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 Creeper 10-9-24 Brown Creeper
Brown Creepers are here for the winter.
10-8-24 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 Hummingbird 10-9-24 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 Thrush
Swainson's Thrush spend the winter in the tropics, from central Mexico south.
10-11-24 Hermit Thrush- tail up
10-11-24 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 Robin 10-16-24 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 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 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 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 immature
10-14-24 Red-headed Woodpecker immature 10-14-24 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 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 Viburnum 10-14-24 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:
10-14-24 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 Warbler
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet popped in to watch the Tennessee Warbler drink at the bubble.
10-17-24 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.
10-14-24 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