[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 73, No. 3, March, 2001] JANUARY BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerIt was a banner winter for Harris's Sparrows and Snow Buntings, with 4 of the latter on the Collinsville Circle Count alone. A Barrow's Goldeneye was surpassed only by a Smew, although the true originals of the Smew will likely never be known. A pair of Smews can be purchased for $550 from a waterfowl breeder in Tennessee. The presence of the Smew certainly livened up the January and early February birding for people across the country, as we had many visitors from other states. Pied-billed Grebes were located at HL on 1/28 (D Bz) and a Horned Grebe was seen many times at REDA (P&BJ, J Mo, D Bz). The first Double-crested Cormorant reported was at HL on 1/28 (D Bz). White Pelicans first appeared at REDA on 1/27 (m. ob.). In January, the following duck species were observed at REDA: Green-winged Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, and Red-breasted, Hooded and Common Merganser (P&BJ, J&CM). Jeannie Moe and Dennis Bozzay found Am. Black Duck toward the end of the month. Charlene Malone hotlined Barrow's Goldeneye from REDA on 1/12 and it was seen by many birders throughout the month. This unusual find was quickly followed by another, when Mike Grant was one of the first to see the Smew at REDA on 1/13. St. Louis Audubon and Kansas City Audubon birders were present for the event It was officially identified by Roger McNeill and Matt Gearhart. The Smew was in normal wild plumage and appeared to be unbanded. Two Turkey Vultures were soaring along I-55 in Jefferson Co. on 1/24 (YH, JZ). Cooper's Hawks were numerous area-wide, with one reported eating a Rock Dove at HL on 1/28 (D Bz). On the 4th, Paul and Barbara Johnson and Jeannie Moe observed a Sharp-shinned Hawk at BCA. At HL on 1/28, all the accipiters were seen, including a sub-adult N. Goshawk (JZ, FH). Red-shouldered Hawk was seen near the stables at BCA on 1/6 (J&CM) and again on 1/21 near Hampton Lake (J Mo). A Harlan's Hawk, a very dark individual, has been present near HL for at least 4 winters. (T Be). An unusual form of Red-tailed Hawk, an adult rufous morph, was observed three times: on 1/10 at the Hwy. 143 slough (J&CM), on 1/21 (MT), and on 1/22 near Alton Barge (FH). A dark-phased Rough-legged Hawk was reported from CL on 1/15 (J Mo). Dave Hoehne observed 2 Peregrine Falcons on the ice at REDA on 1/12. Franklin's Gulls were found on 1/9 at the Chain (T Be), on 1/10 at REDA (G&TB), and on 1/11 at REDA (Dottie Herwig & Th. Group). That same day, the Thursday Group also found a Bonaparte's Gull and a Lesser Black-backed. On 1/9, an Iceland Gull was located at REDA (PB). A first year Thayer's Gull was seen at CL on 1/15 (J Mo) and a rare adult was seen at REDA on 1/21 (J&CM). John Solodar found the darker form of Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus intermedius, at REDA on Jan. 4 (m. ob.). During the week of 1/15, Laughing, Franklin's, Ring-billed, Herring, up to 6 Glaucous, including one adult (BR), Iceland, Thayer's, Lesser Black-backed, and Great Black-backed Gulls were all seen at REDA (CA, m. ob.). On 1/15, Jeannie Moe observed 11 Pheasants at Hazlett State Park, CL, and on Jan. 4, 19 Turkeys were observed from Hwy. 143 (CA). A Great Horned Owl was seen on Walker Island, HL, on 1/23 (D Bz). A really good find at REDA was the Snowy Owl on 1/16 (Dave Ziolkowski). Twelve other birders re-located it up to the end of the month. Saw-Whet Owl was observed at Hazlet State Park, CL, on 1/21 (Mary Anne Auer, J&CM). Dan Kassebaum found Long-eared Owl there on the same day. At CL, Jeannie Moe discovered 2 bird legs with taloned feet that probably belonged to a Long-eared Owl killed by a Great-Horned Owl. Mike Grant located Brown Creep and Red-breasted Nuthatch at BCA on 1/6. The Johnsons found a Winter Wren at REDA on 1/20. Yellow-rumped Warbler was regularly reported during January, with several at Busch on Jan. 2 (P&BJ). Harris's Sparrow was found in 6 locations, including Lou Hanes' feeder, Calhoun Co., Ill. Spotted and Rufous-sided Towhee were present on the Katy Trail on 1/3 (T Bo). Red Crossbills were seen by many birders at the Fallen Oak Trail, BCA, with up to 15 present at times (P&BJ, Bob McFall, and DB). Two Field Sparrows and a Swamp Sparrow were seen at HL on 1/23 (D Bz). The Barkers found Purple Finch at BCA on 1/13. Thirty Lapland Longspurs were seen at REDA on 1/1 (T Be). The last Snow Bunting at REDA was reported on 1/13 and one was also seen regularly at Mastodon State Park. A male Yellow-headed Blackbird was present in a huge mixed flock on Bischoff Road on 1/23 (D Bz; photo). The Great-tailed Grackles found on the Orchard Farm Christmas Count were found well into January (BR, Tom Parmeter). COMMENTS: A Mute Swan, rescued near Godfrey, Ill. in December, was released back into the wild in January (Jaynie Doerr). Joe Smentowski had 3 Bald Eagles while canoeing near Scott's Ford on the Meramec. He relates that MDC personnel have observed 13 at Meramec Springs, which does not freeze in the winter. The Barkers had a Carolina Wren in their backyard on 1/19. David Sibley and Ken Kaufmann have produced 2 excellent new field guides. Sibley's is intended for more advanced collections but would serve a beginner as well. The illustrations are extraordinary. Kaufmann's is a good photographic guide and will enhance any birder's library. Computer-enhanced photographs are used. ABBREVIATIONS: Busch Wildlife = BCA; Carlyle Lake = CL; Horseshoe Lake = HL; Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge = MTNWR; Marais Temps Clair = MTC; Riverlands = REDA; Tower Grove Park = TGP. CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, George & Terry Barker, Paul Bauer, David Becher, Torrey Berger, Tom Bormann, Dennis Bozzay, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Dan Kassebaum, Jim & Charlene Malone, Jeannie Moe, Bill Rowe, John Solodar, Mike Thelen, Jim Ziebol, many observers. An asterisk means "documented". |