The bird survey today started off overcast, cold and windy, with heavy fog, turning partly cloudy, & milder in the afternoon. 51 species were found. Of note is the continuing presence of Common Gallinules. Duck numbers were up overall. Rusty Blackbirds have finally showed up. Here is my list for today:
Date: 12/9/25 11:15 am From: Bryan Reynolds <nature_photo_man...> Subject: My top 50 bird photos
All,
I appreciate all of the compliments and comments about my photography posts, both on this listserve, and privately. Some have asked about techniques, locations, and whether I publish or not (yes, I do). I'm happy to discuss anything, but I won't add the email to the group unless I get your permission.
Date: 12/7/25 12:53 pm From: Shirley Maas <000000b508ae481a-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Lake Thunderbird SP - 3 December
Thanks , BryanHope to get to OK for Christmas and see Midwest birds.
Don MaasMesa,AZMaricopa Country
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Sunday, December 7, 2025, 1:26 PM, Marta <harrismarta8...> wrote:
#yiv5482795031 #yiv5482795031pfptBannervxahjm7 {display:block !important;visibility:visible !important;opacity:1 !important;background-color:#d04b4c !important;max-width:none !important;max-height:none !important;}#yiv5482795031 .yiv5482795031pfptPrimaryButtonvxahjm7:hover, #yiv5482795031 .yiv5482795031pfptPrimaryButtonvxahjm7:focus {background-color:#e9797a !important;}#yiv5482795031 .yiv5482795031pfptPrimaryButtonvxahjm7:active {background-color:#d89d9d !important;}#yiv5482795031 html:root, #yiv5482795031 html:root>body {display:block !important;visibility:visible !important;opacity:1 !important;}Bryan, your photos are stunning. Thanks for sharing the album; it added to my enjoyment on this cloudy, gloomy day. Suzy Harris Bartlesville Virus-free. www. avg. com On Sat, Dec 6, 2025 at 10: 56 AM Bryan Reynolds <nature_photo_man@ hotmail. com>ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart External Email ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEndBryan, your photos are stunning. Thanks for sharing the album; it added to my enjoyment on this cloudy, gloomy day.
Suzy HarrisBartlesville
| | Virus-free.www.avg.com |
On Sat, Dec 6, 2025 at 10:56 AM Bryan Reynolds <nature_photo_man...> wrote:
All, I was able to get out on Wednesday for a few hours of photography at Lake Thunderbird SP. There was a lot of nice activity with many of the common birds and I got photos of 13 species. At one point, I was near a tangled clump of understoryZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart External Email ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEndAll,
I was able to get out on Wednesday for a few hours of photography at Lake Thunderbird SP. There was a lot of nice activity with many of the common birds and I got photos of 13 species. At one point, I was near a tangled clump of understory and several species were rustling around and foraging deep within the tangle. I tried to be patient and wait for them to move into spots where I could actually get focus on them, almost like shooting through a tunnel of branches/vines, and I'm happy with the results. I like how the photos show a more natural behavior compared to the 'bird-on-a-stick" shots. I made a small album of the day's take: Recent central Oklahoma birds - Lake Thunderbird State Park - 3 Dec 2025 | Flickr
Enjoy,Bryan
Bryan E. ReynoldsPhotographer/Writer/Consultant/Speaker
My nature and wildlife photography portfolio
Date: 12/6/25 8:56 am From: Bryan Reynolds <nature_photo_man...> Subject: Lake Thunderbird SP - 3 December
All,
I was able to get out on Wednesday for a few hours of photography at Lake Thunderbird SP. There was a lot of nice activity with many of the common birds and I got photos of 13 species. At one point, I was near a tangled clump of understory and several species were rustling around and foraging deep within the tangle. I tried to be patient and wait for them to move into spots where I could actually get focus on them, almost like shooting through a tunnel of branches/vines, and I'm happy with the results. I like how the photos show a more natural behavior compared to the 'bird-on-a-stick" shots. I made a small album of the day's take: Recent central Oklahoma birds - Lake Thunderbird State Park - 3 Dec 2025 | Flickr<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanereynolds/albums/72177720330747668/__;!!GNU8KkXDZlD12Q!9GVnPNfd23jHM57I11GkGCoHPgBR1FAQwNn2BMGQ5zJjDGmANnEMNCSgss6q18ldMikdr0B9fMTDny2bi2POCOJlgotcfbM$ [flickr[.]com]>
It was heavy overcast, foggy, cold, and windy, with some misting rain, on the bird survey today. 48 species were found. Was a miserable day for surveying and not the more pleasant conditions that were forecast. Visibility was very poor and the birds were scarce. Notable sightings today were continuing Common Gallinules and a flock of 16 Purple Finches feeding on Ash Seeds along Red Slough Road. Here is my list for today:
Date: 12/1/25 9:38 am From: Patricia Velte <pvelte...> Subject: December Migration Report
Dear OKBirders,
Below you will find both the Arrival and Departure lists for December.
ARRIVALS
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Long-eared Owl
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December 16 - SW, SC
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American Tree Sparrow
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December 1 - SW
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DEPARTURES
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Franklin's Gull
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December 1 - ALL
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Common Loon
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December 21 - PAN
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Eastern Phoebe
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December 19 - NW
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Say's Phoebe
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December 15 - PAN
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House Wren
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December 15 – C, NE
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Sprague's Pipit
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December 28 - ALL
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White-throated Sparrow
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December 15 - PAN
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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.
It was overcast, cool, and mostly raining, with a light wind, on the bird survey today. 53 species were found. The rain made visibility very difficult when I was trying to count ducks on the reservoirs. As a result, ducks on the far back side of the lakes were not visible so couldn't be counted which is why duck numbers are down. Only the black heads of the Ring-necked Ducks could be seen through the hazy rainfall. The last couple hours of the survey the rain stopped which allowed me to find some Passerines. Highlight of the day was an adult Crested Caracara circling low over a deer carcass along Red Slough road. He landed briefly in a tree but was quickly chased off by 3 crows. Here is my list for today:
Today, 8: 30-9: 45 I had 29 species in spite of the rain. All of the winter sparrows are present. Most are easy to find , but WCSP and FOSP are only present in low numbers. This week the RBNU and PUFI have arrived in low numbers. The ever presentZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart External Email ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
Today, 8:30-9:45 I had 29 species in spite of the rain. All of the winter sparrows are present. Most are easy to find , but WCSP and FOSP are only present in low numbers. This week the RBNU and PUFI have arrived in low numbers. The ever present RSHA now is accompanied by SSHA & COHA & AMKE and some RTHAs. One day the CEDW were all over the place. Just west of the large metal bridge where we offer bird feed is the busiest. If sunny also great for photos. Hal Yocum
It was mostly cloudy and warm, with a little wind, on the survey today. 60 species were found. Still a few whistling ducks and Common Gallinules around. A Neotropic Cormorant was present today on Otter Lake. Purple Fiches were a nice surprise. Here is my list for today:
It was partly cloudy and mild, turning windy in the afternoon, on the bird survey today. 59 species were found. Still a few lingering Common Gallinules and whistling ducks around. Duck numbers are fluctuating. Here is my list for today:
