Summer 2017
Summer Additions You never know what you will find when you go out birding. Who would have thought on June 25th a Wood Stork would … Read more
Pat
Baird’s Sandpiper
by John Shackford Many birds grace our state only during migration; one of these is the Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii). The species is named “for … Read more
September 2016
Migration Surprises Several rare and hard to identify species were reported during the month beginning with the Common Tern first reported on July 29 by … Read more
April 2017
Busy Birding What a busy month with so many new species arriving in the Central Oklahoma area, while resident birds are building nests and raising … Read more
February 2017
The Great Backyard Bird Count What a busy birding month!! This year the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) dates were 17, 18, 19, 20 and … Read more
April 2017
7700 Club WOW !! What a busy month. Birds were migrating and birders were busy recording their visits to Central Oklahoma. Also at the end … Read more
January 2017
The New Year Starting the 2017 New Year during January, bird reports were entered into eBird from all Central Oklahoma counties with 3 of them … Read more
October 2016
When Out Looking Sometime bird reports are on the verge of Ripley’s Believe it or Not. In October a Magnificent Frigatebird was spotted on Lake … Read more
November 2016
A warm fall The warm fall weather continued in November which helped delay the winter migrants. Still many interesting shore birds and sparrows were discovered … Read more
December 2016
The End of the Year December was a busy month with Christmas Bird Counts all over the state. Even so birders had time to find … Read more
March 2017
Early Spring Now is the time to be alert. Migrants are arriving in central Oklahoma; sometimes several new ones in a single day. The drought … Read more
Great Horned Owl
By John Shackford The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) ranges from most of Alaska and the southern two-thirds of Canada all the way down to … Read more
Fox Sparrow
by John Shackford The Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is definitely one of my favorite sparrows. When I first see one my first thought is usually … Read more
Mountain Bluebird
by John Shackford The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is one of Oklahoma’s most beautiful birds. The male’s color is similar to, but prettier to … Read more
Brown-headed Cowbird
By John Shackford The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) does not have the best of reputations among most bird people, but I know of at … Read more
American Tree Sparrow
By John Shackford There is an element of fun for me in identifying an American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea); it has to do with … Read more
White-breasted Nuthatch
By John Shackford The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) and its ability to easily walk down a tree, as well as up, always strikes me as … Read more
Summer 2016
Exploring Central Oklahoma Birds Several interesting birds visited Central Oklahoma this summer and were located by diligent birdwatchers in the field. For the year … Read more
Rufous Hummingbird
by John Shackford From what I have read the male Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a beautiful little gem of a bird. To the best … Read more
January 2015
A New Adventure Plan A new year and new adventures await and what is your birding goal for the year? Goals can vary from backyard … Read more
Ferruginous Hawk
by John Shackford Recently Bill Diffin relayed to me some interesting information about the Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis). The Ferruginous Hawk has small feet for … Read more
February 2015
The International Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) occurred this month starting on the 13th and ending the 16th. Will all of the central Oklahoma counties … Read more
Brown Thrasher
by John Shackford The Brown Thrasher (Texostoma rufum) is about 11.5 inches long, is reddish brown on the upper (dorsal) surface, and white on the … Read more
March 2015
At last the snow is gone and spring has arrived along with many migrants and a few rain showers, but the drought continues. With the … Read more
Franklin’s Gull
by John Shackford The Franklin’s Gull (Larus pipixcan) is with us, almost exclusively, during migration. It is on the small side for gulls—about 15 inches—and … Read more
April 2015
So many birds; so many reports; and not enough room to record it all. Bird visitors are arriving daily. Some to stop in their travels … Read more
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
by John Shackford The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) is a breeding bird in most of Oklahoma, although it is decidedly rare in the Panhandle, especially … Read more