10-18-24 Mid-October Mix

October 19, 2024  •  Leave a Comment

 

Mid-October = A Mix of Birds

That means year round residents, southbound migrants and overwintering birds could all be here on any given day.

 

10-8-24 Brown Creeper10-8-24 Brown Creeper 10-9-24 Brown Creeper10-9-24 Brown Creeper

Brown Creepers are here for the winter.

 

10-8-24 Eastern Phoebe10-8-24 Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebes will be moving a bit further south, but this species is a harbinger of spring and returns early. This year, our first one showed up on Leap Day, 2-29-24. 

 

10-9-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird10-9-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 10-9-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird10-9-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were seen chasing each other through the gardens on 10-9-24. There still could be a later bird, so I have two feeders filled. After Halloween, there is always a chance of a Rufous Hummingbird or other rarity coming through. 

 

10-9-24 Swainson's Thrush10-9-24 Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's Thrush spend the winter in the tropics, from central Mexico south. 
 

10-11-24 Hermit Thrush- tail up10-11-24 Hermit Thrush- tail up

10-11-24 Hermit Thrush10-11-24 Hermit Thrush
 

Hermit Thrush spend the winter in the southern US. Depending on temperatures and snow cover, we may see them here frequently. This is the thrush with the rufous tail, which it cocks, then slowly lowers. 

 

10-16-24 American Robin10-16-24 American Robin 10-16-24 American Robin10-16-24 American Robin

American Robins spend the winter here, though there is movement southward of the northern flocks. The first bird found a worm in the leaves by the bubbler rock.

 

10-14-24 Chipping Sparrow immature10-14-24 Chipping Sparrow immature

Chipping Sparrow will winter just south of us in some southeastern states. I did have an immature bird here in January-March 2023.

 

10-11-24 Hairy Woodpecker10-11-24 Hairy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker is a resident throughout much of North America, though some northern birds migrate south for the winter. 
 

10-14-24 Red-bellied Woodpecker10-14-24 Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are also resident here in winter. Two were on the sugar maple looking for insects when a different woodpecker heard their chatter and came in to check them out.

  10-14-24 Red-headed Woodpecker immature10-14-24 Red-headed Woodpecker immature

10-14-24 Red-headed Woodpecker immature10-14-24 Red-headed Woodpecker immature 10-14-24 Red-headed Woodpecker immature10-14-24 Red-headed Woodpecker immature

Do you recognize this curious young bird? By January, it will begin to get new red feathers on its head and throat. 

 

1-20-22 FOY #36 Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker1-20-22 FOY #36 Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker

Yes, it's a Red-headed Woodpecker. The last photo is a bird that was here on 1-20-22. I had heard one this spring and in early October, so I was thrilled to see it come in. That's the thing, one hears more birds than one sees and opportunities to photograph aren't always there! This uncommon woodpecker is found year round in forest edge habitat throughout Missouri.

 

10-14-24 Orange-crowned Warbler in Arrowwood Viburnum10-14-24 Orange-crowned Warbler in Arrowwood Viburnum 10-14-24 Orange-crowned Warbler in Sugar Maple10-14-24 Orange-crowned Warbler in Sugar Maple

An Orange-crowned Warbler was foraging near the pond in the Arrowwood Viburnum and Sugar Maple. This dull little warbler rarely shows its orange crown, but one can be seen here:

Orange-crowned Warbler

 

10-14-24 Yellow-rumped and two Black-throated Green Warblers10-14-24 Yellow-rumped and two Black-throated Green Warblers

A Yellow-rumped Warbler followed two Black-throated Green Warblers to drink at the basin.

  10-14-24 Ruby-crowend Kinglet and Tennessee Warbler10-14-24 Ruby-crowend Kinglet and Tennessee Warbler

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet popped in to watch the Tennessee Warbler drink at the bubble.

 

10-17-24 Black-throated Green Warbler10-17-24 Black-throated Green Warbler

Yesterday, 10-17-24 one Black-throated Green Warbler stopped in to bathe. Later, our Haikubox picked up this call of a bird that is rare to find at this point in the year, a Mourning Warbler. It was not confirmed. You can click on the link and listen to its 'tsip' call. 

 

Mourning Warbler

 

10-14-24 FOF Dark-eyed Junco10-14-24 FOF Dark-eyed Junco

Last but not least, the first Dark-eyed Juncos were spotted on 10-14-24. The night before, 7,728,000 birds had flown over our county, so that was technically my Big Day for fall. 

 

Other species have been heard only, like the Great Horned Owl at 3 am. on 10-5-24 and Greater White-fronted Geese that were flying over on 10-12-24. A diminutive Winter Wren and splash-bathing Blue-headed Vireo have been seen on several days. We're still hoping for more birds to arrive such as Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Red-breasted Nuthatch. There's always a chance for other late migrants. We'll keep you posted!

 

Need one last look at all the October birds?

Begin here:  October Birds

 

 

 


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