April 14 - Harper & Woodward Counties, Oklahoma

I woke to the alarm at 5 a.m. on a mostly clear 31º morning, went down to eat breakfast at the motel.  This was the final day for the Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival ‘core’ trips.  Our group left in a van for the full-day field trip devoted to the hot spots of Harper and Woodward Counties in northwestern Oklahoma, with Terry Mitchell leading.

Another day, another bus rid

Our first stop was at the Fort Supply Wildlife Management Area, where we walked about a quarter-mile to a windmill,

and returned to the van.  At the WMAs in Oklahoma, everyone needs a “Conservation Passport”, which costs $26 for the year, or $15 for a 3-day permit.

The ‘exciting’ bird sighting for this stop was when we flushed a pair of Bobwhite quail.  Unfortunately, only a few folks got decent views of the birds.  The Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) has been declining throughout its native range for decades.  This decline is especially in the Rolling Plains ecoregion of Texas and western Oklahoma, which was once regarded for its productive bobwhite habitat.  Over the past few decades, much of the focus has been on the effects of habitat loss or degradation due to changes in agriculture practices, disease, or variable weather patterns on Northern Bobwhite populations; however, Northern Bobwhite populations continue to decline.  Sadly, I missed getting a photo of the quail, but got a fuzzy shot of a Gnatcatcher in the early morning sun . . .

Doing His Morning Dance

We continued to the Fort Supply Reservoir, where we walked along the road to the campground, drove a bit, and walked through another campground.  We heard from Jimmy Woodard that there had been a Townsend's Solitaire seen here, but we ‘dipped’ on finding it.  Coming back toward town, Janet Anderson-Ray’s sharp eye spotted a Roadrunner perched in a dead-top ‘cedar’.

At the Cooper Wildlife Management Area, we walked out onto the prairie to listen for Cassin’s Sparrows, without luck.  I did see a Clay-colored Sparrow here that was my ‘first-of-the-year’.  This area is a nice stretch of prairie.

We got to Boiling Springs State Park at noon, and took our box lunch there.

Several of us walked from the Headquarters and springs, around the lake and back along the river trail.

It had warmed up to about 65º, and the woods were fairly quiet as regarded the birds, although there are always things to see.

Terry got his lens on something interesting . . .

There were Morels here

The park has a gazebo around the springs, and a sign explaining the geology of the area and why there is a Springs here.

There is also a sign warning about the many arthropods that will likely attach to you as you enjoy the park.

Ticks and Mites Are Not Insects . . .

But, we saw 53 species today, and shared some time with some pretty good people.  I went to supper with Larry and Jan, where we ate at Hector y Amigos in downtown Woodward.  I had the ‘super’ fajitas, but Larry paid, so I left a $20 tip for our waitress Abby, who is a high school freshman getting straight A’s.  Larry said they had better food at Ramiro’s the other night, but that place was packed and we decided to try Hector’s, which was perfectly adequate.

Fort Supply Wildlife Mgmt. Area eBird Checklist is Here

Fort Supply Reservoir eBird Checklist is Here

Cooper Wildlife Mgmt. Area eBird Checklist is Here

Boiling Springs State Park eBird Checklist is Here