March came in like a lion, windy and cold.

Winds were 60 mph on March 5th, strong enough to blow an insect into the eye of a bluebird!

3-5-25 Eastern Bluebirds, female with insect on its eye 3-5-25 Eastern Bluebirds, female with insect on its eye 3-5-25 Eastern Bluebirds, female with insect on its eye 3-5-25 Eastern Bluebird female with insect on its head

The female Eastern Bluebird managed to brush it out and it moved to the top of its head!

3-14-25 Eastern Bluebird

The Eurasian Tree Sparrows took over the nest box and started building their nest in earnest, but since they are not native birds, I cleaned it all out and left the door open for a day. The next morning, the bluebirds were back! They've managed to drive away the sparrows so far. Fingers crossed. Last year, they had 3 broods.

3-2-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler at suet 3-3-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler

3-14-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers are seen daily, often feeding on suet, stopping by the bubbler or fly-catching in the woods. Soon, other migrants will be joining them.

3-12-25 Blue Jay 3-12-25 Blue Jay

Resident birds like these Blue Jays are sprucing up and pairing up for breeding. 

3-10-25 Purple FInch

Migration has officially begun. Another Purple Finch spent the day here on March 10, feeding heavily before moving on.

3-11-25 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker immature female 3-11-25 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker immature female with insect

A young female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker spent time feeding on insects on trees and near the ground in the leaf litter. The temperatures have warmed up and that increases insect activity, making this essential food easier for the birds to find.

3-13-25 Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) Celandine Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum)

3-13-25 Roundleaf Ragwort (Packera obobvata)

Just this week, native plants like Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), Celandine Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) and Roundleaf Ragwort (Packera obovata) have emerged from the leafy mulch. 

3-11-25 Tufted Titmouse and Chickadee

If chickadees and titmice are thriving in your yard, there is a much higher chance of migratory birds coming in to check out their activity. 

So, keep your eyes and ears open for new sights and sounds!
 

BirdCast is online again as of March 1st. The highest number of migrants so far was on Tuesday night, March 11, 2025. The very next day, "our" pair of Eastern Phoebes were heard and seen here. The female got right to work on the nest under the gazebo. 

3-12-25 Eastern Phoebe 3-14-25 Swampy thicket with cypress knees, leafy matter and food sources

Our wetland area, or swampy thicket is where the female spends time gathering moist leaves, algae and moss to build the nest. 

3-14-25 Eastern Phoebe on cypress knee

Here, the bird is perched on a cypress knee, a bit higher perch to find insects for food and particular fibers to bind the nest together.

3-15-25 Eastern Phoebe gathering nest material

3-15-25 Eastern Phoebe nest, day 3

The little bird has been busy again today, adding material to the nest on day #3. Last night's squall line of storm cells with heavy rain, hail and 70 mph winds spawned tornadoes. It was a rough night, but we were glad the birds found shelter and survived. 

Spring officially begins on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Now, are you ready for spring warblers? 

Here is my gallery to help you prepare.

You can view each labeled image as you wish, or put it on slide show mode and let it run.

Spring Warbler Species at Shady Oaks