also tarantulas, dragonflies, lizards, turtles, mammals and lots of wildflowers blooming. --steve d and mary l Sent from my iPad Subject: L. Hefner yesterday From: matthew jung <mpjung5125 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:57:17 -0700 Found 3 DC Cormorants perched among the trees and brush at the inlet channel, seemed late to me. Matt Jung, OKC Subject: Re: Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:10:17 -0500 Sue, I do have to comment on one statment you made, "offer a protection of sorts to landowners who maintain 50% of the grass. I am told that if the chickens are listed that landowners with these will be protected to a great degree from USF&W coming in and telling them what to do with their land." The US Fish and Wildife Service can't tell landowners what to do with thier land. FWS does have authority to prosecute "take" of listed species, which can be broadly construed to include modification of habitat for an endangered species, but FWS has never prosecute any landowner for changing habitat. Direct killing of listed species will be prosecuted, but not land management. The CCAA and other programs are designed to do just what you said, build trust and cooperation with landowners, which is the only sensible path to conservation. Allan Mueller Retired FWS On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 5:21 PM, Sue Selman wrote: > You kind of put me on the spot Steve. I can only tell you the little that > I know and the experience we are having here at the ranch with the ODWC. We > also are working with the NRCS. Many of us think this should have happened > several years ago but it didn't. The donation from OG&E for mitigation has > gone a long way toward helping with the issue. Our ranch is > in a program with ODWC to improve habitat through better grazing practices > and with the NRCS so if we follow the program we will be paid for doing so. > I have to say that this is a life saver > for us during this drought. The programs also require planned burning and > Red Cedar control. I don't know how many acres are included in these > programs but every acre helps. I have always > said if they want landowners to cooperate they need to make the these > species that are struggling have a value to the landowner. I know these > programs have helped lessen the suspicion and anger of many > landowners. Another important feature that is being offered to landowners > is CCAAs Candidates Conservation Agreement with Assurances. I will try to > explain but I am no expert on this subject. > CCAAs offer a protection of sorts to landowners who maintain 50% of the > grass. I am told that if the chickens are listed that landowners with these > will be protected to a great degree from USF&W > coming in and telling them what to do with their land. Anyone who > understands this better than I can correct me. > > My biggest concern is the oil and gas industry and the wind industry > which includes all the transmission lines that will be going through Beaver > County which has the biggest chicken population > in the state. The oil and gas industry can work with the ODWC and the > landowners to lessen the impact. If it weren't for the current > administrations push for renewable energy I think these > transmission lines and wind farms would force a listing. However, there is > soooooooo much political pressure from the wind and the oil and gas that I > am not sure what will happen. > That is the best answer I can give you. > > Sue Selman > Selman OK > > On Jun 10, 2013, at 6:46 PM, Steve Sorensen wrote: > > On June 4, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight > hearing entitled > "Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State, and Local > Stewardship Vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices." At > the hearing, Members and witnesses compared the effective conservation > efforts happening on state, local, and tribal levels with the seemingly > never-ending cycle of Endangered Species Act (ESA) litigation that often > stands in the way of recovery efforts. > > During that hearing Oklahoma's Deputy Secretary of Environment made the > following presentation: > ** > *Tyler Powell, > Oklahoma’s Deputy Secretary of Environment*, highlighted the successes > of Oklahoma’s Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts saying, “As it > stands today the Endangered Species Act does not adequately assess the work > that states are undertaking and provides little or no role for the states > after listing of a species. State wildlife agencies have built trust with > landowners and a stakeholder that continues to benefit the Lesser Prairie > Chicken and other species. We believe, and have seen in past listings, > that this trust is lost when the Service takes over all management of a > species. As also seen in other areas, states are best equipped to manage > resources within their boundaries. Our goal remains to have Oklahoma’s > work on the Lesser Prairie Chicken be an example of how species of greatest > conservation need should be managed.” > > see > http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=336590 > > > Sue - is Oklahoma’s work on the Lesser Prairie Chicken the example of how > species of greatest conservation need should be managed? > > Steve Sorensen > Valley Center, KS > Sedgwick County > > > -- Allan Mueller 20 Moseley Lane Conway, AR 72032 501-327-8952 home 501-339-8071 cell "I ain't never did no wrong." Elvis Presley in "One Night" Subject: Re: June INAS picnic From: Jim Deming <birdbrain.jim AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:30:55 -0500 Please note: correct phone number is 918-864-4707. On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 4:33 PM, Jim Deming wrote: > Pot Luck picnic at Jim Deming's new residence in Broken Arrow. June 20th > at 6:00 PM. His new address is: 524 S Tamarack, Broken Arrow, Ok 74012. > Phone Number 918-864-4704. This picnic is not exclusive to INAs members, > Jim has extended the invitation to OOS, and Tulsa Audubon. > > For any non members; if you wish to eat with us, please bring a dish. > Otherwise, feel free to drop by around 7:00 and have a glass of wine and > chat. All of my birdy friends are welcome. > > -- > Jim Deming > 524 S. Tamarack Ave. > Broken Arrow, OK 74012 > (918) 864-4707 > carpe annum > > -- Jim Deming 524 S. Tamarack Ave. Broken Arrow, OK 74012 (918) 864-4707 carpe annum Subject: Re: White-winged Dove - Enid From: bill <bill AT HUMBIRDS.ME> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:31:13 -0500 Thanks! Very interesting to me as I am in Enid and have never seen one. I knew they were getting close but this is news. -bill ----- Reply message ----- From: "DAVID ARBOUR" To: Subject: White-winged Dove - Enid Date: Tue, Jun 11, 2013 21:06 ----- Original Message ----- From: Marcus Board To: arbour AT windstream.net Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 8:47 PM Subject: White-winged Dove Report Hi Mr. Arbour: My name is Marcus Board. I am an 8th grade math teacher and birder from Rogers, Arkansas. This past weekend, I was visiting family in Enid, Oklahoma and on Sunday saw a pair of White-winged Doves on Greg Street in that city. Though I know that they have been seen in the Enid area in recent years, it's the first time I have seen this species in Garfield County and wasn't sure if this report would be of interest to Oklahoma birders. I'm not able to post on OKBIRDS, so if you believe this would be of interest to that listserve, would you pass it on to it. If not, please disreguard. Thank you for your time. Marcus Subject: Fw: White-winged Dove - Enid From: DAVID ARBOUR <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:06:37 -0500 ----- Original Message ----- From: Marcus Board To: arbour AT windstream.net Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 8:47 PM Subject: White-winged Dove Report Hi Mr. Arbour: My name is Marcus Board. I am an 8th grade math teacher and birder from Rogers, Arkansas. This past weekend, I was visiting family in Enid, Oklahoma and on Sunday saw a pair of White-winged Doves on Greg Street in that city. Though I know that they have been seen in the Enid area in recent years, it's the first time I have seen this species in Garfield County and wasn't sure if this report would be of interest to Oklahoma birders. I'm not able to post on OKBIRDS, so if you believe this would be of interest to that listserve, would you pass it on to it. If not, please disreguard. Thank you for your time. Marcus Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 11 From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:46:38 -0500 It was mostly clear, hot, and a bit windy on the survey today. 63 species were found. Ran into two birders from Papua New Guinea and invited them to join me. They got many lifer's. Here is my list for today: Canada Goose - 7 Wood Duck - 10 Pied-billed Grebe - 4 (1 with single tiny chick.) Neotropic Cormorant - 7 Anhinga - 2 Least Bittern - 3 (One sitting on nest.) Great Blue Heron - 6 Great Egret - 13 Snowy Egret - 3 Little Blue Heron - 4 Cattle Egret - 2 White Ibis - 440 Black Vulture - 5 Turkey Vulture - 12 Mississippi Kite - 5 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Purple Gallinule - 2 Common Gallinule - 3 American Coot - 4 Least Tern - 2 Mourning Dove - 14 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 3 Barred Owl - 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 Downy Woodpecker - 4 Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 Willow Flycatcher - 4 (pair at nest and two birds singing at 2 new locations.) Eastern Phoebe - 4 Eastern Kingbird - 6 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 4 White-eyed Vireo - 4 Bell's Vireo - 3 Yellow-throated Vireo - 1 Red-eyed Vireo - 1 American Crow - 2 Fish Crow - 1 Purple Martin - 8 Tree Swallow - 28 Barn Swallow - 20 Carolina Chickadee - 8 Tufted Titmouse - 4 Carolina Wren - 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 4 Eastern Bluebird - 8 Gray Catbird - 2 Northern Mockingbird - 1 Yellow-throated Warbler - 1 Pine Warbler - 2 Prothonotary Warbler - 6 Kentucky Warbler - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 9 Yellow-breasted Chat - 10 Summer Tanager - 1 Northern Cardinal - 18 Indigo Bunting - 14 Painted Bunting - 4 Dickcissel - 27 Red-winged Blackbird - 20 Eastern Meadowlark - 1 Common Grackle - 24 Brown-headed Cowbird - 4 Orchard Oriole - 6 Odonates: Prince Baskettail Jade Clubtail Stillwater Clubtail Black-shouldered Spinylegs Regal Darner Cyrano Darner Halloween Pennant Four-spotted Pennant Eastern Pondhawk Slaty Skimmer Widow Skimmer Common Whitetail Eastern Amberwing Blue Dasher Black Saddlebags Good birding! David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Photo Gallery: www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: Sue Selman <selmanranch AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:44:57 -0500 Well thanks but not much hope of getting two little boys to be still and quiet. Sue' On Jun 11, 2013, at 7:11 PM, David McNeely wrote: > FWIW, my only successes at seeing river otters have been of two sorts. 1) accidental, not expecting otters at all, and one or two just appeared, usually when I was engaged in some activity like work or fishing. 2) Watching in a known location from a concealed spot in very early morning or at dusk. I would recommend if you want to see them that you take the latter approach, and expect a good long wait while keeping very still and quiet. David McNeely > > ---- "Thompson wrote: >> That's part of the Dog Run Hollow trail complex. You can access it from the parking lot at French Lake. Stay to the left by the lakeside. Once you pass the dam with the helical fish ladder, I'm told that next stretch is good otter territory. >> >> >> >> From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Sue Selman >> Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 5:28 PM >> To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU >> Subject: Re: off subject sort of >> >> Thanks >> Sue >> >> On Jun 11, 2013, at 1:42 PM, Steph Hicks wrote: >> >> >> The Otters we saw on the trail leading to the forty foot hole. I'm not sure the name of the trail. It was a VERY short walk from the parking lot to actually seeing the otters, maybe 5 minutes, if that. We haven't been to that section of the park recently but there were 3-4 otters in that area a couple months ago. >> >> On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Sue Selman > wrote: >> Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering where >> to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? >> >> Sue Selman >> Selman OK >> >> > > -- > David McNeely Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:11:38 -0500 FWIW, my only successes at seeing river otters have been of two sorts. 1) accidental, not expecting otters at all, and one or two just appeared, usually when I was engaged in some activity like work or fishing. 2) Watching in a known location from a concealed spot in very early morning or at dusk. I would recommend if you want to see them that you take the latter approach, and expect a good long wait while keeping very still and quiet. David McNeely ---- "Thompson wrote: > That's part of the Dog Run Hollow trail complex. You can access it from the parking lot at French Lake. Stay to the left by the lakeside. Once you pass the dam with the helical fish ladder, I'm told that next stretch is good otter territory. > > > > From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Sue Selman > Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 5:28 PM > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Subject: Re: off subject sort of > > Thanks > Sue > > On Jun 11, 2013, at 1:42 PM, Steph Hicks wrote: > > > The Otters we saw on the trail leading to the forty foot hole. I'm not sure the name of the trail. It was a VERY short walk from the parking lot to actually seeing the otters, maybe 5 minutes, if that. We haven't been to that section of the park recently but there were 3-4 otters in that area a couple months ago. > > On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Sue Selman > wrote: > Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering where > to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? > > Sue Selman > Selman OK > > -- David McNeely Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: "Thompson, David M. (HSC) - Faculty" <David-Thompson AT OUHSC.EDU> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:33:16 -0500 That's part of the Dog Run Hollow trail complex. You can access it from the parking lot at French Lake. Stay to the left by the lakeside. Once you pass the dam with the helical fish ladder, I'm told that next stretch is good otter territory. From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Sue Selman Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 5:28 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: off subject sort of Thanks Sue On Jun 11, 2013, at 1:42 PM, Steph Hicks wrote: The Otters we saw on the trail leading to the forty foot hole. I'm not sure the name of the trail. It was a VERY short walk from the parking lot to actually seeing the otters, maybe 5 minutes, if that. We haven't been to that section of the park recently but there were 3-4 otters in that area a couple months ago. On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Sue Selman > wrote: Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering where to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? Sue Selman Selman OK Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: Sue Selman <selmanranch AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:27:44 -0500 Thanks Sue On Jun 11, 2013, at 1:42 PM, Steph Hicks wrote: > The Otters we saw on the trail leading to the forty foot hole. I'm not sure the name of the trail. It was a VERY short walk from the parking lot to actually seeing the otters, maybe 5 minutes, if that. We haven't been to that section of the park recently but there were 3-4 otters in that area a couple months ago. > > > On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Sue Selman wrote: > Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering where > to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? > > Sue Selman > Selman OK > Subject: Re: Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts From: Sue Selman <selmanranch AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:21:02 -0500 You kind of put me on the spot Steve. I can only tell you the little that I know and the experience we are having here at the ranch with the ODWC. We also are working with the NRCS. Many of us think this should have happened several years ago but it didn't. The donation from OG&E for mitigation has gone a long way toward helping with the issue. Our ranch is in a program with ODWC to improve habitat through better grazing practices and with the NRCS so if we follow the program we will be paid for doing so. I have to say that this is a life saver for us during this drought. The programs also require planned burning and Red Cedar control. I don't know how many acres are included in these programs but every acre helps. I have always said if they want landowners to cooperate they need to make the these species that are struggling have a value to the landowner. I know these programs have helped lessen the suspicion and anger of many landowners. Another important feature that is being offered to landowners is CCAAs Candidates Conservation Agreement with Assurances. I will try to explain but I am no expert on this subject. CCAAs offer a protection of sorts to landowners who maintain 50% of the grass. I am told that if the chickens are listed that landowners with these will be protected to a great degree from USF&W coming in and telling them what to do with their land. Anyone who understands this better than I can correct me. My biggest concern is the oil and gas industry and the wind industry which includes all the transmission lines that will be going through Beaver County which has the biggest chicken population in the state. The oil and gas industry can work with the ODWC and the landowners to lessen the impact. If it weren't for the current administrations push for renewable energy I think these transmission lines and wind farms would force a listing. However, there is soooooooo much political pressure from the wind and the oil and gas that I am not sure what will happen. That is the best answer I can give you. Sue Selman Selman OK On Jun 10, 2013, at 6:46 PM, Steve Sorensen wrote: > On June 4, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing entitled "Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State, and Local Stewardship Vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices." At the hearing, Members and witnesses compared the effective conservation efforts happening on state, local, and tribal levels with the seemingly never-ending cycle of Endangered Species Act (ESA) litigation that often stands in the way of recovery efforts. > > During that hearing Oklahoma's Deputy Secretary of Environment made the following presentation: > > Tyler Powell, Oklahoma’s Deputy Secretary of Environment, highlighted the successes of Oklahoma’s Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts saying, “As it stands today the Endangered Species Act does not adequately assess the work that states are undertaking and provides little or no role for the states after listing of a species. State wildlife agencies have built trust with landowners and a stakeholder that continues to benefit the Lesser Prairie Chicken and other species. We believe, and have seen in past listings, that this trust is lost when the Service takes over all management of a species. As also seen in other areas, states are best equipped to manage resources within their boundaries. Our goal remains to have Oklahoma’s work on the Lesser Prairie Chicken be an example of how species of greatest conservation need should be managed.” > > see http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=336590 > > > Sue - is Oklahoma’s work on the Lesser Prairie Chicken the example of how species of greatest conservation need should be managed? > > Steve Sorensen > Valley Center, KS > Sedgwick County Subject: June INAS picnic From: Jim Deming <birdbrain.jim AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:33:53 -0500 Pot Luck picnic at Jim Deming's new residence in Broken Arrow. June 20th at 6:00 PM. His new address is: 524 S Tamarack, Broken Arrow, Ok 74012. Phone Number 918-864-4704. This picnic is not exclusive to INAs members, Jim has extended the invitation to OOS, and Tulsa Audubon. For any non members; if you wish to eat with us, please bring a dish. Otherwise, feel free to drop by around 7:00 and have a glass of wine and chat. All of my birdy friends are welcome. -- Jim Deming 524 S. Tamarack Ave. Broken Arrow, OK 74012 (918) 864-4707 carpe annum Subject: Re: Hackberry Flat update From: "antoinetteverne AT yahoocom" <antoinetteverne@YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:01:03 -0500 Thank you for keeping us posted. Antoinette Verne Fort Gibson, OK From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of ML2x Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 12:02 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Hackberry Flat update Hello Everyone, Just thought I’d pass along an update about the water/wildlife situation at Hackberry Flat. I spoke to Kelvin, the biologist there, and he stated they received 2 inches of rain last Thursday and another 1/2 inch on Saturday which all went straight into the ground with almost no runoff. While good for the ground, it didn’t help the reservoir much. He stated very little in the way of wildlife or bird activity going on right now. Mary and I were at Tom Steed early last week and it was up less than a foot from the rain of the previous weekend......I’m afeared it’s a gonna take a monsoon like OKC has gotten to remedy the water issues for Hackberry...... Goodest Birding, Mary and Lou Truex ml2x AT sbcglobal.net Lawton Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: Steph Hicks <stephhicks7 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:42:36 -0400 The Otters we saw on the trail leading to the forty foot hole. I'm not sure the name of the trail. It was a VERY short walk from the parking lot to actually seeing the otters, maybe 5 minutes, if that. We haven't been to that section of the park recently but there were 3-4 otters in that area a couple months ago. On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Sue Selman wrote: > Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering > where > to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? > > Sue Selman > Selman OK Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: Sue Selman <selmanranch AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:34:01 -0500 Thanks Lindell On Jun 11, 2013, at 12:24 PM, Lindell Dillon wrote: > There are some BC vireos that have territories west of Quanah Lake Dam on the trail to Little Baldy. Be sure you know their call, you will probably locate them by sound rather than sight. Also several Painted Buntings along this trail. The trail at French Lake from the parking lot to the dam also holds some. If you hike to the dam, check the fish ladder for the nesting Cave Swallows. Bull elk also hang on the north side of the lake. Some RH woodpeckers on dead trees west of the lot and I often see turkeys in the area. Enjoy your trip, the Wichitas are a great place. > > ...LD > Norman > > > On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 12:11 PM, Sue Selman wrote: > Thanks > Sue > > On Jun 11, 2013, at 12:05 PM, Michael Beilfuss wrote: > >> Hi Sue, >> >> I don't know about the Otters, but we saw a few Black-capped Vireos when we went there in early May. We explored a bit of the refuge, but the only place we saw or heard any was just west of the dam on the south end of Quanah Lake. There is a trail there, but we didn't have to go far. >> >> Good luck. >> >> Michael >> Stillwater >> >> --- On Tue, 6/11/13, Sue Selman wrote: >> >> From: Sue Selman >> Subject: off subject sort of >> To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU >> Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 11:18 AM >> >> Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering where >> to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? >> >> Sue Selman >> Selman OK > > Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: Lindell Dillon <reddirtbird AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:24:47 -0500 There are some BC vireos that have territories west of Quanah Lake Dam on the trail to Little Baldy. Be sure you know their call, you will probably locate them by sound rather than sight. Also several Painted Buntings along this trail. The trail at French Lake from the parking lot to the dam also holds some. If you hike to the dam, check the fish ladder for the nesting Cave Swallows. Bull elk also hang on the north side of the lake. Some RH woodpeckers on dead trees west of the lot and I often see turkeys in the area. Enjoy your trip, the Wichitas are a great place. ...LD Norman On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 12:11 PM, Sue Selman wrote: > Thanks > Sue > > On Jun 11, 2013, at 12:05 PM, Michael Beilfuss wrote: > > Hi Sue, > > I don't know about the Otters, but we saw a few Black-capped Vireos when > we went there in early May. We explored a bit of the refuge, but the only > place we saw or heard any was just west of the dam on the south end of > Quanah Lake. There is a trail there, but we didn't have to go far. > > Good luck. > > Michael > Stillwater > > --- On *Tue, 6/11/13, Sue Selman * wrote: > > > From: Sue Selman > Subject: off subject sort of > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 11:18 AM > > Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering > where > to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? > > Sue Selman > Selman OK > > > Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: Sue Selman <selmanranch AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:11:46 -0500 Thanks Sue On Jun 11, 2013, at 12:05 PM, Michael Beilfuss wrote: > Hi Sue, > > I don't know about the Otters, but we saw a few Black-capped Vireos when we went there in early May. We explored a bit of the refuge, but the only place we saw or heard any was just west of the dam on the south end of Quanah Lake. There is a trail there, but we didn't have to go far. > > Good luck. > > Michael > Stillwater > > --- On Tue, 6/11/13, Sue Selman wrote: > > From: Sue Selman > Subject: off subject sort of > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 11:18 AM > > Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering where > to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? > > Sue Selman > Selman OK Subject: Re: off subject sort of From: Michael Beilfuss <mbeilfuss AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:05:16 -0700 Hi Sue, I don't know about the Otters, but we saw a few Black-capped Vireos when we went there in early May. We explored a bit of the refuge, but the only place we saw or heard any was just west of the dam on the south end of Quanah Lake. There is a trail there, but we didn't have to go far. Good luck. Michael Stillwater --- On Tue, 6/11/13, Sue Selman wrote: From: Sue Selman Subject: off subject sort of To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 11:18 AM Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering where to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? Sue Selman Selman OK Subject: Hackberry Flat update From: ML2x <ml2x AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:01:42 -0500 Hello Everyone, Just thought I’d pass along an update about the water/wildlife situation at Hackberry Flat. I spoke to Kelvin, the biologist there, and he stated they received 2 inches of rain last Thursday and another 1/2 inch on Saturday which all went straight into the ground with almost no runoff. While good for the ground, it didn’t help the reservoir much. He stated very little in the way of wildlife or bird activity going on right now. Mary and I were at Tom Steed early last week and it was up less than a foot from the rain of the previous weekend......I’m afeared it’s a gonna take a monsoon like OKC has gotten to remedy the water issues for Hackberry...... Goodest Birding, Mary and Lou Truex ml2x AT sbcglobal.net Lawton Subject: off subject sort of From: Sue Selman <selmanranch AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:18:52 -0500 Taking the Grandson to Wichita Wildlife Refuge tomorrow and am wondering where to see the Otters and Black-capped Vireos? Sue Selman Selman OK Subject: email hacked From: Antoinette Verne <antoinetteverne AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:36:50 -0700 I apologize to all of those who suffered because my account was hacked.  I have fixed the issue.   Thank you Antoinette Verne Fort Gibson Ok Subject: Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts From: Steve Sorensen <webforbs AT COX.NET> Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:46:01 -0500 On June 4, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing entitled "Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State, and Local Stewardship Vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices." At the hearing, Members and witnesses compared the effective conservation efforts happening on state, local, and tribal levels with the seemingly never-ending cycle of Endangered Species Act (ESA) litigation that often stands in the way of recovery efforts. During that hearing Oklahoma's Deputy Secretary of Environment made the following presentation: Tyler Powell, Oklahoma's Deputy Secretary of Environment, highlighted the successes of Oklahoma's Lesser Prairie Chicken conservation efforts saying, "As it stands today the Endangered Species Act does not adequately assess the work that states are undertaking and provides little or no role for the states after listing of a species. State wildlife agencies have built trust with landowners and a stakeholder that continues to benefit the Lesser Prairie Chicken and other species. We believe, and have seen in past listings, that this trust is lost when the Service takes over all management of a species. As also seen in other areas, states are best equipped to manage resources within their boundaries. Our goal remains to have Oklahoma's work on the Lesser Prairie Chicken be an example of how species of greatest conservation need should be managed." see http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=336590 Sue - is Oklahoma's work on the Lesser Prairie Chicken the example of how species of greatest conservation need should be managed? Steve Sorensen Valley Center, KS Sedgwick County Subject: Anhinga at the rookery on 10th From: Terri Underhill <tunderhill AT COX.NET> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 23:10:02 -0500 I birded all day today with Allen Mueller from Conway AR. Best bird of the day by far was the Anhinga that flew in twice to the rookery in OKC on Council & 10th . Shortly after 2:30 we arrived Allen said he saw an Anhinga fly west from the rookery and I said I don't think so.I ate my words when it flew back in again and landed. I took at least 50 pics of this fantastic male that landed smack dab in the middle of all the herons and egrets. He stayed for fifteen twenty minutes and it looked to me like he flew closer to 10th but stayed in the rookery. Pat Velte arrived and we tried to relocate him for thirty minutes but we didn't see him again. We circled the west side of Overholser and the only good bird was a Brown Pelican by Coffer (sp?) Dam. We ran by Rose Lake and it was impassible but it was nice to see the Black Terns. We then went back down to Morgan road and just north of 50th on the east side close to the road and directly across from a nice home there were at least 50 White-faced Ibis. We thought we had a few Glossy in the mix. There were many many more farther down 50th but they were harder to see. Oh yeah, I drove around the dam at Hefner at 1:00 and took photos of a common loon. That was a nice surprise to see it this late. But the Anhinga was the biggest surprise for sure and a great bird for OK county. If anyone would like to see an Anhinga photo send me a message off list to tunderhill AT cox.net Good birding! Terri Underhill Edmond OK www.okiebirdcam.com One who is attuned with nature is attuned with the practice of living. All of nature moves in a spiral as do our personal lives. It is important to spend time in nature because in this way we can become attuned to its wisdom.All of nature moves in a spiral as do our personal lives. It is important to spend time in nature because in this way we can become attuned to its wisdom. Subject: Alfalfa Co, Jet BBS From: Tom Ewert <trewert AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 19:43:59 -0700 Hi all, I completed the Jet BBS today under almost ideal (no wind, no clouds) conditions. There was rain over night, as per Cindie's dire report, but the roads I was on were passable in my all-wheel Escape. I've submitted the BBS results to the proper authorities and also put the list on ebird. Here is the link if you are interested. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14382990 Highlight was probably a black-billed cuckoo. I don't see/hear those often. Also had N. parula and yellow warblers at the trail head at HQ. I also birded the Salt Plains NWR, Sandpiper trail, nature trail and auto tour both yesterday and today. Those are also on ebird if interested. Birds seen/heard on these lists but not included in the BBS include Swainson's hawk, Mississippi kite, Cooper's hawk, avocet and black-necked stilt, snowy plover, least tern (over the lake and at the fish farm), barred owl, chuck-will's widow, tree swallow, prothonotary warbler and Louisiana waterthrush. HQ trail and auto tour: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14383774 Sandpiper trail: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14383379 good birding, Tom Ewert Wichita, KS Subject: The Great Salt Plains: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly From: Cyndie Browning <vermilion_flycatcher AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 18:49:23 -0700 Hello, Oklahoma ~ I drove out to west on Saturday afternoon, planning to visit the Salt Plains for a few hours, spend the night in Blackwell, and then run my Wakita BBS route on Sunday morning.  The GOOD was birding at the Salt Plains.  I've written in the past that "the first 60 species are easy" at the Salt Plains (http://www.adimview.com/Great_Salt_Plains4_OOS_2003.html), but that was written in the spring.  With summer on us now, I found "only" 47 species yesterday, not 60, but a few of them, like Snowy Egret, Lesser Scaup (a male and 2 females), Least Tern (a pair fishing on the river below the dam), and Louisiana Waterthrush (on the Eagle Roost Trail, the first time I've ever ID'ed this bird on my own!) were yearbirds, and that's always a good thing! I was very pleasantly surprised to find so much water at the Salt Plains.  Last time I was there (last June?) the place was dry as a desert, and I thought I might never again find enough water at Sand Creek Point, for example, support herons, pelicans, and ducks (the Lesser Scaup) out there.  Also, thanks to the powers that be for the new bird blind/observation tower at Sand Creek Point, a great improvement over the old platform. While hiking along the Eagle Roost Trail, I met Tom from Kansas (are you reading this, Tom?? and if so, feel free to shoot me an e-mail and tell me what you saw along your route today) who was visiting the Great Salt Plains before running his Jet BBS route this morning.  We compared a few notes about birding in the area and generally chatted about the birds we were seeing or hoped to see ,and then I walked back to my car and returned to Blackwell to spend the night. The BAD turned out to be the Wakita BBS route I was supposed to run this morning.  I didn't know when I got out there at 5:45 this morning that they'd had more than an inch of rain overnight, but I should've figured, since the closer I got to the starting point, the more muddy the road became.  But it took getting stuck just beyond the first stop on the route, with muddy ruts 2-3" deep, both in front of and behind my car, preventing me from moving ahead or backing up before I realized "today is not a good day to do this."  But what to do??  The sun was just coming up and I live 150 miles away, and don't know anyone for 100 miles in any direction!!  So I picked up my purse and cane and walked verrrrrrrrrrry carefully thru the mud up to the intersection of these two county roads where I'd started counting birds. Luckily for me, a white pick-up truck was approaching so I motioned to the driver to stop if he could.  The young man driving was heading home after working the overnight shift at a nearby oil derrick.  In broken English, he said he didn't think he could pull me out of the muck, altho' he did try to drive down the road toward my car, using his truck's 4WD gears, but we soon agreed that it would help no one if we both got stuck, so he offered to drive me into Wakita, 4 miles away and the nearest town.  I think Wakita rolls up the sidewalks early, especially on the weekends, but I knew I'd have a better possibility of finding someone to help me than if I waited out in the mud 4 miles away from a very small town.  This kind young man said he felt badly about leaving me alone in Wakita but I said, "don't worry about it; I'll find someone to help, even if all I can do is call my sister to come get me." After he left, I sat down on a bench along the main street and checked my phone; I had only 1 bar of signal strength, not near enough to make a call.... but then I saw an older white-haired gentleman driving his golf cart down the street, so I flagged him down and asked if he knew anyone in town who could help me get my car out of the mud.  He said he thought he might and invited me to "get in" his golf cart, then he hung a U-turn in the middle of the street and stopped at the senior center which was directly across the street from where I'd been sitting!! (yeah, we laughed about that later).  Well, he called a lady he knows in town, got her husband's cell number, then called the husband, who called somebody else, and before you know it, a young man who's apparently one of Wakita's firemen came in the door and said he'd come to see if he could help.  We drove the 4 miles out to where my car was stuck, but again, it soon became very clear that even with 4WD he was more likely to get stuck in the mud next to my car, so he slowly and carefully backed his truck up to the intersection.... when another man drove up with HIS 4WD truck!!  (I think what I need is a 4WD truck!!)  The young fireman asked the second man, "do you have a tractor?" AND HE DID!! and said he'd be right back.  And by gum, he soon returned driving a green tractor, attached a tow rope and chains to the rear axle of my car, and pulled me back up the hill to the less muddy intersection while I rode inside my car and steered it away from the edges of the road.  I don't know any of their names but bless their hearts, these 4 men helped me out when I really, really needed it, and I arrived safely home in Tulsa just before noon today. Unfortunately, if it keeps on raining this year, somebody with a tractor will have to run the Wakita BBS route because if those roads are wet, I can't drive them!!  For now, I never thought I'd be praying for more drought!! The UGLY is my car!!  I ran it thru the car wash on my way home but some of that mud may become a permanent fixture of my car, like road snot on wheel wells from the snow that never melts.  The mud is like sticky old oatmeal that won't let go no matter how much you chisel at it. Anyway, I had a fun couple of hours at the Salt Plains yesterday, my favorite birding spot in all of Oklahoma (and I'm attaching yesterday's birdlist below), so I'm not unhappy about making the trip but only about the money spent on a motel, meals, and gasoline when I didn't get to run the BBS route after all.  But it's like I always say:  "you can't do anything about what you can't do anything about!"  In the end, it's just another adventure, right?? like last year when I drove my car off the road on this very same BBS route and ended up with the car resting bumper-down on the concrete culvert around the drainage hole.  Someday, I promise, I'll write a book!! Cyndie Browning vermilion_flycatcher AT yahoo.com http://www.adimview.com/Tulsa_Birds_Firebird.html Tulsa, OK How do migrating birds know which one to follow? What if the lead bird just wants to be alone? -- Bill Bryson, "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir" (2006)   Great Salt Plains 6/8/2013: 1    American White Pelican 2    Canada Goose 3    Mallard 4    Blue-winged Teal 5    Northern Shoveler 6    Lesser Scaup 7    Little Blue Heron 8    Snowy Egret 9    Great Blue Heron 10   Great Egret 11   Cattle Egret 12   Turkey Vulture 13   Osprey 14   Red-shouldered Hawk 15  American Kestrel 16   Peregrine Falcon 17   Wild Turkey 18   Least Tern 19   Rock Pigeon 20   Mourning Dove 21   Belted Kingfisher 22   Red-headed Woodpecker 23   Eastern Wood-Pewee 24   Eastern Phoebe 25   Great Crested Flycatcher 26   Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 27  Eastern Kingbird 28  American Crow 29   White-eyed Vireo 30   Red-eyed Vireo 31   Eastern Bluebird 32   Northern Mockingbird 33   Carolina Wren 34   Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 35   Barn Swallow 36   Cliff Swallow 37   Tufted Titmouse 38   House Sparrow 39   Louisiana Waterthrush 40   Lark Sparrow 41   Northern Cardinal 42   Blue Grosbeak 43   Indigo Bunting 44   Red-winged Blackbird 45   Western Meadowlark 46   Common Grackle 47  Brown-headed Cowbird Subject: Major County BBS highlights From: Pete Janzen <pete.janzen AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 20:37:16 -0500 I just got home and I'm not going to have the data entered for awhile but I did have a couple of good finds on my BBS route near Seiling, OK (Major Co.) today. There was a singing Lazuli Bunting at Stop 28 (Cyndie that is the one at the bottom of the ravine with the big trees and the stream) along with a Red-eyed Vireo and a La. Waterthrush. About 2 miles south of Lone Mountain there was a calling Ash-throated Flycatcher. About 4 miles south of Lone Mountain I heard 2 more La. Waterthrushes calling. After the timed stop I played a recording of the alarm call to see what they would do. Wow what a response, the male flew straight at my head while singing and giving agitation calls, the other was calling like crazy. Then two MORE showed up from across the road and got involved. I could see or hear 4 at once. Crazy. There was another one at the next stop calling below a singing Rock Wren. As mentioned last year, this whole area was burned during the Chester Fire several years ago. Painted Buntings are not nearly as common as in pre-fire years, while Scissor-tails, Cassin's Sparrows and Dickcissel all are much more numerous than formerly. Also I had a Green Heron at one stop which was a surprise. It was a perfect morning to do a BBS route. The bunting is likely a late migrant but was singing with gusto. -- Pete Janzen Wichita, KS pete.janzen AT sbcglobal.net Subject: Rose Lake From: henthorn1 <henthorn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 17:15:31 -0500 Yesterday there were at least a hundred large birds flying down to the surface and around the inundated corner at Sara and NW 63rd. I was far enough away that I couldn't be certain, but they must have been Mississippi kites. And there were three pied-billed grebes floating atop Sara Rd. Today there were about thirty glossy/white-faced ibis along Morgan Rd south of 50th. Sharon Subject: Rose Lake From: matthew jung <mpjung5125 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 13:57:39 -0700 Rose Lake is a lake!!  Saw 2 Mallards swimming on top of Sara Road, the area is under water as I've not seen before.  Matt, OKC Subject: May be too late From: Dick Gunn <rgunn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 15:40:07 -0400 I just found this for wanna be African birders. http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/Africa/books Subject: White-faced ibises From: henthorn1 <henthorn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2013 22:33:34 -0500 I was glad to see that the ibises are still near Morgan Rd and 50th. I think they are supposed to be gone by June. Sharon Subject: WF Ibis, Black Terns, NW OKC From: Bill Diffin <WilliamDiffin AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2013 12:19:15 -0400 This morning at 9:00 am there was a Prothonotary Warbler singing in the woods north of the Overholser cofferdam. At 9:30 there were 14 White-faced Ibis around the big puddle in the field SE of NW 50th St and Morgan Rd. Also there were four Northern Shoverlers, 10 Blue-winged Teal and six Mallards. A little later at Rose Lake the old hatchery ponds were full up to the level of 63rd St making a single big pond. 28 Black Terns were hunting insects over the pond. 63rd is still covered with water there -- I approached from the east. Painted Buntings were singing below the Overholser main dam, at the cofferdam and at Stinchcomb West. I saw four. There was also a Common Yellowthroat singing at Stinchcomb West just past the turn to the west. Bill Diffin, OKC Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 6 From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 21:41:21 -0500 It was mild and overcast with thunderstorms on the bird survey today. 66 species were found. We have received close to 6 inches of rain over the past couple of weeks and it has really helped our drought conditions a lot. Some of our wetlands actually have a fair bit of water in them now. Numerous notable birds were found today. Here is my list: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 2 Wood Duck - 18 Hooded Merganser - 10 Pied-billed Grebe - 2 Neotropic Cormorant - 5 Anhinga - 4 Least Bittern - 3 (several nests seen) Great Blue Heron - 5 Great Egret - 27 Little Blue Heron - 9 Cattle Egret - 153 Green Heron - 5 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - 1 White Ibis - 177 Roseate Spoonbill - 1 (Seen first in unit 15, then seen again later at the east end of unit 16) Black Vulture - 7 Turkey Vulture - 5 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Purple Gallinule - 6 (1 carrying nesting material) Common Moorhen - 2 American Coot - 5 Killdeer - 3 Least Tern - 3 Mourning Dove - 28 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 9 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 4 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 Acadian Flycatcher - 1 Willow Flycatcher - 3 (1 building a nest.) Eastern Phoebe - 4 Eastern Kingbird - 6 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 6 White-eyed Vireo - 5 Bell's Vireo - 4 Red-eyed Vireo - 1 American Crow - 11 Fish Crow - 1 Purple Martin - 5 Tree Swallow - 38 (young starting to fledge) Barn Swallow - 15 Carolina Chickadee - 9 Tufted Titmouse - 4 Carolina Wren - 8 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 4 Eastern Bluebird - 2 Gray Catbird - 2 Yellow-throated Warbler - 1 Pine Warbler - 2 Prothonotary Warbler - 7 Common Yellowthroat - 16 Yellow-breasted Chat - 9 Summer Tanager - 1 Northern Cardinal - 11 Blue Grosbeak - 3 Indigo Bunting - 20 Painted Bunting - 7 Dickcissel - 41 Red-winged Blackbird - 62 Common Grackle - 25 Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 Orchard Oriole - 8 Odonates: Citrine Forktail Fragile Forktail Jade Clubtail Halloween Pennant Eastern Pondhawk Slaty Skimmer Widow Skimmer Eastern Amberwing Blue Dasher Carolina Saddlebags Black Saddlebags Herps: American Alligator Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad Cajun Chorus Frog Green Treefrog Blanchard's Cricket Frog Bronze Frog Bullfrog Good birding! David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Photo Gallery: www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma Subject: Nesting Wrens From: MORGAN FOGELSTROM <fogelstr AT NSUOK.EDU> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 08:39:17 -0500 I had noticed a Carolina Wren allowing me to get very close when I stepped out back of the nature center. This happened on more than one occasion. Now I thought it a little odd, but other than that hadn't given it much thought. However at one point the bird let me get particularly close within a few feet before flitting another few feet away. On the deck of the nature center out back there is a coke machine that is very infrequently used. I'd say once every two or three months. I was cleaning up the deck area on a rainy morning and noticed leaves in the dispenser of the machine. My first thought was squirrels because of the way the leaves were wedged in there. So tapping on the machine and hearing nothing move. I reached in the dispenser and felt around, again coming up with nothing but vegetation. So I started pulling it out. After a particularly stubborn wad of leaves finally emerged I realized that it was a used bird nest. Now I'm just basing this guess on two facts the odd behavior of the wren and the newly used nest, but I believe our coke machine fledged some Carolina Wrens this year. Subject: Re: More LPC PROBLEMS? From: Dave Woodson <dswoodsoniii AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 19:09:30 -0500 Thanks for your post...I tried the URL you posted and it didn't work -- due to ). at the end. URL for alphacodes try... http://www.birdpop.org/alphacodes.htm Dave Woodson OKC Birder Subject: Re: More LPC PROBLEMS? From: Steve Sorensen <webforbs AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 13:53:48 -0500 Sacie - LPC is often used for Lesser Prairie-Chicken. The proper code is LEPC. There are guidelines by AOS (the American Ornithological Society) that define how to use the 4 letter code to refer to all bird species (go to http://www.birdpop.org/alphacodes.htm). It takes time to get used to but is a shortcut way of keeping track of lots of birds in a short time period, such as while driving. Steve Sorensen Conservation Vice President Kansas Wildlife Federation