Welcome to our blog!
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.
We hope you are inspired to create your own refuge!
1-30-22 January Serendipities
First month reveals new behaviors and new birds!
A Hairy Woodpecker bathes, a behavior not seen before with this species.
A female Downy Woodpecker and the Hairy Woodpecker come in to drink at the same time for an often wished-for comparison photo.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker actually showed us its named for red belly.
A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker preened its yellow belly. So much for bellies, now we go back to heads!
On 1-20-22, a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker arrived. It has been seen often coming in for quick sips at the bubbler. We don't get to see this species every year. It is on the Watch List, in decline due to habitat loss, so it is quite heartening to see one!
You can read more here: Red-headed Woodpecker
While a female Northern Flicker was getting some sips of water, a Golden-crowned Kinglet joined in. It returned for a solo.
On the following day, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet showed up.They are the more rare of the two Kinglets seen in the winter, usually staying further south in Missouri. However, I saw the bird and it flashed away before I took those photos. While I waited for it to come back, a much bigger surprise came in!
WHAT? Redpolls! There were at least four of them, and thought I saw a fifth one. On Thursday, 1-27-22 at 11:09 am they came in, drank, stayed 32 seconds and whirled away up above me into the canopy. Well, I was not budging from my spot now.
At 12:03 pm they returned, and stayed 36 seconds. I confirmed the presence of five along with their timing when I reviewed the Bubbler Cam video. I watched for them to return, checking the feeders, too. They are a nomadic winter finch, and will show up in Missouri when there is an irruption year, and this is one. These Common Redpolls are officially Bubbler Bird Species #124.
Many years ago on 12-29-2008, I had a single female at this sock feeder. It was a much darker looking bird, but there is variation in the plumage depending on age and time of year.
You can read more: Common Redpoll
We enjoy seeing the resident Red-shouldered Hawk and Carolina Chickadee taking time to rest in the woodland on cold days.
The pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches are seen every day grabbing bits of peanuts.
Neither of us grew up seeing Eastern Bluebirds and we're so taken with their beauty.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler also takes time to rest and conserve energy. Can you name the bird in flight behind it? The Brown Creeper regularly gets little sips.
Rusty Blackbirds are being seen in numbers now, On Friday, there was a flock of perhaps 75, under the feeders and culling through the leaves. They have their own subtle, rich beauty.
To be continued...oh, and that is a Northern Flicker behind the Yellow-rumped Warbler!
1-13-22 Ways to help winter birds
We've gained 13 minutes of daylight since the solstice!
The big news is that the Eastern Bluebirds have figured out where food is for them on cold days when the insects aren't as easily found. Yay for the bluebirds! Feeders helped the breeding pair get through last winter when snow covered the ground for days. They've brought in the whole brood. With several inches of snow predicted for Friday night and Saturday, we will probably have birds at all the feeders.
There's a hanging tray feeder, a couple window feeders where at least one bluebird took a mealworm, and this setup on the deck. I've dubbed it the "Grab 'n Go" bar.
Main food items for these feeders are dried mealworms, Bark Butter Bits (Wild Birds Unlimited product) and fine sunflower chips. A suet cake could be broken into bits, too. These foods are also popular with a lot of other bird species like House Finches and American Goldfinches. Here are a few more.
Tufted Titmice, Blue Jays and Northern Flickers come in and quickly grab a bite, then head back to the trees and shrubs for cover.
The birds will rest in trees near the feeding stations and this male is in a Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). The birds are coming to the fountain often for water, which is on the deck railing. The white framework supports a plastic cover and a wool blanket as insulation to keep the water from freezing up on bitterly cold nights.
Again this year, our neighbors shared their Christmas tree with us after taking it down. It still has great fragrance and the sparrows and juncos took to using it right away for cover. We staked it southeast of the stump, which blocks the northwest winds. Now, the bark butter log had not been getting much traffic so Dan took off the hardware cloth cage and made a new one with this vinyl mesh. Small birds should be able to get through, larger birds can come up from underneath. Hopefully, the starlings will still be deterred.
Now, we have seen some new birds for the year.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been coming in to drink and bathe at the Bubbler. An immature male has been seen more often, the adult female has the white throat.
Song Sparrows are seen at different times of the year in our yard, but often in the winter. This bird saw the Christmas tree and stayed there a few days, hardly seen outside of it. I caught it trying to sneak in a bath with the bluebird yesterday.
A Yellow-rumped Warbler was first seen in the pond cypress on 1-9-22. It has come in to get some bark butter and bathe the last couple days. What a splash artist!
The magnificent Pileated Woodpecker came to the suet feeder on 1-10-22 and the next day, it took to the bark butter as all the other woodpeckers have done. The male has the red 'moustache'. Either sex can reach 19.5" long compared to the Brown Creeper at 5.5".
We are still seeing Brown Creepers and Red-breasted Nuthatches every day. It's winter, and soon their tolerances will be put to the test!
"Queedle, Queedle and Turalee!"
Into the New Year! 1-5-22
2021 ended with a beautiful, warm day and a high temperature of 67.8 degrees!
The Carolina Wren bounced and sang, the Red-breasted Nuthatches came in to feed and drink. The year ended with 116 species recorded, including 29 warblers and 86 bubbler species. Considering we spent some time away, it was a very good year for documenting birds.
New Year's Day brought a dreary, wet and cold start to the year. The high temperature was 54.2 at midnight and dropped all day to 25.8. Birds took the cue and fed all day.
Northern Flickers feasted on bark butter.
Northern Cardinals and others looked for seed on the ground. This White-throated Sparrow noshed on the seeds of Cliff Goldenrod (Solidago drummondii). This plant is a noted keystone plant in the herbaceous group because it supports 97 species of butterflies and moths, as well as providing nutritious seeds to birds in winter.
Brown Creepers, White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches were busy all day foraging and taking sips of water. The following day, we were quite astounded by a huge flock of Common Grackles that came in and literally took over the neighborhood. Dan said, "It's like a storm of blackbirds!" The birds surrounded us, and would swirl down and forage or drink, and then lift up and away.
We could not remember seeing a flock this large, and after 40 minutes, they lifted up and we counted 14 yards full of them as they moved to the west. How to begin to count them? We guessed there to be 2,000-3,000 birds, a true spectacle of glossy iridescence!
There were a few European Starlings and Red-winged Blackbirds in the mix, but we could not pick out any Rusty Blackbirds.
Yesterday, five Eastern Bluebirds came to the bubbler to drink or bathe. It wasn't warm, but nearly 41 degrees.
Later in the afternoon, the Mourning Doves were all fluffed up, napping. Makes one yawn just to look at them, they were so comfortable all tucked in. Conserving energy, feeding heavily and getting enough water is what it's all about right now!
Happy New Year!
Hang in there, things are looking up. May 2022 be a better year for us all!
12-20-21 Approaching the Winter Solstice
Winter arrives on 12-21-21 with the shortest day and longest night of the year!
We're seeing a lot more activity on colder days now. Birds come in for water, to drink up and to bathe in. We've sure seen an interesting mix of species at times!
Eastern Bluebirds are welcome any time. Sometimes, it's just a pair, sometimes 4-6, and it may be mid-day or late afternoon. They even like to bathe in the rain.
Red-breasted Nuthatches are small but not terribly shy and will keep trying to get to water even if there are other birds around.
Just for fun, put all the parts of those three together, and you'll have a Cedar Waxwing! These birds often come down in a flock with some at the sump puddle and others in the basin.
A Downy Woodpecker waited a bit for an American Robin to finish out of respect for its much bigger bill.
A bluebird and waxwing were joined by a House Finch for a rainbow trio.
Here's another rare mix with a waxwing, female Red-bellied Woodpecker and a male Northern Flicker. The ol' watering hole sure draws them in.
The birds all get out of the way when blackbirds like this Rusty Blackbird show up.
To my surprise, both the male and female Hairy Woodpeckers came to water one day, the male first. Like the Red-bellies, these birds don't come in often. It had been really warm and dry.
Between the 'Bubble' on the large rock, and the bubbling fountain in the basin, there are several levels of water for the birds to access and get a drink. The Brown Creeper, House Finch and American Goldfinch will show up at any of these. Now, let's talk about food!
On Thursday, 12-2-21, the temperature climbed to a balmy 70.8 degrees. I stepped outside and heard bluebirds calling all around me. One caught an insect on the post for the bubbler cam. Others were swooping through the trees and over the leaves, catching other flying insects. It was a joyful scene as they called to each other. One big hurrah for their 'sushi' lunch!
The Carolina Wren was one of the first birds to discover the tray feeder with mealworms. "Groucho Wren"?
The Eastern Bluebirds were checking out all the feeders, sunflower, safflower and peanut. But these are too hard for them to eat, so I must say, I was relieved to see them find the mealworms, sunflower chips and bark butter bits in that tray feeder. This is the food that may have gotten the breeding pair through the last tough winter when snow was on the ground for days. Now they know where this food is!
We've had several beautiful male Northern Cardinals around, but the second bird pictured is the first leucistic (lacking pigment) bird we've had in quite some time. That bird is flaunting those pink feathers!
The pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches continue to be seen nearly every day. They still have a preference for the chopped peanuts and they will often go to a branch like this and break them up into finer pieces to swallow or stash in a hiding place. Winter's upon us and they are getting ready!
Another important need of birds, especially in winter, is a place to rest, to fluff up their feathers and huddle for warmth. The fallen leaves help keep the ground a bit warmer and we've seen up to twenty Mourning Doves around the bubbler, napping a good part of the day. Birds like American Goldfinches, House Finches and Cedar Waxwings will also rest in leaf-filled branches of young trees for some protection from the wind. While the birds are resting or finding food and water, other critters are busy in the woodland.
Better watch out!
Santa's helpers are everywhere nowadays and they come in many forms!
We wish you Happy Holidays!
December! 12-1-21
December has arrived with a high temperature near 66 degrees for the day.
A Dark-eyed Junco was told off by a female Yellow-rumped Warbler. Now, there's plenty of room, but some must make their case.
A Blue Jay squawks up a fuss when it comes in, as if to say, "Make way!" The White-throated Sparrow is a bit more shy.
Another large flock of American Robins came in about 11:00 on Saturday, 11-27-21, and activity was non-stop until nearly sunset. That last robin has its third eyelid closed for protection.
With the robins were some new arrivals. At least six Rusty Blackbirds were in the mix, foraging in the leaves. The first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker dropped in, too. This young male didn't hesitate in getting right to the water. Wonder how long it had been since it had a drink?
Two Brown Creepers and Red-breasted Nuthatches continue to be seen every day. The nuthatches follow their usual pattern shown by this female: grab a peanut, find a spot and cache it away for that cold day that's surely on the way.
The Cedar Waxwings have come down from the canopy several days, and they're a personal favorite.Their high pitched, "zee-zee-zee" call alerts me to their presence.
Like the robins and bluebirds, the Cedar Waxwings love the fruit of the Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), which has much more nutrition for them than the invasive bush honeysuckle berries. We've planted more of these shrubs, they are a surefire way to help the birds! What fun it is to watch them devouring the drupes.
Rusty Blackbirds look for insects in the fallen leaves and also have been eating the flesh of the abundant acorns this year.
More Cedar Waxwings, we'll take them!
The Northern Flickers and Downy Woodpeckers are often at the Bubbler. The Downy waits its turn. What is the draw? Could it be that those sparkling sunbeams cast a mesmerizing spell?
Today, a male Yellow-rumped Warbler was mid-canopy, foraging in the oaks. It flew in closer and investigated the area. Each day has been different, with as many as 27 species. Feeders are stocked and fresh water is available for the birds.
Happy December!