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!
Stragglers and newbies 6-4-25
Another iris began blooming the last week of May. The 'Black Gamecock' is known as a Louisiana Iris cultivar. Five native species in Louisiana will spontaneously hybridize in the wild. This one is a vigorous, cold hardy selection. Hummingbirds will visit it.
It was given to me years ago by my friend, Judith Speck and is still going strong. Thank you, Judith!
Louisiana Iris - 'Black Gamecock'
A Veery and a first spring male American Redstart were seen on 5-23-25. The little redstart has a ways to go to get its black plumage. By next year, it will be in breeding splendor.
An American Crow became Bubbler bird #66 for the year on 5-27-25. These birds are more wary than a lot of the smaller species.
Look closely at this photo. I was curious, so I layered in an earlier photo of two warblers, the Bay-breasted and Blackburnian, to make a composite photo showing the differences in size between them all. Crows are 3-3.5 times the length of the warblers. The crows weigh in at 16 oz. and the warblers at just 0.5 oz and 0.4 oz. Well, American Crows are huge in comparison, aren't they?
Eastern Bluebirds have begun their second nesting. The female had laid five eggs by Memorial Day.
On 5-28-25, two warblers were seen at lunchtime, visiting the stream bed. Female Bay-breasted and Chestnut-sided Warblers were flitting around together. They approached the water when a chipmunk disturbed them and they flew.
One, maybe two female Chestnut-sided Warblers stayed around and were photographed on 6-1-25 and 6-2-25. This is my latest spring documentation of a migrating warbler. Birds of this species have been seen into early June and presumed to be non-breeders.
The first White-tailed Fawn was seen on 5-27-25. This doe is likely to be a new mama since there is only one fawn.
Another newbie seen was this young Hairy Woodpecker on 5-21-25. It made itself right at home investigating the water at the basin. Note the red feathers on top of its head.
The little bird returned on 6-2-25 and really got into hugging the bubble! Our place is a playground for these birds as they learn about life. In such a short time they need to figure out how to feed and clean themselves, and stay out of trouble!
On that note, it's time for me to catch up on weeding and reading Doug Tallamy's new book,
"How Can I Help?" and watching his upcoming webinar.
Interested in learning more about why native plants are so important?
Check out Doug Tallamy's website:
Vireos, warblers and cuckoos, oh, my! 5-27-25
Copper Iris (Iris fulva) in bloom on 5-17-25 surrounded by Christmas Fern, Cliff Goldenrod and a volunteer Painted Fern with Virginia Creeper on the opposite bank of the stream bed.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds pollinate this native iris.
We've had high peak nights with total numbers of birds in the millions for this spring migration. Though most of the migrants have passed through the area, stragglers may still show up. Since 2011, my average species count by the end of May is 104. That's where our count is today. However, it has become increasingly difficult to hear the birds with all the human made "Noise". Surely, you all know what I mean. I really feel for the birds! At least I can go inside, wear ear plugs and headphones and then put a pillow over my head! Heavens, let's understand that we are internally programmed to hear birds and to coexist with Nature.
On that note, I did have one memorable morning of peace when birds were here, the stars aligned and conditions were just right for them to visit the bubbler area. Thursday, May 15, 2025, was that day. This total immersion began with vireos splash-bathing, warblers sparring and cuckoos calling to enrich the whole experience and connect me, viscerally and spiritually, to these rhythms of Nature.
A Blue-headed Vireo perched on one of "Wally's cedars" and skimmed the bubbler pond.
This Red-eyed Vireo checked out several approaches, and chose the basin to make its splashy entrance!
A Chestnut-sided Warbler cautiously made its way to the water.
Oh, be still my beating heart! A Bay-breasted Warbler! It turned and explored the whole area.
This warbler is a must-see for birders in the spring. It moved to the large bubbler rock and then...
A second male dropped in! This is only the second time I've seen two males together. They danced, they sparred, they shook those tail feathers for over five minutes. All the while, a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoos were calling back and forth, one to my left and one to my right, just above the scene. Our Haikubox picked up both on this recording:
Two Yellow-billed Cuckoos calling
Unrivaled beauty, to be sure. Then, the Blue-headed Vireo returned and became more adventurous.
Its last trick was to dive in between two American Robins. Amazing skills these birds have to calculate, dive and survive, all the while seeming to have such a good time.
Oh, what a beautiful morning it had been, but then Noise began and I moved inside. There were still a few surprises in store. With more than 5 million birds reported over our area the night before, almost anything was still possible.
A female Wilson's Warbler checked in.
It was joined by a first spring male American Redstart.
Another stunner, a Blackburnian Warbler, aka "The Firethroat" stopped in to bathe. Tina and I had seen one a few days before in the stream bed and then the sugar maple.
It was briefly joined by one of the Bay-breasted Warblers before a Tennessee jumped in. Sometimes, it's like watching a corn popper the way the birds move about each other. Over the next week, more birds came in.
May 19, 2025 was another busy day with a Wilson's Warbler and a female Blackburnian Warbler.
A Philadelphia Vireo was seen splash-bathing in the vernal wetland while a Black-throated Green Warbler went to the basin.
A female Bay-breasted showed up on May 23, 2025. It is often confused with the female Blackpoll, which was here earlier.
Blackpoll above, Bay-breasted below are shown in this final photo. Time to look for stragglers on this cloudy day. A female Summer Tanager was seen last night and a very vocal Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was confirmed this morning.
Good birding to all!
Second week of May 5-13-25
Busy birds are here in our Shady Oaks Sanctuary!
Cedar Waxwings finally came down to the bubbler. I guesstimated a flock of 18-20 total.
I had gone to the door to greet Dan and when I returned, there was an Orchard Oriole just taking off. A bit later, two, maybe three first spring males came in. This was the first time I'd seen young birds in this plumage. Here is a composite photo.
Clockwise from upper left: adult female, adult male and two first spring male Orchard Orioles. This species averages 7" in length, a full inch shorter than the Baltimore Oriole.
Now for Baltimore Orioles, which are seen here a lot more often. This adult female dove right into tasting the bubble of water.
Clockwise from left: adult female, first spring male and two adult male Baltimore Orioles. They average 8" in length.
A breeding male Summer Tanager enjoyed a bath. Now for the warblers.
Black-and-white Warblers, the male first, a female follows in the second photo.
Always glad to see the Blackpoll Warblers in spring, they are very rare in fall due to their route across Canada and out over the ocean. However, nearly twelve years ago, my very first blog post was about an immature female that I documented here on October 4, 2013, for the third Missouri fall record.
A female Black-throated Green Warbler showed up before I saw a male and a Magnolia Warbler perched near the bubbler.
Chestnut-sided Warblers have been seen on different days. The last photo is a female.
This Chestnut-sided interrupted a bathing female Golden-winged Warbler.
Nashville Warblers are one of the more numerous warblers we see.
Yellow-rumped Warblers are still here, though in much fewer numbers.
Tennessee Warblers are by far the most vocal and are frequently at the bubbler and stream bed.
American Redstarts are showing up now, I heard another this morning. A few other warblers have been seen, including a Cape May in our cypress, a Bay-breasted doing a sprint around the bubbler and a Blackburnian, singing in the sugar maple after bathing in the stream bed. My dear friend, Tina Weyman found the Blackburnian and we thoroughly enjoyed the bird together on Mother's Day.
Earlier that morning, I was out at the bubbler pond to adjust the flow and heard this hummingbird buzzing around me. It came right back after I returned to the camera. It was on a mission!
Our Sanctuary continues to provide shelter, insect food and fresh water for migrating birds,
nesting birds and little sleepyheads!
We are so grateful to witness this amazing response every day to our restored habitat.
Recently, I've contributed two articles to a favorite local magazine, The Gateway Gardener.
Edited and published by our friend, Robert Weaver, each issue is always chock full of good information.
The April issue will open on a new page: Spring Birding 101
And, so will the May issue: Birds of May And How to Attract Them!
Happy May!
New arrivals by 5-4-25
Migrants continue to arrive in this first week of May.
Orange-crowned Warblers have been in the bubbler.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have arrived in numbers, sometimes a dozen are at the feeders.
Two Indigo Buntings have been seen bathing and at the feeders.
This female Scarlet Tanager took cover in a nearby Blackhaw viburnum after bathing early one morning. It returned later, bathing in full view. A bright red male was seen another day but stayed high, foraging.
Baltimore Orioles often come down from the treetops to enjoy a bath. A female Orchard Oriole followed one day to look on, too shy to come out for the camera.
A first spring Summer Tanager is always a treat in its coat of many colors!
Oh boy, more confusing thrushes! The first photo is of a Veery, a Western race bird that is a bit more brown. The second photo is a Swainson's Thrush with its buffy markings.
Yes, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have arrived. The birds have been at the flowers more than the feeders.
A secretive, skulking bird, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo eventually came out on this oak branch to be seen.
This Ovenbird, another warbler, has been seen marching about the forest floor; still challenging me to get a good photo of it.
It's always a relief to see a Golden-winged Warbler. They are one of the most endangered birds in North America. Habit loss in both their wintering grounds and breeding grounds seems to be a factor. Whatever we all can do to improve our yards as habitat will help beautiful birds such as these.
Black-and-white Warblers have been heard and one visited the bubbler.
Northern Parulas arrived in April and this female took a break to bathe in the swampy thicket.
Some warblers are being seen nearly every day, especially Tennessee and Nashville warblers.
The same seems to be the case for Palm Warblers and the Northern Waterthrush.
"Come and get it!"
Carolina Wrens have been super busy feeding their brood and showing them the ropes. It's so rewarding to see baby birds being safely raised in our sanctuary.
More migrants are on the way! Take a peek:
"Wait, wait, don't tell me!" 4-27-25
Little birds, high in the oaks are singing. Sometimes lit, sometimes in shadow they cling to and
move along the branches foraging for tiny caterpillars.
Leaves are growing rapidly on the trees further challenging identification. It's spring in full swing.
In that first photo are two Yellow-rumped Warblers, like those above. Males are nearly in full breeding plumage, females are a bit duller, as in the second photo.
Palm Warblers have been seen in the swampy thicket and near the bubbler.
Northern Waterthrush have been around this past week. Their loud metallic chip call alerts me to their presence in the swampy thicket.
Nashville Warblers were heard more than any other species a few days ago with 612 clips recorded. This bird worked on all the young American Elms in our woods finding larvae. What a contortionist!
Tennessee Warblers migrate with the Nashville Warblers. One bathed in the basin today after the light rain had subsided.
Thrushes appreciate the habitat here and we've had every species. Hermit Thrushes have the rusty tail. The Gray-cheeked Thrushes have an inconspicuous eye-ring and gray cheek. They are often difficult to separate from the Swainson's Thrushes, which have a buffy eye-ring and buff cheeks and upper breast.
American Robins and Eastern Bluebirds are thrushes, too. Both of these species nest in our yard. It won't be long before their chicks will be out and about.
The Eastern Phoebes and Carolina Wrens also nest here. The wrens fledged a few days ago and this adult has found an insect in the cover of the 'soft landings'.
This female Red-bellied Woodpecker searched for food in a Black Oak stump. How beautiful it is in the morning light!
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet checks out the bubbler from a nearby Blackhaw Viburnum. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been seen at the bubbler, finding food in the oak trees, and visiting the tray feeder. These migrants will be moving on as more birds move through.
Check out the latest forecast: