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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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1-21-16 A busy third week of January
The week began with Saturday's flock of Rusty Blackbirds. At first, twenty hungry birds were foraging in the leaf litter. Then there were 40, then double that again, a conservative estimate. We have seen this many before a few times, but it was an amazing sight with movement everywhere in the garden beds on two sides of the yard as well as in the swampy thicket. This is a female Rusty Blackbird.
Here are two males. Moths and insects overwinter in the leaf litter and provide needed protein.
More photos begin here: http://hummerhavenunltd.com/p712853024/h61d97fb2#h61d97fb2
The birds worked the lawn as well and the bird on the right has a small slug in it's bill. Since our lawn is not treated with chemicals, hopefully, any food they find is safe for them to eat.
This activity went on for about an hour before the whole flock took off and flew to the west. A Carolina Wren found food in the leaf litter, too. It's chestnut camouflage is ideal.
A female Purple Finch has been here off and on this week. I only managed to get one photo as it perched in a Blackhaw Viburnum. I have not seen it at any feeder but the bird has been at the bubbler several times a day for water.
Here are female House Finches for comparison. The brown ear (auricular) patch defined by white borders above and below point to a Purple Finch. House Finches are dull brownish little birds.
I also have this photo to show how much male House Finches can vary in color. The one on the lower right is an Orange Variant.
We had a dusting of snow on Sunday and birds like this Mourning Dove took breaks from feeding to fluff up and keep warm in the cold.
We had another few inches of snow that began on Tuesday afternoon and ended in the wee hours on Wednesday morning. The bubbler was a real hub of activity all through the day on Tuesday. I counted 27 species that day and 21 of those came to drink, like this Red-bellied Woodpecker.
A large flock of American Robins descended upon the woods and again the leaf litter was alive with movement as the snow began to fall.
The garden textures changed by morning, as seen with these purple coneflowers adorned in snow.
A single Rusty Blackbird lingered all day, resorting to cover under one of the Christmas trees we had staked near the feeders.
Two Rusties were here again early this morning at the bubbler.
A Yellow-rumped Warbler came in the afternoon hoping for a bit to eat and drink.
One or two Pine Siskins have been seen almost every day as well. Yes, it has certainly been a busy week.
1-17-16 Update on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throat was last seen on Tuesday, 1/12/16. It was after sunset, very close to full darkness and the bird was still feeding "like mad", said the hosts. They had never seen this behavior. The next day, it was gone. Lanny Chambers, the licensed hummingbird bander who banded the bird said, "Winter hummers often disappear when the weather turns nice after a stint of severe cold." The hosts have kept the feeder going this week, just in case, but still no sign of the bird. We all hope the best for this little hummingbird.
Second week of the year report
Temperatures have gone from 5.4 degrees on Sunday to a high yesterday of 65.3 degrees. January in St. Louis certainly has its swings. With those changes comes a chance of different birds showing up. On Monday, a Northern Mockingbird came to the bubbler. A mocker is a common bird most of the year, but uncommon in winter and usually the only time we see might see one here because they prefer more open habitat. It came to drink.
On Tuesday, a few more uncommon winter residents showed up, Rusty Blackbirds. There were 3 birds foraging for food by turning over wet leaves in the partially frozen swampy thicket, their preferred habitat. Read more about them here:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rusty_Blackbird/id
They are on the IUCN Red List as a Vulnerable species because their numbers are rapidly declining.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22724329/0
Wednesday, we watched a Golden-crowned Kinglet in the large sugar maple by the pond. That brings the year list to 29 species. I was not able to get a photo then, but I did get photos of one earlier in the fall. It has been a good start to 2016!
Golden-crowned Kinglet last October:
http://hummerhavenunltd.com/blog/2015/10/more-winter-arrivals-and-a-fiery-prize
1-12-16 Update on the Winter Ruby-throat
At 9:46 am yesterday, I got the word, "Charlie lives!" The little puffball had made it through two nights with temperatures below ten degrees. I arranged with the hosts to come by in the early afternoon. Within a few minutes, the ruby-throat came in to feed, vigorously.
It went to the fence and perched several minutes, resting, soaking up some warmth and peeing a few times before returning to the feeder.
Lanny Chambers looked at the photos and said, "The bird looks like a healthy hummer, fluffed up against the chill." The hosts are getting up very early and changing out the feeder every day. It's a commitment, it's how they're spending their winter vacation - helping a mixed up little hummingbird. Congratulations to them from Lanny and all of us for their persistence in helping this tiny bird get through the cold! It showed up again today as well. Maybe it's tougher than we could have imagined.
To see all the photos, look in this gallery: http://hummerhavenunltd.com/p598713101
A double-helping day
Saturday came in with an early high of 42.6 and a messy, mixed bag of precipitation throughout the day. We did see 3 Brown Creepers, at least a dozen Northern Cardinals and lots of Dark-eyed Juncos.
Our first Pine Siskins of the year came in about 2:30 in the afternoon, and a feeding frenzy ensued. There were at least 10 and quite possibly more.
Temperatures dropped all day long and this morning it was 5.4 degrees here.
The birds have been busy in the garden and at the feeders. One of the male Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers tried unsuccessfully to get some maple sap to run. It just did its best to fluff up and stay warm.
A Carolina Chickadee took advantage of a brief moment by itself to take a double-helping of safflower seed.
Winter has arrived, but we have gained some daylight since the Solstice - 12 whole minutes by my calculation!