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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.
We hope you are inspired to create your own refuge!
End of April birds 4-29-18
What's going on?
Like this Carolina Wren, I've been scratching my head about this spring's migration. In the last few years I've seen many more species arrive by the end of April. We birders look forward to spring and the arrival of these birds with the greatest anticipation! The extended cold weather seems to have affected their food supply. Now that small insects are emerging, things should pick up around here! It takes them a few days to feed and gather strength at each stop before they can move on. They have been seen in good numbers in southern parts of the state, a very good sign.
So, in the meantime, we enjoy watching the Yellow-rumped Warblers and hearing the plaintive song of the White-throated Sparrow.
Listen here: Song of the White-throated Sparrow
More folks have seen Ruby-throats by now, too.
The Hermit Thrush was here up until a couple days ago so I think it has moved on.
The cottontails are out and about, munching on violets.
Eastern Gray Squirrels spend most of the day chasing each other, but these two were seen resting together in the thicket.
This video captured one of the Barred Owls we've been hearing. The only creatures moving in the water are the American Toads, so we assume that was what the owl took for a meal.
On Tuesday, 4-24-18, the first Orange-crowned Warbler was in the woodland looking for insects in dried leaf clusters and a Brown Creeper found a centipede for a meal.
The first House Wren of the year showed up at the Bubbler Pond the following morning.
Both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets came to the Bubbler that Wednesday. The Ruby-crowned made my day, excitedly flashing those red crown feathers!
On Thursday, 4-26-18, these Northern Cardinals were pair-bonding. The male offered his mate a healthy larval tidbit, proving his commitment to her and their nestlings.
A new year bird announced its arrival with a "tu-Wheep!" on Friday, 4-27-18. The Great-crested Flycatcher has returned.
So, I continue to watch and wait, enjoying the antics of the Ruby-throat at the Virginia Bluebells while the fragrance of Golden Currant wafts in my direction.
Tuesday, 5-1-18, my new exhibit called "Warblers" will be on display at Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood, MO. Check out the information about it in the next blog post and stop by the Art Hallway sometime soon! I'll be opening the online gallery in a couple weeks for those of you who aren't able to get there.
Finally! 4-22-18
We may have finally turned the corner! Our temperatures have been challenging with a couple really warm days, some sleety snow and several hard freezes. There has been a mix of 'winter' birds and new first of year (FOY) birds as well.
Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers flew in to the same tree very briefly on Tuesday, 4-10-18.
The Eastern Phoebe perched in the Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) while it was in bloom last Sunday, 4-15-18.
This FOY Chipping Sparrow was foraging in the sleet shower on Monday, 4-16-18. One has been seen several times since then.
There have been several Yellow-rumped Warblers around this past week. They are considered a winter resident but we'll be seeing them for a while yet until they move north to Canada to breed. One of these warblers really likes peanut chips! Another found a tasty insect for a meal.
A Brown-headed Cowbird has been coming to bathe in the afternoons. This is the first year I've seen a male of this species get in the basin.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets have also returned from a short distance south. There have been a couple of them chasing each other around the last few days.
And, yes, it's time to put up your hummingbird feeders! The first male returned on Thursday, 4-19-18. I saw a second male at a favorite feeder today!
The hummers have also been enjoying the nectar of the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica).
There have been 1-4 Rusty Blackbirds here on different days. My highest count was 60 on Tuesday, 4-10-18.
On Friday, 4-20-18, a Golden-crowned Kinglet popped out of the Golden Currant (Ribes odoratum), how fitting, and landed on a stone near the pond.
Another small bird was foraging nearby, a FOY Blue-gray Gnatcatcher!
Early on Saturday, 4-21-18, I went out to hose off the Bubbler and heard a soft "teesi-teesi-teesi" and found a FOY warbler, a Black and White. It was climbing up the Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria) near the driveway. It moved on to the west.
Well, I had high hopes for more migrants after that! It was several hours before I saw another striking warbler. It was taking a dip in the swale at the back property line and this bird also flew to the west. Another hour passed before a bird came in to check out the Bubbler. Was it the same bird or a second individual? That is one of the great mysteries of birding! This is the first time I've photographed a Yellow-throated Warbler in the spring!
Be on the lookout! The migrants are coming. I even had a FOY Monarch on Friday, 4-20-18. It was looking for milkweed but this year it hasn't emerged yet. Last year, I photographed one laying eggs on 4-15-17.
I checked back to a year ago and the difference in plant growth and new arrivals is quite striking. We must be 10 days behind with the cold spring. It has not been a figment of our imaginations! Blog from 4-21-17
To view all the photos since the last blog post start here: Photos since 4-8-18
Birds on the move! 4-8-18
The first days of April have brought in some new first of the year, aka FOY birds. On Wednesday, 4/4/18 a single Swamp Sparrow arrived. Three were seen on Friday, 4/6/18, moving about under the feeders and in the swampy wet area, no surprise when one considers their perfect camouflage.
I heard a Brown Thrasher on Friday, but never did find it. Later in the afternoon, a bird was foraging in the leafy mulch and I thought that might be the thrasher. But, no it was a female Eastern Towhee! It showed itself just long enough for a couple photos. Some of these reddish-brown birds can be really hard to discern amongst the leaves.
On Saturday, 4/7/18 I got a nice look at a Golden-crowned Kinglet flashing its bright fiery crown. It moved on quickly. About 10 am I came back downstairs and saw a beautiful male Purple Finch on the west feeder. The bird was still around today, and it has been counted as species #42 for the year.
Another bird that I saw first on Friday was a Hermit Thrush. It was getting a drink at the pond on the east side. I hurried to get the camera but then couldn't find the bird again. Some days are like that! I had better luck this morning. This is another bird that can be hard to see in the leaves. It was zipping about, perching then dropping down to grab an insect.
The Hermit Thrush has a rusty tail that it raises, then slowly lowers. It seemed to be softly vocalizing while it did this.
This week we've also seen a flock of Rusty Blackbirds coming in to feed in the wetland area. Rusties are a vulnerable species due to the loss of this type of swampy, wet habitat throughout the country. Their numbers have declined by 85% since 1966. Now, some may certainly not see a 'swamp' as an asset, but our vernal wetland is the main reason we see this species and a few others here. The flock has been numbering about 30-40 birds the last few days with a variety of male and female birds of different ages and plumages.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were seen on Friday and a Brown Creeper has been coming in the last few days.
One Swamp Sparrow came to the Bubble this morning to get a few sips of water.
The American Goldfinches are getting brighter and this Northern Cardinal is the richest red of the males we have around. I can almost hear what the females are thinking! "He's so fine, du-lang - du-lang - du-lang!" New arrivals and the usual suspects in bright colors, both are sure signs of the turn towards spring.
Signs of Spring! 3-26-18
SPRING!
There are some obvious signs of spring despite the cool, damp weather. We've gained over 3 hours of daylight since the Winter Solstice on 12/21/17. Northern Cardinals are chasing each other to set up territory. Birdsong has picked up in many species and nesting has begun for American Crows, Red-shouldered Hawks and Carolina Chickadees.
Two weeks ago on 3-10-18, we put up the chickadee tube nest box and I set the timer on my watch. Within 2 minutes the pair was checking it out. They quickly began excavating, taking turns to carry out the cedar shavings and eat safflower seeds to keep up their endurance! Nesting requires so much energy.
If the Eurasian Tree Sparrows will just leave them alone, they may succeed this year. In the winter, Carolina Chickadees will stay together in small groups. Only the dominant pair of the group will nest, so we are hopeful that we got the nest box up in time before other competing species arrive.
Spring does not happen all at once around here, we had a wet snow on Sunday, 3-11-18 that fell and melted quickly. The American Goldfinches are getting their new plumage in gradually and looking pretty patchy in the process, but definitely brightening up the gray days.
This time of year we're on the cusp of two seasons as winter turns to spring and birds are moving around the area. A pair of Pine Siskins returned on Wednesday, 3-21-18 and the pair have been seen sporadically since then.
A couple days earlier, we had 1.75" of rain and I was working at my desk on another project. I saw my FOY (first of year) Eastern Phoebe land in the north Sugar Maple, pumping its tail and shaking off the raindrops. It flew through the garden and then I lost sight of it. The day that I saw the Pine Siskins, the phoebe was back again, fly-catching in the garden. I saw it land on a boulder and just as I squeezed the shutter release, it took off. It was moving about quickly, landing in several small trees and flying down to grab insects emerging from the layers of leaf mulch.
A Hairy Woodpecker was also looking for insects the next afternoon. It spent quite a bit of time hammering at a decaying log which was harboring flying ants and small larvae. Their eyes are so expressive.
We've both seen a bit of activity at the Red-shouldered Hawks' nest. I waited 30 minutes for one to come back on Sunday with no luck. Perhaps they're still warming up to the idea in this dreary weather, I thought.
Well, I saw one of the pair fly into a white pine this afternoon. The bird looked about, then flew to an ash tree to meet her mate when he called "kee-yer, kee-yer" to her. All of the following photos were taken within six minutes.
The act was swift and a hopeful promise of life to come. Yes, there are definitely signs of spring!
For more information about the hawks: Red-shouldered Hawk
3-20-18 Happy Spring! Let's Review - Simple Ways to Add Moving Water for Birds
On this first day of spring, let us recognize and celebrate birds!
To begin, are you still thinking about where you might install a bubbler yet want to get some water ready sooner for the birds? Here is an older post that I did on more ideas for moving water. These features are easy to incorporate into your garden areas - and you don't have to limit yourself to just one! We have two drippers on birdbaths and two fountains in addition to the Bubbler and Pond. They are all visited every day during the warmer seasons!
Take a look here: Simple Ways to Add Moving Water for Birds
In a short time, plants will be emerging and it will soon be warm enough to fill those bird baths. This one is an antique that we level up in place on an oak stump, fill with pea gravel so the birds can see how shallow it is and start the dripper. The birds do love having easy access to fresh water!
This is the "Year of the Bird" according to the Audubon Society and National Geographic Society.
Did you know?
“If you take care of the birds, you take care of most of the big environmental problems in the world.”
—Thomas E. Lovejoy, Tropical Conservation Biologist and National Geographic Fellow
Here's a link to explain and help us understand :