Birds and birders were busy this summer with activity in all Central Oklahoma counties. While most counties reported additional new bird species for the year, Central Oklahoma only had four new species. So much activity occurred this summer that only a small part can be reported.
SEMINOLE COUNTY added 7 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 81.
While traveling from Wewoka to the Wewoka Woods Camp entrance on July 8th Hans Holbrook added Blue Grosbeak, and Mississippi Kite, while on the 9th at Bob’s house Yellow-throated Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and House Finch. On August 23 while traveling Braden Farris reported Common Grackle and Brown Thrasher.
GARVIN COUNTY added 14 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 93.
On June 8th in Foster Esther Key counted Northern Bobwhite, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mississippi Kite, Western Kingbird, Barn Swallow, and Painted Bunting. On June 14 Jack Olson located Lark Sparrow; and on July 31 Zach DuFran saw Green Heron. On August 8th east of Hennepin Sam S found Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Grosbeak, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. On August 25th near Paoli Aaron Milligan identified Chimney Swift, Great Blue Heron and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – added 12 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 116.
On June 7th in various locations Joe Grzybowski documented Painted Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo, Bell’s Vireo, Great Creasted Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mississippi Kite, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. On June 29th Chad Ellis noticed White-winged Dove; and on June 30th Emma Carter came across Purple Martin.
GRADY COUNTY added no new bird species this summer so their year-to-date total remains at 116; but busy birders did find interesting species. On June 14 at Shannon Springs Park Jennifer Atwell got Blue-winged Teal and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. In Chickasha on July 21st Elizabeth and Tim Pratt observed Mississippi Kite and on July 22nd Meg Rousher had Cooper’s Hawk. On July 23 near Minco Brad Porter detected Dickcissel and on the 24th near Marlow Northern Bobwhite and Red-bellied Woodpecker. On the 27th Zach DuFran recorded Chimney Swift and Cliff Swallow while traveling.
McCLAIN COUNTY added 5 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 135.
On July 10 at home Larry Mays confirmed Blue Grosbeak. On July 21st Meg Rousher recognized Cooper’s Hawk near Blanchard. On July 27th Zach DuFran spotted Little Blue Heron near Newcastle. At McClain County Sod Farm Joe Grzybowski encountered on August 8th Upland Sandpiper and on August 25th Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
LINCOLN COUNTY added no new bird species this summer so their year-to-date total remains at 136; but busy birders did find interesting species. Near Stroud on June 14th Kayley Thurber spotted Turkey Vulture. On June 24th at the Chandler Regional Airport Chad Ellis discovered Northern Bobwhite, Dickcissel and Red-shouldered Hawk. Shane Clark counted near Kendrick on June 26th Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Great Egret; near Chandler on June 25th Painted Bunting and on July 4th a Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Green Heron.
KINGFISHER COUNTY added 3 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 142.
On June 16th in Kingfisher Zach Poland found Chimney Swift and Green Heron. On July 14th while traveling Jack Olson discovered Snowy Egret.
LOGAN COUNTY added 3 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 159.
In Guthrie on June 1st Dustin Lynch confirmed Baltimore Oriole; and on June 4th Seth Kastner added Blue Grosbeak. While traveling on August 22nd Bridger Arrington had Black-and-white Warbler.
CANADIAN COUNTY added 5 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 202.
At Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge Grace Huffman observed on May 19th Summer Tanager and on May 26th Olive-sided Flycatcher. On July 4th in Yukon Rugger Collier detected Common Nighthawk. On August 10th northwest of Yukon at the Foreman & North Cimarron Road Sod Farm Brian Marra documented Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Western Kingbird.
CLEVELAND COUNTY added 4 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 210.
On June 7th John Tharp and Joe Grzybowski heard Acadian Flycatchers singing their “pizza” call on both sides of Little Jim Road in Little Axe. On June 25th along Alameda Drive at Lake Thunderbird John Moyer encountered Northern Bobwhite. On July 15th at South Lakes Park Michael Kane got Black-crowned Night-Heron. On July 20th at Lexington WMA one of our Anonymous eBirders identified Kentucky Warbler.
OKLAHOMA COUNTY added 4 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 233
On July 17th near Mitch Park Chris Butler photographed Inca Dove. On July 24th near Harrah Keith Edwards saw Rufous Hummingbird at his feeder. On August 14th in Bethany Frank Walker recognized Calliope Hummingbird with his Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. On August 17th near Deer Creek Braden Farris located Wilson’s Phalarope.
PAYNE COUNTY added 3 new bird species this summer to bring their year-to-date total to 243
On June 1st the Payne County Audubon Society field trip led by Dwayne and Leslie Elmore, Tim O’Connell heard Acadian Flycatcher give four diagnostic “peetSA” songs. Also reported but not new were Yellow-breasted Chat, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler and Summer Tanager. On August 18th at Boomer Lake Park Landon Neumann came across Semipalmated Plover; and on August 24th in Stillwater Scott Loss noticed Olive-sided Flycatcher. What a great summer. What will fall migration bring?
In the Central Oklahoma area during the summer of 2019, 145 species were reported with 4 new species bringing the total for the year to 269. I appreciate those who help provide the history of central Oklahoma birds. Information is accessed at: ebird. 2019 eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: http://www.ebird.org/subnational1/US-OK/region. (Accessed: August 26, 2019). And occasionally from Facebook and the OKBIRDS List. I can be contacted by e-mail at emkok@earthlink.net. Esther M. Key, Editor.
Aug May April Mar Feb Jan
Seminole 081 074 059 047 036 000
Garvin 092 079 063 060 020 019
Pottawatomie 116 104 100 076 071 054
Grady 116 116 098 074 058 046
McClain 135 130 109 075 064 051
Lincoln 135 131 113 089 068 057
Kingfisher 142 139 116 095 079 073
Logan 159 156 140 110 089 078
Canadian 202 199 183 126 110 089
Cleveland 209 205 186 131 115 111
Oklahoma 233 228 205 147 137 125
Payne 243 239 206 142 119 103
Number of bird species reported in 2019 according to eBird. Current year, region. www.ebird.org