Hummer Haven UnLtd.: Blog

September musings 9-19-23

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 03:01:07 GMT

It's time to catch up! Leaves are falling, birds are chipping, foraging and bathing. Here are some highlights.

Yellow-bellied Flycatchers have been seen frequently in the thicket and around the bubbler, catching small insects or splash-bathing.

9-6-23 Yellow-billed Cuckoo

A silent Yellow-billed Cuckoo slipped onto this branch one day. In typical fashion, it sat and slowly looked all around before heading to another elm.

9-7-23 Swainson's Thrush

You may remember this post from July: How well do you know the Thrushes?

We've been seeing Swainson's Thrush and the uncommon Veery.

9-7-23 Veery 9-8-23 Veery -brownish 9-8-23 Veery #2

The last two were seen on the same day, 9/8/23. My eBird checklist was flagged, seeing two needed some evidence, so I added the photos. The middle photo shows a brownish bird, the last is more typical of the tawny coloration of the adult plumage. These birds are often seen in dimly lit, wooded locations and it is often challenging to identify them.

9-12-23-2 Veery 1st year 9-13-23 Veery 1st year bird

This is a first year Veery, seen on 9/12/23 and 9/13/23. I searched my guides and apps to find drawings of it in Sibley's. It has the "weak brownish lateral throat stripe, pale gray flanks and bright white belly." The lighter feathering on the wing was also in the drawing. It's always exciting to see something for the first time!

Young Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been busy protecting a patch of flowers or a feeder. The second bird is sipping nectar from Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) near the pond.

This hummingbird first caught my eye because of the bright red feathers on its throat. However, look more closely. This bird has a twisted bill. It had been at the flowers and seemed okay drinking at the feeder. So, I sent this photo and others to my friend, Lanny Chambers, a licensed hummingbird bander since 1999, and asked him for his thoughts. Lanny guessed it might be due to a mandible dislocation that didn't quite heal properly, possibly caused by a window strike or other collision. As long as the bill still keeps the tongue from drying out, the bird should be fine. Lanny had seen a couple of these plus dozens of healed bill fractures in birds he had banded. They were otherwise healthy and seemed to have adapted well. Still, Lanny wanted to check in with a veterinarian colleague about this bird.

Lanny wrote back to say, "I contacted Dr. Lisa Tell, a veterinary professor at UCSD and fellow hummingbird bander. She says "scissor bill" is usually a developmental problem, occurring before hatching, not an injury. She doesn't know if it's a genetic, environmental, or random mutation. So, my guess wasn't a good one. I consider Lisa the world expert on hummingbird health and pathology."

Again, we've seen something new and learned from it! Isn't Nature fascinating? Thanks so much, Lanny!

Now, for the warbler report.

9-7-23 American Redstart 9-12-23 Black-and-white Warbler 9-12-23 Tennessee Warbler

An American Redstart, Black-and-white and Tennessee Warblers are featured first.

9-12-23-2 Bay-breasted Warbler 9-12-23-2 FOS Common Yellowthroat

Bay-breasted Warblers and a Common Yellowthroat have frequented the bubbler.

9-14-23 Chestnut-sided Warbler

9-16-23 Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warblers have been at both the bubbler and the stream bed. The female in the last photo has been coming in for several days to the Rough-leaf Dogwood trees (Cornus drummondii) to grab berries. Another first here is seeing a warbler take berries. I've read that this is common in spring before they take off from Central and South America. Who knew this dogwood could be so important and nutritious to this little bird? Glad we had a bumper crop this year! (Photo is taken through a screen, that's why it's a little fuzzy.)

9-15-23 Black-throated Green Warbler

9-16-23 Black-throated Green Warbler 9-16-23 Black-throated Green Warbler 9-17-23 Black-throated Green Warblers

Black-throated Green Warblers have been active everywhere, splashing, finding insect food and having a nice break to rest and refuel here.

Ovenbirds and Northern Parulas came in yesterday to enjoy the water in this dry spell.

Ah, fall color is upon us, in trees and birds!

Wow, they are so beautifully camouflaged in our Missouri native trees. Do you see the bird in this Sugar Maple?

Yes, Bay-breasted Warbler. To see all the photos since the last post, use the following link.

Birds since 9/1/23

Immatures and Migrants! 9-1-23

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 15:30:09 GMT

A cool front and the Super Blue Moon on 8-30-23 helped to fuel migration!

So, what's up?

Let's begin with this young Barred Owl, on its own one morning, investigating the Bubbler.

Young Barred Owl 8-11-23 Young Barred Owl 8-11-23

Barred Owls are often seen at dawn and dusk. The owlets are curious, alert and very active as they learn about their world! This is true of all the young birds. They need to learn whether on their own or with their brood mates.

These Eastern Bluebirds came together, "Follow the leader!"

8-30-23 Carolina Chickadee 8-30-23 Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadees are just as adventurous!

And, you may recall, it is these two species, the Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse, that the migrants are looking for because they eat the same foods. They are indicator species of good habitat!

8-23-23 Migration! 8-23-23 FOS Magnolia Warbler 8-23-23 FOS Magnolia Warbler

The first warbler of the fall showed up on 8-23-23, a Magnolia Warbler.

8-24-23 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The next morning, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was quickly moving about, looking for caterpillars on several trees. A telltale bit of sticky leaf hangs on its tail.

A first of season ( FOS) female Blackburnian Warbler dropped in on 8-24-23, followed by a Chestnut-sided Warbler.

The Carolina Chickadee wasn't exactly thrilled that the Chestnut-sided was barging in on its Bubbler!

8-25-23 FOS Chestnut-sided Warbler #2

There was a second bird at the Bubble on the large rock.

On 8-25-23, our FOS Bay-breasted Warbler came in. It seemed early for this one, and indeed, it was a day earlier than the earliest state record. So, I documented this bird with the Missouri Birding Society's Bird Records Committee, and wait on their final decision.

I couldn't be absolutely sure of the age/sex of this bird, it is likely to be an adult female or first fall female. Males have more of a buffy tinge on the flanks.

8-25-23 FOS Black-and-white Warbler

Black-and-white Warblers have been seen on two days so far. These may both be first fall males, the females tend to have buffy flanks.

8-27-23 Red-eyed Vireo immature

Red-eyed Vireos have been very active, splash-bathing at the bubbler in between grabbing the white berries of Rough-leaf Dogwood and catching insects. If you look closely, this bird has a brown eye, so it's an immature bird.

8-28-23 FOS Ovenbird

A lone Ovenbird was seen bathing at 7:15 am on 8-28-23. It is also a warbler species.

It was fun to see a first fall Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at the bubbler. The yellow eye-ring is a diagnostic detail on this Empidonax species. I missed getting a good photo of its front, but here is a comparison photo.

8-31-23 BirdCast 8-31-23 BirdCast

WOW! This is the report on 8-31-23, the morning after the Super Blue Moon.

8-24-23 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8-24-23 E. Phoebe with caterpillar

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Eastern Phoebes are still very busy feeding here. See the caterpillar in the Phoebe's bill? They have some time yet before they move on.

8-31-23 Red-eyed Vireo immature 8-31-23 Bay-breasted Warbler 8-31-23 Bay-breasted Warbler

Yesterday morning, I was hopeful that many more migrants would show up. Red-eyed Vireos were here, like the pictured immature bird, along with one Philadelphia Vireo. The only warbler that I caught sight of was this Bay-breasted Warbler at the sump puddle. This one has buffy coloration on the flanks, typical of males.

It was about noon when I heard the signature chatter of a squirrel, warning of a Cooper's Hawk. Good time for a break, I figured, and I had no sooner gotten inside with the camera that I saw the very bird drop in at the Bubbler! It was an immature bird, with its own lessons to learn.

8-31-23 Cooper's Hawk immature

Everybody's gotta eat!

Have a safe, enjoyable Labor Day weekend.

Delights and a discovery 8-21-23

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 02:02:48 GMT

Daylight is waning, but the heat is on!

We've lost an hour and 25 minutes of daylight since the Summer Solstice. But, that hasn't stopped the heat dome that is now over us. This week, the temperatures are hovering at 100 degrees with much higher heat indices. Ugh!

Let's look at some of the bright spots and discoveries.

8-5-23 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8-4-23 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8-11-23 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

So, who owns the place? Right now the hummingbirds are everywhere, chasing each other from the flowers and feeders. Birds are constantly looking in every direction to hold their ground for another sip.

8-5-23 FOS Monarch at Purple Coneflower 8-16-23 Monarch at rest

We've been seeing 1-2 Monarchs in the garden on different days, just males so far. Like the hummers, when there are two, they chase!

I had just finished photographing some flowers when I heard a soft flickering of wings. This moth took shelter outside the screen of the gazebo on a post. Oh, I had not seen this moth here before, a beautiful Banded Tiger Moth. I couldn't find photos of the caterpillar, but check out other photos of open-winged adults at this link:

Banded Tiger Moth

Again this year, we have a white Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis alba) in the garden. This is a naturally occurring variety that self-seeded.

One of the last clusters of Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle was in perfect form. The following morning, an immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird had its nectar for breakfast while I had my own.

Summer fruit! The Rough-leaf Dogwood berries (Cornus drummondii) are still attracting attention from many species of birds. Even two immature American Crows have been in to grab some. The black Elderberries (Sambucus canadensis) are the first fruits from seven plants we installed two years ago. The largest plant had two large flower heads, and this one still has berries. Robins found them quickly!

Three male Northern Flickers were in a small dogwood by the driveway. 'Papa', on the right, was showing the younger ones how to get the berries.

8-13-23 Northern Flicker immature

The younger one flew off to check out the bubbler, but the older one was a quick study! Look at the 'mustache' on the young birds. The bird with berries has a darker one, that's why I think it is just a little further along in getting new plumage.

Another successful nesting pair has been the Red-bellied Woodpeckers. One of their young was working up the trunk of this black oak, and found ants to eat.

8-15-23 Eastern Phoebe immature 8-11-23 Alder/Willow Flycatcher 8-11-23 Alder/Willow Flycatcher

Flycatchers have been very active! The young Great Crested Flycatcher was seen low in this spicebush on a very breezy day. Eastern Phoebes continue to hunt at the bubbler area, splash-bathing, too. The bird in the last two photos was a bit challenging to ID.

Not only are fall warblers confusing, but so is the genus of Empidonax flycatchers. They rarely sing in the fall, and the only way to be certain of some of this group is to hear a chip call. Well, there are two that are almost impossible to tell apart in fall plumage unless they are 'in the hand'. These are the Alder and Willow Flycatchers. They once were lumped as one species. So, after asking two experts and reading up on them, that's how I've marked this one on my year list: Alder/Willow.

Stay cool and safe in this heat wave!

August already! 8-1-23

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:29:21 GMT

August has arrived!

According to my calculations, we have now given up 43 minutes of daylight since the summer solstice.

Summer has peaked!

The Rough-leaf Dogwoods (Cornus drummondii) were covered in white flowers in May, attracting small pollinators. Now, the berries are ripening and birds have really been after them. Thrushes, woodpeckers, catbirds and flycatchers all come in for the bounty.

7-24-23 E. Phoebe immature

Younger birds, like the speckled Eastern Bluebird, have to figure out the best approach, as the ripest berries are out on the furthest tips of the branches. Sometimes they can reach from a branch above. Often, they swoop down and pick them off on the fly. The robins and flycatchers, like the Eastern Phoebe will usually grab and go. We didn't plant these small trees, they were waiting in the seed bank to grow up after we removed all the bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) many years ago. They are an important plant in our woodland, supporting 94 species of Lepidoptera, or moth and butterfly caterpillars, vital food for birds.

7-26-23 E. Phoebe immature

On these hot days, the birds have been taking time to refresh themselves at the Bubbler.

6-22-20 Eastern Phoebe juvenile

One way to tell an immature bird is to look for the gape hinge at the base of the bill, which is usually a lighter color.

7-27-23 Tufted Titmouse

This Tufted Titmouse appears to have the pinkish gape, and it pants as it bathes to cool its body.

7-27-23 Eastern Bluebird

There is usually a mix of birds coming in around noontime. A Mourning Dove, Eastern Bluebird and American Robin find their space. At least for a while. This young bluebird scrambled out of the way until the larger birds finished. Ah, relief!

We've had many young birds around and this immature Great Crested Flycatcher was confirmation of another successful nesting this year.

This is a photo from a few summers ago of an adult Great Crested Flycatcher. They've been nesting here for nearly a decade.

7-27-23 Carolina Chickadee 7-27-23 Tufted Titmouse

Birds are constantly looking for food, and often in this small oak hybrid, they look for insects. This tree was keyed out to be a natural hybrid of a black and chinquapin (or chinkapin) oak.

7-29-23 Mourning Dove 7-29-23 Mourning Doves

This trio of Mourning Doves have been seen together lately. I suspect they are all young birds. The pair on the right hang out together and the larger bird on the left wants to be with them, or perhaps is trying out 'moves' for the next breeding season.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are taking nectar at the few remaining blossoms of the Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and the 'Black and Blue' Salvia.

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is just beginning to open a few blooms, but will be in full swing in another week or so.

7-31-23 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 7-31-23 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The dominant male or 'Flash', is protecting one feeder as best as it can. That's right! I noticed a real uptick in hummingbird numbers on Saturday, 7-29-23. They are right on time! Birds are on the move, and now you know to be ready with freshly filled feeders! It helps to fuel their insect catching ability so they can be ready to cross the Gulf of Mexico.

Check out the Migration Tools at: BirdCast

Click on the map for Upper Midwest and Northeast to check species arrival and departure dates. Fascinating!

"After a wild spring of some intense flights, what will this new season hold for migration? Will the top 10 states for spring, in terms of total birds overflying the state in a season, see the same ranking and name: 1) Missouri, 2) Oklahoma, 3) Kansas, 4) Nebraska, 5) North Dakota, 6) Wisconsin, 7) Minnesota, 8) Texas, 9) South Dakota, and 10) Florida?"

7-30-23 Water lilies (Nymphaea odorata)

Enjoy our water lilies and think cool!

7-13-23 How well do you know the Thrushes?

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:45:03 GMT

1-23-03 Varied Thrush

A rare Varied Thrush was seen at our bubbler back on 1/23/03, only for a few minutes. It was gorgeous! This sighting was just the tenth record for Missouri. This bird convinced me to begin documenting birds here with my photography, and I have never looked back.

1-4-06 Townsend's Solitaire

Another rare thrush for our area, the Townsend's Solitaire was found on the Meramec campus of St. Louis Community College by my friend, Anne McCormack. She first saw it on December 28, 2005, and it was seen by many observers through February 28, 2006. Yes, it stayed for two months. These rare birds will show up sometimes in late fall and winter, arriving on a strong cold front from the northwest.

Most people, even if they're not really bird enthusiasts, will recognize our Eastern Bluebird and American Robin! They are plentiful this year in our yard, successful in raising their young. This is the first time we've had two broods of Eastern Bluebirds.

These are the thrushes that migrate through our area. The first four are related and are in the same genus, Catharus. They are confusing unless one learns their specific ID traits and behaviors. Even then, without a photo it can be tricky to identify them! I've certainly made some mistakes with this bunch. One of them is seen mid-September through April, a rare but possible winter resident. The other three are just arriving as it moves north so timing can help with identification.

The fifth bird is a bit bigger and more strongly marked. It also has the most beautiful song of them all! So, let's take a closer look at these birds.

The Swainson's Thrush is the most common Catharus thrush during migration, typically arriving in late April. The second photo is part of my documentation of the earliest record date of April 10, 2017. They frequent a wide variety of woods, including residential areas. Thrushes love the water and prefer having the place to themselves!

#1 Swainson's Thrush: "Olive-backed thrush", buffy eye-ring, buff cheeks and upper breast. On first spring birds, the eye-ring may be narrow.

5-9-23 Gray-cheeked Thrush

The Gray-cheeked Thrush is an uncommon transient, much less common than the Swainson's Thrush. It is typically not seen until the last week of April in woods and forests, including residential areas. All thrushes eat insects and fruit.

#2 Gray-cheeked Thrush: Dull grayish brown with grayish cheeks and a less conspicuous eye-ring.

5-8-23 Veeries 5-9-23 Veey

5-9-23 Veery, brownish

The Veery is also a thrush. Its song is like its name, a liquid, descending "veer-u, veer-u, veer-u". This is the least common of the thrushes to be seen in our area in the eastern part of Missouri. This year was exceptional in that on a couple days I had three, maybe four Veeries. Usually, I'm lucky to see one. This last photo had me scratching my head and checking the Cornell website to look at more photos. I believe it's a 'brownish' Veery.

Photos of Veeries

In the Fall, the majority of these birds make an overnight flight of the state. This bird visited our bubbler on 9-25-03. In researching for this post, I now realize how rare it was to see one in the Fall!

#3 Veery: The least spotted of the Catharus thrushes, it has a warm cinnamon brown color to the head and back. The spots are often indistinct. It may have a dull whitish eye-ring.

Hermit Thrush 4-29-19

The Hermit Thrush is a winter resident some years. It is very like the Gray-cheeked Thrush except for its distinctive rusty red tail. When perched, it has a habit of cocking its tail and slowly lowering it.

Hermit Thrush auduboni 4-10-16 Hermit Thrush faxoni 4-22-16

There are two groups, differing in plumage and their breeding locations. The Western Mountain Group will nest in trees, whereas the Eastern Group nests on the ground. Usually, the Hermit Thrushes are rare here by late April when the other Catharus thrushes begin to arrive.

#4 Hermit Thrush: Grayish to warm brown with dark spots on the breast, distinctive rusty tail that it cocks when perched, then slowly lowers. An uncommon transient and uncommon winter resident in south and central Missouri, usually moving north by mid-late April.

5-3-22 Wood Thrush 5-3-22 Wood Thrush

#5 Wood Thrush: It has an ethereal, flute-like song that echoes through the woods. This bird is smaller than a robin, and a bit larger than the Catharus thrushes with a rusty head and rusty brown color to its back and wings with dark, rounded spots on the breast. It is a summer breeding resident in mature, relatively continuous woodland and forest areas in Missouri, most common in the eastern Ozarks. It is on the Watch List, and I feel so fortunate whenever I see one.

Provide native habitat and support our beautiful thrushes!

6-22-23 Another report for Spring Migration

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 20:59:55 GMT

5-10-23Screenshot

Birdcast 5-10-23

Look at that spike! It was remarkable, the birds were just held back and then burst upon the scene all at once. It was definitely a strange spring in that regard. Some males dropped by to feed and kept on moving north. Others...well, there is a story here to tell.

There are some warblers that are renowned for their tendency to hide in cover, to skulk about, foraging for insects and to be just plain difficult to see. They are also just plain difficult for me to photograph.

4-27-23 FOY Kentucky Warbler

The common Kentucky Warbler is one of these and it kindly obliged me this year by hopping through the violets and coming out in the open for a brief view.

5-8-23 Common Yellowthroat

Another noted skulker is the Common Yellowthroat. It also found safety in the cover of gooseberry and dewberry brambles, poppies, bluebells and violets. This male was here for several days and got comfortable enough to get into the bubbler to bathe.

5-8-23 Common Yellowthroat 5-8-23 Common Yellowthroat 5-8-23 Common Yellowthroat

It's so fulfilling to be able to show you the eyes of these bright and beautiful birds. It's also rewarding to know that they're finding enough insect food to boost their energy reserves so they can be on their way. Yards with habitat like ours are crucial to the survival and recovery of the populations of these birds.

If you follow this blog, you may remember that there is one species that I've often called my nemesis, the uncommon Mourning Warbler. Every year around Mother's Day, I anticipate its arrival. Some years, no bird arrives. One year, in 2006, it actually got into the bubbler to bathe. Last year, it popped out briefly, surveying the bubbler area.

5-16-22 FOY Mourning Warbler

Well, on Wednesday, 5-10-23 there was a lot of activity with birds around the bubbler. I was enjoying the time until the inevitable man-made machinery made it unbearable for me. I moved inside, though the birds continued coming to the bubbler, their safe place. Keeping an eye on things with the camera nearby, to my surprise, a Mourning Warbler came out of cover, bold as brass!

5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler

Well, knock me over with a feather!! It got out, it got back in, it got in with other birds like the Nashville Warbler and White-throated Sparrow.

5-10-23 Nashville and Mourning Warblers

What a striking specimen!! It was gorgeous!! I mean, I've only waited 17 years for this!!

5-10-23 Mourning and Nashville Warblers

5-10-23 Mourning and Nashville Warblers 5-10-23 Mourning and Nashville Warblers

It certainly gave the American Redstart a look, but kept on bathing. The longer it stayed, the longer it imprinted our location and the bubbler into its genes. How cool is that!!

5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler 5-10-23 Mourning Warbler

There are so many more birds to talk about, but for today, enjoy the Mourning Warbler. I sure did!!!

6-6-23 Finally, out of the woods!

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 22:11:28 GMT

"Life is what happens when you've made other plans."

So many birds, my friends, and I'm still catching up. Finally, I can share the highlights from the first full week of May!

5-3-23 Orange-crowned Warbler 5-4-23 Orange-crowned Warbler

Both of the first two birds are Orange-crowned Warblers. A first spring female is duller blue-gray and the adult has more yellow plumage

5-3-23 Yellow Warbler 5-6-23 Yellow Warbler female

Yellow Warblers are next, male and female.

5-4-23 Northern Parula

A female Northern Parula found a tidbit on the waning bluebells.

4-30-22 Pine Warbler

These photos are of Pine Warblers. The first two photos are of a female, still in late winter/first spring plumage. I had never seen this plumage before and the bird didn't sit still long! The last image is a male, taken last year.

5-4-23 Palm Warbler

The Palm Warbler in the first image was soon joined by the Northern Parula and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

An interesting thing about this spring is that males have been heard, some seen but they have been in a hurry to get to the breeding grounds since they got a late start. As a result, I haven't photographed as many of the males as usual.

5-6-23 Golden-winged Warbler female 5-7-23 Blackpoll Warbler 5-7-23 Black-throated Green Warbler

Next is a female Golden-winged Warbler followed by a Blackpoll in the swampy puddle, and a Black-throated Green Warbler near the bubbler.

5-7-23 Blue-winged Warbler female 5-7-23 Wilson's Warbler

5-7-23 Black-and-white Warbler female

A female Blue-winged Warbler visited the bubbler often. A Wilson's Warbler and a female Black-and-white Warbler were also seen several days.

5-7-23 Common Yellowthroat

A Common Yellowthroat spent quite a bit of time in hiding, but it got more comfortable the longer it stayed around. More images next time.

5-7-23 American Redstart

An American Redstart is often challenging to photograph because it's so dark. It was joined in a splash fest at the bubbler with the female Blue-winged and three Tennessee Warblers.

5-3-23 FOY Scarlet Tanager 5-6-23 Scarlet Tanager female

Scarlet Tanagers are so striking! The male is bright red, the female more yellow-green with darkish wings.

5-6-23 Summer Tanager Red morph female

5-10-21 Summer Tanager female 5-7-23 Summer Tanager 1st spring male

4-30-21 FOY 89 Summer Tanager

Another plumage I had not seen before was this red morph female Summer Tanager in the first image, brownish with patches of red feathering. Typical females are orangey-yellow, like the female from 4-30-21. The young males remind me of Neapolitan sherbet! The plumage transitions to the deep orangey-red of the adult male in the last of this series.

5-4-23 Baltimore Oriole 5-4-23 Baltimore Oriole female 5-7-23 Orchard Oriole female

Orioles! Baltimore male and female are in the first two images, then a female Orchard Oriole is in the third photo.

5-4-23 Wood Thrush

This is the only image I managed to get of a Wood Thrush. I heard the lovely singer several days. More thrushes will be shown next time.

5-3-23 E. Chipmunk

We all need a little cool relief on days like today!

Stay well in this heat, we wait for a significant front to move out the unhealthy air mass!

To see all the photos, begin here:

Birds of May

Meet some of the migrants! 4-30-23

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 19:16:11 GMT

This is a screenshot from BirdCast showing the current migration status for St. Louis County, Missouri as of 4-30-23.

It seems that birds have come in fits and starts, and we're seeing migrants, but not as many species as we've

typically recorded by now. Southerly winds later this week will be a welcome change and help bring in the birds.

4-18-23 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4-18-23 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been regular visitors, note the insect leg poking out of the bird's mouth in the first photo! They love to get in the bubbler.

4-19-23 Eastern Towhee female 4-27-23 E. Towhee female

For the first time, we've seen a female Eastern Towhee get in and bathe, and it's been back on half a dozen days now.

4-15-23 Swamp Sparrow with larvae 4-21-23 Chipping Sparrow 4-24-23 White-throated Sparrow

Sparrows include Swamp, Chipping and White-throated. It seems like everywhere I look I see the White-throated! They are the most numerous right now, singing their plaintive songs all day long.

4-21-23 Swainson's Thrush

A Hermit Thrush is occasionally seen, but Swainson's Thrush now predominate.

4-27-23 Purple Finch female 4-24-23 Indigo Bunting 4-24-23 Rose-breasted Grosbeak foraging

Migrating finches are well-represented. Female Purple Finches, Indigo Buntings and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been here for days.

4-23-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch 4-26-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatches can be seen again through mid-May since it was a good irruption year for this species.

4-22-23 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

They're back! Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been seen at the feeders and checking out the coral trumpet honeysuckle.

4-27-23 Warbling Vireo

Vireos love to splash-bathe, but this is the first time we've seen a Warbling Vireo enjoy this behavior. This bird hit the pond, the bubble and even dive-bombed a Cardinal that was in the basin!

NOW...for the warblers.

4-23-23 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4-29-23 Yellow-rumped Warbler pair

Yellow-rumped have been most numerous, male and female are in the second photo.

4-21-23 Northern Waterthrush 4-21-23 Northern Waterthrush

A Northern Waterthrush found tiny larvae in the algae, as the Swamp Sparrow had done.

4-21-23 Tennessee Warbler 4-23-23 Nashville Warbler 4-24-23 Nashville Warbler

Tennessee and Nashville Warblers typically show up about the same time.

4-28-23 Orange-crowned Warbler 4-28-23 Orange-crowned Warbler 4-27-23 Orange-crowned Warbler

Orange-crowned Warblers have been at the sump puddle and at the bubbler. It makes my day to see one show its crown!

4-28-23 Palm Warbler 4-27-23 Palm Warbler 4-27-23 Palm Warbler 4-29-23 Palm Warbler 4-29-23 Palm Warbler

Palm Warblers are attracted to our cypress tree and to the swampy thicket. There have been a couple of them around.

4-27-23 FOY Kentucky Warbler

My breath caught when I saw this yellow-throated bird climb onto the bubbler rock from the cover of the Virginia creeper and celandine poppies. It slipped back into cover and hopped out onto the little path between the violets!

4-27-23 FOY Kentucky Warbler

KENTUCKY WARBLER!

That, my friends, is the promise of Spring migration!

We just never know what might have dropped in the night before

and will surprise us in the morning.

To view all the images since the last post, begin here:

April Migrants

Mid-April, warm and windy. 4-14-23

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:04:53 GMT

April in Bloom!

So many beautiful natives are blooming now, here are a few.

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) have been feeding bumble bees and offer nectar to butterflies, moths and hummingbirds. Some blooms are decidedly pink, a natural variation in color determined by a higher pH in the soil.

4-11-23 Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

Red Buckeye blossoms (Aesculus pavia) are opening and beckon Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, due to arrive any day!

4-8-23 Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Eastern Redbuds are at their peak, attracting tiny pollinators.

This plant takes many forms, and though not blooming, it pays to be aware of it and give it a wide berth. Do you know it? Poison Ivy! (Toxicodendron radicans) "Leaves of three, let it be!" (Not good for us, however, it does attract insects and provides berries, both food for birds.)

4-2-23 Mining Bee (Andrena sp.)

Tiny native mining bees (Andrena spp.) are ground nesters and pollinators of Blue Violets. I finally took time to watch them go head first down into the flower to gather pollen, then back out quickly and fly to another.

One breezy day, I followed a small Black Swallowtail to where it landed and sheltered out of the wind, on a Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum).

4-1-23 Sharp-shinned Hawk

An immature accipiter came into the woodland on 4/1/23 and stayed on this branch for just over an hour, likely digesting a meal. It gave me time to study it and identify it as a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

4-1-23 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4-1-23 Sharp-shinned Hawk

It is in the same family as the Cooper's Hawk, and this composite photo shows how similar and confusing they can be. The Sharp-shinned are migrating through in April, whereas the Cooper's are year-round residents. A pair has begun a nest in a white pine in an adjacent yard. Birds will need to be on alert now.

4-4-23 Eastern Bluebird 4-10-23 Eastern Bluebird eggs

Eastern Bluebirds have been busy and now have five eggs in their nest. The female takes very quick breaks to come and get a drink while the male watches the nest box.

4-10-23 Carolina Chickadee at nest box

Carolina Chickadees also keep close to their nest box. Soon, they'll be bringing inchworms and tiny moths to feed their young.

We moved box #2 to a different location. There has been interest by another pair of bluebirds and this Downy Woodpecker.

4-10-23 Downy Woodpeckers sparring

This female Downy Woodpecker was not pleased with that male. "Mine!" We have at least two pair of this species around, there's always competition for food and nesting sites.

4-10-23 Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves display affection for each other throughout their courtship period, and they mate for life. They seem very comfortable here.

4-7-23 FOY Ruby-crowned Kinglet

The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the year popped in at the bubbler on 4/7/23. It was a quick look around.

4-13-23 FOY 58 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Just the other day on 4/13/23, our FOY #58 Yellow-rumped Warbler finally showed up at the sump puddle in the swampy thicket. It was not seen again. I've also heard Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Northern Parula singing, but no photo opportunities as yet. Birds are in a big hurry right now! Here's a look at peak migration dates. Global Big Day is Saturday, May 13, 2023. Birds will be moving through for the next six weeks.

April 2023 Cornell Lab Migration Map

Migration Map courtesy Cornell Lab

Our sanctuary is feeding residents and ready to welcome the migrating birds! Is yours?

Thanks to everyone who watched my program in the Partners for Native Landscaping Series.

There are a few in-person events yet on the schedule.

Find a way to get more native plants into your landscapes, help regenerate diversity and get on the map!

I'm On the Map Social Sharing

March, out like a lion? 3-31-23

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 20:13:02 GMT

Tornadoes possible tonight - stay safe everyone!

3-31-23

Last time, you were all left hanging with a puzzle. How did you do?

3-6-23 Carolina Wren feather detail

So, the little details I had noticed were the hearts in the undertail feathers! In the lower left is a new shoot of the Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), which is also what the wren is perched on. Yes...it does favor a snake in a way.

Night Visitors 3-31-23 Night Visitors 3-31-23

The video above shows a few of the critters recorded by our cams during the night.

3-26-23 Clove Currant (Ribes odoratum)

The lovely scent of the Clove Currant (Ribes odoratum) fills the air now.

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are in bud in several places in the garden and woodland.

3-30-23 Bloodroot

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is also in bloom and with winds like today, they won't last long.

3-22-23 Swamp Sparrow 3-22-23 Fox Sparrow 3-22-23 Song Sparrow

A Swamp Sparrow bathes, a Fox Sparrow scratches for seed and a Song Sparrow perches on Spicebush (Lindera benzoin).

3-23-23 Eastern Phoebe 3-23-23 Eastern Phoebe 3-23-23 Eastern Phoebe 3-26-23 Eastern Phoebe 3-30-23 Eastern Phoebe nest

Eastern Phoebes have claimed their spot under the gazebo and the nest is near completion. This pair chased off another to keep the prime location. More habitat is really needed for birds.

3-29-23 Eastern Bluebird nest

The Eastern Bluebird nest looked nearly ready the last time I checked. Both birds have been busy catching insects, and the female may soon be ready to lay eggs.

3-25-23 Carolina Chickadee leaves nest

Carrying feathers is a sure sign that the Carolina Chickadee nest must be nearly ready, too. The joint is hopping with activity!

The last few weeks, I have been busy preparing a program entitled, "Our Garden is for the Birds", to share through the Partners for Native Landscaping Series, hosted by the St. Louis County Library. The webinar was recorded last Tuesday evening and it was very well received. It's heartening to know that so many people want to convert a portion of their yards to native plants. We are all needed to help the birds, bees, butterflies and more! All of these programs in the series are free and open to the public.

To register for remaining programs and more information about upcoming in-person events:

https://partnersfornativelandscaping.stlouisaudubon.org/webinar-series

If you'd like to view my program as well as others in the series, check out this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIcv1-AS-bk

Thanks for watching!

Margy

Spring is here! 3-20-23

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:02:04 GMT

Spring!

Today at 4:24 pm CDT. Officially.

3-1-23 FOY#42 Eastern Phoebe

An Eastern Phoebe arrived earlier than usual, on February 28, picked up by our Haikubox bird call detector. I saw the pair the next day.They went AWOL for a while but returned on March 15. Time will tell if they choose the same nesting spot again.

3-2-23 Carolina Chickadee nest box 3-4-23 Carolina Chickadee

We put up the chickadee nest box on Thursday, March 2 in the afternoon. The next day we had 2.8" of rain which put a damper on activity. But on Saturday morning, March 4, a Carolina Chickadee got pretty excited and began preparations!

Big hugs and thank you's to D.A.W. and L.A.W., two of my favorite comic (and comical) consultants,

for helping with descriptive bird language for the Chickadee video!

3-7-23 First winter Chipping Sparrow 3-7-23 First winter Chipping Sparrow

The first winter Chipping Sparrow has been seen regularly through Monday, March 13. Here it was taking a bit of a nap on a breezy day.

3-9-23 N. Mockingbird

3-10-23 N. Mockingbird

For many of you, a Northern Mockingbird may be a regular in your yard. Here, I'm lucky to have one each year. This bird arrived as FOY #44 on March 8 and has been seen 11 days in a row, a record!

3-18-23 Fox Sparrow Bubbler Bird #126

3-18-23 Fox Sparrow 3-18-23 Fox Sparrow 3-18-23 Fox Sparrow -3 3-18-23 Fox Sparrow -3

Another infrequent winter visitor/migrant is the Fox Sparrow, FOY #46. This year, one to three birds have been around and it was new bubbler bird #126 on St. Patrick's Day. They are often in the leaves, looking for small insects and under the feeders for seed.

3-18-23 Fox Sparrow

Another beautiful sparrow that is quite at home foraging in the leaves is the Swamp Sparrow. This one certainly has great camouflage.

3-12-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3-12-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3-12-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3-12-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch

A Red-breasted Nuthatch is still here, caching food and on this day, it checked out the new bubbler perches, bathed and preened.

3-11-23 Eastern Bluebird 3-11-23 Eastern Bluebird 3-17-23 Eastern Bluebird female

Eastern Bluebirds are seen daily, still visiting the birdbath and window box for a quick tidbit or most often flying down to catch insects in the leaves. They are still checking out every box option, even one with an entrance hole that is not quite their size!

3-17-23 Red-shouldered Hawk

"Pale Male", our resident Red-shouldered Hawk, was in the woodland a couple days ago, hunting hopefully.

Just moments ago, one of the Carolina Chickadees carried moss into the nest box. We are hopeful for a successful breeding season!

3-6-23 Carolina Wren

It has been a busy few weeks of watching webinars on different topics and preparing new programs, so I'm a bit behind schedule. But every day, it's important for each of us to spend some time in Nature, time to look, listen and breathe it in. I saw something in the photo of this Carolina Wren that I'd never noticed before. Can you spot it?

The details of Life are exquisite! Happy Spring!

Signs of an Early Spring? 2-27-23

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:48:46 GMT

Will Spring be Early?

We "Spring Forward" on March 12, 2023 at 2:00 a.m.

The first day of Spring, or the Spring Equinox is Monday, March 20, 2023 at 4:24 p.m. CDT

Signs of spring seem to be all around us. Barred Owls are calling before dawn. Northern Flickers and Mourning Doves have been seen mating. The male White-breasted Nuthatch fed its mate a peanut as a promise to help raise their brood. The dawn chorus has really picked up and birds like this Blue Jay are putting a lot of effort into sprucing up for a mate.

2-15-23 Blue Jay 2-15-23 Blue Jay 2-15-23 Blue Jay 2-15-23 Blue Jay

Now that is a vigorous bather if ever there was one!

Our tree thinning and pruning was completed by Valentine's Day, so it was time to put up the nest box for the Eastern Bluebirds. On Friday, February 17, we had just finished, and as I got to the front door, I turned back to look. Good grief! The female was at the opening and the male was on the roof! I scooted inside to where the camera was ready.

2-17-23 Eastern Bluebird 2-17-23 Eastern Bluebird 2-17-23 Eastern Bluebird female 2-17-23 Eastern Bluebird pair

There was certainly a lot of interest in the nest box! The dominant pair seemed most likely to win.

2-18-23 Beginning of nest

The next morning, Saturday, February 18, I checked and there was the beginning of a nest already. The pair had certainly laid claim to this box.

2-18-23 Eurasian Tree "Squatters"

Eurasian Tree Sparrows (squatters!) came by but didn't stay long. The Eastern Bluebirds were successful nesting here last year, and have been protecting the box. However, we decided it might be time for a second nest box, two per acre is acceptable.

2-19-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch female

For the first time this year, a female Red-breasted Nuthatch came in to the peanut feeder. This bird is very pale compared to the males, with gray feathers on its head. The next photo is a composite to show both sexes.

2-23-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch

The male's head feathers are black and the breast is much rustier.

2-19-23 Song Sparrow Bubbler bird #27 2-24-23 Cooper's hawk immature

This Song Sparrow was Bubbler Bird #27 for the year. The immature Cooper's Hawk joined us at lunchtime one day as (first of year) FOY #40. Happened to catch it eliminating and ready for another meal!

2-24-23 Brown Creeper

The Brown Creeper shows up early and again at mid-day. The Rusty Blackbirds come in small flocks of 4-12 birds, turning over leaves in the swampy wetland area. This habitat in our yard is the biggest draw for these birds, and where they forage for invertebrates. Their camouflage is perfect, wouldn't you agree?

2-22-23 First Winter Chipping Sparrow

The rare first winter Chipping Sparrow is still being seen nearly every day. Its fellow migratory companions won't arrive until the first week of April. For the last ten years, more of this species has overwintered in Missouri, toughing it out here rather than moving to Southern states.

Dan put together another nesting box for the Eastern Bluebirds and it went up Sunday afternoon, February 26. Another pair of birds were investigating it within minutes of us getting back inside. Was this the young female that had fussed about the other pair getting the first one?

2-21-23 Eastern Bluebird female

While the bluebirds wait for the stars to align and nesting season to fully begin, the woodland flowers are waking up.

Celandine poppies, round-leaved ragwort and Virginia bluebells are coming up through the leaves, which protect their crowns on frosty nights.

Soon, it will be be Spring in earnest!

Mid-February 2-14-23

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 13:21:21 GMT

Do check out the link at the end of the post on the upcoming

Partners for Native Landscaping webinar series!

February is a month of contrasts, in temperature and in color.

1-29-23 Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinals are getting brighter and singing more each day. It's time to get ready for Spring!

1-30-23 Song Sparrow

A winter storm brought us a mix of ice and snow. The Song Sparrow comes in on days like that, otherwise it's singing now in yards to the west.

1-30-23 Rusty Blackbird 1-30-23 Red-winged Blackbird foraging

Three different blackbirds foraged in the leaves and under the feeders. The second photo shows a new bird for the year. Can you name all three?

And the answer: Rusty Blackbird, Brown headed Cowbird (female) and Red-winged Blackbird.

2-1-23 American Goldfinch

The icy-dicey weather makes the birds a bit testy. The American Goldfinches would come in and literally hang on the icicles to access the feeder. Newcomers were not always welcome!

2-1-23 Red-bellied Woodpecker female

Cold dry air makes the birds thirsty. The female Red-bellied Woodpecker came for a good, long drink at the bubbler.

2-3-23 American Crows 2-3-23 American Crow

American Crows visited the bubbler for the first time this year on Friday, 2-3-23. They are a bit wary and don't come down often.

2-7-23 Brown Creeper

A Brown Creeper has been here all winter. It always makes my day to see it.

2-8-23 Hairy Woodpecker

The Hairy Woodpecker thoroughly enjoyed a bath on Wednesday 2-8-23, as it was gently raining in the afternoon.

2-8-23 Northern Flicker #2

Northern Flickers do go after suet cakes, it's a fat that helps them make it through cold nights.

Our little rarity, the Chipping Sparrow was seen 8 days straight in January, then not again until 2-6-23. It's still around, sometimes under the feeders but it has been harder to find in the leaves where it has been foraging for insects.

2-8-23 European Starling

Definitely not a native bird, the European Starling is smart and tenacious, as well as colorful. It is an opportunist, taking over feeders every chance it gets.

2-1-23 Eastern Bluebird 2-4-23 Eastern Bluebird female

Our state bird, the Eastern Bluebird has become a mainstay here in our yard again this winter. The nest box will go up very soon, and we just may need a second one!

2-9-23 Eastern Bluebirds 2-9-23 Eastern Bluebirds

On Thursday, 2-9-23 it was windy, with southwest winds gusting up to 40 mph or more. Those conditions make all the birds jumpy and skittish. The bluebirds do come in as a flock and I caught them at this hanging feeder. I still don't know how many there were for sure! Some may be new arrivals, having come in on the winds as short distance migrants. As you can see, not all were able to figure out how to get to the mealworms!

Check out the upcoming Webinar Series March 7 - April 5, 2023

Registration Required

Partners for Native Landscaping

Hope to 'see you' there!

Sightings and a Snow Day!! 1-28-23

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 13:00:41 GMT

Rarities, a Snowstorm and Lots of Birds!

Twenty years ago this week, a Varied Thrush came to the Bubbler on a frigid morning after a 2.5" snowfall. To document this very rare bird, I had to draw it for the Records Committee. It was just the tenth time this species had been documented in Missouri. After the experience, I asked Dan to help me figure out a setup to use so I could photograph birds. Little did I know how that bird would change my life.

10-21-22 First fall Chipping Sparrow

Fast forward to 10-20-21, when a first fall Chipping Sparrow showed up. It was the first time I'd seen a bird of this age and I needed a little help from my friends to be sure of the identification. Typically, these birds move far south for the winter but some do pop up in Missouri after migration.

About three months later, on 1-16-23 again, a first winter Chipping Sparrow was foraging under the feeders. Was it the same bird? It was here for one day.

1-19-23 Hairy Woodpecker

Woodpeckers have been busy finding food in the woods. The Hairy Woodpecker visited the Bubbler and his mate foraged for beetle larvae on the black oak stump.

1-22-23 Downy Woodpecker

The Downy Woodpecker poked around on sticks in the leaves for small insects.

1-19-23 One-footed American Robin

We've had days with American Robins around and this one was missing its right foot.

1-20-23 Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatches continue to eat peanuts or bits of sunflower hearts and cache some away for that day when feeders are too busy!

1-22-23 American Goldfinch 1-18-23 12 American Goldfinches

Some male American Goldfinches are just beginning to get a bit brighter. Both mesh feeders have been busy.

Sunrise was gorgeous on Tuesday, 1-24-23. The forecast was for a Winter Storm with 3-9" of snow possible, beginning late that evening.

Guess what I saw foraging under the feeders again? That first winter Chipping Sparrow had returned after eight days elsewhere.

The snow was heavy, a wet 3" that packed on top of the little tent we had put over the Grab-n-Go table. The snow-laden branches of the rough-leaf dogwood hung gracefully over the deck railing.

1-25-23 Blue Jay 1-25-23 Blue Jay

Birds were a bit hesitant to enter the tent, but hunger overcame their fear of the contraption.

1-25-23 Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbirds came to turn over leaves and drink at the basin.

1-25-23 Eastern Bluebird female

Eastern Bluebirds knew the mealworms and peanut butter bits would be ready for them, and they rested in the dogwood during breaks in the snow.

1-25-23 FOY Song Sparrow

The first Song Sparrow of the year joined the Chipping Sparrow under the feeders. Now, for about five minutes of fun...

Snow Day 1-25-23 Snow Day 1-25-23

Were you able to identify the four species in the last segment? How about Rusty Blackbirds, Mourning Dove, Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles.

The following day, 1-26-23 a very large flock of mixed blackbirds came in. It was predominantly Red-winged with 40 of them in the photo above, Rusty Blackbirds and Common Grackles.

More Red-winged Blackbirds and one Rusty which is walking out of the upper left area.

Our little friend returned yesterday for the fourth consecutive day. I had just photographed it when the next beauty came in.

1-27-23 FOY #35 Purple Finch

Purple Finch!

What will the next storm bring in?

To look up the Varied Thrush or any bird: All About Birds

1-15-23 Winter Birds

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 17:31:08 GMT

Winter Birds!

We're off to a good start this new year with 30 species recorded. Like many of you, we're on a daily feeder watch. Birds need consistent food sources to make it through cold nights. Our feeding stations attract many species and the Grab-n-Go Bar has had a real mix of birds coming to it.

1-2-23 Northern Cardinal leucistic

One of the male Northern Cardinals is partially leucistic with pink feathering on its wings. Cardinals easily adapt to eating safflower along with black oil sunflower seed.

1-5-23 Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbirds have been coming in and perching on the feeders as well.

1-13-23 Five Rusty Blackbirds 1-5-23 Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbirds are seen under the feeders, foraging in the leaves for bits of seed and insects.

1-2-23 Northern Flicker

1-12-23 Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flickers and Hairy Woodpeckers are often seen at this bark butter feeder and the suet feeder at the south feeding station. The ground peanut and lard in both of these provides fat in their diets.

1-12-23 American Goldfinches

American Goldfinches go for fine sunflower hearts and thistle or niger seed when they are not eating seeds from the garden.

1-13-23 Mourning Doves

One day, half the Mourning Doves decided to eat the leftovers at the Grab-n-Go bar!

1-4-23 American Robin

Again, this year we have a male American Robin which chows down on the bark butter bits and mealworms. It will often chase the Eastern Bluebirds from the table.

1-14-23 Blue Jays

This pair of Blue Jays seemed to be in sync in their approach to choosing mealworms.

1-14-23 Northern Flicker female

The female Northern Flicker is not shy about coming in and checking out the spread.

1-14-23 White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are ground feeders but they've become very comfortable feeding on the table.

1-14-23 Red-bellied Woodpecker female

The female Red-bellied Woodpecker also has no qualms about grabbing a quick tidbit.

1-14-23 Carolina Wren

Carolina Wrens are often at the table before the sun comes up, and frequently come back through the day.

1-14-23 Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinals take advantage of protein sources since they eat plenty of seeds.

1-14-23 Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds made it through last winter by coming in to get food here. They know a consistent food source is a good thing!

1-14-23 Carolina Chickadee leucistic

A few days ago, I noticed this Carolina Chickadee with white feathering on its head, another leucistic bird. It is lacking melanin.

1-14-23 Carolina Chickadee

And, this Carolina Chickadee has a deformed mandible, the upper is too long and curved. It is managing to get food but has a hard time cracking seeds open.

1-14-23 Carolina Chickadee

This bird looks like a normal Carolina Chickadee to me, with the nice clean edge to the black bib, slight grayish feathering on the nape and normal bill shape.

1-9-23 Chickadee species

However, this particular bird looks different. The edge of the bib is very ragged looking. Our birdsong detector, the Haikubox has been picking up a Black-capped Chickadee, which will move south in the winter. There's a lot more to this story but that's a tale for another post.

1-14-23 Carolina Chickadee

Birdwatching in Missouri is always interesting!

For the birds...

12-31-22 Shady Oaks Sanctuary Highlights from 2022

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 03:46:19 GMT

This year, we documented 117 species of birds here, including 27 warbler species.

As you scroll through the photos, it helps to be aware of the concern there is for these birds. Here is the scale from the 2016 report to give some perspective. A number in parentheses will be next to the name. Our highest scoring bird is the Golden-winged Warbler(16). It is now a Tipping Point species that has lost half or more of its breeding population since 1970, and on track to lose another half or more in the next 50 years without serious effort to rebuild habitats!

Where to start? Make a New Year's resolution to start a new habitat in your own yard!

Check it out: HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK

Now it's time to see some of the beautiful diversity of birds that our Sanctuary has supported this year.

1-30-22 Common Redpoll RARE

Common Redpoll (7) Rare, irruptive finch species seen in a flock of 5 or more on three days in January for #124 at the Bubbler.

2-02-22 American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow (10) Winter sparrow not seen every year, it was here in February.

3-31-22 Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird (12) Flocks in various sizes were seen all through the winter, into spring and returned again in fall.

4-7-22 Eastern Bluebirds

Eastern Bluebird (7) Numbers declined drastically last winter in rural areas of Missouri but the birds fared a bit better in the suburbs. We fed them through the winter and for the first time, a pair nested successfully and raised five young.

4-27-22 Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker (13) This striking woodpecker forages for food rather than excavating holes to find insects. It favors open park-like woodlands.

5-1-22 Golden-winged Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler (16) It is always a thrill to see this gorgeous species. They are the 'canary in the coal mine' and a prime example of a species that needs our help to provide cover, food, water and places to rest.

Wood Thrush (14) It had been ten years since this songster had come to the Bubbler. So grateful to know it was comfortable there.

5-16-22 FOY Mourning Warbler

Mourning Warbler (12) This is one of many warblers in trouble. It has been a bit of a nemesis for me to photograph, but in May, it briefly came out in the open.

6-30-22 Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrasher (11) This species likely nested in the yard this spring, in or under the Carolina allspice shrubs. Here is one on 6-30-22.

7-5-22 Red-shouldered Hawk Bubbler #125

Red-shouldered Hawk (8) This neighborhood nester was species #125 to visit the Bubbler on 7-5-22.

Tennessee Warbler (9) To my surprise, these two warblers flew down to the Bubbler on 7-25-22. Typically they do not arrive until September. This proved to be a new early Fall record for Missouri!

8-23-22 Barred Owlet

Barred Owlet (7) This youngster was seen on 8-23-22, investigating our woodland.

9-2-22 Eastern Bluebirds

Eastern Bluebirds (7) More fledglings were seen at the Bubbler on 9-2-22.

9-10-22 Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (12) This secretive bird nests in our neighborhood and took a real splashy bath at our sump puddle on 9-10-22. They have been known to eat as many as 100 hairy tent caterpillars in one sitting!

9-4-22 FOS Canada Warbler female

Canada Warbler (14) This female found tiny insects to eat on our 'Shawnee Brave' Bald Cypress.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (11) American Beautyberries (Callicarpa americana) fed this female grosbeak along with many other birds well into December.

10-28-22 FOY #114 Field Sparrow

Field Sparrow (12) For just the second time in 26 years, this bird came to our yard and Bubbler on 10-28-22.

10-28-22 Mourning Dove, juvenile

Mourning Dove (12) This dove is the first immature one I've seen in our yard. It hasn't been out of the nest very long. Yes, this somewhat common species also needs habitat in which to thrive.

11-4-22 Common Grackle with acorn

Common Grackle (9) Often seen in mixed flocks, this is one of the larger blackbirds. Here, it has found an acorn to eat.

Northern Cardinal (5) These finches find cover all year, whether in the shrubs or in the leaves partially buried in the first snow of winter.

12-23-22 Northern Flicker female

Northern Flicker (9) "Cover" for this flicker meant hugging the tree to rest, out of the 45+ mph winds in the 'Bomb Cyclone' of 12-22-22.

Purple Finch (9) On 12-27-22, as temperatures moderated, a male Purple Finch came to the Bubbler, the first male I've documented there.

Plant Natives!

Food, Cover, Water and Places to Rest and Nest = Habitat!

Wishing you all the best in 2023!

December birds 12-15-22

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 02:25:13 GMT

A chorus of different blackbirds came in on Sunday, 12-11-22.

Though we have had Red-winged Blackbirds this year, we had never seen so many before! The scouts must have brought in the

flock of 45-60 birds. Since these are a wetland species, it makes sense that they were attracted to our yard.

12-2-22 Red-winged Blackbird

A Red-winged Blackbird flared its red epaulets, appearing larger in its attempt to keep a Common Grackle off the feeder.

12-11-22 Red-winged Blackbirds

A threesome haggle for the best spot, the bird on the right even grabbed at the upper bird's leg. It's another example of the pecking order!

A male looked perfectly at home perched on the hardy water canna (Thalia dealbata) before bathing near the pond's edge.

12-11-22 Red-winged Blackbird female

A female Red-winged Blackbird has the light eye-line, and beautiful speckled pattern with warm brown feathers on its back.

12-12-22 Red-winged Blackbirds

The flock included a few Common Grackles and European Starlings, but I could only find one grackle in the photo above.

12-11-22 FOS Rusty Blackbird 12-13-22 Rusty Blackbirds

Look closely, these are our FOS Rusty Blackbirds. Three came in with the mix of blackbirds. So similar to the Red-wings, but they have no red patch on the wing. These tend to march along the ground and don't spook and fly up as easily. A good pair of binoculars really helps to pick out details on these different birds. (Check out the helpful link at the end of the blog post.)

The next morning, I had filled the feeders and come back inside when I turned and saw this 12-point buck where I had just been. Then, I saw 'his' doe in the honeysuckle patch in the neighbor's yard. Well, that was close!

12-10-22 American Crow 12-10-22 American Crow

American Crows must have eagle-eyes, No sooner had I put the bark butter mix on this tree, did one come to get it.

12-9-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

The cleanup crew includes woodpeckers and this Red-breasted Nuthatch!

12-3-22 Bird Buffet or Grab-n-Go

Early in the month, we moved a table onto the deck and I set up the 'Grab-n-Go' Bird Buffet. It takes the birds a while to get used to something new, especially the Eastern Bluebirds. This looks different from last year's table with the oak branch and disc for perches. Since they have to come in nearer to the house, I give them a week or so before I start photographing the activity.

12-10-22 Blue Jay

Blue Jays were skittish at first, but quickly got used to the idea of ' Grab-n-Go'! (And we thought finches were piggies!)

12-12-22 Black-capped Chickadee

Chickadees were quick to slip in. This one has been going after the black walnut meats in the cracked shells. What a taste treat!

12-12-22 Carolina Wren

Both Carolina Wrens enjoy the bark butter bits and the black walnuts.

12-12-22 Eastern Bluebird

The Eastern Bluebirds are now quite comfortable coming in, taking mealworms and bark butter bits, too.

American Robins, bluebirds, finches and Cedar Waxwings are often in the garden, taking American Beautyberries from the stems or maybe found on the ground.

12-11-22 Cedar Waxwing on cedar perch 12-10-22 Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwings will wait in the cover of trees like this young shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria) before approaching the water at the Bubbler.

The fountain on the deck is visited all through the day by American Robins, American Goldfinches, House Finches, Eastern Bluebirds and more. It's conveniently located between a Rough-leaved Dogwood (Cornus drummondii) for perching and the Grab-n-Go buffet table. We accommodate!

Are you considering new binoculars as a gift for someone, perhaps even yourself?

Check out this review on affordable full size 8x42 binoculars:

Cornell Lab Review of Binoculars

November's swan song 11-30-22

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 03:24:28 GMT

Winter is nigh as November ends.

There are interesting nomadic birds that may yet be seen before the New Year arrives. What are they looking for?

Cover, as these two Northern Cardinals found in the Clove Currant(Ribes odoratum) and the 'Blue Muffin' Viburnum(Viburnum dentatum 'Blue Muffin').

11-17-22 Ten Mourning Doves resting

Cover, as these ten preening and resting Mourning Doves found by blending into the stones and leaves near the Bubbler.

Cover, as this Dark-eyed Junco and nine Eurasian Tree Sparrows have found in the twiggy stems of the Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens). Are there really ten birds in there? See if you can find them all.

Food and Cover, as these American Goldfinches found in the Cliff Goldenrod (Solidago drummondii) planted within the driveway wall.

11-26-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatches are winter residents that continue to find food such as peanuts, sunflower seeds and even some black walnuts. (Dan has shared some after his painstaking efforts to collect and process them.)

In the Winter Finch Forecast, Red-breasted Nuthatches are passerines mentioned along with many finch species.

Winter Finch Forecast 2022-2023

Our FOS female Purple Finch, on the left, found black oil sunflower seeds along with three male House Finches. Let's take a closer look at some comparison photos.

In both of the photos above, the House Finches are on the left and the Purple Finches are on the right. You may get lucky and see Purple Finches at your feeders this winter. It does require careful inspection to tell them apart from the House Finches.

1-30-22 Common Redpolls

Water, this is an irruption year for Common Redpoll like we luckily saw last winter at the Bubbler. They will come to finch feeders, but we only saw them at the water, three mornings in a row.

1-1-21 Pine Siskin on icy branch 1-10-21 16 Pine Siskins 1-15-21 8 Pine Siskins

In the winter of 2020 - 2021, we had Pine Siskins, another irruptive finch. Though our new Haikubox has been detecting them, we have yet to see any. Eyes peeled! Seedeaters like these are always a bit thirsty.

Almost ten years ago, we had Red Crossbills on two days in February, 2013. They have been seen in different parts of Missouri this fall. The crossed bill is distinctive! Like the Common Redpoll, these birds were only seen at the water features. They were finding food in the native trees.

Another possibility that would be a record for myself and birding friends is this bird, an Evening Grosbeak. One was reported at a feeder less than a mile from us in early November. This stocky finch loves black oil sunflower seed, and our tray feeder is ready!

Evening Grosbeak

While we keep a lookout, other winter visitors and the usual suspects keep us interested in their looks and behaviors.

11-27-22 Yellow-bellied Sapscuker

11-28-22 Brown Creeper

An immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker shook water off its feathers after a late bath. A Brown Creeper investigated some rootlets for a larvae or tiny spider.

11-26-22 Carolina Wren 11-26-22 Hairy Woodpecker

A Carolina Wren took a bit of bark butter from the sandwich feeder while a Hairy Woodpecker looked for an approach to the suet.

A Downy Woodpecker made the Red-breasted Nuthatch think twice before entering the peanut feeder area. There is a pecking order!

11-27-22 House Finch with tumor

Of course, the more you look, the more you see, and we do see anomalies. The House Finch has some sort of tumor, and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is leucistic, lacking pigment in its wing feathers.

11-12-22 Eastern Bluebirds 11-13-22 Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds seem to come in around noon to drink, bathe or get tidbits from the window feeders.

Let's hope for a decent winter for all!

Mid-November already! 11-15-22

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 14:00:41 GMT

Fall Color was beautiful but leaves have fallen away after several nights below freezing.

"Blue Muffin", an Arrowood Viburnum cultivar, peaked a few days ago. It was stunning!

On 11-9-22, a female Cloudless Sulphur butterfly sipped nectar from the last blooms of the Black and Blue Salvia.

11-5-22 Barred Owl

One of the resident Barred Owls rested the whole day in the woodland. Around 4:00 pm, Blue Jays and other birds gave it a hard time for waking up!

American Beautyberry is still feeding thrushes like American Robins and Eastern Bluebirds.

11-7-22 Eastern Bluebird 11-7-22 Eastern Bluebird

The bluebirds also spend time hawking insects in the leaves, perching occasionally for a better vantage point.

11-7-22 FOS Hermit Thrush

The first Hermit Thrush of fall was detected early in the morning by the Haikubox and I finally saw it later at the bubbler. It has moved on.

11-10-22 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been seen. A near-adult plumaged male chased the immature bird. (last three photos) That day, there was yet one more that escaped my camera. This bird easily disappears into the oaks.

11-11-22 American Robins

There must have been at least 50 robins here on 11/11/22. They dominated the bubbler and basin for most of the morning.

11-11-22 Cedar Waxwing 11-11-22 Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwings! The second photo shows a young bird with an adult. The robins moved on and these finally had a chance to get to the water.

11-11-22 12 Cedar Waxwings 11-11-22 Cedar Waxwings

11-11-22 Cedar Waxwings 11-11-22 Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwings, they squabble, then settle. What gorgeous birds they are!

11-11-22 Northern Cardinal immature

11-11-22 Blue Jay

Some of the usual suspects are seen regularly. Young Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays approach differently. Blue Jays always squawk!

11-11-22 Song Sparrow

11-11-22 Black-capped Chickadee

A Song Sparrow shows up once in a while but the Chickadees are here every day. Now, which chickadee is it? Black-capped or Carolina? Therein lies the issue. I will take that up another time!

American Goldfinches are often seen in the garden eating purple coneflower seeds, but now I see them wherever Cliff Goldenrod (Solidago drummondii) is planted, under the feeders and along the driveway. Today, I stepped out the back door and six flew up from a patch. They are a Native Keystone perennial, supporting 97 moth and butterfly species. In the fall and winter, seeds feed the birds.

11-11-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

11-11-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler

We seem to have two Red-breasted Nuthatches again for the winter. They are delightful to hear and see every morning. A Yellow-rumped Warbler comes in to drink and take a quick splash bath.

11-11-22 FOS Red-winged Blackbird

Our FOS Red-winged Blackbird showed up on 11/11/22 as well. It was in among 150 or so Common Grackles. That really was a busy day!

11-11-22 Common Grackle

As you can see, birds like this Common Grackle really do get "into" the bubble! The Bubbler is now into its 23rd year of attracting birds.

It is mid-November. Deer are roaming the neighborhood, bucks following does. It is also time to prepare for the holidays.

Candles brighten these darker days in our home. We wish you all a warm and Happy Thanksgiving!

October is "ober!" 10-31-22

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 21:59:57 GMT

Cover, Food and Water

First, let's take a look at how native plants provide essential cover, or safe places to rest, nest and digest.

This is the Bubbler area, with the native smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) in the upper right, surrounding the back of the Bubbler.

From the opposite side, one can see the umbrella effect of the shrubs on the west side. Birds constantly fly into the twiggy cover of these plants. The birds feel safe as they check out the different ways to access the water, then preen and rest.

This Yellow-rumped Warbler flew in there after a bath, preened its feathers and then looked for any tiny insects. This is the kind of activity that I see all the time, so if you have a water feature, you might want to think about adding more native shrubs around it for cover. It helps the birds feel safe! Use this resource to find the best plants recommended by Doug Tallamy and his research, tailored to your zip code.

Native Plant Finder, “Best” = Keystone Plants:

https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/

10-19-22 Eastern Bluebird

The last post showed the blue berries of the Virginia Creeper(Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and that is what the Eastern Bluebird is eating in the first photo. The second bird has picked off the much larger drupe of the Blackhaw(Viburnum prunifolium). Fall fruits help birds fatten up for the winter!

10-20-22 First winter Chipping Sparrow 10-21-22 First fall Chipping Sparrow

A first fall Chipping Sparrow had me scratching my head, consulting the field guides and my birding friends! Was it a rare Clay-colored Sparrow? No, because it has the dark eye line and a grayish rump, they kindly told me. The third photo shows a spring adult bird in breeding plumage. Birds can be tricky to identify!

Now we move on to the Cutest Bird Contest...

10-21-22 Winter Wren 10-21-22 Winter Wren

A diminutive Winter Wren is the first contestant, mousey-brown and perky.

10-28-22 Brown Creeper 10-21-22 Brown Creeper

How about the Brown Creeper, which I call the 'little toasted marshmallow'?

10-27-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

10-21-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

And the Red-breasted Nuthatches make us smile with their 'tiny tin horn' call!

10-19-22 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10-19-22 Ruby-crowned Kinglets

Ruby-crowned Kinglets? They definitely rank high on the humorously cute scale.

10-28-22 Golden-crowned Kinglet 10-24-22 Golden-crowned Kinglet

There's nothing like being flashed by a Golden-crowned Kinglet! I'll leave it up to you to pick a favorite, if you can.

10-28-22 FOY #114 Field Sparrow 10-28-22 FOY #114 Field Sparrow

I was really pleased to see a Field Sparrow come to the bubbler, maybe only the third time I've had one here. This species is in decline, with a Conservation Concern Score of 12, just like the next bird.

10-28-22 Mourning Dove, juvenile 10-29-22 Mourning Doves

Mourning Doves are also having difficulty finding good habitat. The first photo shows a juvenile bird, the first time I've managed to photograph one. Its tail feathers are still growing out, it looks very young. Don't know where they nested, but I'm so glad to see a young bird.

Listening for birds, with a little help...

12-17-13 Bird Monitor 11-29-14 Bird Monitor

In 2013, I purchased a baby monitor, with the microphone mounted inside this PVC pipe that Dan put together and painted brown. It's nice to turn it on and listen to whatever birds might be calling outside, when I'm inside. Then, I step out to look for them and confirm their presence. It keeps me connected to what's happening in our sanctuary.

We recently added another device called a Haikubox to help us know what may be here in our habitat.(It seems to be out of stock again, we were on the waiting list for a while. FYI, we receive no compensation for mentioning this on our website.) Here is an article about it and how it was developed.

Haikubox gives citizen scientists a tool to track birds

After one week, here is the list of birds detected by our Haikubox and how often they were recorded. The app alerts me to new birds, with low, medium or high confidence. Now, I did not see or hear many of these birds such as the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Wild Turkey or Mourning Warbler. It sure has me looking and listening for them, though! When I can confirm a bird that is detected, I do so with the app.

Now, we've always realized that we would never know all the birds that might be here because we have intentionally provided lots of cover (safe places in the form of native plants) for them.

The best part about the Haikubox is that it is working all the time and sending the data directly to the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We love the idea of making this contribution to the data set of "where the birds are", 24/7.

10-26-22 Barred Owl

Barred Owl, resting in cover, quietly

Happy Halloween!

Mid-October update. 10/19/22

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 16:46:59 GMT

Mid-October and a hard freeze with 29.6 degrees on Tuesday, 10-18-22!

And, it was 28.9 degrees this morning - brrr!

Let's look at the latest migrants, which we won't be seeing again until next April.

10-9-22 Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

10-9-22 Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

10-9-22 Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

10-14-22 Nashville Warbler

Nashville Warbler

10-14-22 Orange-crowned Warbler 10-14-22 Orange-crowned Warbler 10-14-22 Orange-crowned Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler, yes the crown is barely visible on this little dull bird, but there.

10-9-22 Tennessee Warbler

Tennessee Warblers have been seen on many days finding tiny insects in the bark of this young American Elm (Ulmus americana).

10-17-22 Orange-crowned Warbler 10-17-22 Orange-crowned Warbler

Another Orange-crowned Warbler had luck finding tiny larvae on the flower heads of Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens).

10-17--22 Yellow-rumped Warbler 10-18-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers will now be around a good part of the winter.

We may yet see a stray late bird of another species but time is running out for them to make it to their winter homes.

How about a focus on two confusing species? Tennessee and Orange-crowned Warblers can be vexing. Take a look.

There are some differences, not often easy to see before they flit away!

The Orange-crowned has a dingy breast with subtle streaking, yellow undertail coverts, and is barely pale below. It is often quite gray.

The Tennessee Warbler has a trace of a wing bar, white under tail coverts and a more conspicuous eyebrow stripe.

Underparts are paler with almost no streaking and an overall greener look. Here they are, together.

Maybe next fall it will be easier!!

10-12-22 Blue-headed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo, always a welcome sight!

10-14-22 Dark-eyed Junco 10-15-22 Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Juncos have arrived!

10-14-22 Common Grackle 10-14-22 Common Grackle 10-14-22 43 Common Grackles

Common Grackles came as twenty, then a hundred. Counted forty-three birds in this screen shot at the bubbler.

10-18-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch female 10-18-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

After not seeing one for five days, two Red-breasted Nuthatches came in on Tuesday, 10-18-22 and went directly to the peanut feeder. Perhaps this is the pair from last winter, returning to Shady Oaks as their winter digs!

10-18-22 Blue Jay after peanut crumbs 10-10-22 Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal, let's not forget the home crowd! They will keep us company now.

Friday, we will celebrate 22 years since the Bubbler first began attracting birds.

Now with 125 species and 2 hybrids documented at this water feature,

we are adding another 'tool' to become better 'citizen scientists'. More on that exciting development next time!

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) provides fatty blue berries for flycatchers,

thrushes, warblers and vireos on their way south, and for overwintering birds, too.

Enjoy the wonder of fall!

Late September, Part Two on 10-8-22

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 20:11:30 GMT

Sunset on Sanibel Island, 12-26-19

Our dear friends in Fort Myers have been on our minds and in our hearts

since Hurricane Ian came ashore on 9-29-22.

The catastrophic destruction of these places we love is heartbreaking to see in photos and videos.

We send our love, courage and strength, and we're with you in spirit every step of the way, as you recover.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

It is Fall now.

Many of the migratory birds have been seen on several days in succession, rotating through in small flocks. They're feeding in the layers of trees, shrubs and ground cover finding insects, seeds, nectar and berries. Ironically, our area is behind in rainfall, so the birds are looking for water. They've been at the dripper baths, stream bed, and bubbler and even taking turns in the sprinkler when we're watering the plants. Here are some of the highlights.

10-2-22 Blackburnian Warbler

10-6-22 Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warblers have been part of these flocks. The first year male has a bit darker eye line and a very yellow throat!

First fall female Blackburnian Warbler is a bit faded looking in comparison. It is on the right of these two female Tennessee Warblers.

10-5-22 Blackburnian Warbler female

In studying the guides, I believe this is an adult female Blackburnian with an orangey tinge to the yellow in the throat. That's an American Goldfinch in the lower right corner.

9-24-22 Ovenbird

An Ovenbird, also a warbler, made full use of the bubbler on the day it came in.

9-25-22 Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warblers have been consistently seen.

Magnolia and Chestnut-sided Warblers were bathing buddies.

Two Magnolia Warblers flank a Tennessee Warble on the bubbler rock.

10-1-22 Magnolia Warbler

This Magnolia Warbler gave a great view of its underside while it perched on Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum).

(Clockwise from left) Black-throated Green, Tennessee and Nashville Warblers decide their next moves.

9-28-22 Northern Parula

A Northern Parula feels most at home at the bubble in back.

Nashville and Tennessee Warblers are often seen traveling together and can be confusing. The Nashville has the white eye rings.

The Tennessee Warbler is the most common of the group, and chums it up here with a Chestnut-sided Warbler in the stream bed.

One of my favorite birds, this first fall female Orange-crowned Warbler is a bit on the dull and dingy side of plumage coloration.

After taking over 100 images, the little bird showed a bit of its often concealed orange crown! And, of course, it's with a female Tennessee Warbler.

Immature Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still being seen occasionally, this one nectared at Black-and-blue Salvia. (Not a native plant but full of nectar for hummers at this point in fall.)

10-4-22 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are often flitting about.

10-5-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

10-2-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatches have been heard and seen, it seems there are two around right now. A pair stayed all last winter, so maybe we'll get lucky again this year.

10-4-22 FOS Summer Tanager 10-7-22 Summer Tanager

Summer Tanagers have enjoyed the dripper bath and the bubbler rock.

10-5-22 Least Flycatcher

9-29-22 Eastern Phoebe

Flycatchers have been active. A late Least Flycatcher, the grayest of the Empid group, and an Eastern Phoebe have been in the swampy thicket finding insects to eat.

9-25-22 Red-eyed Vireo immature

10-6-22 Blue-headed Vireo

Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos love splash-bathing in the bubbler basin and pond.

American Beautyberries (Callicarpa americana) are taken by many species, including a Brown Thrasher, female Rose-breasted Grosbeak and an American Robin.

10-7-22 FOS Brown Creeper 10-7-22 FOS Brown Creeper 10-7-22 FOS Brown Creeper

Our FOS Brown Creeper arrived yesterday, 10-7-22. It was quick to investigate the bubbler area, bathe and then politely left its fecal deposit away from the water. Many of the birds do this! They appreciate clean water!

Have a nice cuppa and enjoy all the photos!

To see all the September birds since 9-23-22, the first full day of fall: September birds

To continue with October birds: October birds

Late September, Part One on 9-30-22

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 22:04:34 GMT

Part One: 9/16-9/23/22

As usual, when the birds really start coming in, I get behind! Here are some highlights from the third week of September.

9-16-22 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

We're still seeing Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, but it seems the males have moved on. The second photo was taken on 9/16/22 and a male was seen the next day. The immature birds investigate everything, bubbler included!

All the birds are looking for food, like this Carolina Chickadee that found a caterpillar on leaves of Virginia Creeper(Parthenocissus quinquefolia).

9-18-22 Swainson's Thrushes 9-20-22 House Wren 9-20-22 American Redstart 9-21-22 Black-throated Green Warbler

Swainson's Thrushes were at the bubbler often one day. A House Wren found a little corner of the basin to drink from and splash in. Perhaps, it felt some protection from that stick overhead? American Redstarts and Black-throated Green Warblers have been seen on numerous days.

9-22-22 Cooper's Hawk immature

On the first full day of Fall, 9/22/22, this immature Cooper's Hawk took in the sights and sounds at the bubbler, ensuring that NO birds would dare come around. It finally left and the brave little birds came back. Five warbler species came in that day.

9-22-22 Magnolia Warbler 9-22-22 Northern Parula 9-22-22 Chestnut-sided Warbler

I missed the American Redstart, but was able to catch the Magnolia, Northern Parula and Chestnut-sided. The last warbler was this FOS female Golden-winged. I have yet to see another, very unusual as this species is reliably seen here. It is our most endangered species, and I can only hope they are finding what they need elsewhere.

9-22-22 Carolina Chickadee

"Hey, birds!"

On Friday, 9/23/22, between 10:37 and 10:46 am, multiple birds of nine warbler species came in along with Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Red-eyed Vireos. They were popping in and out like popcorn!

9-23-22 American Redstart

American Redstart, immature male (really orangey yellow flanks)

Clockwise from top left: FOS Nashville Warbler, two Tennessee Warblers and Chestnut-sided Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler and American Redstart

Bay-breasted and Black-throated Green Warblers

Two Black-throated Green and Bay-breasted Warblers

Bay-breasted Warbler and Northern Parula

Northern Parula at bubble, Magnolia Warbler and House Finch in foreground

Rear to foreground: Bay-breasted, Tennessee, Northern Parula and Black-throated Green Warblers

9-23-22 Red-eyed Vireo immature

Red-eyed Vireo, immature with brown eye

9-23-22 Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler (tail dipped in ink)

And last but not least, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet with insect legs hanging out of its mouth! Gotta love it! This is what it's all about, nourishing the birds with the insect foods they need by attracting the insects with native plants.

Check back in a few days, I hope to have the last week of September highlights added in by then!

Mid-September update 9-16-22

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:14:31 GMT

It has been a bit slower than most falls, yet there are some interesting sightings to share!

9-7-22 Eastern Bluebird 9-7-22 Eastern Bluebird fledglings

Eastern Bluebirds have taken to coming to the dripper baths in the afternoons. Some days, I'll see six or seven of them taking turns.

9-8-22 Magnolia Warbler 9-8-22 Magnolia Warbler 9-8-22 Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warblers have come in several days. One doesn't always get to see the whole bird, but with this species, if one sees the tail and it has this feature, it is considered unique, diagnostic or Dx for Magnolia Warbler.

9-10-22 American Robins

Ahead of a major cool front on 9/10/22, 28 species of birds came into the yard and to the water features. There had to be150 American Robins that day. It was a constant stream of them with three in the basin, and four or five more waiting in the wings at times.

9-10-22 Rose-breasted Grosbeak immature

A young Rose-breasted Grosbeak wanted a turn! It had to beg for a drink from this Northern Flicker, which had displaced the robins for a bit.

9-10-22 Magnolia Warbler

What bird is this? Yes, another Magnolia Warbler was in the mix.

9-10-22 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 9-10-22 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 9-10-22 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 9-10-22 Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Now, we sure don't see this very often! A Yellow-billed Cuckoo slipped down through the canopy to bathe at the sump puddle. This bird had its own 'cuckoo' version of the hokey-pokey! It plopped into a tight spot at the edge, spun a half-turn, splashed a bit, spun again and kept this up for a few minutes before perching to shake off. I only remember a few times that I've seen this species come to water. Remarkable flair, eh?

9-10-22 Red-eyed Vireo

9-10-22 Red-eyed Vireo immature

Red-eyed Vireos were in this mixed flock. The adult has red eyes, the immature bird in the second photo has brown eyes.

9-10-22 Northern Parula female

There were several Northern Parulas, two males and this female. All spent time foraging in the native hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens).

Two FOS Cedar Waxwings came down near the bubbler. The adult left this immature bird to figure out how to get a drink on its own. This happens often with different species. Cardinals, robins, wrens, etc. will drop off the young birds, leaving them for a life lesson. It reminds me of the "Mother's Day Out" programs when our kids were in nursery school! I'm humbled to think the birds seem to feel some trust in the safety of our sanctuary.

A Carolina Chickadee was not happy that a Tennessee Warbler was at 'his' bubbler! Eventually, all three birds got what they needed.

9-13-22 Magnolia Warbler

QUIZ BIRD! (Easy-peasy)

4-1-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

Yesterday, I heard the 'little toy horn' of a Red-breasted Nuthatch! It was another 30 minutes before I saw it, working along a branch of the pond cypress. This photo is one I took in April, but it will have to serve until this little guy comes back again. Hopefully, we'll be seeing them this winter. They always bring a smile!

9-15-22 Eastern Bluebirds 9-15-22 Eastern Bluebirds 9-15-22 Eastern Bluebirds

Yesterday afternoon, the Eastern Bluebirds were back. One did NOT want this male to come near 'his' dripper! So, squabbles happen between the same species, too. There's always something!

The heat is on with temperatures going back up into the upper 90's next week.

When will we see some more migrants, is Fall really here yet?

ALL ABOUT WARBLERS!! 9-7-22

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 00:12:04 GMT

Warblers are moving through! And yes, these are all warblers...

9-7-22 Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

8-30-22 Ovenbird 8-30-22 Ovenbird 8-30-22 Ovenbird

Ovenbird

8-31-22 Wilson's Warbler female 8-31-22 Wilson's Warbler female 9-3-22 Wilson's Warbler female

Wilson's Warbler, female

8-31-22 Magnolia Warbler 8-31-22 Magnolia Warbler

9-5-22 Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

American Redstart

9-2-22 Bay-breasted Warbler female

9-5-22 Bay=breasted Warbler 9-2-22 Bay-breasted Warbler female

9-6-22 Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

9-2-22 Blue-winged Warbler female

9-2-22 Blue-winged Warbler female
9-2-22 Blue-winged Warbler female

Blue-winged Warbler

9-4-22 FOS Canada Warbler female 9-4-22 FOS Canada Warbler female 9-4-22 FOS Canada Warbler female

Canada Warbler, female

Black-and-white Warbler, female

9-6-22 FOS Blackburnian Warbler 9-6-22 FOS Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler, the Firethroat!

Blackburnian Warbler (what a contortionist!) joined by a Chestnut-sided Warbler

Words cannot describe!

To see all the warblers since the last post: Warblers since 8/29/22

9-2-22 Eastern Bluebirds

If you'd like to see all the birds since the last post, including scruffy Eastern Bluebirds: Birds since 8/29/22

May this bring a bit of cheer to you...

8-28-22 Late August musings

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 18:30:58 GMT

8-23-22 Color!

The Songbird and Butterfly Garden is a riot of color in August!

8-23-22 White Cardinal Flower

This summer, there is a White Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis 'alba'). This is not a plant that I purchased, but a naturally occurring strain. It has a touch of pink in it.

In August, 2011, this hummingbird sipped nectar from the flowers of the first one that grew in the garden.The bird may have pollinated the seeds of the plant that is growing right now! Perhaps the seeds have lain dormant, and rain exposed them this year.

8-20-22 Meadow Phlox 8-23-22 Rose Mallow

Meadow Phlox (Phlox paniculata) and Rose Mallows (Hibiscus lasiocarpus) are also in bloom.

A week ago, the first Chestnut-sided Warblers showed up, all first year females.

8-21-22 Least Flycatcher

A Least Flycatcher was also seen perched and fly-catching from a limb in a Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria).

The Chestnut-sided Warblers continued to come into the bubbler area all through the day. There were at least two, maybe five or six.

The next evening, we saw another Monarch in the garden, this time it was a female. So, the following morning, I spent more time looking around the garden. Maybe I'd missed something!

To my surprise, there were two good-sized Monarch caterpillars on the Marsh Milkweeds! Obviously, a female had visited, perhaps 10 days earlier, to lay the eggs. Other insects were also busy in the garden.

In one patch of milkweed, a Praying Mantis was hiding in plain sight.

8-23-22 Native bee on Ironweed

Two native bees were on the Ironweed (Vernonia arkansana).

A skipper species sipped nectar on Eastern Blazingstar (Liatris scariosa).

8-22-22 Walking stick

A walking stick was on the railing as I passed by.

8-23-22 Barred Owlet 8-23-22 Barred Owlet

We were finishing dinner when the birds started fussing. Dan saw the large bird land near the base of the Pond Cypress. All this fuss was for a Barred Owlet! It was our first confirmation of a young bird this year. We'd been hearing the family hootenanny quite often at dusk, at dawn and during the night.

8-28-22 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

As you watch those Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, adult and immature alike, chase each other from feeders and flowers, here are some interesting words to consider that were posted on MOBirds today from Lanny Chambers, licensed hummingbird bander.

"The next week is historically the annual peak for Ruby-throated Hummingbird numbers in Missouri. Bear in mind, this is mainly due to the flow of southward migration, and many of today's birds are not the same individuals you saw yesterday. As for the "4X rule," I think it may be conservative; at my home I almost never see more than two hummers at one time (i.e., in a chase), yet a couple of days ago I banded nine in one afternoon, without a single recapture of a previously-banded bird. So, even yards without hordes of hummingbirds are probably feeding many more individuals than is obvious. A friend and fellow bander in Colorado was feeding 9 gallons of syrup daily last time I talked with him two weeks ago, and expected to reach 12 gallons by Labor Day. A rough rule of thumb is 1,000 birds per gallon per day. Imagine filling 25 30-ounce feeders twice every day!

Keep your feeders clean, and watch for Rufous or other western hummers passing through between now and late December. Some of you will remember the Allen's Hummingbird that visited me on Thanksgiving Day 2008."

8-20-22 Cardinal flower

Thank you, Lanny! Typically, I clean and change the feeders every fourth morning. That schedule in this heat and humidity seems to prevent black mold from starting up around the ports.

Enjoy the birds, more migrants will be showing up soon!

8-21-22 Late summer sightings

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 20:23:42 GMT

What is August without some fun?

8-8-22 Two young raccoons 8-8-22 Two young raccoons

8-8-22 Brown Thrasher 8-8-22 Eastern Wood-Pewee 8-11-22 Blue Jays

A scruffy Brown Thrasher popped into view one morning, Eastern Wood-Pewees are still being seen. Blue Jays are a part of the daily action!

8-12-22 Common Grackle 8-12-22 Common Grackle 8-12-22 Common Grackle eating spider

These young Common Grackles were investigating the pond, one to get water and the second found a spider in that web for its lunch!

8-12-22 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8-15-22 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are busy from dawn until dusk, protecting their patch of flowers or a feeder and checking out the bubbler.

Another migrant arrived on Monday, 8-15-22. It was a young female Baltimore Oriole. The bird was thirsty!

8-15-22 Waved Sphinx Moth

A Waved Sphinx moth (Ceratomia undulosa) flew in while I was photographing that same day. Its host plants are ash, oak, hawthorn and fringe tree. Fully grown caterpillars pupate underground and the adults probably do not feed.

Waved Sphinx Moth

8-20-22 Eastern Blazingstar 8-20-22 Marsh Milkweed

Yesterday morning, the Eastern Blazingstar (Liatris scariosa) was blooming nicely and so was the Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). Still, there was no evidence yet of Monarch caterpillars on the milkweed.

8-20-22 FOY Monarch

A bit later when I checked, there was the first Monarch of the year! It was flying about, sipping nectar and then resting on a coneflower head when I found it again.

8-20-22 Monarch on E. Blazingstar 8-20-22 FOY Monarch on Marsh Milkweed

8-20-22 FOY Monarch on Marsh Milkweed 8-20-22 FOY Monarch on Ironweed

Monarch male and female

It was a nice, fresh looking male as indicated by the thinner veins with the black spots or swollen veins on the hind wings. Last photo shows both sexes for a comparison.

Today has been a busy day with the cool front that came in overnight. I'll save those stories until next time!

8-8-22 Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillars and more

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 21:54:28 GMT

It's August, and daylight is a bit less each day, nearly an hour lost since the Summer Solstice.

However, it seems there is more activity in this condensed time frame.

There is always something going on in a native garden!

7-31-22 Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

We were having breakfast one morning when I noticed the spicebush (Lindera benzoin) near the pond had a folded leaf. Caterpillars! I found quite a few on the different plants in the east beds.

7-30-22 Spicebush Caterpillar leaf tent 7-30-22 Spicebush Caterpillar 7-30-22 Spicebush Caterpillar

Here is a female Spicebush Swallowtail laying eggs in 2020. I've been seeing one around, they're quick about it.

7-26-22 Eastern Wood-Pewee 8-2-22 Eastern Wood-Pewee immature 8-8-22 Eastern Wood-Pewee

Eastern Wood-Pewees have been busy catching flying insects in the woodland and near the pond.

7-31-22 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 7-31-22 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird numbers are picking up.

8-6-22 Northern Cardinals 8-7-22 Northern Cardinal juvenile 8-7-22 Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinals are still feeding their begging young. The two males look a bit worse for the wear as they are losing feathers in summer molt.

7-26-22 Red-bellied Woodpecker juvenile 8-8-22 Red-bellied Woodpecker juvenile

A young Red-bellied Woodpecker has been teasing sunflower hearts out of the feeder with its tongue.

8-8-22 Blue Jay

Dan's weather station has recorded 17.67" of rain since 7-1-22. Our whole yard is basically a rain garden, but this has been really challenging. It has been so hot, birds are still coming in to cool off, bathe and get sips of water. An American Robin and Northern Flicker were in the basin today, and a Blue Jay drank at the bubbler.

7-9-22 Pawpaw Fruit (Asimina triloba)

There are some bright spots. Our little grove of Pawpaws (Asimina triloba) now has one tree with fruit.

8-5-22 Ironweed (Vernonia Arkansan)

Ironweed is blooming, and the hummingbirds have been drinking nectar from the purple blossoms.

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinals) is a favorite of the hummingbirds, too. But look carefully and you'll see a tiny syrphid fly hovering on the right side of the brilliant red spire.

Today, a Tiger Swallowtail was on the Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). But when will we see the officially endangered Monarch?

Take care, stay cool!

Be on the lookout! 7-26-22

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 01:50:06 GMT

First, let's talk about the "Passion Butterfly".

8-21-04 Passiflora incarnata

This is Missouri's native Passion flower, Passiflora incarnata, photographed at Shaw Nature Reserve in August 2004, It's a lovely flowering vine and some of you may have it in your gardens.

Recently, we were visiting family and stayed in a guesthouse on a property in the Central Valley of California. The property is a good size with a garden of herbs and fruiting plants and trees such as raspberries, peaches, plums and apricots. This walkway was covered with a different species of Passion flower vine and it was attracting Gulf Fritillary butterflies, aka the Passion Butterfly.

Gulf Fritillaries July '22 Gulf Fritillaries July '22

The female butterflies lay eggs communally. The video shows a small area of one vine, all three vines were busy with butterfly activity! We had never before seen so many butterflies of one species in one place. We were in awe.

Our grandsons were as fascinated as we were. They easily counted over 25 caterpillars in seconds. Some were very small. Our younger grandson told us he learned about the Monarch and saw the different caterpillar stages but never saw an egg. Challenge accepted! We looked for them.

The closer we looked, the more we found! Eggs are pale yellow when first laid. The tiny caterpillar had eaten its way out of the egg case and had begun to feed on a flower bud. Eggs are laid on every part of the plant, much like the Monarch does with milkweed.

We found caterpillars just forming a chrysalis, some completed and one that was empty.

Morning temperatures were around 55 - 60 degrees and the butterflies rested until the air warmed. Then they were busy nectaring in the garden, on plants like the lavender. One butterfly was found in its final resting place on a table.

This butterfly is rarely seen in the St. Louis area, but my friend, Dennis Bozzay has found them in his garden, twice! Thanks, Dennis for sharing your beautiful photos.

10-14-17 By Dennis Bozzay 10-14-17 By Dennis Bozzay

Two photos by Dennis Bozzay

The first time Dennis recorded one was on 10-14-17. It was finding nectar on Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). This plant is not recommended in areas where it will not die back in the winter because it can harbor a parasite of Monarchs. To find out more about its effects:

Tropical Milkweed - A No-grow

9-5-18 By Dennis Bozzay 9-5-18 By Dennis Bozzay
Two photos by Dennis Bozzay

Dennis' second sighting of a Gulf Fritillary was on 9-5-18. Keep a lookout for this butterfly over the next few months, you may get lucky, and see one, too. Here's more on the species:

Gulf Fritillary

We returned on the hottest day of the year at 101.9 degrees. Monday, 7-25-22 was a very busy day in the woodland. A cool front had pushed through so birds were very active. It was still really dry so birds were constantly at the water.

7-25-22 Northern Parula

A deeply marked male Northern Parula was at the bubbler early. It is a nesting migratory species in Missouri, and we've been seeing them.

7-25-22 American Robin

American Robins were grabbing berries off the Rough-leaf dogwoods (Cornus drummondii). Then, I noticed two small birds at the bubbler. One flew into the hydrangeas for cover and the second bird was in and out.

Tennessee Warblers!? Well, they're a migrant that usually doesn't show up until September. I checked for the earliest date they had been recorded in fall which was "August 9 or 10, 1985" and my sighting was two weeks earlier than that date. So, I filled out my eBird checklist to report it. It was confirmed by Josh Uffman and the Missouri documentation form was then completed. These Tennessee Warblers gave us a new state record.

To see every bird species recorded in Missouri, download this free pdf:

The Status and Distribution of Birds of Missouri

7-25-22 Eastern Bluebird 7-25-22 Eastern Bluebird 7-25-22 Hairy Woodpecker juvenile 7-25-22 Blue Jay

Birds were busy all day long. Eastern Bluebirds, a Gray Catbird and for the first time, a juvenile Hairy Woodpecker came to the bubbler. That's a big bill for that little bird! Young Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are now chasing each other and a Blue Jay was seen eating the fruit of Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium).

Rain!

Last night, the rain came in torrents. Flash flood warnings woke us during the night. Yesterday, the sump puddle was barely 2 feet wide, this morning we had a slowly draining lake. But we're okay and grateful for the rain. It had just let up as I wrote this and our weather station measured 5.65" of rain since midnight. At 3:30 am, the rain rate was 12.5" per hour. Some places in the area had twice as much. A deluge!

We hope you all are safe!

Keep your eyes peeled now for butterflies and migratory birds, many species are on the move.

Mid-July! 7-15-22

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 12:47:48 GMT

Time flies, it's already mid-July!

We've lost 15 minutes of daylight since the Summer Solstice.

7-4-22 Blue Jay

7-8-22 Blue Jays 7-8-22 Blue Jays

Blue Jays have raised a healthy brood. Seven have been coming to the bubbler, chasing each other and the last fledging is still begging.

7-5-22 Northern Parula juvenile male 7-5-22 Northern Parula juvenile male

This is the first young male Northern Parula at the bubbler this year, with a meal! It is one of the smallest warblers, averaging 4.5", about the same as a chickadee and a bit larger than a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which maxes out at 3.5".

7-5-22 Red-shouldered Hawk Bubbler #125

This Red-shouldered Hawk became bubbler bird species #125 on 6-30-22. It is larger than both American Crow and Barred Owl and can be 24" in length with a wingspan of 32"-50". So, it takes the prize for the largest bubbler bird yet. On 7-5-22, it came in shortly after the Northern Parula. The next photo is a composite of both birds to show their size difference.

From the smallest to the largest, the bubbler delivers!

7-5-22 9:04 am Red-shouldered Hawk Bubbler Bird #125 7-5-22 9:05 am Red-shouldered Hawk and juvenile

It is always amazing to watch how quickly birds take to the bubbler. They feel comfortable here and know they can get water on these hot days. The adult has already shown its offspring that this is a safe refuge.

Yesterday morning, I saw the young bird catch a vole to eat on its own!

7-5-22 Eastern Phoebe 7-10-22 Eastern Phoebe 7-10-22 Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebes have been actively catching insects, drinking at the dripper baths and splash-bathing in the stream bed. For the first time, the pair that nested under the gazebo raised two broods.

7-10-22 Eastern Bluebird juveniles

7-10-22 Eastern Bluebird juvenile 7-10-22 Eastern Bluebird 7-10-22 Eastern Bluebird 7-10-22 Eastern Bluebird juveniles 7-10-22 Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds are back for water and food again. There were at least five young ones that came in with this male. It looks like the male is pretty fascinated with the dripping water.

Two ladies walking by waved the other day and told us how much they love our yard. "Don't you have deer? They're eating my hostas!" said one. "Oh, yes, we have deer!" I replied. Day and night, we have deer. No hostas, though they forage on violets, hydrangeas, and one doe even waded into the pond to eat water lilies. Yes, eating water lilies for two.

7-5-22 3:41 am Three Bucks 7-5-22 3:41 am Three Bucks

7-5-22 2:06 pm Doe and fawn 7-5-22 2:06 pm Doe and fawn

We fenced the pond, the water lilies recovered and we had our first bloom a few days ago. Let's face it, we all need a healthy environment, so we're doing our best to live with nature by providing native habitat and spreading the word about the benefits to all of us. Perhaps you just need a nudge to take the plunge? If you missed the Native Plant Tour in June, there's another way to see some inspiring native gardens!

Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) in the Woldum Garden, Certified "Gold" with Bring Conservation Home

Last Saturday, we visited our friends, Dennis and Katherine Woldum to see their lovely garden. They are participating in a relatively new program called St. Louis Open Yards, aka Native Gardens for Charity. Dennis and Katherine learned about the program from Mitch Leachman, co-founder of St. Louis Audubon Society's Bring Conservation Home Program. Mitch is now co-ordinating this new program with assistance from some great volunteers so more native gardens can be seen in their prime. Owners choose their favorite charity and in this case, Dennis and Katherine chose Caring Solutions which offers 24-hour care for adult developmentally disabled in the Metro area. Katherine said, “After the age of 18, there is diminished assistance from Missouri. As the parents or relatives age, it is important to have help in place. They do a wonderful job with the limited resources they have. We are proud to help them.”

If you live in the St. Louis Metro area, check out Open Yards! For a modest fee, you can visit gardens by registering in advance on the website calendar. The homeowners choose the days when their gardens will be open and you pick a time that's available. There are several search Categories, such as shade, rain, bird-focused or pollinator gardens to name a few. Different sized gardens are included. With this opportunity to walk through some beautiful, life-filled gardens, you’ll get lots of ideas on top-performing native plants and design tips as well. Many of these gardens are certified through the Bring Conservation Home Program. Read all about it, sign up for some visual treats and give back to our community at the same time! It's a win-win!

St. Louis Open Yards

It's a steamy Fourth of July 7-4-22

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 02:52:18 GMT

7-4-22 7-4-22

Hope you all had a safe and pleasant Fourth of July!

This tiny Praying Mantis was within the bouquet I had picked from the garden, but it was safely taken to another plant so it could continue preying on small pests. A Praying Mantis is an Insect, in the Order of Mantids.

Praying Mantis

7-3-22 Wheel Bug molting into adult

Yesterday, Dan noticed this critter on the screen. Neither of us knew what it was or what was happening to it. Was it an insect, a spider or a true bug? Spiders have eight legs, and they are Arachnids, a separate class of animals. Boy, it's time to take a class again. "All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs!" So much to keep straight. Looked like six legs on this one at first.

7-3-22 Wheel Bug molting into adult 7-3-22 Wheel Bug molting into adult 7-3-22 Wheel Bug molting into adult

Aha! As this true bug molted from its last nymph stage into an adult, we recognized it as a Wheel Bug. Believe me, the one thing I do know is that they will bite if handled and provoked. An entomologist once told me that a Wheel Bug's bite is worse than a hundred hornet stings. Lesson learned. That experience is not on my bucket list!

10-5-19 Wheel Bug

10-8-21 Wheel Bug

I have had encounters with this true bug which can be impressive at 1 1/2" long. Once, I almost put my hand down on the stone wall before I realized it was there. And, then there was the time it was inside the lens hood of my camera setup. I was able to use a soft broom and help it to fly off. They are the largest true bug, and a beneficial creature because they eat garden pests. We don't use insecticides because we know that these helpful critters are part of our natural world, keeping the ecosystem in balance.

"Live and let live!"

Wheel Bug

6-24-22 Northern Parula female

Birds have been coming to the water features often on these hot days. A young female Northern Parula has visited several times.

6-28-22 Northern Cardinal juvenile

Juvenile Northern Cardinals still have their little dark beaks.

6-24-22 Northern Flicker juvenile #1 6-25-22 Northern Flicker juvenile #1 6-25-22 Northern Flicker juvenile #2

Two young Northern Flickers, both males, usually come in together to forage and learn about their world.

6-28-22 Northern Parula 6-28-22 Northern Parula

An adult Northern Parula seems to prefer the pond for its bathing.

6-25-22 Gray Catbird

This Gray Catbird came out into the open, making all sorts of calls one morning.

6-28-22 American Goldfinch

An American Goldfinch seemed entranced by the dancing sunbeams on the water.

6-30-22 Brown Thrasher

We're getting more frequent views of the Brown Thrashers, though we still haven't seen a young one.

7-1-22 Wood Thrush

On 7-1-22, not a Brown Thrasher but a Wood Thrush was at the bubbler again. This is the only photo I managed, it's the first time I've had one in July. There were several robins trying to bathe and the Wood Thrush couldn't muster the courage to get closer to the basin.

7-1-22 Wood Thrush 7-1-22 Wood Thrush

Here is a 2 minute video of the Wood Thrush which you'll see front and center in the beginning. As you can see, the bird keeps looking at the pond but wisely assesses that it's too deep.

7-1-22 Red-shouldered Hawk 7-1-22 Red-shouldered Hawk immature

Finally, we are seeing the Red-shouldered Hawks come in again. The adult (top) has been in several times and we've also seen the immature one. It's wonderful to know there has been a successful nesting this year. Helping breeding birds and migrants is the goal!

Stay safe, stay cool!

Summer Days now 6-24-22

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 21:22:03 GMT

Quiz answers first!

Thank you all for being patient, hope you had fun and did well!

5-2-22 Orange-crowned Warbler

1. Orange-crowned Warbler

2. Blue-winged Warbler, in front

3. Golden-winged Warbler, in back

4. Magnolia Warbler with "tail dipped in ink" which is diagnostic for this species

5-9-22 Blackburnian Warbler female

5. Blackburnian Warbler, female

5-11-22 Bay-breasted Warbler female

6. Bay-breasted Warbler, female

Now for the latest summer update...

6-10-22 Hairy Woodpeckers 6-12-22 Downy Woodpeckers

Nesters have been busy finding food for their fledglings. A Hairy Woodpecker teaches its young about suet and a Downy Woodpecker feeds hidden insect morsels to its offspring.

American Goldfinches have been eating the seeds of Eastern Beebalm (Monarda bradburiana). It was in full bloom on 5-17-22. By not cutting back the spent blooms, the seeds feed the birds and help to enlarge the patch. This plant has done better here on a dry slope than anywhere else I've tried it. It attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators and also is a host plant to 9 different moth and butterfly species.

6-22-22 House Wren juvenile
6-16-22 Song Sparrow 6-18-22 Gray Catbird

From the young House Wren and Song Sparrow to larger birds like the Gray Catbird, traffic has been constant at our water features.

6-20-22 Northern Parula 6-20-22 Northern Parula 6-21-22 Northern Parula female

Northern Parula warblers have been at the pond and bubbler on several days now. I've heard the male singing the last couple weeks and I think they nest in the neighborhood, possibly high in a neighbor's sycamore. The last few years, they've been coming in for food and water in June.

6-22-22 Brown Thrasher 6-22-22 Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrashers have been seen almost daily, foraging and looking for a drink or bath.

6-22-22 Blue Jay 6-22-22 Blue Jay

6-20-22 American Robin 6-20-22 American Robins

Blue Jays and American Robins love to cool off, even if it means a confrontation to get their way.

6-19-22 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher preening 6-19-22 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher sunning
6-19-22 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher singing

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers have been heard and seen a lot lately. One day, I noticed the female preening and the male apparently taking a dust bath in the garden. It's a behavior we've seen in species like hummingbirds, titmice and flycatchers. The male then flew into another small tree and began singing. The following day, I just caught the female as it bathed in the bubbler.

Interested in Adding Moving Water to your garden? Look at this page:

Simple Ways to Add Moving Water

If you'd like information about Bubbler Maintenance and more, check out this page:

All Water Feature Links

Stay cool...

Let's talk about warblers! 6-13-22

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 19:10:49 GMT

WARBLERS!

It's miserably hot here and over much of the country,

so like many of you, I'm trying to stay cool inside today.

Post-spring migration, we birders tend to feel bereft of 'our' warblers! We can never get enough of them in their breeding splendor. So, how many warblers can one hope to see in spring in our area? There are three references that help determine this, links will open in a new tab.

First, the checklist: Birds of Missouri Checklist

Scroll down to #386 Ovenbird to look at the warbler species. There are 42 species listed, but we sure won't see them all. You can click on each name to see a photo and more information from All About Birds. You can view the Seasonal Status and Abundance Status. This is important to help understand when a bird should be here and whether it's common, accidental or even extinct.

Second, obtain a free download: The Status and Distribution of Birds of Missouri, 2nd Edition

This is the most in-depth, go-to reference on all bird species seen here in our state. It has records of early and late dates, habitats where it is most likely to find certain birds and so much more.

Third, get a free publication from the Missouri Department of Conservation: Enjoying Missouri's Birds

This recently revised booklet, mentioned before, is great to have on hand to check the charts on when and where a bird is most likely to be seen and how rare it may be. You can obtain this free 42-page booklet in several ways. Just go to any of the MDC regional offices or nature centers and ask for it, or you can call or email to have it sent to you. It's a hot item!

Call MDC: 573-751-4115 and ask to be connected with Publications and ask for #W00002

Email MDC: [email protected]

OR, join the Missouri Birding Society and this booklet will come as part of your new member packet! Missouri Birding Society

Here in our Shady Oaks Sanctuary, we have documented 35 species of warblers over 25+ years. Some are identified by song, some by sight, some have been photographed. Even though species may have ancestors that have been here and put our location into their genetic code, there is no guarantee that offspring of that species will show up every year. And that is the pure and simple reason we keep looking, we never know what may drop in with a mixed flock and forage through our layered canopy or drink at the bubbler!

FOY 87 Ovenbird 5-1-19
Ovenbird

Ovenbirds are typically seen every year, though they are not always as cooperative as the bird you see in the photo above.

4-30-22 Yellow Warbler singing

Yellow Warbler

This year was exceptional for Yellow Warblers because we saw at least one on each of 12 different days. It is a common transient.

4-29-22 Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler

Pine Warblers are more often heard in early March as they forage in pines in our neighborhood. This long-tailed warbler was here on several days, 4-29-22 thru 5-1-22 as a northbound migrant. I was surprised to see it then and it is rare at that time but regularly seen in the St. Louis area. I discovered this detail when I checked my copy of The Status and Distribution of Birds of Missouri.

4-29-20 Worm-eating Warbler

Worm-eating Warbler

I enjoyed watching a Worm-eating Warbler on 4-23-22 while it was singing in a Redbud (Cercis canadensis), but I was unable to get on it quickly enough to photograph. The one above was foraging in an American Elm (Ulmus americana) on 4-29-20.

Yellow-breasted Chat

On 7-30-14, a bird that was considered a wood-warbler at the time visited our garden, a Yellow-breasted Chat. Its status in the wood-warbler family was frequently questioned for many reasons. "It had many traits atypical of wood-warblers--large size, eclectic vocal repertoire, behavior and certain anatomical features. In 2017, it was elevated to its own family, Icteriidae." So, I wanted to share this story because with genetics, more is being learned all the time about where birds should be placed in the taxonomic order. So, it is not included in our wood-warbler count.

(Quote paraphrased from Birds of the World, subscription reference through Cornell Laboratory)

Black-throated Blue Warbler on 5-13-05 Black-throated Blue female 9-13-17

Black-throated Blue Warbler

This bird is a rare migrant, especially in spring when it is considered the 'holy grail' of migration here in our area. A male came to the Bubbler on 5-13-05, I could barely catch my breath it was so exciting to see! I called my dear friend, Tina Weyman. Somehow, she understood me during that early morning call when I said, "Buh-buh-buh-Black-throated Buh-buh-Blue!" And, Tina made it here in time to see it, too.

Years later, a female came by in the fall on 9-13-17 and I followed it for a couple hours. This species is rare anytime, maybe 1-2 are seen each year in the eastern part of Missouri. Most springs, this species goes unrecorded in the west.

5-9-22 FOY Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

From the uncommon Bay-breasted Warbler to the rarer species, birders feel the need to see every one each spring. And if we don't see them, we start looking again in late summer with hopes of adding them to our year lists in the fall! Welcome to the obsessive life of birding!

REVIEW AND QUIZ?

To review the warblers of this past spring, begin here: Warblers beginning 4-20-22

All the photos are now in the galleries, so here are a few if you want to quiz yourselves. Answers will be posted next time!

5-2-22 Orange-crowned Warbler

2. In front

3. In back

5-9-22 Blackburnian Warbler female

5-11-22 Bay-breasted Warbler female

Stay cool, stay safe!

Migration wanes, into June now 6-4-22

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 15:33:54 GMT

Most migrating birds have moved on to breeding grounds, though species are still coming through!

Check out Birdcast for movement just last night: St. Louis County, June 3, 2022

Species that nest here have stayed in the area.

Resident breeding birds have been busy raising young!

All of these species need the same things: cover, places to raise young, insect foods and fresh water.

4-28-22 Blackpoll Warbler

5-1-22 Blackpoll Warbler female

Birdcast had predicted a high influx of birds on Saturday and Sunday nights, 5-7-22 and 5-8-22. Sure enough, Monday, 5-9-22 was my personal 'big day' with 53 species for the day, including 15 warblers. Blackpoll Warblers fly the longest overwater journey of any songbird species - nearly 1,800 miles non-stop over the Atlantic Ocean to their wintering grounds in South America.

Blackpoll Warbler

This species is rarely seen in the fall in Missouri because of its route over the Atlantic. Birders know they better see it in spring to be sure to get it for the year. However, our yard hosted a young female that took the shorter route and this sighting became the third fall record for Missouri. This event was covered in our very first blog post on October 14, 2013. Time sure flies like the birds!

Wildlife at Shady Oaks

5-9-22 Yellow Warbler female

Yellow Warblers have been seen here more this year than ever before. They nest over much of North America, including in Missouri, and prefer habitats like wet woods or areas with trees like willows near streams. That's where they'll find the most insect foods. See if you agree that their song says, "sweet, sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet!" It's an easy one to learn.

Yellow Warbler

Years ago, I was determined to learn bird songs. It was a struggle to begin, but slowly, they started to stick. Start with the birds you hear every day, then prepare over the winter for the deluge of new birds that arrive with migration. It's still a struggle, but there's a FREE app for that!

Listen to birds using an app called Merlin Bird ID: Merlin

Merlin is another tool to add to your toolbox, so to speak. We still need to use our own ears and eyes to confirm the songs recorded. But this app has improved tremendously since it was first introduced, and it's fun to help you be aware of the birds around you.

4-29-22 Eastern Bluebird 5-5-22 Eastern Bluebird with insect 4-30-22 Eastern Bluebird female

4-30-22 Eastern Bluebird

This spring we had our first nesting pair of Eastern Bluebirds. They managed beautifully and were attentive to their feeding and housekeeping duties. The male is shown with a fecal sac which was carried far from the nest site. On 5-12-22, it was time for the young birds to fledge. Once they leave the nest box, they will not return. It's a day when everyone is nervous and excited!

5-12-22 Eastern Bluebird fledgling

One by one, they left the box. The female was calling to them. I could imagine something like, "Keep your heads down! Watch out for those big birds! Stay low!"

5-12-22 Eastern Bluebird fledgling

One fledgling managed to fly up into a spice bush (Lindera benzoin). Well-camouflaged, it waited for an adult to bring more food.

5-12-22 Eastern Bluebird with fledgling

How all five of those little birds managed to have room to exercise their wings before their entrance into the big wide world, I'll never know! The male returned once to the box on 5-29-22 and called a few times, then flew. According to my sources, that would have been the earliest day to begin a new nest, seventeen days after fledgling. Maybe this is their first brood and they're taking a well-earned break! Will keep you posted.

While I was weeding in front one day, I heard the familiar buzzing of a hummingbird flying by. I looked up to see it enjoying the sweet nectar of the Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Those of you who have this plant must enjoy their visits, too. It's a bit more gratifying to see them at a natural food source that you've planted and nurtured!

5-29-22 Northern Cardinal eggshell

As I worked up the front walk, I saw a broken egg shell from a Northern Cardinal's nest. Were the young just hatching? I had been so busy watching birds in back that I had missed this nest being built! The female and male scolded me for getting too close. So, no more weeding will be done in that area for a while! Minimal disturbance, that's our motto here.

5-12-22 Northern Cardinal fledgling 5-12-22 Northern Cardinal fledgling #2 5-30-22 Northern Cardinal fledglings

There are at least two other pairs of Northern Cardinals that have young. One nest is in the other Coral Trumpet vine that has been around much longer with more cover. The other nest, well, I'm not sure where it is, but the adults bring their young to the bubbler area and have me babysit while they look for food!

Back in February, 2011, I had the first opportunity to meet Doug Tallamy, mentor and author of Bringing Nature Home, Nature's Best Hope and The Nature of Oaks. I couldn't wait to tell him all the work we had been doing to create habitat and how many birds we had seen in our yard. Then, he zinged me with, "Yes, but how many nesters do you have?" "Oh, um, not sure..have to think about that," was my weak reply. Since my awareness has been raised, we've both learned what we need to do to make our yard more receptive to nesting species. Below is our current count of 34 native species.

2021 Summer Breeders

Now, perhaps I stretch this a bit because the birds may be nesting in a tree across the street or two doors away. However, these species are foraging here or coming into our yard with young and feeding them here. Oh, how I wish we had 100 acres sometimes! At this point in our lives, that is not feasible. I share ideas with all of you to compensate for that. Each of us can do more to support breeding birds and migrants and help bring back the birds, bees, butterflies and more.

Learn more about Doug Tallamy's books and his big idea, Homegrown National Park and get on the map, too!

Tallamy's Hub

More birds of May 5-17-22

Wed, 18 May 2022 01:36:46 GMT

May, oh my!

So many birds = so little time

Today, we start with a video. Fortunately, I saw this bird and could confirm its identity. That will be revealed in due course. So, watch for the bird on the left side on the down-angled branch. It disappears into cover and comes into the basin area 'back door' on the left side. As you can see, these birds are small, quick and it's often difficult to catch sight of them when the leaves have filled out and the bubbler area is so dark and shady.

5-16-22 Mourning Warbler

4-28-22 Warbling Vireo 5-11-22 Philadelphia Vireo 5-11-22 Blue-headed Vireo 5-10-22 Red-eyed Vireo

Four different vireo species have come to the bubbler, usually to splash-bathe. They pause to look, giving me a better chance to get their passport photos. Warbling Vireo and Philadelphia Vireos look similar and are often difficult to separate out. The Philadelphia is the least common. The Warbling Vireo has a white throat and is duller overall, sometimes with yellow on the sides. Blue-headed Vireo and Red-eyed Vireo are a bit easier to tell apart.

5-10-22 Baltimore Oriole
5-11-22 FOY Orchard Oriole

Both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles have come to the bubbler this spring. It is the first time that a male Orchard Oriole has gotten in to bathe.

5-7-22 Summer Tanager, immature 5-4-22 Scarlet Tanager

Summer and Scarlet Tanagers have also been seen and heard. The young Summer Tanager reminds me of Neopolitan sherbet with its multicolored plumage. Soon, it will be an orangey-red all over.

5-8-22 Gray-cheeked Thrush 5-8-22 Swainson's Thrush

Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrushes come early and often to the bubbler. However, one evening this spring was the first time in ten years that a Wood Thrush got in! Now let's look at a few more warblers.

5-2-22 Yellow Warbler

5-9-22 Yellow Warbler female

Yellow Warblers have been a joy to see this year, and a female came in on Monday, 5-9-22.

5-4-22 Northern Parula

We had Northern Parulas a few more days before they began to establish breeding territory.

5-9-22 FOY Bay-breasted Warbler 5-11-22 Bay-breasted Warbler female

The lovely Bay-breasted Warbler pair arrived on different days. Both are so uniquely colored, though the female can be confused with the Blackpoll female. Dark legs? Bay-breasted.

5-9-22 Blackpoll Warbler 5-1-22 Blackpoll Warbler female

And, here is the Blackpoll pair. Certainly don't have dark legs, do they? Orangey legs are a key diagnostic feature for this bird.

5-12-22 Blackburnian Warbler

5-9-22 Blackburnian Warbler female

What would spring be without the beautiful Blackburnian Warblers? Firethroats!

5-16-22 FOY Mourning Warbler
5-16-22 FOY Mourning Warbler

The video of the first bird was recorded on Friday, 5-16-22. I was able to find the bird in the hydrangeas behind the bubbler. It gave me one full frontal view, Mourning Warbler! Then, it flew down into cover again to forage and sang a little, "cheery-cheery, chorry-chorry-chorry." I had a long list of other things to be done, but thought there might be a good chance that the bird would come back after feeding. It is a skulker, and stayed in the cover of mayapple and wood poppies most of the time, but I was able to get these two photos, certainly not glamour shots but, "C'est la vie!" It is #109 for the year and #78 at the bubbler. To me, having it be comfortable enough to come back in was reward in itself. Every minute a bird is here finding what it needs helps to anchor our location into its genes.

All the photos that make it into a gallery or on the blog go through my 12-step process. I've taken hundreds every day this spring and I'm still sorting through them. Maybe I'll be caught up by fall migration!

If you'd like to look at more of the birds, start here: Photos beginning May 4

Update: The Eastern Bluebirds fledged successfully on 5-12-22. We hope to see more of them soon!

First week of May, 5-8-22

Sun, 08 May 2022 08:50:46 GMT

Happy Mother's Day!

How about some warblers to help celebrate?

5-1-22 Yellow Warbler

4-30-22 Yellow Warbler

"Sweet, sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet!" There have been Yellow Warblers here almost every day since 4-22-22, Earth Day! Some years we don't see them at all.

4-29-22 Pine Warbler 4-30-22 Pine Warbler

An unusual sighting is this Pine Warbler that was here for several days. It is a rare but regular migrant through the St. Louis area during the last two weeks of April and first few days of May. There is a wintering population in shortleaf pine stands in the southern part of Missouri.

4-28-22 Blackpoll Warbler 5-1-22 Blackpoll Warbler female

Blackpoll Warblers! Orange legs are diagnostic for the species. Male is in first photo, and the most beautiful female I've ever seen in the second. It's important to see this species in the spring because there are very few records of them in the fall. In fact, we have the third record of a fall sighting for the state.

4-29-22 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4-29-22 Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warblers have been heard calling, "Pleased, pleased, pleased to meet 'ya!"

4-30-22 Blue-winged Warbler 4-30-22 Blue-winged Warbler

Blue-winged Warblers! "Bee-buzz!" What a beauty to be blowing raspberries, but that is just what it sounds like.

5-2-22 Golden-winged Warbler 5-1-22 Golden-winged Warbler 5-1-22 Golden-winged Warbler

"Zee-bee-bee-bee bee!" sings the Golden-winged Warbler, the bird of highest conservation concern that we've seen here.

5-1-22 Northern Parula 5-2-22 Northern Parula 5-2-22 Northern Parula

"Zeeee-up!" The diminutive Northern Parula can easily be heard, not always easily seen. It took years to coax them down to the bubbler.

4-30-22 Black-and-white Warbler 4-30-22 Black-and-white Warbler 4-30-22 Black-and-white Warbler

"Weesee, weesee, weesee, weesee, weesee." The Black-and-white Warbler has a repetitive, rhythmic squeaky song.

5-3-22 FOY Magnolia Warbler 5-3-22 FOY Magnolia Warbler

The brilliant Magnolia Warbler sings, "Weeta-weeta-weetsee". Its tail looks like it's dipped in ink and like no other warbler's.

4-29-22 Northern Waterthrush 4-29-22 Northern Waterthrush

The Northern Waterthrush loves the still waters of the swampy thicket. It has a loud metallic "chink" call, and sings, "Sweet sweet sweet swee wee wee chew chew chew."

5-1-22 Black-throated Green Warbler
5-1-22 Black-throated Green Warbler 5-1-22 Black-throated Green Warbler

The Black-throated Green Warbler has two songs, "zee-zee-zee-zee-zoozee!" and "zee-zee-zoo-zoo-zee." It's fun to hear all these songs tumbling on top of one another. In May, it is challenging to keep up with all the activity!

Birds will be tumbling in now, in even greater numbers. Here's the forecast: http://birdcast.info/

For all the birds since the last post: Birds beginning 5-28-22

Just warblers, you say? Warblers

Enjoy the miracle of migration!

Migrants are on the move! 4-30-22

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 11:18:34 GMT

Migration is now in full swing!

What a big change in the last ten days. Here are just some of the new FOY (first-of-year) birds.

4-19-22 Rusty Blackbird

The last Rusty Blackbird was seen on Earth Day, 4-22-22. There are still a few being seen in Forest Park, very late for this overwintering species still to be here.

4-21-22 Blue-headed Vireo

This Blue-headed Vireo splash-bathed on 4-21-22.

Black-throated Green and Orange-crowned Warblers came in on Earth Day. The second Orange-crowned Warbler was sheltering in a Blackhaw, out of gusty winds the following day.

4-22-22 FOY 65 *44 Yellow Warbler

A Yellow Warbler stopped by the bubbler on Earth Day. This species has been seen on three days, more photos will be added soon (if I ever catch up!)

4-22-22 FOY Indigo Bunting

To complement the Yellow Warbler, and Indigo Bunting also came in for species #66 for the year and #45 at the bubbler.

Finally, our first Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrived on Saturday, 4-23-22. This bird was at the Virginia Bluebells even more than the feeder. I saw the first female yesterday, 4-29-22.

4-23-22 FOY 73 *49 Northern Parula 4-25-22 Northern Parula female 4-25-22 Northern Parula female

Beautiful Northern Parulas came in on Saturday, 4-23-22 as well. The female shows us all what these birds are doing, finding caterpillars on native plants to eat! This is exactly why we do not use pesticides because that would eliminate this essential food for these migrants and for nesting birds. Caterpillars are the primary food fed to baby birds.

4-23-22 Nashville Warbler 4-24-22 Tennessee Warbler 4-24-22 FOY Blackpoll Warbler

Nashville, Tennessee and Blackpoll Warblers, you guessed them! "Parties at the Bubbler" have officially begun!

4-25-22 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4-25-22 FOY Lincoln's Sparrow 4-26-22 FOY Wild Turkey

From the tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and shy Lincoln's Sparrow to the Wild Turkey that stepped out of the woods before scooting back to cover, birds of every size have been coming through. It's spring migration!

4-26-22 FOY Golden-winged Warbler
4-26-22 FOY Great Crested Flycatcher

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Golden-winged Warblers and the Great Crested Flycatchers have been added to the mix.

4-25-22 Red-headed Woodpecker

4-27-22 Red-headed Woodpecker

4-26-22 Red-headed Woodpecker

For the first time ever, we have TWO Red-headed Woodpeckers frequenting the woodland. They both are seen and heard every day now since Monday, 4-25-22. The first photo shows the near adult bird and the next two show an adult. Perhaps they are a pair now. This species is on the Watch List due to habitat loss, so this is a remarkable development. With the leaves filling out on the trees, it may be trickier to see and photograph these birds. Will try to keep you updated.

Carolina Wrens and House Finches have fledged. Northern Cardinals, Eastern Phoebes, Eastern Bluebirds and more are feeding young. Yesterday, I had 56 species of birds here, including 14 warblers. It will take me a while to catch up, but photos will be added into this gallery.

It's truly spring!

Birds since 4-17-22

PS Some of you have asked about the highly contagious Avian Flu situation for the birds in other states. I'll post an alert if we need to take down feeders and bird baths. At this point, it is not necessary as far as I know.

Mid-April updates 4-17-22

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 18:21:47 GMT

The moody month of April is now under the full Pink Moon.

4-7-22 Purple Finch female 4-7-22 Purple Finch female

A female Purple Finch was seen on a couple days and visited the bubbler on 4-7-22.

4-7-22 Hermit Thrush with pupa

Two Hermit Thrushes were also here chasing each other and finding tiny larvae to eat.

4-8-22 American Goldfinch on Spicebush 4-8-22 American Goldfinches

4-8-22 Virginia Bluebells in light snow

We had a setback with sleet and light snow when a cold front came in on 4-8-22. The next morning, we had a hard freeze. Birds need to find food no matter what the weather! Somehow, dark days make the goldfinches all the brighter.

4-9-22 Hairy Woodpecker

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a Hairy Woodpecker found insects by pecking away at a Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and small stump.

4-12-22 Eastern Phoebe

Red-breasted Nuthatches glean insects from vines and bark. The Yellow-rumped Warbler also does but along with the Eastern Phoebe, a flycatcher, it will sally out and catch insects on the wing.

4-10-22 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4-12-22 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4-12-22 Carolina Chickadee 4-12-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4-12-22 White-breasted Nuthatch

Bathing is a favorite activity even on the coldest days. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet checked the bubbler when it was full of wind-blown leaves and returned the following morning. The Carolina Chickadee, Yellow-rumped Warbler and White-breasted Nuthatch always find a time to freshen up.

1-27-22 Red-headed Woodpecker Juvenile

I was filling the feeders one morning when I heard a scuffle and looked up to see a Red-headed Woodpecker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker having a bit of a confrontation. Four days later on 4-13-22, I was able to find the Red-headed Woodpecker again in the woodland. What a striking bird! Because it has dark barring in the secondary feathers and they're not pure white, it is a young bird in near adult plumage. I wonder, is it the same juvenile bird that was here in January? (last photo)

4-13-22 FOY #56 White-eyed Vireo 4-15-22 FOY #57 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4-16-22 FOY#58 B#40 Swainson's Thrush

We've seen three new arrivals for the year. In between storms on 4-13-22, I spotted this bedraggled little White-eyed Vireo for FOY #56. Two days later, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was confirmed. (Thought I'd had a glimpse when I saw the vireo.) And, yesterday, this Swainson's Thrush popped out of the bluebells at the bubbler for FOY #58 and Bubbler Bird #40.

4-15-22 Brown Thrasher
4-15-22 Brown Thrasher 4-15-22 Brown Thrasher

Remember in the last post, I mentioned my little nemesis, the Brown Thrasher. Well, I have to take that back. It came out on Friday to give me a real education on how it thrashes about in the leaves to find food and lives up to its name. Of course, haven't seen it since! Some days it's all about luck and being in the right place at the right time.

We checked the Eastern Bluebird nest on 4-12-22 and found five beautiful eggs. The female is diligent about being on the nest and the male takes his guard duty very seriously. Fingers crossed they'll be successful.

Recently, I was asked why we have so many beautiful birds here in our yard. We became aware years ago that birds were in trouble. My birding mentors told me stories of birds literally, "dripping off the trees." Well, birds are in trouble and their numbers have dropped dramatically since 1970. Birds are the "canaries in the coal mine", that means they are indicators of environmental health. If you are interested in helping birds and more, here are some things that you can do, right in your own yard.

Together, we can make a huge difference for our native birds, butterflies and bees!

To view all the photos taken since 4-7-22, begin here: Mid-April

Into April now 4-7-22

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 18:05:55 GMT

New arrivals and nesting birds are being seen.

3-28-22 FOY #50 Purple Finch

Our FOY #50 Purple Finch was seen on 3-28-22. This male was here just one day. In the tray feeder, it's easy to see the differences between the House Finch in front and the Purple Finch behind. The House Finch is orangier and smaller with striations on its flanks.

3-31-22 FOY #52 Swamp Sparrow 3-31-22 FOY #52 Swamp Sparrow

A bird that we missed last year showed up on 3-31-22, a Swamp Sparrow, FOY #52. Another bird had shown up earlier that day, a Brown Thrasher for #51. Though seen several times, it has eluded my efforts to photograph it.

3-28-22 American Goldfinches face off

4-3-22 American Goldfinch

Many male birds are getting pretty testy with each other. Robins, sparrows and these American Goldfinches dramatically display the pecking order! Breeding is serious business and finding the best places to attract a mate and procreate is what Spring is all about for birds.

3-28-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler female 3-29-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler in molt

Yellow-rumped Warblers have been surviving on bark butter, peanut crumbs, suet and flying insects on warm days. The male in full breeding plumage caught a tiny mason bee while it was pollinating spicebush (Lindera benzoin). This is the first time I've documented that behavior.

4-2-22 Chipping Sparrow

Another new arrival was a little Chipping Sparrow FOY#53 on 4-1-22. It was here for two days before moving on.

4-4-22 Swamp Sparrow

I found the Swamp Sparrow again, in the swamp of course, on 4-4-22.

4-3-22 Rusty Blackbird

4-5-22 450+ Rusty Blackbirds

We have seen large flocks of Rusty Blackbirds come in to forage in the leaves throughout the yard and especially in the swampy woods. It can be really challenging to begin to show how many there are, they're so camouflaged. On Tuesday, there was a very large flock here and when I left to go vote, they flushed and started to move east and then north out of our yard and into our neighbors' yards. I drove very slowly to photograph the birds with my phone. I enlarged the photos and counted the birds, there were over 450! Add in another 150 or so that had moved up into the canopy, and well, at least 600 birds were here in the neighborhood. This species is listed as Vulnerable. We are lucky to see them and try not to disturb them so they can feed on insects in the leaves. I suspect they moved back into our yard after I left.

4-3-22 Eastern Bluebirds 4-3-22 Eastern Bluebirds 4-3-22 Eastern Bluebirds -Day nine

The pair of Eastern Bluebirds has been very busy building their nest. They both seem to be micromanaging this joint operation! They were still working on finishing touches this morning.

4-4-22 Eastern Phoebe

The pair of Eastern Phoebes have been at work as well. We've seen the female gathering nesting material while the male calls away.

On 4-4-22, a Great Blue Heron flew over for FOY #54 and a bit later I spotted our FOY #55 Hermit Thrush. It has a distinctive way of moving along quickly, then stops and flicks its tail up, then lowers it slowly.

4-1-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch 4-5-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatches are still around, sometimes I see two males and a female. The two males are pictured here, the second one lighter than the first.

4-1-22 Brown Creeper

Brown Creepers are still foraging on the trees, sometimes on oaks, cherries or maples.

Well, it's time to get those hummingbird feeders cleaned up and ready to go. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will be coming in soon, along with warblers ready to refuel from their long hauls, too. It has been cool and somewhat slow, but Spring is springing!

Signs of Spring 3-27-22

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 23:12:28 GMT

Signs of Spring mean more than Daffodils!

3-12-22 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3-12-22 Cedar Waxwing

Visits by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and flocks of Cedar Waxwings signal the change is coming.

3-19-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler pair

3-26-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler

3-6-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers are seen, sometimes catching insects on warmer days.

Brown Creepers are often foraging on the bark of trees, in this case, a persimmon (Diospyros virginiana).

3-25-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

3-17-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3-17-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch in Elm

Red-breasted Nuthatches find plenty to eat, even checking the buds of American elm (Ulmus americana) for a treat.

3-25-22 Song Sparrow

The Song Sparrow has been singing for weeks. It popped up onto the woodland gate, more easily seen one day.

3-25-22 Carolina Chickadee

The Carolina Chickadee checked a leaf blown into the hydrangea for a tidbit.

3-15-22 Rusty Blackbird 3-15-22 Rusty Blackbirds 3-20-22 Rusty Blackbirds 3-26-22 15 Rusty Blackbirds 3-26-22 5 Rusty Blackbirds

Rusty Blackbirds come in some days in flocks of 80-100 or so birds. It's so hard to tell for sure! They are perfectly camouflaged in the shadows, overturning leaves for insect food or bathing in puddles or the basin. It's only when they fly up into the trees that their numbers seem to swell. Spring is a time of high contrast in light and in the weather!

3-26-22 Pileated Woodpecker

Yesterday, in the midst of all the blackbird activity, I turned to see the Pileated Woodpecker in its fine bright plumage. It worked on several trees and ate some suet before calling and flying off to the south.

3-21-22 Eastern Bluebird

This Eastern Bluebird pair have continued to spend time here every day, finding insects on warm days and taking mealworms to supplement their needs. They seemed determined to make our yard their home! So, we put up the nest box again on 3-18-22, even though it was a bit late. Yesterday, our effort was rewarded!

3-26-22 Eastern Bluebird on sentry duty 3-26-22 Eastern Bluebird pair 3-26-22 Eastern Bluebird pair 3-26-22 Eastern Bluebird 3-27-22 Eastern Bluebird female 3-27-22 Eastern Bluebird female

This is the first time we have ever had nesting Eastern Bluebirds. After such a tough year for this species, we have high hopes for their success!

3-27-22 Eastern Phoebe

This morning, we had two Eastern Phoebes, fluttering around each other and the former nesting area. We think it may be the same pair that raised five chicks a few years ago. Maybe they'll stick around, fingers crossed!

Spring is springing!

SPRING FORWARD! 3-13-22

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 15:42:07 GMT

LET'S CELEBRATE SPRING'S IMMINENT ARRIVAL!

Check out the new Spring Warblers Gallery to review:

Spring Warbler Species at Shady Oaks

5-11-21 Blackburnian Warbler

Into March 3-9-22

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 22:18:43 GMT

Don't forget - Spring Forward Saturday!

We've seen other signs of spring, despite the next batch of snow in the forecast.

3-1-22 Eastern Bluebird 3-2-22 Eastern Bluebird female

Eastern Bluebirds are getting brighter, noisier and chasing each other about.

American Goldfinches are turning more yellow. They often perch up in the oak leaves on breezy days, soaking up the sun.

2-28-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler

3-1-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler

3-6-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler

The Yellow-rumped Warbler was fly-catching the day it warmed up to 81 degrees!

3-2-22 Rusty Blackbird 3-2-22 Rusty Blackbirds

Rusty Blackbirds are coming in small flocks of a dozen or so at times.

3-4-22 Brown-headed Cowbird female 3-4-22 Brown-headed Cowbird female #2

Two female Brown-headed Cowbirds came in a week after the males.

3-4-22 FOY #46 Eastern Phoebe 3-4-22 FOY #46 Eastern Phoebe 3-4-22 FOY #46 Eastern Phoebe

An Eastern Phoebe showed up about 10:00 am on 3-4-22 for #46 for the year. It was finding insects on its migratory stop here.

3-4-22 Dark-eyed Junco 3-4-22 Brown Creeper

Dark-eyed Juncos and Brown Creepers will be around into April.

3-4-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch

3-5-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch pair

The lighter pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches are being seen every day, but I think the richer colored pair may have moved on with the strong southerly winds last week.

3-6-22 Song Sparrow

The male Song Sparrow has been singing a bit west of us now, but one of the pair came in to bathe.

3-7-22 FOY #47 Eastern Towhee

For comparison, 10-26-12 Eastern Towhee

Another new bird for the year, #47 popped out of the leaves on 3-7-22. The Eastern Towhee is not a bird I can count on seeing every year, and this was not a soul-satisfying view! The first photo is all I managed before it disappeared. The second photo was taken on 10-26-15 when I got a full view of a male.

This morning, I was filling feeders and heard the sweet trill of #48, a Pine Warbler up in the pond cypress. Perhaps it will show us how beautiful it is! In the meantime, watch for green peeking through the snow...I'll be watching for more birds as they move through our space.

February has flown by! 2-28-22

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 13:20:06 GMT

February is the shortest month and we've now gained 1 hour and 45 minutes of daylight.

2-24-22 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2-12-22 Brown Creeper

The Yellow-rumped Warbler and sometimes two Brown Creepers are still being seen every day.

There have been some tough, cold and icy days for birds like the Carolina Chickadee with its deformed leg and the White-breasted Nuthatch with the crossed bill. The nuthatch has broken the upper mandible and still hammers away at the peanut feeder to get food. I wonder how this one will feed young successfully.

2-18-22 American Robin

Two American Robins have been coming onto the deck for bits of mealworms and bark butter. They both want to be first on their breeding territories. This one was soaking up a bit of warmth from the fountain on a very cold morning.

A very large mixed flock of blackbirds came in on Friday, 2-25. It was a dark day, but I was enjoying the rich variation in the plumage of all these birds. (When you see browns and blacks, make the most of it!) I estimated 50 Rusty Blackbirds and if you study this first photo, you'll see four Brown-headed Cowbirds in the right foreground. There were ten cowbirds that I counted under the south feeders at one point, the most I've seen at once.

Notice the Red-winged Blackbird just in front of the branch? It was the only one in this large flock that I could find.

Two Brown-headed Cowbirds joined a Rusty Blackbird to drink at the bubbler.

2-25-22 Red-winged Blackbird

The Red-winged Blackbird also came in for half a dozen sips of water. This brought the Bubbler count up to 34 species for the year. I also saw a House Sparrow at the feeder, briefly, before the birds all lifted away. We're now at 44 species for the year, highest count at this point that I've documented since 2011 when I started making annual lists for myself and my two friends, Connie and Wally. They both usually get more species than I do, but the variety between the three of us is quite amazing.

2-25-22 Dark-eyed Junco Oregon form

In this last icy storm, we also have seen some slate-colored Dark-eyed Juncos which are typical, as well as the Oregon form of Dark-eyed Juncos. Note the dark hood, chestnut brown back and buff-brown flanks.

2-21-22 American Crow

American Crows have been coming to drink after grabbing a bit of bark butter off the trees. They will forage in the leaves in the woods, too. I think these birds have a harder time now that we're all using bins for our trash instead of bags.

2-25-22 American Goldfinch 2-25-22 Eastern Bluebird

American Goldfinches are beginning to get brighter yellow plumage, and the dominant Eastern Bluebird is stunning. Birds are definitely thinking 'spring' as they chase off other males.

2-25-22 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2-25-22 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2-25-22 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

The juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been seen on several days. On Friday, it chased off another male, which was new for the year.

2-25-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch M1 2-25-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch M2 2-25-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch F1 2-25-22 Red-breasted Nuthatch F2

That Friday storm also brought in two more Red-breasted Nuthatches! I saw three birds at one time as they waited to get on the feeder, then the lighter pair waited together on the same branch a bit later. The pair that have been here all winter are richer in color, and I call them M1 and F1; the new pair are lighter in color, M2 and F2. So, the photos in order are M1, M2, F1 and F2.

Just like the birds, aren't we all ready for Spring???

ps. As I went to post this, I saw that we have crossed a milestone with over 100,000 visitors to our website!

Thank you all for visiting!