[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 73, No. 7, Sep., 2001] JULY BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerSIGHTINGS: Five Least Bitterns were found at MTC on 7/7 (DB). MTC also produced 2 Least Bitterns and 1 American Bittern (probably a breeding dispersal bird) on 7/19 (JZ, N. Snider, K. Thiele). King Rail, 2 Least Bitterns and a nesting Double-crested Cormorant were observed at Clarence Cannon NWR on 7/22 (J&CM). At Horseshoe Lake on 7/13, there were 6 species of herons and egrets numbering over 300 individuals (JZ), and approximately 500 egrets and herons were observed on 7/28 (m.ob.). The Thursday Group saw about 200 assorted herons and egrets along Hayford Road in St. Charles County on 7/26. On 7/6, 800 Killdeer were seen at the same location (T Be). As of the middle of the month, shorebird reports were sparse. Willets were seen in 2 places on 7/24: five were observed in Monroe County, Ill. (DK) and one was observed at REDA (CM). Ron Goetz located a Solitary Sandpiper at Shaw Nat. Res. On 7/15. Short-billed Dowitcher was seen on Hwy. C at MTC on 7/8 (CA). David Becher found Solitary Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs at MTC on 7/8. An adult Laughing Gull was present at HL on 7/15 (DK). Mississippi Kites were reported in great numbers throughout the area, with 2 sightings in Des Peres (Margie Richardson) and 2 at his home (CA). Torrey Berger observed a Peregrine Falcon from his downtown office on 7/13. A Eurasian Collared Dove was seen by Kraig Paradise at his Spanish Lake home on 7/9 and another was seen on Hwy. 94 in St. Charles County on 7/22 (CM, CA). Five Red-headed Woodpeckers and a Hooded Warbler were observed at Castlewood S.P. on 7/1 (T Be) and 35 Red-headed Woodpeckers were sighed in Monroe Co. Ill. on 7/28 (KL, T Bo). On 7/7, a Marsh Wren, Willow Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo were found at MTC (DB). A Sedge Wren was located at REDA on 7/14 (G&TB, CM). Blue Grosbeak were found twice: on 7/7 along Layton Road at HL (JZ, YH) and on 7/14 at a location near HL. COMMENTS: Thanks to the participation of the following people, our 3rd annual Breeding Bird Survey at Busch C.A. (including Lost Valley Trail and Blue Grosbeak Trail) was a great success. All the lakes and all the roads in Busch C.A. were surveyed. David Becher, Dennis Bozzay, Jeannie Moe, Anne McCormack, Connie Alwood, Kent Lannert, Bruce Wetteroth, Doug Corbett, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Loy Barber, Tom Parmeter, Torrey Berger, Mike Grant, Sue Gustafson, Bill Rudden, Yvonne Homeyer, Jim Ziebol, Tom Bormann, Ron Goetz, Nancy Snider, Kevin Renick. And special thanks to Jim Moe, who has tallied the survey results on a spreadsheet for each of the past 3 years - with his help, our data is transformed into a meaningful and usable format. A possible Rose-throated Becard was sighted at Gilbert Lake (HW, IM). CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, George & Terry Barker, David Becher, Tom Bormann, Ron Goetz, Dan Kassebaum, Kent Lannert, Jim & Charlene Malone, Irene Mondhink, Margie Richardson, Nancy Snider, Kathy Thiele, Helen Wuestenfeld, Jim Ziebol, many observers. An asterisk means "documented". ABBREVIATIONS: Busch Conservation Area = BCA; Carlyle Lake = CL; Forest Park = FP; Horseshoe Lake = HL; Lost Valley Trail = LVT; Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge = MTNWR; Marais Temps Clair = MTC; Riverlands = REDA; Tower Grove Park = TGP. |