Blog #5. Oklahoma!

    Hudsonian Godwits 

6-10 May 2019. After central Texas I moved to Jet, Oklahoma, site of the Great Salt Plains State Park and the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. 

    Hudsonian Godwits 

I camped in the adorable little state park and birded around the edges of the massive wildlife refuge. Because of spring flooding, some areas were not accessible. Most of the salt plains were under water at this time.

    American Avocets

Authorities in both reserves were very helpful and cordial, making my stay in this strange ecosystem most productive.

A few miles east of Jet, as I drove in the first day from Texas, I found a flooded field filled with migrant Franklin’s Gulls. These are like smaller and prettier versions of Laughing Gulls, and this time of year they have a lovely pinkish bloom on their front. 

    Franklin's Gulls

I discovered that a flock of Franklin’s Gulls in a wet field was the key to finding Hudsonian Godwits and other interesting shorebirds. I believe the migrating godwits and other shorebirds are attracted by the mass of white birds feeding there.

    Hudsonian Godwits--note the white rump, black tail tip, and back and white in upper wing

This first field boasted 27 Hudsonian Godwits, many in fine spring breeding plumage. These are strangely beautiful birds, with their upcurved bills, black underwings, deep rusty bellies, and powerful and imposing physicality. I was so excited to find these birds in this field I celebrated with a little dance…

    Hudsonian Godwits-the bird in the front is showing its spring colors

Since that first discovery, I have been able to spend quality time with Hudsonian Godwits every one of the last 4 days, in some cases, two different flocks in two separate places on the same day. This is godwit paradise!

    Mississippi Kite

My first night at the Great Salt Plain State Park was one of those Oklahoma nights to remember. 9  hours of thunderstorms, one after another in the night. The storms began at 8 PM and ended at 5 AM. I waited for the golfball-sized hail and twisters and big winds, but just got rain and thunder that night (though my sleep that night was minimal because of the continual crashing sound from the heavens).

     Wilson's Phalarope male

The Sandpiper Trail was the highlight of the Wildlife Refuge, and featured a good array of shorebirds, dominated by Wilson’s Phalaropes and Stilt Sandpipers.

    Badger

My second morning, near the hamlet of Nescatunga, along route 38, I glimpsed a Badger—a life mammal for me. Sadly I was a bit slow with the camera and only got a wild shot….

    White-faced Ibis

There also were many flocks of Cattle Egrets and White-faced Ibis along this rural road.

I also managed to find a pair of Upland Sandpipers and also, the last morning, a pair of Buff-breasted Sandpipers. 

    Upland Sandpipers

I failed to photograph the beautiful Buffies, but was treated to a remarkable aerobatic show by one of these birds, flashing through the sky at high speed, his underwings flashing a silvery-white and breast a plain buff-tan-ochre.

    Whimbrels - a flock of four in a cattle pasture

I also came upon a group of 4 Whimbrels in a pasture, and two American Golden-Plovers in the original stubble field where I found the godwits.

    chicks of the Attwater's Prairie-Chicken

After the salt plains I traveled to Bartlesville and Tulsa in the east of OK, and visited the Sutton Avian Research Center. I was hosted by Dan Reinking, the senior ornithologist there.

    Common Nighthawk

I was able to tour the breeding center to see the Masked Bobwhite and Attwater’s Prairie-Chickens being raised to re-introduce to their former breeding sites in the desert southwest (bobwhite) and coastal prairie of Texas (Attwater’s).

    Bison herd

This morning we birded the Pathfinder Trail in downtown Bartlesville, along the Caney River. This is a lush bottomland forest, much like one finds along the C&O Canal in Maryland. And many of the same birds: Mourning Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush, Prothonotary Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, and Summer Tanager were some of the highlights. After my visit to the Sutton Center the group sent me to see the Tall Grass Prairie Reserve just to the northeast, near the Kansas border (managed by TNC). It has a free-roaming population of Bison and vast expanses of prairie.

    Hudsonian Godwits in flight - notice the striking patterns

But the godwits! In flight are they stunning, with their long pointed wings, black underwings, and strong flight. They are instantly recognizable. The distinctive black tail and white rump are also helpful…

I am now in Kansas (featured in the next blog) and am finding more flocks of Hudsonian Godwits, so all is going as planned!