Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Oklahoma Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Sunday, September 7 at 08:31 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Black-capped Vireo,©David Sibley

7 Sep Norman Birds/observations [Cynthia Whittier ] 7 Sep Tulsa Area [Terry Mitchell ] 7 Sep Hear Yellow-green vireo findings, et al [Carole Stone Straughn ] 7 Sep Keystone Inca Doves [Paul Ribitzki ] 7 Sep Re: Endangered Species Act [Martin Brown ] 7 Sep OSU birds [Jimmy Woodard ] 7 Sep Re: Endangered Species Act Comment [hanenhark ] 7 Sep Endangered Species Act [Berlin Heck ] 6 Sep More New Yard Birds: Wilson's Warbler and Least Flycatcher [Jana Singletary ] 6 Sep Tulsa Area [Terry Mitchell ] 6 Sep Brief Copan/Hulah birding [josh engelbert ] 6 Sep Re: Red Slough [Eric Beck ] 6 Sep Yellow warbler in yard [Kimberly Wiar ] 6 Sep Red Slough [Berlin Heck ] 6 Sep Re: Norman this week ["Schnell, Gary D." ] 6 Sep Re: Norman this week ["Schnell, Gary D." ] 6 Sep Norman this week [Richard Gunn ] 6 Sep Re: Results from FOIA Inquiry - Swallow killing [Jan Dolph ] 6 Sep Olive-sided Flycatcher in south Tulsa [Jana Singletary ] 6 Sep Results from FOIA Inquiry - Swallow killing [hanenhark ] 5 Sep SW OK birds [Kurt Meisenzahl ] 5 Sep Nashville Warbler in south Tulsa [Jana Singletary ] 5 Sep Re: Red Slough Visit [Linda Adams ] 5 Sep Re: Red Slough Visit [James Luce ] 5 Sep Re: Red Slough Visit [James Luce ] 5 Sep Red Slough Visit [TR Ryan ] 5 Sep Golden-Winged Warbler at Oxley [Bill Carrell ] 5 Sep Kudos to Jennifer [Phil Floyd ] 5 Sep Yesterdays post with a new heading - No Frigatebirds - Kerr and Sequoyah [Sandy Berger ] 4 Sep Re: Red Slough Update [] 4 Sep Tulsa Area [Terry Mitchell ] 4 Sep Red Slough Update [David Arbour ] 4 Sep Friggin birds? [Sandy Berger ] 4 Sep Re: Red Slough Bird Survey - Sep. 3 (Amazing Day!!!!!) [Tim O'Connell ] 3 Sep Red Slough Bird Survey - Sep. 3 (Amazing Day!!!!!) [David Arbour ] 3 Sep Wildcare Eagle Release [Shelly Harris ] 3 Sep Re: Hurricane Birds [John Fisher ] 3 Sep Hurricane Birds in McCurtain [Eric Beck ] 3 Sep Re: Hurricane Birds [Berlin Heck ] 2 Sep Hurricane Birds [David Arbour ] 2 Sep Re: Hurricanes and Birds ["mike. brewer" ] 2 Sep September migration (2 of 2) [Patricia Velte ] 2 Sep September migration report (1 of 2) [Patricia Velte ] 2 Sep FW: eBird Report - Boehler Seeps Preserve , 8/30/08 [Doug Wood ] 1 Sep Mute Swan at Lake Hefner [hanenhark ] 1 Sep Sequoyah NWR/Kerr beach [Sandy Berger ] 1 Sep Re: Gwenever the Mute Swan [John Shackford ] 1 Sep Re: Hurricanes and Birds [Sandy Berger ] 1 Sep Tulsa Area [Terry Mitchell ] 1 Sep Re: Hurricanes and Birds [Robert Fisher ] 1 Sep Hurricanes and Birds [John Kennington ] 31 Aug Red Slough today [David Arbour ] Subject: Norman Birds/observations From: Cynthia Whittier <cynthia.whittier AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 20:31:05 -0500 Hello everyone! Just a few notes about some birds here in Norman recently. This evening, we had one strange bird sitting on a wire near Findlay and Gray streets. It was very small and was a light gray color with some dark markings on top of the wings. The posture was kind of a mix between a dove and a nighthawk, very strange. The tail was quite short, with the wings extending nearly to the end of the tail. The head looked dove-like too. I'm thinking perhaps a ground dove, but I would like to hear your opinions on it too. Also, last Saturday, we noticed a number of Mississippi Kites moving south. Then, last Sunday, we saw hundreds of Chimney Swifts swirling around over a house on Findlay Ave. When the cold front came through here on Tuesday night, we had a notable movement of shorebirds during the night. They sounded like Upland Sandpipers and there were quite a few moving through sometimes. The next morning, and throughout the day, there were huge groups of Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts moving south, probably carried by the north winds behind the front. Migration has been quite spectacular so far, so we'll see what else is to come... Cynthia Van Den Broeke Norman, OK Subject: Tulsa Area From: Terry Mitchell <terry AT PECOT.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 20:07:21 -0500 I birded at Oxley this morning with Tom Curtis. Some of the interesting birds we saw were, 1-Redstart, 1-Chestnut sided Warbler and a Philadelphia Vireo. At Yahola this evening I had 35-Black Terns and 4-Forsters Terns. Terry. Subject: Hear Yellow-green vireo findings, et al From: Carole Stone Straughn <carolina95 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 16:33:18 -0700 Come hear Dr. Chris Butler, UCO ornithologist. speak next Tuesday evening (9/9) at 7:30 at the Mayflower Congregational Church. "I'll talk about four years worth of study on the effects of habitat fragmentation on birds in the Lower Rio Grande Valley," he says, "I'll also mentioned some of the rare birds (e.g. Yellow-green Vireo, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, etc.) that we bump into from time to time." Dr. Butler will present his findings to the Audubon Society of Central Oklahoma general meeting. Come at seven for wine & cheese and chat with Dr. Butler and other birding and conservation enthusiasts. The building is located at 3901 NW 63rd, half a block west of Portland. Park in the well-lighted parking lot in the back and enter the fellowship hall, last door on your left as you face the building. Hope to see you there! Carole Straughn Secretary Audubon Society of Central Oklahoma (405)524-4107 Subject: Keystone Inca Doves From: Paul Ribitzki <lribitzki AT JUNO.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 17:19:11 -0500 The Inca Doves returned today to our ground feeding area and brought 3 of their closest friends for a total of 5. They are very skittish, but made 3 brief appearances this afternoon. None lasted longer than 5 minutes after I started watching from our bay window. Paul Ribitzki - Lake Keystone peninsula area Subject: Re: Endangered Species Act From: Martin Brown <martin1420 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 12:22:00 -0500 Audubon has a site with an easy way to send your comments. http://audubonaction.org/campaign/endangeredspecies ----- Original Message ----- From: Berlin Heck To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2008 08:02 Subject: Endangered Species Act The most important one factor in survival of any endangered or other species is suitable habitat. To insure that suitable habitat for endangered species is not destroyed by new projects, whether federal, state, or private, there is a consultation process which is required and has involved experienced Biologists of the U.S, Fish & Wildlife Service and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service. This procedure of protecting endangered wildlife, including many species of birds, which has proven so successful since its implementation, is being threatened by a swipe of the pen in Washington, without the input of Congress. The proposed new procedure would not necessarily require consultation with experienced Biologists from the two above agencies for new projects, including oil and gas development, highways, or any other development project. The procedure would allow the federal agency in charge of a project to determine, in-house, if its project would harm endangered species; analogous to putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. The almost unprecedented short time allowed for written comments (no email comments allowed), is 30 days, and this comment period ends 15 September! If you are interested in commenting, check the links below for more information (provided by the Union of Concerned Scientists). http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/scientific_integrity/ESA-Fact- Sheet-2008.pdf http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main? main=DocumentDetail&o=09000064806c5826 Subject: OSU birds From: Jimmy Woodard <Jimmy.Woodard AT UNIVARUSA.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 07:33:50 -0700 I was at the OSU game last night at the newly renovated Boone Pickens Stadium. It is quite impressive. there were thousands of insects, mostly grasshoppers and katydids flying all around and over the stadium and in the bright lights. I saw perhaps two dozen Miss Kites enjoying a feast before and during the game. On several occasions, a kite swooped low over the field and one almost flew into the side of Gallagher Iba before pulling out of it's swoope. after dusk, the nighthawks came out in force to partake in the bounty. I saw at least 3 Sphinx Moths flying around and landing on people. There were several other unidentified butterflies and moths everywhere. It was a fun night all around both for football and for bird/insect watching. jimmy woodard yukon, ok Subject: Re: Endangered Species Act Comment From: hanenhark <hanenhark AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 08:20:11 -0500 Berlin - thank you for this post. It is very informative. I was unaware of the short fuse. Conservation = Trying to Maintain our Bird and Wildlife Populations. These days you cannot have one without the other! ........ and The Endangered Species Act was originally designed to support that goal!!!!!!! Please check out the links and send a letter if you have time! Jane ----- Original Message ----- From: "Berlin Heck" To: Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2008 8:02 AM Subject: Endangered Species Act > The most important one factor in survival of any endangered or other > species is suitable habitat. To insure that suitable habitat for > endangered species is not destroyed by new projects, whether federal, > state, or private, there is a consultation process which is required > and has involved experienced Biologists of the U.S, Fish & Wildlife > Service and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service. This procedure > of protecting endangered wildlife, including many species of birds, > which has proven so successful since its implementation, is being > threatened by a swipe of the pen in Washington, without the input of > Congress. The proposed new procedure would not necessarily require > consultation with experienced Biologists from the two above agencies > for new projects, including oil and gas development, highways, or any > other development project. The procedure would allow the federal > agency in charge of a project to determine, in-house, if its project > would harm endangered species; analogous to putting the fox in charge > of the henhouse. > > The almost unprecedented short time allowed for written comments (no > email comments allowed), is 30 days, and this comment period ends 15 > September! If you are interested in commenting, check the links > below for more information (provided by the Union of Concerned > Scientists). > > http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/scientific_integrity/ESA-Fact- > Sheet-2008.pdf > > http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main? > main=DocumentDetail&o=09000064806c5826 Subject: Endangered Species Act From: Berlin Heck <baheck AT PINE-NET.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 08:02:48 -0500 The most important one factor in survival of any endangered or other species is suitable habitat. To insure that suitable habitat for endangered species is not destroyed by new projects, whether federal, state, or private, there is a consultation process which is required and has involved experienced Biologists of the U.S, Fish & Wildlife Service and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service. This procedure of protecting endangered wildlife, including many species of birds, which has proven so successful since its implementation, is being threatened by a swipe of the pen in Washington, without the input of Congress. The proposed new procedure would not necessarily require consultation with experienced Biologists from the two above agencies for new projects, including oil and gas development, highways, or any other development project. The procedure would allow the federal agency in charge of a project to determine, in-house, if its project would harm endangered species; analogous to putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. The almost unprecedented short time allowed for written comments (no email comments allowed), is 30 days, and this comment period ends 15 September! If you are interested in commenting, check the links below for more information (provided by the Union of Concerned Scientists). http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/scientific_integrity/ESA-Fact- Sheet-2008.pdf http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main? main=DocumentDetail&o=09000064806c5826 Subject: More New Yard Birds: Wilson's Warbler and Least Flycatcher From: Jana Singletary <jssingletary AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 19:59:03 -0700 In addition to the birds I reported this morning, I had a beautiful male Wilson's Warbler and a Least Flycatcher late this afternoon.  The Olive-sided Flycatcher was still present as well.    Jana Singletary Tulsa Subject: Tulsa Area From: Terry Mitchell <terry AT PECOT.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 19:48:33 -0500 At Lake Yahola this Evening I had, 10-Black Terns, 1-Least Sandpiper, 1-Willet, 1-Forsters Terns, 100-Purple Martins, 20-Cliff swallows and 15 Barn Swallows. When I first got there the Black Terns were kettling on the far side of the lake and I was turning them into every kind of Hurricane Tern you could think of, then they flew over by me and ruined it all. Well maybe tommorow. Terry. Subject: Brief Copan/Hulah birding From: josh engelbert <okiebirder AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 14:35:00 -0700 Made a pass by Copan and Hulah lakes today. Not a ton to look at but I had a few things worth mentioning. There were dozens of Pelicans at Hulah. They shared the mud island with 2 Caspian Terns, 4 Franklin's Gulls, lots of Ring-billed Gulls (didn't look through closely, just assumed), a few small sandpipers, 1 or 2 Semipalmated Plovers (I think), and of course herons, egrets, and swallows. The highlight at Copan was 3 Yellow-crowned Night Herons on the lake side of the dam. All were young, but 1 had the white stripe showing on its face pretty well. The only other things that I thought were exciting: a few Olive-sided Flycatchers, numerous Scissor-tailed FC, and dozens of W. Kingbirds. There were plenty of other common birds, but nothing in big numbers. Josh Engelbert MS Student Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR (Copan, OK is home) Subject: Re: Red Slough From: Eric Beck <brdbrn1979 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 12:46:45 -0700 Berlin,   Get any good photos of those so called Hurricane Birds?   Cheers, Eric --- On Sat, 9/6/08, Berlin Heck wrote: From: Berlin Heck Subject: Red Slough To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Saturday, September 6, 2008, 2:48 PM Matthew & Cynthia Vandenbroeke from OK City came down for a visit to the Slough this morning. Below are the interesting birds we saw 1 Purple Gallinule--definitive alternate plumage--pool 30W 2 King Rails--pool 30W 4 Tricolored Herons--Pool 16E 37 Wood Storks--Pool 16E and soaring 3 Roseate Spoonbills--Pool 16E 36 White Pelicans--Pool 16E 11 Black-necked Stilts--Pool 16E 1 Black-bellied Whistling Duck--Pool 16E 1 Neotropic Cormorant--Lotus Lake 5 Common Moorhen--Lotus Lake From the Frontier Berlin Heck Broken Bow Subject: Yellow warbler in yard From: Kimberly Wiar <kwiar AT COX.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 14:12:37 -0500 Yesterday and today I've had a Yellow Warbler feeding in my sweet gum. First this year for my yard. Kim Wiar Norman ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Gunn To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 1:26 PM Subject: Norman this week I have had several Olive-sided Flycatchers during the week and yesterday there were about 20 Blue-winged Teal and two Grtr. Yellowlegs on the Canadian off South Jenkins. This morning walking down the river bed almost to Noble, I saw four American Avocets and a Red-necked Phalarope mixed with a bunch of peeps.. Subject: Red Slough From: Berlin Heck <baheck AT PINE-NET.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 13:48:30 -0500 Matthew & Cynthia Vandenbroeke from OK City came down for a visit to the Slough this morning. Below are the interesting birds we saw 1 Purple Gallinule--definitive alternate plumage--pool 30W 2 King Rails--pool 30W 4 Tricolored Herons--Pool 16E 37 Wood Storks--Pool 16E and soaring 3 Roseate Spoonbills--Pool 16E 36 White Pelicans--Pool 16E 11 Black-necked Stilts--Pool 16E 1 Black-bellied Whistling Duck--Pool 16E 1 Neotropic Cormorant--Lotus Lake 5 Common Moorhen--Lotus Lake From the Frontier Berlin Heck Broken Bow Subject: Re: Norman this week From: "Schnell, Gary D." <gschnell AT OU.EDU> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 13:27:41 -0500 Sorry, meant to send that only to Dick. Gary D. Schnell, Curator of Birds & Professor of Zoology Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73072, USA Voice 405-325-5050; Fax 405-325-7699; Email gschnell AT ou.edu From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Schnell, Gary D. Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 1:27 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Norman this week Dick, Did you get my earlier email, asking if you wanted the basketball ticket again this year? Gary Gary D. Schnell, Curator of Birds & Professor of Zoology Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73072, USA Voice 405-325-5050; Fax 405-325-7699; Email gschnell AT ou.edu From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Richard Gunn Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 1:26 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Norman this week I have had several Olive-sided Flycatchers during the week and yesterday there were about 20 Blue-winged Teal and two Grtr. Yellowlegs on the Canadian off South Jenkins. This morning walking down the river bed almost to Noble, I saw four American Avocets and a Red-necked Phalarope mixed with a bunch of peeps.. Subject: Re: Norman this week From: "Schnell, Gary D." <gschnell AT OU.EDU> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 13:26:49 -0500 Dick, Did you get my earlier email, asking if you wanted the basketball ticket again this year? Gary Gary D. Schnell, Curator of Birds & Professor of Zoology Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73072, USA Voice 405-325-5050; Fax 405-325-7699; Email gschnell AT ou.edu From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Richard Gunn Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 1:26 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Norman this week I have had several Olive-sided Flycatchers during the week and yesterday there were about 20 Blue-winged Teal and two Grtr. Yellowlegs on the Canadian off South Jenkins. This morning walking down the river bed almost to Noble, I saw four American Avocets and a Red-necked Phalarope mixed with a bunch of peeps.. Subject: Norman this week From: Richard Gunn <rgunn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 13:26:02 -0500 I have had several Olive-sided Flycatchers during the week and yesterday there were about 20 Blue-winged Teal and two Grtr. Yellowlegs on the Canadian off South Jenkins. This morning walking down the river bed almost to Noble, I saw four American Avocets and a Red-necked Phalarope mixed with a bunch of peeps.. Subject: Re: Results from FOIA Inquiry - Swallow killing From: Jan Dolph <OKGreenjays AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 12:58:09 EDT Jane, Thank you for the information. Jan Dolph Oklahoma City **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) Subject: Olive-sided Flycatcher in south Tulsa From: Jana Singletary <jssingletary AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 08:37:33 -0700 This morning has been very active for flycatchers in my backyard and bottom land.  In addition to the Great-crested Flycatcher and E. Phoebe that have frequented the area all summer, this morning I have had an Olive-sided Flycatcher, a first for the year and my  yard list!  I also had a Yellow Warbler.   Jana Singletary Subject: Results from FOIA Inquiry - Swallow killing From: hanenhark <hanenhark AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 07:55:08 -0500 I promised more information and put in an official Freedom of Information Act request in early August. Yesterday I got the response in the mail from The US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It is not what I expected. "The records responsive to your request are contained in an investigative case file currently maintained in an open status pending completion of all investigative activities. A disclosure of the records at this time could interfere with ongoing enforcement proceedings, as disclosure would prematurely reveal evidence the FWS has and the scope and direction of the investigation. A release of this material would allow for possible circumvention of any enforcement action........." My request asked for potential charges and any other records about the case. Looks like at least this case is still in the "pending" stage and is not being swept under the table as others had thought. Their response is appealable. I may give that a try. Jane Cunningham Subject: SW OK birds From: Kurt Meisenzahl <meisenzk AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 20:29:00 -0700   Today we watched a 1st year male Bullock's Oriole feed on the Turk's Cap in our backyard.  A few minutes later he located a edible (semi ripe) grape on our wild grape vine.    A male Wilson's Warbler, the first we have seen in Oklahoma this year, visited our backyard mist.     Checked the local lakes for hurricane birds - no luck - but did see several Osprey, Caspian Terns, and Forster's Terns.   Kurt & Sharon Meisenzahl Lawton, OK Subject: Nashville Warbler in south Tulsa From: Jana Singletary <jssingletary AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 18:09:07 -0700 This morning in my backyard in south Tulsa I had a Nashville Warbler, 2 Red-eyed Vireos, a White-eyed Vireo, and an Eastern Wood-Pewee, along with all the regular visitors.   Jana Singletary   Subject: Re: Red Slough Visit From: Linda Adams <lindafay AT CABLEONE.NET> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 17:07:52 -0600 It is a little further from Red Slough, but we stayed in the lodge on Broken Bow Lake last spring and really liked it. All the rooms have a patio facing the lake and you can sit right there and see quite a few birds. Seems like the rate was about $100 a night. Linda Adams _____ From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of TR Ryan Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 12:31 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Red Slough Visit A couple of birders visiting Red Slough/McCurtain County next week - staying for two nights. Are there any recommendations/advice for hotel/motel/cabin accommodations in the area? I am guessing that a cabin near Broken Bow is worth the extra driving miles over a motel in Idabel? Appreciate the advice! -----Original Message----- From: David Arbour To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 5:39 pm Subject: Red Slough Update I toured several birders (Steve Metz, Melinda D. & Nancy P.) from the Tulsa area around Red Slough this morning. They came down wanting to see hurricane birds and Wood Storks. Berlin Heck was with us also. The cold front was blowing hard out of the northwest and all the hurricane fallout birds from yesterday were gone except for the Black-necked Stilts. Here are the more notable species we did find today: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 1 (also, Nancy & Melinda saw a pair along Mudline Rd.) Green-winged Teal - 3 Neotropic Cormorant - 1 Anhinga - lots! Tricolored Heron - 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 Dark Ibis sp. - 20 Roseate Spoonbill - 2 Wood Stork - 10 Bald Eagle - 1 juv. King Rail - 1 Black-necked Stilt - 17 Upland Sandpiper - 3 Least Tern - 1 Inca Dove - 1 (Haworth) Bank Swallow - 12 I heard that after the Tulsa birders left RS, that they went to Broken Bow lake and found some hurricane birds. I will let them report on what they saw. David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder _____ Looking for spoilers and reviews on the new TV season? Get AOL's ultimate guide to fall TV. Subject: Re: Red Slough Visit From: James Luce <JKLuce AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 16:05:32 EDT I forgot to mention; the Comfort Suites is in Idabel. Jim **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) Subject: Re: Red Slough Visit From: James Luce <JKLuce AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 16:03:56 EDT The Panhandle Bird Club stayed at the Comfort Suites last weekend. It is excellent and, unless you are leaving before 6 a.m. has a full breakfast. The cost is about $96. Jim Luce, Amarillo **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) Subject: Red Slough Visit From: TR Ryan <trryan AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 14:31:18 -0400 A couple of birders visiting Red Slough/McCurtain County next week - staying for two nights.? Are there any recommendations/advice for hotel/motel/cabin accommodations in the area??? I am guessing that a cabin near Broken Bow is worth the extra driving miles over a motel in Idabel?? Appreciate the advice! -----Original Message----- From: David Arbour To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 5:39 pm Subject: Red Slough Update I toured several birders (Steve Metz, Melinda D. & Nancy P.) from the Tulsa area around Red Slough this morning.? They came down wanting to see hurricane birds and Wood Storks.??Berlin Heck was with us also.? The cold front was blowing hard out of the northwest and all the hurricane?fallout birds from yesterday were gone except for the Black-necked Stilts.? Here are the more notable species we did?find today: ? Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 1 (also, Nancy & Melinda saw a pair along Mudline Rd.) Green-winged Teal - 3 Neotropic Cormorant - 1 Anhinga - lots! Tricolored Heron - 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 Dark Ibis sp. - 20 Roseate Spoonbill - 2 Wood Stork - 10 Bald Eagle - 1 juv. King Rail - 1 Black-necked Stilt - 17 Upland Sandpiper - 3 Least Tern - 1 Inca Dove - 1 (Haworth) Bank Swallow - 12 ? I heard that after the Tulsa birders left RS, that they went to Broken Bow lake and found some?hurricane birds.? I will let them report on what they saw. ? ? David Arbour De Queen, AR ? Visit the Red Slough Website:?? http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml ? Personal Photo Galleries:? http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Golden-Winged Warbler at Oxley From: Bill Carrell <okdragonhunter AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 09:54:08 -0700 Hello All,                  This morning at Oxley, saw a Golden-Winged Warbler (probably first fall) in a small group of migrants that included Warbling Vireo and Wilson's Warbler. It was seen in the vicinity of the first Cottonwood tree on the left as you walk from the parking lot to the prairie trail. Also seen this morning were Black & White Warbler and American Redstart.                                                               Good Birding,                                                             Bill Carrell                                                           Tulsa, OK Subject: Kudos to Jennifer From: Phil Floyd <pfloyd19 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 07:55:01 -0700 http://www.normantranscript.com/features/local_story_249021736   Phil Floyd P. O. Box 515 17101 Edge of the Earth Rd. Lexington, OK. 73051 Home: 405/527-4336 Cell:    405/226-4750   "I prefer a short life with width  to a narrow one with length."                      Avicenna (Ibn Sina)           Subject: Yesterdays post with a new heading - No Frigatebirds - Kerr and Sequoyah From: Sandy Berger <fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 06:31:25 -0700 I guess yesterday's email went to people's spam box since I used an F word. Not THE F word but a different one. Sandy B. --- On Thu, 9/4/08, Sandy Berger wrote: > From: Sandy Berger > Subject: Friggin birds? > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Date: Thursday, September 4, 2008, 3:40 PM > That's the response I usually get when I tell someone > I'm looking for Frigatebirds. I was able to educate > three fishermen at Sequoyah NWR this morning while looking > for them. > > I didn't see any. No hurricane birds at all. Phooey. > But, the cold front brought in a lot of birds to Sequoyah > and Kerr beach. The best birds for me was the two > SANDERLINGS at Kerr and two first-fall WHITE-FACED IBISES at > Sequoyah. The ibises kind of remind me of some of the > teenage boys I know at Northside High in FS. Tall and goofy > looking. > > Also at Kerr: > Semipalmated Plover > immature Herring Gull > Black Terns > Caspian Terns > Forster's Terns > Ring-billed gulls > > Sequoyah NWR: > Great Horned Owl > Semipalmated Plover > Least Sandpiper > Golden Plover > Killdeer > Wilson's Snipe > Greater Yellowlegs > > The shorebirds were all in the field on the west just > before turning west in the refuge. They were dropping in > like crazy. It was extremely windy and quite cool. > > Sandy B. > Fort Smith, AR Subject: Re: Red Slough Update From: Oklagranny AT AOL.COM Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 23:46:27 EDT Yes! We did find a Hurricane Bird: Sooty Tern out on Stevens point (the road right after Abendigo's restaurant. Anyway we saw one way across the lake flying fast and disappearing....it flew like no tern I have ever seen before....Nancy got it in her scope and we got quick but satisfactory looks. Then we kept scoping and eating lunch and looking for other hurricane birds and suddenly Steve spit his sandwich out....and shouted LOOK.....CLOSE....it was another Sooty Tern and totally magnificent....so close we didn't need scopes. We saw everything and the black/white contrast was striking.....truly a great way to see a new bird! Thanks Steve for shouting! We stopped at Kerr Dam on the way home....no hurricane birds but 2 Laughing Gulls, 4 Caspians, Black and Forster's and two sanderlings. It was a great day and especially fun hearing about Berlin and David's adventures yesterday...truly amazing.... Maybe tomorrow we will have a warbler fall-out! Melinda Droege Bville **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) Subject: Tulsa Area From: Terry Mitchell <terry AT PECOT.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 20:34:24 -0500 Went to Lake Yahola to see if Hurricane Gusty blew anything in. I didn't find any hurricane birds but I did find, 1-Osprey, 5-Black Terns, 1-Caspian Tern, 5-spotted Sandpipers and 1-Willet. Terry. Subject: Red Slough Update From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 17:39:06 -0500 I toured several birders (Steve Metz, Melinda D. & Nancy P.) from the Tulsa area around Red Slough this morning. They came down wanting to see hurricane birds and Wood Storks. Berlin Heck was with us also. The cold front was blowing hard out of the northwest and all the hurricane fallout birds from yesterday were gone except for the Black-necked Stilts. Here are the more notable species we did find today: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 1 (also, Nancy & Melinda saw a pair along Mudline Rd.) Green-winged Teal - 3 Neotropic Cormorant - 1 Anhinga - lots! Tricolored Heron - 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 Dark Ibis sp. - 20 Roseate Spoonbill - 2 Wood Stork - 10 Bald Eagle - 1 juv. King Rail - 1 Black-necked Stilt - 17 Upland Sandpiper - 3 Least Tern - 1 Inca Dove - 1 (Haworth) Bank Swallow - 12 I heard that after the Tulsa birders left RS, that they went to Broken Bow lake and found some hurricane birds. I will let them report on what they saw. David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Friggin birds? From: Sandy Berger <fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 13:40:45 -0700 That's the response I usually get when I tell someone I'm looking for Frigatebirds. I was able to educate three fishermen at Sequoyah NWR this morning while looking for them. I didn't see any. No hurricane birds at all. Phooey. But, the cold front brought in a lot of birds to Sequoyah and Kerr beach. The best birds for me was the two SANDERLINGS at Kerr and two first-fall WHITE-FACED IBISES at Sequoyah. The ibises kind of remind me of some of the teenage boys I know at Northside High in FS. Tall and goofy looking. Also at Kerr: Semipalmated Plover immature Herring Gull Black Terns Caspian Terns Forster's Terns Ring-billed gulls Sequoyah NWR: Great Horned Owl Semipalmated Plover Least Sandpiper Golden Plover Killdeer Wilson's Snipe Greater Yellowlegs The shorebirds were all in the field on the west just before turning west in the refuge. They were dropping in like crazy. It was extremely windy and quite cool. Sandy B. Fort Smith, AR Subject: Re: Red Slough Bird Survey - Sep. 3 (Amazing Day!!!!!) From: Tim O'Connell <tim.oconnell AT OKSTATE.EDU> Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 08:01:50 -0500 Truly amazing David! Thank you for taking the time to document this event. ~tim On Sep 3, 2008, at 9:25 PM, David Arbour wrote: > Wow! Don't even know how to begin to describe today. 71 species > were found today on the Red Slough bird survey. 7 new species for > the Red Slough list were found and 2 species not on the Oklahoma > list were seen. The eye of hurricane Gustav passed over Red Slough > and brought a horde of birds from the gulf. I arrived around 10 > a.m. (wished I had gotten there earlier!) and went to Otter Lake. > Immediately I encountered terns of several species. Over the next 6 > + hours all kinds of birds fed on and flew by Otter, Pintail, and > Lotus Lakes. Otter Lake was the hotspot for the rare terns. The > best finds of the day were a Cory's Shearwater flying west to east > over Otter Lake, Sooty Terns feeding on Otter Lake, Royal Tern > landing on the water of Otter Lake, and a frigatebird flying over > Pintail Lake. Also nice were 3 adult Sabine's Gulls in alternate > plumage and two Red-necked Phalaropes. I called Berlin and like to > never got him away from Broken Bow lake were he was having some > luck, but he finally came down and was able to get some of the good > birds photographed. Steve Metz came running down also and just > managed to get to see the last 4 Sooty Terns that flew by. Things > slowed way down after 4 p.m. Other notable observations were about > a total of 1000 unidentified shorebirds that kept flying over and a > mass migration of Eastern Kingbirds that went from horizon to > horizon. I stopped counting them after 5,000 birds. Too much > other stuff going on. Here is a complete list of all found today: > > Cory's Shearwater - 1 > Wood Duck - 31 > Mallard - 1 > Blue-winged Teal - 455 > Northern Shoveler - 3 > Northern Pintail - 26 > Pied-billed Grebe - 7 > American White Pelican - 1 > Neotropic Cormorant - 1 > Double-crested Cormorant - 2 > Anhinga - 13 > Magnificent Frigatebird - 1 adult male > American Bittern - 2 > Least Bittern - 2 > Great Blue Heron - 8 > Great Egret - 41 > Snowy Egret - 7 > Little Blue Heron - 15 > Tricolored Heron - 3 > Cattle Egret - 2 > Green Heron - 4 > White Ibis - 48 > Dark Ibis sp. - 37 > Roseate Spoonbill - 2 > Wood Stork - 21 > Black Vulture - 4 > Turkey Vulture - 63 > Osprey - 1 > Mississippi Kite - 1 > Northern Harrier - 1 > Accipiter sp. - 2 > Common Moorhen - 5 > Semipalmated Plover - 1 > Black-necked Stilt - (flock of 14 flying low over the water of > Otter Lk.) > Spotted Sandpiper - 4 > Solitary Sandpiper - 10 > Greater Yellowlegs - 15 > Lesser Yellowlegs - 41 > Upland Sandpiper - 5 > Long-billed Curlew - 1 > Ruddy Turnstone - 30 > Western Sandpiper - 4 > Pectoral Sandpiper - 7 > Stilt Sandpiper - 2 > Short-billed Dowitcher - 8 > Long-billed Dowitcher - 3 > Wilson's Phalarope - 3 > Red-necked Phalarope - 2 > Laughing Gull - 4 juv. > Ring-billed Gull - 5 > Sabine's Gull - 3 (adults in alternate plumage.) > Least Tern - 8 > Caspian Tern - 2 > Black Tern - 51 > Common Tern - 1 > Forster's Tern - 7 > Royal Tern - 1 juv. > Sooty Tern - 10 (8 adults & 2 juv.) > Parasitic Jaeger - 1 juv. > Eurasian Collared-Dove - 1 > Mourning Dove - 12 > Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6 > Eastern Kingbird - 5,000+ > White-eyed Vireo - 2 > American Crow - 3 > Purple Martin - 13 > Bank Swallow - 10 > Cliff Swallow - 600 > Barn Swallow - 10 > Carolina Wren - 1 > Brown Thrasher - 1 > Common Yellowthroat - 1 > Red-winged Blackbird - 14 > Common Grackle - 1 > > Good birding! > > David Arbour > De Queen, AR > > Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/ > natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml > > Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - Sep. 3 (Amazing Day!!!!!) From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 21:25:08 -0500 Wow! Don't even know how to begin to describe today. 71 species were found today on the Red Slough bird survey. 7 new species for the Red Slough list were found and 2 species not on the Oklahoma list were seen. The eye of hurricane Gustav passed over Red Slough and brought a horde of birds from the gulf. I arrived around 10 a.m. (wished I had gotten there earlier!) and went to Otter Lake. Immediately I encountered terns of several species. Over the next 6+ hours all kinds of birds fed on and flew by Otter, Pintail, and Lotus Lakes. Otter Lake was the hotspot for the rare terns. The best finds of the day were a Cory's Shearwater flying west to east over Otter Lake, Sooty Terns feeding on Otter Lake, Royal Tern landing on the water of Otter Lake, and a frigatebird flying over Pintail Lake. Also nice were 3 adult Sabine's Gulls in alternate plumage and two Red-necked Phalaropes. I called Berlin and like to never got him away from Broken Bow lake were he was having some luck, but he finally came down and was able to get some of the good birds photographed. Steve Metz came running down also and just managed to get to see the last 4 Sooty Terns that flew by. Things slowed way down after 4 p.m. Other notable observations were about a total of 1000 unidentified shorebirds that kept flying over and a mass migration of Eastern Kingbirds that went from horizon to horizon. I stopped counting them after 5,000 birds. Too much other stuff going on. Here is a complete list of all found today: Cory's Shearwater - 1 Wood Duck - 31 Mallard - 1 Blue-winged Teal - 455 Northern Shoveler - 3 Northern Pintail - 26 Pied-billed Grebe - 7 American White Pelican - 1 Neotropic Cormorant - 1 Double-crested Cormorant - 2 Anhinga - 13 Magnificent Frigatebird - 1 adult male American Bittern - 2 Least Bittern - 2 Great Blue Heron - 8 Great Egret - 41 Snowy Egret - 7 Little Blue Heron - 15 Tricolored Heron - 3 Cattle Egret - 2 Green Heron - 4 White Ibis - 48 Dark Ibis sp. - 37 Roseate Spoonbill - 2 Wood Stork - 21 Black Vulture - 4 Turkey Vulture - 63 Osprey - 1 Mississippi Kite - 1 Northern Harrier - 1 Accipiter sp. - 2 Common Moorhen - 5 Semipalmated Plover - 1 Black-necked Stilt - (flock of 14 flying low over the water of Otter Lk.) Spotted Sandpiper - 4 Solitary Sandpiper - 10 Greater Yellowlegs - 15 Lesser Yellowlegs - 41 Upland Sandpiper - 5 Long-billed Curlew - 1 Ruddy Turnstone - 30 Western Sandpiper - 4 Pectoral Sandpiper - 7 Stilt Sandpiper - 2 Short-billed Dowitcher - 8 Long-billed Dowitcher - 3 Wilson's Phalarope - 3 Red-necked Phalarope - 2 Laughing Gull - 4 juv. Ring-billed Gull - 5 Sabine's Gull - 3 (adults in alternate plumage.) Least Tern - 8 Caspian Tern - 2 Black Tern - 51 Common Tern - 1 Forster's Tern - 7 Royal Tern - 1 juv. Sooty Tern - 10 (8 adults & 2 juv.) Parasitic Jaeger - 1 juv. Eurasian Collared-Dove - 1 Mourning Dove - 12 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6 Eastern Kingbird - 5,000+ White-eyed Vireo - 2 American Crow - 3 Purple Martin - 13 Bank Swallow - 10 Cliff Swallow - 600 Barn Swallow - 10 Carolina Wren - 1 Brown Thrasher - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 1 Red-winged Blackbird - 14 Common Grackle - 1 Good birding! David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Wildcare Eagle Release From: Shelly Harris <eaglflyt AT SWBELL.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 18:24:22 -0500 Wildcare (http://www.wildcareoklahoma.org) works tirelessly each year, especially during Spring and Summer to care for orphaned and injured wildlife. They have extensive experience with multiple species of native wildlife and most of their care is given to the huge influx of birds in need of care each year. Wildcare has had multiple Bald Eagles and some Golden Eagles in their care over the years. We are pleased to announce an upcoming release of a young, fully recovered and strengthened Bald Eagle. I received the information from Rondi Large, the Wildcare founder and Director, earlier today: "WildCare is planning a fund raising contest centered on our eagle that is ready for release. It's called Dollars for Freedom. Any one, or any group can collect funds from friends, family, etc and the person who collects the most Dollars for Freedom will have the honor of releasing the eagle. I am working up the details with a flier and PowerPoint presentation of this bird's life. She is the baby that we have pictures of her in her nest before the storm." Here's a link to just a couple of Wildcare avian success stories: http://www.wildcareoklahoma.org/photo_gallery.html Here's a link to a previous newsletter: http://www.wildcareoklahoma.org/newsletter.html As an Oklahoma birder and previous avian insectivore Wildcare volunteer, I want to offer my deepest THANKS to Wildcare. Their dedication to our birds and wildlife is constant and unending. I thought one of us might like the opportunity to release a Bald Eagle back into the sky! Shelly Harris Norman, OK Subject: Re: Hurricane Birds From: John Fisher <rgs455 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 16:44:18 -0500 In the late fifties or maybe early sixties one of the big hurricanes hit south Texas, came north and left a bunch of sea birds on Grand Lake. Since we lived north of Grove and my folks taught school at Jay we drove over the Honey Creek bridge twice a day five days a week. I don't remember everything we saw but I do have vivid memories of Black Skimmers and Brown Pelicans doing their thing. I think there might have been Frigatebords but maybe not - it was a very long time ago. I don't remember how long they stayed but it seems like they were there until it turmed cold. John -----Original Message----- From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU]On Behalf Of Eric Beck Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 12:31 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: [OKBIRDS] Hurricane Birds in McCurtain Hello All, I just recieved word that an abundance of "sea birds" are being seen at the Red SLough and Broken Bow Lake, certainly a few would be Oklahoma Birds for many of us. Some that were mentioned were Sooty Tern, Frigate Bird, Royal Tern, and I'll let the discover's give the details on everything later. So get yourself down there, and then think about those of us thank can't go! And keep your eyes on the look out on local lakes around your area.....you never know what may turn up! Cheers, Eric Beck Subject: Hurricane Birds in McCurtain From: Eric Beck <brdbrn1979 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 11:30:49 -0700 Hello All,   I just recieved word that an abundance of "sea birds" are being seen at the Red SLough and Broken Bow Lake, certainly a few would be Oklahoma Birds for many of us.  Some that were mentioned were Sooty Tern, Frigate Bird, Royal Tern, and I'll let the discover's give the details on everything later.  So get yourself down there, and then think about those of us thank can't go!  And keep your eyes on the look out on local lakes around your area.....you never know what may turn up!   Cheers, Eric Beck Subject: Re: Hurricane Birds From: Berlin Heck <baheck AT PINE-NET.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 06:45:46 -0500 I plan to check Broken Bow Lake--I have been looking through Sibley and in the mist and rain and wind, the Bridled and Sooty Terns will need close looks to distinguish from Black Terns which are here now. Of course the Frigate Birds will need to be checked to ensure against a vagrant Pterodactyl--never know what will pop up down here in McCurtain County! Berlin Heck Broken Bow On Sep 2, 2008, at 9:27 PM, David Arbour wrote: > There were numerous sightings of frigatebirds and Sooty Terns in > southern Arkansas today as Gustav hit the area. I ran down to Red > Slough and checked the reservoirs this afternoon hoping for a rare > tern or two. Saw nothing notable but a juvenile Wood Stork. The > eye (whats left of it) will be passing over Red Slough in the > morning. I will be there watching! Someone needs to check Broken > Bow Lake. Berlin? > > David Arbour > De Queen, AR > > Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/ > natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml > > Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Hurricane Birds From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 21:27:24 -0500 There were numerous sightings of frigatebirds and Sooty Terns in southern Arkansas today as Gustav hit the area. I ran down to Red Slough and checked the reservoirs this afternoon hoping for a rare tern or two. Saw nothing notable but a juvenile Wood Stork. The eye (whats left of it) will be passing over Red Slough in the morning. I will be there watching! Someone needs to check Broken Bow Lake. Berlin? David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Re: Hurricanes and Birds From: "mike. brewer" <mike.brewer AT ATT.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 11:15:30 -0500 This is very interesting and completely new for me. I had never thought of birds surviving and moving long distances with the eye of the Hurricane. I remember one time in 1969 or the early 70s when a big Hurricane moved in through the Texas coast and then came up to my Garvin County location. It rained for four days and nights and the bottomlands were partially flooded and afterwards loaded with ducks and water birds. A MARINE (SALT WATER) DUCK (or some kind of water bird?) was observed in a flooded field near my Drive In Theatre (where I was living). ( SHW 19 intersection with the Indian Meridian Road ). I Identified the bird and later described it to Doc Sutton ... " I could hardly believe my eyes" and thought this must be some kind of mix-up or missed ID ? Doc Sutton said that I had described the species of bird exactly correct , and the Hurricane had probably moved it into my area. The bird was only a few hundred feet distant and I was using a B&L Spotting Scope. It was very clear at 20x to 40x. Perhaps a little later, I'll look through my Sibley's Field Guide and try to remember what species of bird it was ? This note is just to say ... This phenomenon actually happens ! ... all the way from the Gulf ... to up here in south central Oklahoma ! Thanks, "Keep in Touch With Your Dreams" Mike Brewer Pauls Valley, Oklahoma ----- Original Message ----- From: John Kennington To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 8:50 AM Subject: Hurricanes and Birds I just came across this article describing how birds survive hurricanes - http://www.birding.com/hurricanes.asp Here is the most interesting tidbit. It never occurred to me that birds would get caught in the eye of the storm: Some birds are picked up by the storm system and carried long distances. They become trapped in the calm eye by the towering, fierce storms. The eye of the storm, in effect, becomes a bird cage until the hurricane begins to fizzle and birds can escape. It is the eye of the storm that displaces birds, not the strong winds. John Kennington Bixby, OK johnkennington AT cox.net Subject: September migration (2 of 2) From: Patricia Velte <pvelte AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 10:57:37 -0500 Dear OKBirders, Below is the list of birds with anticipated DEPARTURE dates in SEPTEMBER. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck September 16 - SE Least Bittern September 29 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Tricolored Heron September 18 - NW, SE White Ibis September 10 - C,SC and September 30 - SE Roseate Spoonbill September 18 - SE Wood Stork September 6 - SC,SE Common Moorhen September 16 - NW,SW,C,SC,SE Snowy Plover September 25 - PAN,NW,SW,C,SC,NE Black-necked Stilt September 15 - PAN,NW,SW,Kingfisher Co,SE Willet September 9 - ALL Spotted Sandpiper September 27 - PAN Upland Sandpiper September 10 - PAN,NW and September 26 - SW,C,SC,NE and September 12 - SE Marbled Godwit September 10 - PAN,NW,SW,C,SC,NE Ruddy Turnstone September 24 - NW,C,SC,NE,SE Red Knot September 14 - NW,C,NE Buff-breasted Sandpiper September 28 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE and September 16 - SE Short-billed Dowitcher September 16 - NW,C,SC,NE,SE Wilson's Phalarope September 25 - ALL Least Tern September 21 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Black Tern September 25 - ALL Black-billed Cuckoo September 20 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Common Nighthawk September 28 - PAN Chuck-will's-widow September 2 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Black-chinned Hummingbird September 15 - PAN,NW,SW Olive-sided Flycatcher September 30 - ALL Western Wood-Pewee September 26 - PAN Eastern Wood-Pewee September 30 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Yellow-bellied Flycatcher September 25 - SW,C,SC,NE,SE Alder Flycatcher September 16 - C,SC,NE,SE Willow Flycatcher September 25 - ALL and September 16 - Craig, Ottawa, McCurtain Cos. Hammond's Flycatcher September 26 - PAN Dusky Flycatcher September 26 - PAN Vermillion Flycatcher September 10 - PAN Great Crested Flycatcher September 17 - PAN and September 24 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Cassin's Kingbird September 25 - PAN Western Kingbird September 11 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE Eastern Kingbird September 15 - PAN Bell's Vireo September 30 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Black-capped Vireo September 17 - NW,SW,C Yellow-throated Vireo September 29 - C,SC,NE,SE Plumbeous Vireo September 21 - PAN Purple Martin September 9 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Tree Swallow September 20 - PAN N. Rough-winged Swallow September 20 - PAN Bank Swallow September 20 - ALL Cliff Swallow September 28 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Blue-gray Gnatcatcher September 30 - ALL Swainson's Thrush September 30 - ALL Yellow Warbler September 12 - PAN and September 25 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Chestnut-sided Warbler September 27 - C,SC,NE,SE Townsend's Warbler September 21 - PAN Yellow-throated Warbler September 17 - NE,SE Bay-breasted Warbler September 27 - NE,SE Black-and-white Warbler September 27 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE American Redstart September 28 - ALL Prothonotary Warbler September 1 - NW,C,SC,NE,SE Northern Waterthrush September 19 - ALL Kentucky Warbler September 26 - C,SC,NE,SE MacGillivray's Warbler September 20 - PAN Common Yellowthroat September 26 - PAN Hooded Warbler September 28 - SE Canada Warbler September 23 - NE,SE Yellow-breasted Chat September 9 - PAN and September 19 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Western Tanager September 25 - PAN Green-tailed Towhee September 29 - PAN Cassin's Sparrow September 2 - PAN,NW,SW,C,SC Lark Sparrow September 22 - PAN Grasshopper Sparrow September 24 - PAN Black-headed Grosbeak September 21 - PAN Lazuli Bunting September 25 - PAN Painted Bunting September 23 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Bobolink September 27 - NW,C,SC,NE,SE Orchard Oriole September 11 - ALL Bullock's Oriole September 11 - PAN,NW,SW Baltimore Oriole September 25 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE (There are 12 species that appear on the arrival and departure lists this month!) Happy birding, Pat Velte pvelte AT cox.net Oklahoma City, OK Subject: September migration report (1 of 2) From: Patricia Velte <pvelte AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 10:55:20 -0500 Dear OKBirders, There are 59 species with arrival dates in September and 75 that are listed as departing so I'll send the lists in separate messages. Below are the birds with anticipated early ARRIVAL dates in SEPTEMBER. Cackling Goose September 21 - ALL Canada Goose September 21 - PAN Gadwall September 18 - NW,SW,C,NE,SE Cinnamon Teal September 7 - PAN,NW,SW Northern Shoveler September 4 - SW,C,SC,NE,SE Northern Pintail September 1 - SW,C,SC,NE,SE Common Loon September 29 - ALL Horned Grebe September 27 - ALL Eared Grebe September 4 - ALL Sharp-shinned Hawk September 12 - ALL Merlin September 2 - ALL Virginia Rail September 10 - ALL Sandhill Crane September 22 - PAN,NW,SW,C,SC Sabine's Gull September 6 - PAN,NW,C,SC,NE,SE Common Poorwill September 19 - C,SC,NE Red-naped Sapsucker September 21 - PAN Yellow-bellied Flycatcher September 3 - SW,C,SC,NE,SE Alder Flycatcher September 10 - C,SC,NE,SE Hammond's Flycatcher September 1- PAN Dusky Flycatcher September 1 - PAN Plumbeous Vireo September 2 - PAN Blue-headed Vireo September 5 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE and September 5 - McCurtain Co. Philadelphia Vireo September 12 - C,SC,NE,SE Red-breasted Nuthatch September 18 - ALL House Wren September 16 - SW,SC,SE Sedge Wren September 27 - NW,SW,C,SC,SE Marsh Wren September 26 - ALL Ruby-crowned Kinglet September 10 - ALL Mountain Bluebird September 27 - PAN Townsend's Solitaire September 17 - PAN Swainson's Thrush September 7 - PAN and September 11 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Hermit Thrush September 22 - PAN Sage Thrasher September 1 - PAN American Pipit September 20 - ALL Sprague's Pipit September 27 - ALL Cedar Waxwing Septembr 9 - PAN and September 24 - NW,Sw,C,SC,NE,SE Tennessee Warbler September 13 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Orange-crowned Warbler September 6 - PAN and September 12 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Nashville Warbler September 3 - ALL Chestnut-sided Warbler September 10 - C,SC,NE,SE Yellow-rumped Warbler September 15 - PAN and September 29 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Townsend's Warbler September 1- PAN Palm Warbler September 29 - NE,SE Bay-breasted Warbler September 10 - NE,SE Ovenbird September 5 - ALL Western Tanager September 2 - PAN Green-tailed Towhee September 7 - PAN Spotted Towhee September 23 - ALL Eastern Towhee September 30 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Clay-colored Sparrow September 2 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE Vesper Sparrow September 1 - PAN and September 27 - NW,C,NE and September 29 - SW,SC,SE Savannah Sparrow September 14 - ALL Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow September 17 - NE,SE Lincoln's Sparrow September 15 - PAN and September 22 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE White-crowned Sparrow September 23 - PAN Rose-breasted Grosbeak September 17 - C,SC,NE,SE Bobolink September 1 - NW,C,SC,NE,SE Western Meadowlark September 16 - SC,NE,SE Brewer's Blackbird September 17 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE The information presented here comes from The Oklahoma Bird Records Committee of the Oklahoma Ornithological Society, which publishes a Date Guide to the Occurrences of Birds in Oklahoma. This booklet divides Oklahoma into 7 geographic regions, and lists the normal dates of occurrence for each Oklahoma bird species within each region. Observers are urged to report unusual species, or birds out of date or out of normal range in Oklahoma, based on the information given in this publication. The Oklahoma Ornithological Society and Oklahoma Bird Records Committee web site, http://www.okbirds.org/, includes ordering information for the Date Guide to the Occurrences of Birds in Oklahoma, information on documenting significant records, documentation forms, instructions, and a searchable database for Oklahoma bird migration information. Birders are cordially invited to join the Oklahoma Ornithological Society. Happy birding! Pat Velte pvelte AT cox.net Oklahoma City, OK Any errors in this monthly migration message are my responsibility and are unintentional. Please message me off the list with any/all corrections, etc Subject: FW: eBird Report - Boehler Seeps Preserve , 8/30/08 From: Doug Wood <DWood AT SE.EDU> Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 07:43:37 -0500 Bit belated, but did a run to Boehler Seeps in Atoka County with Jona Tucker, Bill Carter, Mike Duggan, and Michael Hauver. Birds slow, butterflies decent. DW -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org [mailto:do-not-reply AT ebird.org] Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 3:50 PM To: Doug Wood Subject: eBird Report - Boehler Seeps Preserve , 8/30/08 Location: Boehler Seeps Preserve Observation date: 8/30/08 Notes: 95 degrees, very high humidity Number of species: 25 Black Vulture 2 Turkey Vulture 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 8 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 White-eyed Vireo 12 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 4 Fish Crow 2 Carolina Chickadee 10 Tufted Titmouse 20 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 9 Bewick's Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 10 Northern Parula 2 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 8 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Mute Swan at Lake Hefner From: hanenhark <hanenhark AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 15:58:23 -0500 The swan is alive and doing very well. We ran into people that have seen her here for months. We did see people feeding her too. I am a bit of a worrier though........... about her surviving with so many dogs and fishermen around. She is so tame as Jan and others have noted. And she goes from people group to people group checking out everyone.... and probably looking for food....but we saw her foraging in the water edge grasses and on the bottom of the lake too. So that is good. I live very close to that restaurant John mentioned, so will give them a call. I got a bunch of photos of her along with a Little Blue and some picturesque poses of various Egrets in the trees. It was a nice afternoon out there with a good friend, Lisa Bewley! (Mike B. wish you were here.) Jane Cunningham ----- Original Message ----- From: John Shackford To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 2:22 PM Subject: Re: Gwenever the Mute Swan I wonder if the Mute Swan at Lake Hefner is the one that was on Cedar Lake for at least the last year or two. Cedar Lake is just south of the NW Expressway and about 1/6 mile west of N. McArthur. This makes the swan at Lake Hefner only about a short mile from Cedar Lake. The swan on Cedar Lake, I assumed, was placed there as an attraction for customers at the restaurant on the East side of Cedar Lake (just south of the expressway). Unfortunately I can't remember the restaurant's name. If the swan is still alive at Lake Hefner, it might be worth checking with the "Cedar Lake" restaurant to see if theirs is missing. John Shackford In a message dated 8/30/2008 2:53:52 PM Central Daylight Time, OKGreenjays AT AOL.COM writes: August 30, Saturday Could not find any shore birds at Hefner Lake today around 10:00. But, I did find a mute swan. I parked my car and watched her eat in the water. She is so beautiful. She reminded me of Gwenever. Finally, she came up to my car and started hitting the car window. She wanted to be fed. She is way to friendly to remain alive for long at Hefner Lake. She is not afraid of cars or people. On her right foot part of the web is gone. I feel she is a pet or has been fed by humans. I plan on calling Wildcare. But, I feel with all the traffic and people at Hefner Lake this Labor Day weekend Gwenever will be harmed or killed. Is there someone that could safely removed her from the lake? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. Subject: Sequoyah NWR/Kerr beach From: Sandy Berger <fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:33:10 -0700 Did a quick morning run to Sequoyah NWR and Kerr Lock and Dam. Ran into Craig Heflebower. He was heading in to turn on the pump. They are pumping water out of Sally Jones for shorebird habitat. There is some mud now and there was a smattering of shorebirds. If we get huge quantities of Gustav rain, I don't know that the mud flats will last very long. Besides migrant terns and shorebirds, the best migrant was an Olive-sided Flycatcher. There were quite a few immature orioles about. No warblers. Of course it was pretty hot. I didn't want to move about much myself. Craig is retiring after 23 years at Sequoyah. He told me there will be a new biologist starting soon and some other new hires. Kerr beach produced Black Terns, Forsters Terns and a few Ring-billed Gulls. The only cows I saw were in fields where they belonged. Sandy B. FS, AR Subject: Re: Gwenever the Mute Swan From: John Shackford <Johnsshack AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 15:22:17 EDT I wonder if the Mute Swan at Lake Hefner is the one that was on Cedar Lake for at least the last year or two. Cedar Lake is just south of the NW Expressway and about 1/6 mile west of N. McArthur. This makes the swan at Lake Hefner only about a short mile from Cedar Lake. The swan on Cedar Lake, I assumed, was placed there as an attraction for customers at the restaurant on the East side of Cedar Lake (just south of the expressway). Unfortunately I can't remember the restaurant's name. If the swan is still alive at Lake Hefner, it might be worth checking with the "Cedar Lake" restaurant to see if theirs is missing. John Shackford In a message dated 8/30/2008 2:53:52 PM Central Daylight Time, OKGreenjays AT AOL.COM writes: August 30, Saturday Could not find any shore birds at Hefner Lake today around 10:00. But, I did find a mute swan. I parked my car and watched her eat in the water. She is so beautiful. She reminded me of Gwenever. Finally, she came up to my car and started hitting the car window. She wanted to be fed. She is way to friendly to remain alive for long at Hefner Lake. She is not afraid of cars or people. On her right foot part of the web is gone. I feel she is a pet or has been fed by humans. I plan on calling Wildcare. But, I feel with all the traffic and people at Hefner Lake this Labor Day weekend Gwenever will be harmed or killed. Is there someone that could safely removed her from the lake? **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) Subject: Re: Hurricanes and Birds From: Sandy Berger <fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:17:48 -0700 I recently joined FLbirds to see what kind of birds blew in with Fay. It's been quite interesting. A lot of the birds you mentioned were seen. Terns, phalaropes, and so on. Yesterday a man saw thousands of Black Terns heading east along the coast of the Florida panhandle. He's observed that before when a hurricane was approaching west of Florida. They were heading away from Gustav. Today an observer had 23 Frigatebirds fly over and another saw 70 Swallow-tailed Kites. I've never even seen one Swallow-tailed. Very interesting to me is the species of songbirds being reported. Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers and so on. I just never stopped to think about which way they move to migrate. Hasn't there been Frigatebirds over Oklahoma before? That would be an amazing sight to see. Sandy B. FS, AR --- On Mon, 9/1/08, Robert Fisher wrote: > From: Robert Fisher > Subject: Re: Hurricanes and Birds > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Date: Monday, September 1, 2008, 11:33 AM > When I lived on the east coast in the fifties and sixties, I > chased several hurricanes to Long Island, NY from my home in > Connecticut, trying to see tropical strays. Most of them > fizzled out into something less than a hurricane before they > reached Long Island, but with P.A. Buckley (whom some of you > probably know) I managed to get into the eye of hurricane > Donna when she came ashore at Jones Beach, L.I. in 1960. > > Paul's father was a NYC police lieutenant, and he got > permission for us to park our cars inside a brick enclosure > where the state police parked their vehicles, after which we > walked to one of the large brick concession stand buildings > overlooking the beach to watch the storm. The parking lot > behind the concessions stand building was at a lower > elevation, and the storm surge flooded it with water, > inundating autos parked therein. Paul and I were both > wearing bathing trunks under our rain parkas, so we joined > several men who were trying to rescue the cars. We were up > to our thighs in water, pushing cars to drier areas, when > the eye of the storm came over. > > The storm may have been disintegrating because we did not > see the bright sunlight supposed to exist in the eye of a > hurricane, but the air did become completely calm. Almost > immediately, two Red-necked Phalaropes (then called > "Northern Phalaropes") in basic plumage landed in > the water and began to swim around only a few feet from us. > Then an immature Pomaraine Jaeger flew directly overhead. > > My binoculars were of a type that fogged up easily, so I > had left them in my car. While I was getting them, Paul went > to the concession building and saw an immature Sooty Tern > fly by. As I returned, I noticed that a larger empty parking > lot on the landward side of the highway that runs the length > of Jones Beach, was covered with roosting terns, gulls and > Black Skimmers. Paul and I looked them over and found an > adult Sabine's Gull among them, a life bird for both of > us. > > The terns included many Royals, then a rare bird as far > north as Long Island, lots of Forsters, then a fall migrant > in small numbers, and skimmers, then a breeder only in > small numbers. During the next two days, others reported > several Leach's Storm-petrels, a Magnificent > Frigatebird, a Gray Kingbird and several Sandwich Terns > (then called "Cabot's Tern), all accidentals, on > Long Island. > > Apparently the terns and skimmers had been picked up by the > storm farther south and carried to Long Island in its eye, > where they put down and roosted as soon as it made land. The > storm had interrupted the migration of sea migrants like the > phalaropes, jaeger and Sabine's Gull, and brought them > ashore. > > Will Gustav send birds to Oklahoma? Perhaps. Most of the > stray birds it brings ashore won't make it that far. But > one or two really good ones may show up. Keep your eyes > open! > > > Bob Fisher > Independence, Missouri > bobgfisher AT comcast.net Subject: Tulsa Area From: Terry Mitchell <terry AT PECOT.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 14:00:28 -0500 Monday morning at Oxley I had a Wilsons Warbler, 1-Least Flycatcher and 1-Acadian Flycatcher. At Lake Yahola I had a Caspian Tern. I spent a couple of days over the weekend at Black Mesa. The birding was fairly slow, some of the things I saw were, 1-Swainsons Thrush, 5-Lesser Goldfinchs, 2-Roufous Crowned Sparrows, 3-Says Phoebes, 4-Cassins Kingbirds,2-Common Ravens, 1-Black headed Grosebeak, lots of Black Chinned Hummers and 1-Selaphorus Hummer at Kenton. The whole panhandle area is very green from recent rains. The Black Mesa area had 6" in a weeks time the park ranger told me. He said before the rains everything was brown as they hadn't had any rain in many months. Terry. Subject: Re: Hurricanes and Birds From: Robert Fisher <bobgfisher AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 11:33:28 -0500 When I lived on the east coast in the fifties and sixties, I chased several hurricanes to Long Island, NY from my home in Connecticut, trying to see tropical strays. Most of them fizzled out into something less than a hurricane before they reached Long Island, but with P.A. Buckley (whom some of you probably know) I managed to get into the eye of hurricane Donna when she came ashore at Jones Beach, L.I. in 1960. Paul's father was a NYC police lieutenant, and he got permission for us to park our cars inside a brick enclosure where the state police parked their vehicles, after which we walked to one of the large brick concession stand buildings overlooking the beach to watch the storm. The parking lot behind the concessions stand building was at a lower elevation, and the storm surge flooded it with water, inundating autos parked therein. Paul and I were both wearing bathing trunks under our rain parkas, so we joined several men who were trying to rescue the cars. We were up to our thighs in water, pushing cars to drier areas, when the eye of the storm came over. The storm may have been disintegrating because we did not see the bright sunlight supposed to exist in the eye of a hurricane, but the air did become completely calm. Almost immediately, two Red-necked Phalaropes (then called "Northern Phalaropes") in basic plumage landed in the water and began to swim around only a few feet from us. Then an immature Pomaraine Jaeger flew directly overhead. My binoculars were of a type that fogged up easily, so I had left them in my car. While I was getting them, Paul went to the concession building and saw an immature Sooty Tern fly by. As I returned, I noticed that a larger empty parking lot on the landward side of the highway that runs the length of Jones Beach, was covered with roosting terns, gulls and Black Skimmers. Paul and I looked them over and found an adult Sabine's Gull among them, a life bird for both of us. The terns included many Royals, then a rare bird as far north as Long Island, lots of Forsters, then a fall migrant in small numbers, and skimmers, then a breeder only in small numbers. During the next two days, others reported several Leach's Storm-petrels, a Magnificent Frigatebird, a Gray Kingbird and several Sandwich Terns (then called "Cabot's Tern), all accidentals, on Long Island. Apparently the terns and skimmers had been picked up by the storm farther south and carried to Long Island in its eye, where they put down and roosted as soon as it made land. The storm had interrupted the migration of sea migrants like the phalaropes, jaeger and Sabine's Gull, and brought them ashore. Will Gustav send birds to Oklahoma? Perhaps. Most of the stray birds it brings ashore won't make it that far. But one or two really good ones may show up. Keep your eyes open! Bob Fisher Independence, Missouri bobgfisher AT comcast.net Subject: Hurricanes and Birds From: John Kennington <johnkennington AT COX.NET> Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 08:50:01 -0500 I just came across this article describing how birds survive hurricanes - http://www.birding.com/hurricanes.asp Here is the most interesting tidbit. It never occurred to me that birds would get caught in the eye of the storm: Some birds are picked up by the storm system and carried long distances. They become trapped in the calm eye by the towering, fierce storms. The eye of the storm, in effect, becomes a bird cage until the hurricane begins to fizzle and birds can escape. It is the eye of the storm that displaces birds, not the strong winds. John Kennington Bixby, OK johnkennington AT cox.net Subject: Red Slough today From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:10:40 -0500 I gave a tour of Red Slough to 12 members & friends of the Panhandle Bird Club (Amarillo, Texas) today. Here are the more notable species we found: Neotropic Cormorant - 1 Anhinga - lots! Least Bittern - 5 (heard only) Tricolored Heron - 4 Black-crowned Night-Heron - 5 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - 1 White Ibis - 7 Roseate Spoonbill - 2 Wood Stork - 70+ King Rail - 2 (heard only) Purple Gallinule - 1 juvenile Common Moorhen - 6 Black-necked Stilt - 2 Solitary Sandpiper - 1 Greater Yellowlegs - 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper - 1 Least Sandpiper - 3 Least Tern - 3 Brown-headed Nuthatch - 3 (Tiak Work Center near Haworth) David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder