about

Here I will post my ramblings about the birds that I watch on my trips and such. I want to focus on the more personal aspect of birding, so I'm excited to have a place to talk freely about it. I won't have an organized way of posting these, It will just update as I go.

The side bar has my most recent sighting and some fun info (and the home button for those of you who get lost!). Working on an organisational system. maybe a catalogue of posts on the side if you wanted to search for a specific bird? LMK if you have any ideas...

4 August, 2024

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

This is the first of my original photography that has made its way to this blog! I am quite proud of this moment because it just looks so nice! Perfect lighting to see the peachy pink hues of their underbelly. I was inspired to take this picture on a whim: while I was picking up some food after my shift at the hospital, I noticed it sitting on a wire very close to some parking sopts. So, I oulled over and took some shots before driving home. As I was oulling out of the lot, I noticed seven scissortails all sitting on the same wire! I have no idea how I missed a whole flock of them lol! They looked very beautiful in my reirview mirror.

Because I had never seen them in groups before (I usually see them solo - or maybe in pairs) I looked up if these birds flock. Apparently these guys form flocks when migrating south for winter! DUH! because its still so hot out, it almost slipped my mind that there is a huge migration happening right about now! I think I'll try to walk around some more so I can see some different species. I know a lot of birds travel through Oklahoma to get to the tropical areas. Maybe I'll try my hand at some more photography ;)

September 05, 2024

Painted Bunting

I will finally reflect on my tumultuous relationship with this very beautiful birdie. Ever since I downloaded the Merlin birding app, one of my goals was to see this bird. To me, it looks as it if doesn't belong in the Oklahoma reigon at all! Though I appreciate the beauty of all birds - even the boring grey ones - it was so refreshing when on one of my hikes in 100+ degree weather, I finally saw this beautiful bird. I was very lucky to see one as they come here in the summers only, and head south by fall. As I have mentioned on here before, it can sometimes be hard to discern the brilliant colors of these birds in certain types of lighting, I found the red to be the easiest to see.

The first time I saw this bird I was tracking its call for around an hour - following it as it flicked through the trees. I eventually got close enough (and a good enough angle) to positively identify it as a female painted bunting. Females are fully green, which is why I had such trouble identifying it, and I don't think they make themselves as obvious as males during nesting season. Though I technically did see a painted bunting, I wasn't fully satisfied until I saw a male.

It wasn't until late July when I saw a male for the first time. I knew from some online blogs that these birds like to sing visibly from the tops of trees - so theoretically, it would be easy to spot. Their call is very melodic and unforgettable, especially in my mid-summer delirium LOL! On that same trail where I saw the female, I often traipesed the edge of the wooded areas in hopes of catching a glimpse of red, blue, and green. To be totally honest, when I saw it for the first time I only saw the red on the stomach (perhaps a jeuvinile?) and thought it was a scarlet tanager! I am known for being unable to see the darker blues and greens of birds... so take my words with a grain of salt. I was able to observe it for 20 mins while sitting in a patch of grass and eating some (luckily still cold) grapes. I remember that day fondly.

May 21, 2024

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

There's nothing like an energetic little bird to brighten your day. Truly. On an incidental trip to my hometown, after what I will be calling the flooding incident, I happened upon this little hummingbird as it visited my mothers garden and nectar feeder. I haven't seen one of these little guys in a very long time, so it was really refreshing to see it hover for a bit and take my mind off things. I even got to make it some more food later that day! I think he was fueling up for migration because early August is around the time that they start heading south.

The one I saw was male - which are easy to distinguish from the irridescant red throat (obviously), though sometimes its hard to distinguish it if they are flying at a certain angle or are in bad lighting. I know their backs look green in pictures - but I really never see that coloring in real life for most birds. They look more buffy if anything... but then again I do tend to watch at a distance. I believe the one I observed came back multiple times (as opposed to it being different birds) because hummingbirds are very solitary creatures and very territorial - especially around feeders. One more fun fact for you: hummingbird's diet consists of both nectar and small insects, so a natural mosquito repellent is one more reason to attract them to your backyard!

August 13, 2024

Bewick's Wren

Today I decided to take a walk (even in the heat advisory) to the gas station near my house to get a slushie. I prefer the cherry flavor to be honest, but today I got coke because sadly all the other flavors were out of order. On my way back home, I was sad to realize that the only bird-life That was brave enough for the heat were the ever present Mississippi Kites that circle my neighborhood at all hours. Luckily for me, when I got to my door, I saw a shadow of a small bird fly from the bush in front of my house to the tree right by my door! I spent a few minutes combing through the branches with my eyes to see this little creature about a foot from my face! It was none other than a Bewick's Wren!

I realize that this isnt exactly a rare bird, but I have never been able to positively ID this bird before! This time, I was able to get close enough to spot the white eye stripe and get a good look at the the coloring. I have definately seen this bird before though. The eye stripe is what sets it apart from a house wren (which lack it, but are otherwise VERY similar) and I believe that this bird is a little bit smaller and more greyish than a Carolina Wren. It was actually way smaller than I expected. Pictures don't do justice to bird sizes in my opinion, but you can trust that wrens are little bitty birds.

August 08, 2024

Chimney Swift

Some of my favorite bird sightings are ones that I see without specifically going on a trip to find them. The chimney swift I saw when I was working my regular job. I was sitting a patient and took him out to the garden for some fresh air (in 95 degree weather, but they wanted to go - not me) and I look up to see a flock of birds flying waaaay above the hospital I work at. At first I thought it was ravens or starlings, but I heard them chittering in a way I havent heard before. It almost sounded like when a steel wire is under too much weight and snaps. So I record the sound and find out its a flock of chimney swifts!

Though I originally ID'd them by their call, they also have a distinct wing pattern that I could see from hundreds of feet below. It's a very irregular wing beating (maybe when they chirp?) followed by gliding for a long while. It is hard to put into words, but it was utterly distinct. Apparently these birds don't perch but hang on cliffs (and chimneys lol) like bats! their mouth resembles a nightjar to me, I bet if you look it up theyre related somehow.