Christmas Bird Count

It was a COLD and windy bird count day. You can tell by the water color it was a cloudy grey day. Here is a list of what we saw. Please understand that our area is a very rural area with farms and scattered houses. Not a lot of places to stop and watch for birds.

 

11 American Crows  

11 Northern Cardinals

4 Northern Mockingbirds

13 Blue Jays

1 Carolina Wren

10 Dark-eyed Juncos

51 Cedar-Waxwings

10 Yellow rumped warbler

3 Tufted Titmouse

2 Road Runner

30 Ringed-necked Duck

12 Canvasback

1 Great Blue Heron

2 Ring-billed gull

27 Canada Geese

8 Common goldeneye

20 Gadwall

25 Mallard

20 Bufflehead

8 Coot

5 Redhead

16 Grackle

23 Goldfinch

10 Bluebirds

2 Downy Woodpecker

3 Red-bellied Woodpecker

5 House Finch

 



American White Pelican

We went to The Great Salt Plains this past weekend (yesterday). The American White Pelicans were out and about. They are a really neat bird!

It was a really windy so a lot of the song birds were hunkered down. The water fowl, woodpeckers and hawks were still out and about.

The pelicans went along the spill way looking for things to eat.



Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Most beautiful bird! It is the state bird of Oklahoma. They are still here in Norman (OK). Migration is in full swing. The Juncos and Yellow-rumped Warblers have arrived. Hummingbirds are making their way south. The Scissor-tails will gather together and migrate within a week or two.

Perfect reflection......

 

This cute Killdeer was on the hunt for treats and eats. It was at the archery range at the lake (Lake Thunderbird). Often times I will see butterflies at the puddles taking in the sodium and minerals that the male will then pass to the females...

I was hoping to see a Bunting today...but alas, it was not in the cards.

Goose is Goose!

There are cute little ones.....

A couple of broods together....

And there they go....



Who's the King?

The Eastern Kingsbirds were out in force yesterday.

 

They were chasing each other, it was awesome to watch.





Scissor-tailed Flycatchers

I can't tell you how much I love seeing the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers!

 

Here in Oklahoma we start seeing the at the end of March.

 

 

Love is in the air

It is spring....and love is in the air!

The Mockingbirds are dancing their dance of 'love'.

It is amazing to watch these birds.

Running with Scissors....

The Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are back in Oklahoma. I have seen them everyday since last Thursday. They are amazing birds.

If you have never seen a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher....You have not lived!

Great Blue Heron

 

Here is a Great Blue Heron flying over Lake Thunderbird, here in Norman Oklahoma.

 

These are some white Great Blue Herons.

 

 

It is always neat seeing these white ones.

First visitor to the grape jelly

I put out grape jelly in anticipation of the Orioles.

Check out who decided to give the jelly a try! 

It is always exciting to see other birds eating the grape jelly.

I have yet to see an Oriole, but I am sure they are on their way.

The Cedar Waxwings are still here

 

The Cedar Waxwing are, in fact, still in town.

 

 

The Purple Martins are back in town...spring is here.

The Cedar Waxwings are gathering for a journey.

 

 

I have heard from a few people that they are seeing the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.

I guess today's mission will be to find the Flycatchers....We'll see.





Cute and Quick

 

Here is a Tufted Titmouse eating and caching some nuts and seeds.

 

 

The White-breasted Nuthatch and Chickadee are also customers.

 

 

It is interesting to see how differently the Nuthatch and the Chickadee eat.



Cute little wren

This is a Carolina Wren. He was singing up a storm....and loud. When the wrens sing their tail is pointed down. When they are foraging their tail is up.

Wrens are cute little birds...but you always know when they are around!

Great Blue Heron

Here is yet another Great Blue Heron.

This photo was taken last Saturday at Arcadia Lake (here in Oklahoma).

Best bird of the weekend

The best bird of this weekend was the Bald Eagle.

We went to Arcadia Lake here in Oklahoma.

There were a lot of birds around.

It was a fantastic weekend!

Cedar Waxwings

It was a great birding day!

We were seeing lots of Robins, they were everywhere.

 And alas, we saw the Cedar Waxwings.

The Waxwings were eating on the same tree as the Robins.

I am figuring by tomorrow all the fruit will be gone....and we got to see it today!

Some Oklahoma Woodpeckers

Here is a Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.

A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers.

Another look at the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

A sweet little Downy Woodpecker.

Red-bellied Woodpecker.

A Northern Flicker



A Cardinal at nightfall

Yep, It's a Cardinal.

I'm writing a book....or two.

So I am writing a book....actually two books. One is a non-fiction the other...well....fiction.

I can tell you about the non-fiction book; it is a birds of Oklahoma, type book. Photos, info, tips and stories will be my focus. I decided on this because I have...well, as you can imagine a ton of photos of birds seen here in Oklahoma...exciting!

The other book is a work of fiction. I am at the research stage right now...I kind of feel like I am in school again. Back in November we took a trip here in Oklahoma, the place has haunted my thoughts every since...I must write it.

If not now....when?

So….That is what I am working on…..besides a new catalog, getting organized and so on.