If you look carefully you can see one of the worms in the second pic - top right area...

I have noticed that. However both my red and bur oaks have expanded and flattened already.. I guess this little guy is late..

And what of the worms?

Possibly oak sawfly larvae. They are very common on white oaks but will infest other oak species as well.

transplant shock? I would never dig a tree out of the ground and then plant that had leaves on it if it was deciduous. Always wait until the leaves have fallen. Late fall or winter. IMO

Quercus albus (white oak) are difficult to transplant. Some trees are some tree aren't.

Eric I transplanted in April. I live in Canada. In april, trees here are as dormant as a bear in the middle of winter... the tree was not even close to budding when I pulled out out of the ground.... we had overnight temps in the 20s here even into MAy

it's looking better today... i also sprayed with BT...

My white oaks always seem to leaf out later than the burs, reds, northern pins, etc. that I grow. As noted already, white oaks generally don't handle transplanting as well as other oaks. I wouldn't expect your leaves to get that big this year.

I've always heard that you shouldn't dig/transplant oaks until they start breaking bud. That they need their full root system to start waking up in the spring. But then again, aren't the Oregon nurseries digging them in December? Or maybe that's just for larger trees perhaps?

The "droop" always makes me hear, "hey, I think your trees need water," numerous times a spring.

With regards to transplanting issue in white oaks, wouldn't size be an important factor? My little tree is about 30" give or take. Is it easier and more successful to transplant a small tree? I've always read that it is...so hopefully my little Alba makes it!

I'll take a pic in a few weeks or months to track its progress...

thanks for the input.