February, the shortest month, has been a busy one here at Shady Oaks.

As of today, we've gained an hour and 46 minutes of daylight. 

Next weekend, we Spring Forward! 

1-31-25 E. Gray Squirrel with wound and chopped tail

This squirrel is easily identified by the wound on its back and its chopped off tail. This male has a mate and their nest is in the cypress. 

3-17-20 E. Gray Squirrel with wound

This photo was taken on 3-17-2020. What a tough survivor! Winter takes a toll on wildlife and our weather of late has certainly been challenging.

1-30-25 Purple Finch female 2-1-25 House Finch left, Purple Finch right, both females 2-1-25 Purple Finch female in Blackhaw

A female Purple Finch was around on several days. The second photo has a female House Finch on the left side of the feeder for an easy comparison. It's smaller, stripier, and lacks the bold brown and white head pattern of the Purple Finch.

  2-1-25 Northern Mockingbird in Roughleaf Dogwood 2-1-25 Northern Mockingbird in Roughleaf Dogwood

2-2-25 Northern Mockingbird 2-2-25 Northern Mockingbird

The Northern Mockingbird finally allowed a few photos. It looks for fruit in winter, but most has been eaten off any shrubs. Suet and bark butter bits were eaten by the bird, but not the grapes and raisins I had put out.

2-1-25 American Robin eating raisins

An American Robin hoarded the fruit!

  2-10-25 House Finches 2-12-25 House Finch with American Goldfinches

House Finches and American Goldfinches came in droves when it started to snow again on 2-12-25. They eagerly took the sunflower hearts I'd scattered on the deck.

2-11-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2-12-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2-12-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers found larvae in the leaves and bark butter on the small hybrid oak. They will eat snow in winter, but birds often prefer the water at the bubbler which is kept at 40 degrees by the de-icer in the pond. (seen in photo below)

2-12-25 Brown Creeper

A Brown Creeper followed the Yellow-rumped and searched in the aerial roots of Virginia creeper, where bark butter is sometimes left by larger birds. These two smaller birds have finer bills that can reach in between the roots for the leftovers.

2-3-25 Brush Pile with evergreens

Brush piles such as this provide some cover for juncos and sparrows when inclement weather comes in.

  2-20-25 Bubbler in snow 2-20-25 Pond in snow

These scenes were captured by our Bubbler Cam and Gazebo Cam on the morning of 2-20-2025. Temperatures had bottomed out at 2 degrees Fahrenheit. We had flown the coop for a family project. Thankfully, our neighbors, Bob and Suzanne provided mealworms for the bluebirds! 

2-26-25 Eastern Bluebird nest box is up!

On our return, we put up the nesting box for the Eastern Bluebirds. It didn't even take two hours before a pair claimed it!

2-26-25 Eastern Bluebird female claims the box 2-26-25 Eastern Bluebird defends the box against Eurasian Tree Sparrows

"Don't even think about it!"

2-26-25 Eastern Bluebird pair at the box 2-26-25 Eastern Bluebird

The pair still is defending the box as their own against the Eurasian Tree Sparrows today. Last year, eggs were laid the last week of March. We shall be watching for signs of nest building! 

Our Haikubox just alerted me to the call of an Eastern Phoebe, another sure sign of spring. I went out to look and listen, but could not confirm it. Last year, our first phoebe arrived on 2/29/24.

Spring is nigh!