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 Cameron Carver at the John Marshall School Pond. During September one was repeatedly reported at the Lake Hefner canal and then T K found one at Lake Thunderbird. Other interesting shorebirds were found passing through in September while the Neotropical Migratory Birds are leaving. And then the month ended with more rare and difficult bird to identify. Finding new birds for the year is getting really hard for some Central Oklahoma counties but birders are rising to the challenge while the need still remains for more birding in other counties.
On the 28th of August at Whittenberg Park Scott Loss identified a Black-headed Grosbeak and added one more species to the Payne County year list. On the 1st Joe Grzybowski discovered a Solitary Sandpiper on Highway 3 west of Kingfisher, and Deanne McKinney spotted a Hairy Woodpecker and Yellow Warbler on the Canadian side of Lake Overholser.
On the 2nd in Elmore City Esther Key added a Common Nighthawk to the Garvin County year list. Ten species were added to the Cleveland County year list starting with an Olivesided Flycatcher by T K at Lake Thunderbird’s Little River Marina. Seven species were added to the Oklahoma County list starting on the 3rd with Daniel Martin spotting a Sanderling at the Oklahoma River Transition in downtown Oklahoma City. Meanwhile near Coyle in Logan County Esther Key noticed a group of American White Pelicans on the Cimarron River, and Corey Riding had an Eastern WoodPewee at Babcock Park. On the 4th Brian Stufflebean located a Marbled Godwit at Lake Hefner Canal area.
On the 5th at their homes Zach Poland detected a Summer Tanager in Logan County, and in McClain County Larry Mays found a Painted Bunting. On the 6thJason Shaw encountered a Barred Owl at the USAO Habitat Area in Grady County. On the 7 th at the Dolese Sand Pit in Guthrie John Hurd added Black Vulture, White-eyed Vireo and Bank Swallow to the Logan County year list.
On the 8th William Diffin discovered a Longbilled Curlew and Short-billed Dowitcher at the Lake Hefner Canal, and Christie Stoops had a Fish Crow at Cottonwood Creek in Logan County. On the 9th Zach Poland birded Lake Elmer in Kingfisher County and found Northern Bobwhite, Upland Sandpiper, Redheaded Woodpecker, and Blue Grosbeak. At Lake Thunderbird’s State Park North Sentinel Campground John Tharp added Stilt Sandpiper and Western Sandpiper.
On the 10th Zach Poland had a Wilson’s Warbler at his home; Deanne McKinney saw a Yellow-headed Blackbird on North Morgan Road in Yukon; along South Jenkins Joe Grzybowski added White-faced Ibis; at the Lake Hefner Stars and Stripes Park Trina Paddock found an Olive-sided Flycatcher; and Tim O’Connell discovered a Northern Parula at Ghost Hollow in Payne County.
On the 11th Sora Rail were discovered by Larry Mays at NW 164th near Rose Lake and Nathan Kuhnert at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. At Lake Thunderbird N Sentinel Campground John Tharp added a Sanderling; and at Riley Park in Noble Rachel Wrenn noticed an Olivesided Flycatcher. On the 12th Heather Shaffery came across a Northern Harrier and Mississippi Kite near El Reno. On the 13th Lindell Dillon discovered a Yellow-throated Warbler at Lake Thunderbird; and Mike Yough documented an Orchard Oriole at the Teal Ridge Wetland.
On the 14th Gwen O’Leary spotted a Tufted Titmouse at Wes Watkins Lake campground in Pottawatomie County, and Chrissy Barton encountered a group of Black Terns at the Meridian Technology Center Pond. On the 15th in Tecumseh Dala Grissom added Pied-billed Grebe, Great Egret and Pectoral Sandpiper to the Pottawatomie County year list.
On the 16th Brian Stufflebeam turned up a Snowy Egret along North Overholser Drive. On the 17th at Buck Lake Joe Buck added Tree Swallow and Yellow Warbler to the Lincoln County year. Nathan Kuhnert discovered a Tennessee Warbler and American Redstart at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. On the 18 th Cody Barnes identified a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at the OSU Arboretum, and Caitlin Laughlin located a White-eyed Vireo at the Perkins South Bridge.
On the 20th T K documented a Common Tern at Lake Thunderbird N Sentinel Campground and last reported it on the 24th. On the 21st Douglas Klein spotted a Swainson’s Hawk at Lake El Reno and a Chimney Swift at Montana Mike’s in El Reno. William Diffin last reported the Common Turn at Lake Hefner’s Canal area. On the 24th T K found a Black-throated Green Warbler at Lake Thunderbird Little River Marina, and Roy McGraw discovered a Ruddy Turnstone at Lake Hefner’s Prairie Dog Point.
On the 25th Zach Poland saw Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift and American Kestrel in Kingfisher. Joe Grzybowski reported Swainson’s Hawk, Cattle Egret and American Kestrel at the Goldsby Sod Farm and a Loggerhead Shrike along Ladd Road. T K recognized a Longbilled Dowitcher at Lake Thunderbird N Sentinel Campground.
On the 26th Jason Shaw identified a Northern Harrier at the USAO habitat Area in Grady County. Deb Hirt had a Spotted Sandpiper at Boomer Lake Park, and T K reported a Rednecked Phalarope at Lake Thunderbird N Sentinel Campground. On the 29th William Diffin, Zach Poland and others spotted a Sabine’s Gull at Lake Hefner canal.
What wonderful finds in different places! In the Central Oklahoma area during September 161 species were reported with 7 first of the year reports bringing the year’s total to 280. I appreciate those who help provide the history of central Oklahoma birds and can be contacted by e-mail at emkok@earthlink.net . Esther M. Key, Editor.