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It's all about our discoveries in our private Shady Oaks Sanctuary for birds, pollinators and wildlife. We gauge our success by the diversity of species we observe and document with our photography.
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More Fall arrivals 11-4-18
The last week of October brought a few opportunities to be outside with the birds. A Hermit Thrush has been around though it has been a challenge to capture in good light. Finally, last Thursday it came a bit later in the morning. It is smaller than a robin and has that distinctive rusty tail.
A bit later I was watching the feeder and a Red-breasted Nuthatch was coming to get seeds from it. I went outside and realized there were two of them, one coming in from the left and one from the right. At the same time, a third one stopped a moment at the bubbler and a fourth was foraging in a leaf cluster! That's a record, a 'jar of nuthatches'!
(There are different collective nouns for different species of birds and other animals. A 'murder of crows' or a 'pride of lions' are other examples.)
I took advantage of the nice morning and took in all the sounds and sights. It wasn't long before I spotted a Winter Wren, another new species for the year, #112. The wren was finding its breakfast, tiny insects in the logs and leaves.
A White-breasted Nuthatch worked along the tree trunks, spiraling down and around to nab microscopic larvae.
An American Robin came to drink but was wary. There seemed to be suspicion of a hawk lurking nearby and the birds cleared out to find cover.
It was quiet for most of the afternoon. Around 4:30, I looked out to see not just one, but two Hermit Thrushes bathing!
The Ruby-throats have not been seen since 10-16-18, though others have seen a straggler. They're usually all gone by now but we keep one feeder fresh and ready for now is the time when a rare hummingbird may show up. Downy Woodpeckers will take advantage of the situation.
We had some early Trick or Treaters for Halloween, in very convincing costumes!
Yes, October ended with rain and November began with a raw, drippy day. A day like this reminds us all of harsher days to come before Spring arrives again. However, birds that stay with us are built to handle it, gaining 40% more downy feathers to help them cope with Old Man Winter. This resting Northern Cardinal set the mood for the day.
The feeders were very busy, birds constantly coming in for a seed and taking it to a perch or to cache it in a secret place.
The next afternoon, it was sunny enough to encourage a flurry of activity at the bubbler again. A Hermit Thrush was soon followed by a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a pair of Dark-eyed Juncos, newly arrived.
Dark-eyed Juncos, aka Snowbirds are here and the forecast now has that four-letter word, SNOW, in it for later in the week. I'm not ready!
October is closing fast 10-30-18
We are in the transition of seasons. It had been very dry and cool, with a couple hardy frosts by the third week of the month. On Thursday, 10-25-18 the day began with some of the usual suspects and fall residents coming to the bubbler. A Yellow-rumped Warbler and Brown Creeper joined the mix.
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet, with its big-eyed look, was flitting around and finally decided to come in for a splashy-bath. Where is that namesake crown, anyway? It is not often seen but when the little birds get excited, they will sometimes show it.
There! It was just a speck at first. Finally, it was fully revealed!
A male Hairy Woodpecker came in close, I had been seeing the female lately.
A Northern Flicker got in to bathe as a large flock of American Robins came into the woods. The robins literally land on top of each other to take over a space, but they will yield to a bird like the flicker, which came in again later to get a drink.
A few Common Grackles were in with the flock of robins. This bird had some kind of food in its beak and washed it in the fountain of water.
A young male Red-winged Blackbird showed at the bubbler, a new bird for the year bringing the count to 111 species for 2018. The reddish epaulet could be seen as it took off.
I went to see what might be at the pond on the east side. There were at least 40 American Robins in this flock. Common Grackles were getting drinks, bathing and keeping an eye out for hawks above them.
The robins would line up to get in for a long-awaited bath or drink. They were also all over the American Beautyberries (Callicarpa americana). These fatty berries help sustain them into the winter and as they migrate.
The young Red-winged Blackbird opted for sugar maple squirts as its meal of choice.
Back at the bubbler, Cedar Waxwings had taken advantage of the break and were enjoying the water, too.
Stay tuned for another post by Sunday. I've had more new arrivals!
New First of Fall birds 10-15-18
Here in our Shady Oaks yard, we aim to please by providing the best possible B & B & B for the birds: Bed & Bath & Breakfast, that is. To accommodate the resident and migrant species is a year-round endeavor. As of today, I have recorded 110 species for this year! And when there are several birds present of each species, well, that adds up to beaucoup birds.
A few more first of fall birds arrived with the latest cold front on Friday, which came in raw and drippy. I had just finished baking cookies that morning for my blue-eyed grand-goblins when I sat down with a cuppa and spotted the first Brown Creeper near the bubbler. The next morning, I found it again, darting here and there to different perches, finally braving the water.
White-throated Sparrows have returned and will be around through the winter. I heard one on Friday morning, and saw three under the feeder the next day. They tend to come to the bubbler when the light is waning.
I have also seen a Hermit Thrush, but it was a very brief sighting. A more obliging bird was the Orange-crowned Warbler. When it got in to bathe, a young Magnolia Warbler joined it.
The orangey crown is certainly difficult to see at times, especially in the fall.
Blue-headed Vireos have been pretty scarce this year. I finally photographed a shy one on Saturday and it took a quick splash bath, too.
Plumped-up Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still being seen as of today. But, it won't be long and they'll be crossing the Gulf of Mexico. Beginning in November is the time to keep an eye out for different hummingbird species. We try to keep one feeder going just in case a stray comes by. There have been 8 hummingbird species in Missouri!
Read more about the possibilities here: Missouri Hummingbird Species
There were several each of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets in the pond cypress tree on Saturday. They continue to pop in and about the bubbler very excitedly when close by. They are tricky to capture, so fast moving.
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is another quick moving little bird and on the cuteness scale, it's got to be a 10+.
To see all the photos since the last post, a new page will open with this link: Photos since 10/7/18
Peak of Fall Migration 10-9-18
For the first time, a Fall Big Day for birding was held on 10/6/18. Since my last post, I have continued to see warblers and other migrants come through, so I was determined to add to the worldwide count of birds seen on that day. Documenting the birds through eBird contributes to research data at the Cornell Lab. Photos that are included go into the Macaulay Library and may be featured on the Cornell website.
Here is more info on Big Day: October Big Day
My checklist can be seen here: Big Day checklist for Shady Oaks
Reporting birds means keeping a count of each species to get the highest number seen at one point during the time one is birding. It was a long day, nearly 12 hours. In other words, a "Big Sit". The joint was hopping! I was prepared with all of my usual provisions and very excited to see a new bird for the season come in, a Golden-crowned Kinglet.
I've also been hearing and seeing a Red-breasted Nuthatch, a personal favorite. They are an irruptive species and do not come this far south every year, so it's a special treat to have them around!
There were nine warbler species seen that day. Only one evaded sitting for my required passport photo! It was a female Common Yellowthroat who was busy foraging in the garden. Here is a photo of one taken a few years back.
A Northern Waterthrush was still here.
Black-throated Greens and a Black-and-white were also present.
A Chestnut-sided Warbler came by.
A probable female American Redstart checked out the bubbler and a male got in for a bath.
A Bay-breasted Warbler also took advantage of the basin.
Magnolia Warblers were seen all through the day and this was the only one I managed to photograph. They were hungry!
So, the mesmerizing Bubbler continues to draw birds and other creatures to it. It will have its 18th anniversary on 10/25/18.
We continue to see deer, raccoons, opossum, and on the first of the month, a beauty of a fox came to drink. It takes my breath away to see one! May you all experience a nature-full fall season.
A 'confusion' of warblers! 10-2-18
There are so many tales to tell of the last two weeks that it feels like it has been much longer. The truth is, I have a warbler hangover! I have been overrun, overwhelmed and overindulged with warblers! Here are just a few. Better yet, to see the whole kit and caboodle, start here, it will open a new page:
Happy Fall!!