Date: 6/26/26 3:55 pm From: Bryan Reynolds <nature_photo_man...> Subject: Recent (and not so recent) Oklahoma birds
All,
I've been remiss in updating the group with my Oklahoma bird photography, but after a great trip to Black Mesa, I thought it was time. First, I wanted to share the images I got for the first half of 2026. I've done several outings, both in my local area (Cleveland County) and a few trips to the Broken Bow/Idabel area. Most of the local coverage is of common birds, but I always try to get behavior (feeding, preening, flying, landing, etc.) and not just the standard static shots. In this batch, highlights include a singing Bell's Vireo, White Ibis, Cattle Egret in flight with nesting material, Neotropic Cormorant (both in flight and some head shots), Painted Bunting, my best shots to date of Eastern Meadowlarks, and more. Here's the album: Recent Oklahoma Birds, Feb-Jun 2026 | Flickr<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanereynolds/albums/72177720334386135/__;!!GNU8KkXDZlD12Q!_f-WE0LV6QMu1QAfxj2Mo0laZil5sE1ivBukRZQibD5OQkQRrHlQSkSF922nYWJPP-AtlkVbwWrnC4NSTJK0sR0cvJ8_Y7o$ [flickr[.]com]>
Last week, I did a trip to Black Mesa. I did have some target wildflowers, but I also wanted to get in some general photography and ended up getting some nice birds. On the way to Black Mesa, I stopped at Canton Lake. Here's my list:
Wild Turkey (one was vigorously shaking off dust after dust bath)
Eastern Kingbird (Canton Lake)
Ferruginous Hawk nest with two chicks (I lucked out with this. I had no idea about this nest and noticed it as I was driving just west of Guymon. Luckily, there was a farmer very near to the nest and he was out working on a combine. So, I stopped and asked permission to drive closer to the nest for photos and he said no problem. I didn't realize the two birds I saw from the road were chicks and I didn't want to linger, so I fired off some photos and then drove away.)
Horned Lark, lifer
Western Meadowlark (a few nice ones perched up on yucca stalks and singing)
Lark Sparrow
Burrowing Owl (Photo-lifer. I saw several and got one near a burrow and another on a yucca stalk)
Cassin's Sparrow, lifer
Red-shafted Northern Flicker, lifer (This one was in the crotch of a tree that apparently had a little pool of water and it was dipping in and drinking)
Orchard Oriole, photo-lifer
Western Kingbird
Scaled Quail, lifer (I think I lucked out here. I was parked and working the Western Kingbird when I noticed movement in the tall grasses. It was two Scaled Quail scurrying through and I shot a lot of frames while trying to get them in focus in the deep grass. Luckly, I had a few clear shots and remarkably, they briefly paused in the shade of my vehicle where I then had some clean shots.)
