Date: 8/21/26 4:17 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - August 21
Time Started: 0700
Time Finished: 1437
It was mostly overcast and warm, with a little on and off wind, on the survey today. The clouds kept it from getting too hot. 52 species were found. A few migrant Passerines were around. Black-bellied Whistling Duck numbers are increasing as they start to stage on Pintail and Lotus Lakes. Anhinga and Cattle Egret young are fledging on Pintail Lake now and at least two Neotropic Cormorant nests are active with young. It hasn't rained in a month or more and things are getting vary dry down here. Here is my list for today:
Date: 8/17/26 10:20 am From: Resa Pace <resagrpace...> Subject: Re: Birds and Water
Thanks for the reminder, Jerry. Yesterday, I observed a new Red-bellied
Woodpecker at one of my water bowls. He was not yet fully feathered and
had trouble reaching the water. I had left it low in a big bowl on
purpose, afraid of making it too deep. I wanted big birds to be able to
bathe, but be safe. Later, I put in a couple of bricks.
BTW, the birds favorite water dish is the very expensive Yeti bowl I got my
dog (me) for a Christmas present. For some reason they love that bowl.
Canine visitors also prefer it.
Next, there was a new female Cardinal drinking from the low spots in my
flagstone path. Her mother would visit the bird feeder and then fly
straight to her to feed her whatever she had gathered from the feeder. A
very rewarding morning!
Resa Pace
On Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 10:39 AM <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...>
wrote:
> During this extreme heat bird lovers need to remember to provide water for
> the birds for drinking and bathing. In our hectic lifestyles, this is one
> important habitat element that may not come to mind. Birds need water every
> day of the year
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> During this extreme heat bird lovers need to remember to provide water for
> the birds for drinking and bathing. In our hectic lifestyles, this is one
> important habitat element that may not come to mind. Birds need water every
> day of the year for drinking and bathing. In my surveys over multiple
> states, only one birdbath in 100 had water. Are you the one percent that
> always has water available? It helps to have water placed in a shady
> location with perches close by so birds can access and wet birds can escape
> predators. If such a location in not possible, at least make sure your
> sources contain water all of the time.
> Most of my birds are relatively quiet now. This makes it more difficult
> for me to know what species are still in my yard. The Carolina Wrens,
> Tufted Titmouse, Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers, and
> Northern Cardinals are still pretty vocal. The calls of the Summer
> Tanagers, Blue-gray gnatcatchers, Red-eyed Vireo, Great-crested
> Flycatchers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos and others are now infrequent. My four
> waters are in the backyard where I can see and monitor the birds and water
> availability at all times. Birds also come to the sprinkler when I am
> watering the hummingbird and pollinator flowers. Do your birdbaths have
> water? It is critical for their survival.
> Another reminder, it is not too early to start preparing for Fall and
> Winter habitat needs. Skip mowing and let the seed heads develop for Fall
> and Winter feeding. Be working on making sure your brush piles are well
> developed to protect the birds in winter weather and provide another
> foraging substrate.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
Date: 8/16/26 9:04 am From: Devin Bosler <devinbosler...> Subject: early Olive-sided Flycatcher - Martin Park NC, Oklahoma Co.
Hi OKBIRDS, The slow trickle of early southbound landbird migrants was highlighted by a relatively early FOF Olive-sided Flycatcher at Martin Park NC this morning, Sunday, 16 August. Apparently one of the earliest-ever documented fall transientZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart External Email ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
Hi OKBIRDS,
The slow trickle of early southbound landbird migrants was highlighted by a relatively early FOF Olive-sided Flycatcher at Martin Park NC this morning, Sunday, 16 August. Apparently one of the earliest-ever documented fall transient OSFL for the OKC area based on eBird data. The only other passage migrants detected were Northern Yellow Warbler, an adult Chipping Sparrow, and Baltimore Oriole.
Date: 8/14/26 3:12 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - Aug. 14
Start Time: 0640
Stop Time: 1326
The survey started off clear, warm and calm but soon turned hot and windy. 55 species were found. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are starting to stage early at Red Slough this year with most being on Lotus and Pintail Lakes. Huge numbers of vultures appeared to be migrating as they were in huge groups very high up and appeared to be moving southwest. A lot were too far away to I.D. to exact species but most appeared to be Turkey Vultures. I have seen them do this in the late summer several times before. No storks or spoonbills yet. Here is my list for today:
Date: 8/5/26 10:08 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - August 5
Start Time: 0724
Stop Time: 1424
The morning started off clear, warm and calm on the bird survey today but turned partly cloudy, hot, and a little windy in the afternoon. 56 species were found. Best highlight today was an early American Redstart. Here is my list for today:
Black-bellied Whistling Duck - 6
Wood Duck - 3
Pied-billed Grebe – 7
Neotropic Cormorant - 16 (3 sitting on nests.)
Anhinga - 17
Great-blue Heron - 3
Great Egret - 6
Snowy Egret - 6
Little-blue Heron - 9
Cattle Egret - 25
Green Heron - 5
White Ibis - 5
Black Vulture - 16
Turkey Vulture – 6
Mississippi Kite - 77
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
Purple Gallinule - 61
Common Gallinule - 40
American Coot – 3
Mourning Dove - 7
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 7
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Acadian Flycatcher - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Great-crested Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 1
White-eyed Vireo- 9
Yellow-throated Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
American Crow - 4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3
Cliff Swallow - 4
Barn Swallow - 12
Carolina Chickadee - 4
Tufted Titmouse - 9
Carolina Wren - 12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
Gray Catbird - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1 (female/imm. bird; new early date for Fall migration.)
Date: 8/5/26 6:05 pm From: Devin Bosler <devinbosler...> Subject: 3 Black-necked Stilts, Marbled Godwit, etc. - Lake Hefner, Oklahoma Co.
Hi OKBIRDS, Nice showing of shorebirds and larids at Prairie Dog Pt. this evening, Wednesday, 5 Aug. Highlights being 3 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 8 Am. Avocets, lone Marbled Godwit, among several other species of shorebirds. Also, another migrantZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart External Email ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
Hi OKBIRDS,
Nice showing of shorebirds and larids at Prairie Dog Pt. this evening, Wednesday, 5 Aug. Highlights being 3 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 8 Am. Avocets, lone Marbled Godwit, among several other species of shorebirds. Also, another migrant influx of Least (30) and Black Terns (35). First of fall juvenile Ring-billed Gull and 2 continuing LAUGHING GULLS. First significant pulse of 18 Blue-winged Teal as well. It’s getting better…
I had a Least Flycatcher seen along the creek at Yukon Park. Also a juvenile Yellow crowned Night Heron in the trees. Hal Yocum
On Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 07:17:42 PM CDT, Devin Bosler <devinbosler...> wrote:
Hi OKBIRDS, A basic adult and fresh juv. LAUGHING GULL are currently roosting on recently-exposed sandbar off Prairie Dog Pt. at Lake Hefner in n. OKC. Joining them were the first 4 southbound alternate adult Franklin’s Gulls and an influx ofZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart External Email  ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEndHi OKBIRDS,
A basic adult and fresh juv. LAUGHING GULL are currently roosting on recently-exposed sandbar off Prairie Dog Pt. at Lake Hefner in n. OKC. Joining them were the first 4 southbound alternate adult Franklin’s Gulls and an influx of 60+ Ring-billed Gulls. The lake level continues to drop exposing lots of shoreline, mudflats, and sandbars. Hopefully the shorebirding gets more interesting soon.
Hi OKBIRDS, A basic adult and fresh juv. LAUGHING GULL are currently roosting on recently-exposed sandbar off Prairie Dog Pt. at Lake Hefner in n. OKC. Joining them were the first 4 southbound alternate adult Franklin’s Gulls and an influx ofZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart External Email ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
Hi OKBIRDS,
A basic adult and fresh juv. LAUGHING GULL are currently roosting on recently-exposed sandbar off Prairie Dog Pt. at Lake Hefner in n. OKC. Joining them were the first 4 southbound alternate adult Franklin’s Gulls and an influx of 60+ Ring-billed Gulls. The lake level continues to drop exposing lots of shoreline, mudflats, and sandbars. Hopefully the shorebirding gets more interesting soon.
Date: 8/2/26 3:02 pm From: Devin Bosler <devinbosler...> Subject: Red Crossbill - Arcadia Lake, Oklahoma Co.
Hi OKBIRDS, This morning, Sunday, 2 August, I had a productive birding outing at Arcadia Conservation Education Area on south side of Arcadia Lake in Edmond. The highlight was a vocal flyover RED CROSSBILL near the education training bldg. aroundZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart External Email ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
Hi OKBIRDS,
This morning, Sunday, 2 August, I had a productive birding outing at Arcadia Conservation Education Area on south side of Arcadia Lake in Edmond. The highlight was a vocal flyover RED CROSSBILL near the education training bldg. around 8:45am. It was fairly low and going S-N. It’s been an interesting summer for RECR movements across the central and western U.S., likely dispersing far and wide in response to widespread wildfires across their core ranges. Although not necessarily chaseable, it could be a sign of more to come in the following days or weeks. Keep your ears open for their distinct jip-jip calls in flight. There was also a nice push of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers this morning. Multiple Black-and-white Warblers and Northern Parulas still singing as well.
Below are the Arrival and Departure lists for August.
Â
ARRIVALS
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Green-winged Teal
|
August 26 - ALL
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Sora
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August 15 - ALL
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Black-bellied Plover
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August 2 - ALL
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American Golden-Plover
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August 28 - NW, SW, C, SC, NE, SE
|
|
Wilson's Snipe
|
August 21 - ALL
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Red-necked Phalarope
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August 28 - ALL
|
|
California Gull
|
August 11 - PAN, NW, C, SC, NE
|
|
Common Tern
|
August 18 - NW, C, SC, NE
|
|
American Bittern
|
August 25 - ALL
|
|
Osprey
|
August 15 - ALL
|
|
Northern Harrier
|
August 24 - SW, C, SC, SE
|
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Olive-sided Flycatcher
|
August 18 - ALL
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Western Wood-Pewee
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August 16 - PAN Cimarron Co only
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Alder Flycatcher
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August 4 - C, SC, NE, SE
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Hammond's Flycatcher
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August 28 - PAN Rare in Cimarron Co only
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Dusky Flycatcher
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August 27 - Rare in Cimarron Co only
|
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Cassin's Vireo
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August 25 - PAN *rare in Cimarron Co only
|
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Tree Swallow
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August 1 - SW, C
|
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White-breasted Nuthatch
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August 30 - rare in Cimarron county only
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Clay-colored Sparrow
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August 18 - PAN
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Brewer's Sparrow
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August 25 - PAN *Cimarron co only
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Brewer's Blackbird
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August 27 - PAN
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American Redstart
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August 21 - ALL
|
|
Black-headed Grosbeak
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August 21 - PAN
|
|
Black-throated Green Warbler
|
August 13 - ALL
|
|
Canada Warbler
|
August 28 - C, SC, NE, SE
|
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Lazuli Bunting
|
August 18 -PAN
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MacGillivray's Warbler
|
August 20 - PAN
|
|
Mourning Warbler
|
August 25 - C, SC, NE, SE
|
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Northern Waterthrush
|
August 25 - AL
|
|
Virginia's Warbler
|
August 15 - PAN
|
Â
DEPARTURES
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Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
|
August 26 - NW, SW, C, SC
|
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Western Kingbird
|
August 23 - NW, SW, C, SC, NE, SE - All counties except Delaware, Cherokee and Adair in NE, and east to Pittsburg, Atoka and western Choctaw cos. In SE
|
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Wood Thrush
|
August 28 - SW, C, SC, NE, SE * rare in Caddo and Comanche cos only in SW
|
|
Bachman's Sparrow
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August 31 - NE, SE *rare in Osage, Creek, Okmulgee and Delaware cos only in NE; rare in Atoka, Pushmataha and McCurtain cos only in SE
|
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Louisiana Waterthrush
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August 23 - NW, SW, C, SC, NE, SE *Major, Dewey and Blaine cos only in NW; and Caddo and Comanche cos only in SW
|
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Blue-winged Warbler
|
August 8 - NE
|
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Prairie Warbler
|
August 20 - NE, SE
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Scarlet Tanager
|
August 6 - NE, SE
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Worm-eating Warbler
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August 25 - NE, SE
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| | |
The Date Guide 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.
Date: 7/29/26 6:42 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - July 29
It was mostly cloudy and warm with a light breeze on the survey today. 51 species were found. Best highlight today was an adult Tricolored Heron in unit 15. Shorebirds are starting to migrate through. Most Passerines have stopped singing. Mainly just cicadas singing now. Here is my list for today:
Black-bellied Whistling Duck - 9 adults (also two broods of young.)
Wood Duck - 25
Ring-necked Duck - 1 male
Pied-billed Grebe – 5 (one sitting on nest.)
Neotropic Cormorant - 11 (3 sitting on nests.)
Anhinga - 12 adults (several sitting on nests & several nests with young.)
Great-blue Heron - 8
Great Egret - 12
Snowy Egret - 44
Little-blue Heron - 16
Tricolored Heron - 1 (adult in unit 15.)
Cattle Egret - 120
Green Heron - 17
Yellow-crowned Night Heron - 3
White Ibis - 18
Black Vulture - 4
Turkey Vulture – 17
Mississippi Kite - 4
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
Purple Gallinule - 135 (Two sitting on nests with newly hatched chicks. Numerous new broods of young.)
Common Gallinule - 93 (one sitting on nest. Several new broods of young.)
Date: 7/23/26 9:42 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - July 23
It was mostly overcast, windy and warm on the bird survey today. 49 species were found. Best finds today were a Cave Swallow and a Least Tern. Here is my list for today:
