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!
September is flying by! 9-29-20
Migrants are still parading through, sometimes stopping long enough to check out the facilities.
Our FOS (first-of season) tanagers have been here. The Scarlet Tanager is now in non-breeding plumage, with dull yellow feathers like the females, but with darker black wings.There has been one male here three times or three males at different times, who knows? Only the bird, and it won't tell me. This one spent eight full minutes pondering the bubbler and finally getting into the basin, where it was watched by a Downy Woodpecker.
This female Summer Tanager didn't hesitate as long. It was joined by a Carolina Chickadee and Magnolia Warbler for easy size comparison. Its raised head feathers form a bit of a crest, not often seen, and its color has more of a warm, orangey tinge.
Philadelphia Vireos have also been here a few times, considering a splash-bath, or maybe not.
A young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak joined the onlookers one day.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still vying for the feeders and flowers, fattening up for the long flight ahead.
Warblers in small flocks still seem to be circling the neighborhood. Some days, I'll see eight or nine species in different combinations. Northern Parulas are one of the smallest, like this female.
Magnolia Warblers wear some of the best camouflage. If you look up at one, it blends in with the sun and yellowing leaves. From the side, the mossy greens and grays on its back help it blend into the natural scene.
Bay-breasted Warblers are likewise suited to the environment they must traverse in the season.
Finding enough food is what it's all about when these migrants make a rest stop. This Black-throated Green Warbler was catching flying ants, tasty little snacks.
Nashville Warblers also blend in as blue plus yellow equals green.
So, what accounts for the Halloween Warbler, the American Redstart? Black and orange, light and shadow, it flutters down onto a branch as gracefully as a leaf.
The dull yellow female Tennessee Warblers are easily mistaken for leaves.
The Ovenbird walks along the floor of scattered leaves, blending in with earth, sticks and stones. It doesn't call, "teacher, teacher, TEACH!" in the fall and is easily missed.
We all have stresses and worries in these strange pandemic times,
so here's a tiny bit of pure, unadulterated joy to brighten your day!
(Black-throated Green Warbler)
Fall has arrived! 9-23-20
Fall is Here
Birds have been coming in every day, it has been a busy two weeks since my last post. Young Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been busy feeding, investigating food sources, preening, chasing rivals and even getting in occasional catnaps (yes, eyes closed). We still have one or two adult males around. They will all be on their way soon enough to winter homes.
Warblers have also been arriving for rest stops in our small oasis. It has been very dry so the water features continue to attract them. A female Canada Warbler enjoyed the 'bubble' and a Northern Waterthrush checked out the basin.
Northern Parulas, a single Blackburnian Warbler and numerous American Redstarts have come down from the canopy. Two Magnolia Warblers approached the water together.
Days when several species get in together show us the variety of warblers we have in the visiting flock. Magnolia, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green and Chestnut-sided Warblers often travel together.
The Black-and-white left and a Tennessee Warbler came in the back door to join the other three. The lookout was the Black-throated Green.
Last Friday, 9-18-20 was a lovely day and the Bay-breasted, Golden-winged and Chestnut-sided Warblers got cozy together. Safety in numbers helps to ensure their survival.
Another way to help the birds is to provide plenty of cover for them. This Ovenbird, a warbler, is most often found walking along the ground as it forages. The Bay-breasted Warbler used the Elm (Ulmus americana) for perfect camouflage and the Magnolia Warbler dried off in the native Smooth Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens).
We've seen other migrants, too. A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher looked earnestly for insects and a Red-breasted Nuthatch finally appeared! I'd been hearing them several days in a row and this female stopped in at the bubbler. This is an irruptive species and we should see them through the winter.
Philadelphia Vireos have been splash-bathing in the bubbler pond. And last but not least, a young Rose-breasted Grosbeak took a quick bath before returning to the canopy.
Photographing birds is one of the most challenging things I've ever done. Thank you for being patient! If you'd like to see the most recent images in addition to these, and there are about 170 more, begin here:
First week of September, 9-8-20
And September begins with hummingbirds...
Ruby-throats have been busy drinking nectar, sometimes while peeing, perching for quick catnaps, and dancing with the dripper. All the while, they are watching out for competitors and yes, predators!
The native Praying Mantis (Stagomantis carolina) will take a hummingbird and actually eat it. There are plenty of videos online to show the gory details. This is the first time I've seen one on the feeder pole and then the dome of the hummingbird feeder. Our grandson, Dean assured me this was a female. "The females are much bigger and they don't have wings, GyGy." He had watched an episode of Wild Kratts which told him all about them. So, I just removed the feeder and let the mantis look for insects, its usual prey. As I was taking the feeder back inside, I turned to see a young hummer looking for it. The mantis lunged at the bird, but missed! This was getting serious.
Learn more about this valuable insect: Missouri's Praying Mantis
Today, for the first time since 8/31/20, a male Ruby-throat was at the feeder in back. It allowed a female to come in, then chased it off.
I had not seen the mantis near the feeder on the east side yesterday, so I had re-hung the feeder. Well, today it was poised for action on the feeder itself. Normally, I do my best not to interfere in nature's processes. But, it was time to take this feeder away. I gently coaxed the reluctant mantis off with a stick, and brought the feeder in to clean it. We'll find another place for the feeder further away from this predator's patch. More hummingbirds will be coming through for another month or so.
Now, it's time to talk about migration! Birds are on the move and there was a big push with the cool front last Thursday, 9-3-20. I usually just watch the weather to figure out when birds may be coming through, but there is another option called BirdCast. Here's the website:
One can sign up here to get an email alert about a change in the forecast: blogtrottr - Reader Subscription Service
Most of the birds with this last strong front and the Full Corn Moon just kept on going, flying over during the night. But I did have a few that stopped in. An American Redstart and a first of the season (FOS) Swainson's Thrush were here on 9-3-20, ahead of the front.
On Friday, 9-4-20 a Wilson's Warbler was in the bubbler basin quite early. A Red-eyed Vireo was observed taking berries from the Rough-leaf Dogwoods, and a Chestnut-sided Warbler stopped by the bubbler.
That same day, while I sitting in my spot reviewing some photos, a young Cooper's hawk came to investigate the bubbler. It didn't seem to have noticed me at all. I moved very, very slowly and was able to get quite a few photos. Of course, with this raptor there, no small birds were making a peep. I wondered how long it would be before it saw me. About ten minutes into this game, Dan came back from a bike ride and used the back door to go inside. At first, Dan couldn't see what I was photographing. Then, the bird spooked and flew. I don't think it ever registered that I had been there the whole time.
We haven't had any rain in quite a while now, so the water features are getting lots of activity. Carolina Chickadees stop by the dripper and the bubbler to quench their thirst.
We often see one, two or more mammals in one family come together for water. Deer, raccoons and opossum come to mind. It is rare though, to see two different species encounter each other. On Thursday, 9-3-20, one surprised another!
Hope this brightened your day...here's to more of nature's surprises!
Last week of August, 8-31-20
Two-thirds of the year is nearly behind us.
Birds, birds, birds ~ TGFB!
Birds know how to have fun, and they can brighten the darkest days. Here are some of the past week's images and observations.
One of our Carolina Wrens was poking around under the dripper bath in the east bed and decided that it would be even more fun to just take a bath there. The water was gently dripping down, so why not? Eventually, it came up top and tried that, too. Was this a young bird? Couldn't tell, but there was no question that it made the most of the situation.
One of the Carolina Chickadees was seen checking out the larger dripper bath. We have timers on both of them, and they alternate being on. This bird was there at exactly the right moment before the dripper came on, studying the water and waiting! The smart little bird was soon rewarded!
Friends, you have questioned me about it being too early for "Fall", but the White-breasted Nuthatches are grabbing seeds to cache away in their secret hidey-holes already! They're thinking "Winter"!
Young birds, like these Northern Cardinals are finding their way around the bubbler and feeders, too. Cardinals have been a very productive species this year in our woodland, with several families having young.
Each cool front now has the potential to bring in migrating species. Saturday, 8-29-20 brought in seven warbler species. Both Magnolia and Chestnut-sided Warblers investigated the bubbler area in between foraging.
Distinctive female Canada Warblers were heavy feeders Saturday and Sunday, but one did check out the bubbler.
Several Black-and-white Warblers joined in the mixed flock. A first fall female didn't hesitate to enjoy a bath.
A First-of-Season Nashville Warbler was one of two seen on Saturday.
Several American Redstarts were also in the small flock. A first fall male and an adult male were vying for the "Bubble".
Do NOT be fooled by young Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. They may look pretty cute, but they will get in anybody's face! I've seen them buzz so many different kinds of birds over the years, even owls. The offenders don't even have to be close to a feeder or a flower to draw their ire! I've even had one at my ear when I was too close to a Cardinal flower. If I'm in my usual spot, they ignore me, and sit at the feeders with their backs to me as if to say, "Ha. Just try to catch me! I double-dare ya!"
September should bring in many more southbound travelers!
Fall Migration has begun! 8-23-20
Perhaps you've noticed an uptick in the number of
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in your yards?
That cool front brought in more birds. They are being seen sipping nectar from every available source, chasing each other mercilessly and getting in other birds' faces, too. What a fun time to watch them as they exercise those wings to be ready to move on.
A long-distance migrant that has nested in our neighborhood is the Mississippi Kite. They are graceful, acrobatic flyers, catching insects like dragonflies, and even bats, on the wing. We've had them land in the very tops of our trees and they've been difficult for us to see there, let alone photograph. I have been hearing them call "Phee-phew!" and found this immature bird in our neighbor's tree. The banded tail is what tells us this is a young bird. They're beautiful, pearly gray, small raptors and are now on their way to South America. Look closely in the last photo to find the tell-tale silhouette.
Learn more here: Mississippi Kite
American Goldfinches, on the other hand, will be here all year. They have been gorging on the Purple Coneflowers and feeding their brood of fledglings. The youngsters are now learning their way around.
Carolina Chickadees and Carolina Wrens also are resident birds. They run the place, in case you didn't know. They show the migrating birds by their cheerful calls that they find everything they might need, right here in our Sanctuary.
Eastern Phoebes and Common Grackles have also been seen. The Phoebes will move a bit further south for the winter while the Grackles will be in and out all winter. All the birds are getting new feathers in now, being in their summer molt.
The first two warblers came in on 8-16-20 and a Black-and-white Warbler followed two days later. They'll be trickling in for the next two months or so. They don't sing like they do in the spring, but they're just as hungry and must eat 35-50% of their body weight in caterpillars and other small insects at each 'rest stop'.
Monarchs are also in the garden almost daily as they nectar and lay eggs. I found a good-sized caterpillar this morning, munching away on its only food, milkweed leaves. The species that does the best here for them is the Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).
Enjoy Nature's diversity in these waning days of summer.