[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 75, No. 3, March, 2002]

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SIGHTINGS: A Northern Goshawk was sighted on 12/28/01 at Little Creve Coeur Lake (IH).

Pied-billed Grebes and Double-crested Cormorants were reported throughout January (FH, G&TB, P&BJ, MT). On 1/8, Ross's Goose, 7 Mute Swans, Am. Wigeon, and several Loggerhead Shrikes were reported from Baldwin Lake (G&TB) and all were re-found on 1/29 (P&BJ). Pintails were seen at REDA on 1/12 (CA, G&TB). Wood Duck was found at Canteen Lake on 1/10 (KL). Greater Scaup was seen at REDA on 1/19 (CA). The Johnsons reported the following ducks at Raccoon Ranch on 1/1: Wood Duck, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Am. Black Duck, Pintail, Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Coot, and Common Snipe. Also on 1/1, Blue-winged Teal were seen on the Orchard Farm Christmas Count (C&DD, YH*). An Oldsquaw and 2 Black Ducks were reported from REDA on Jan. 2 (J Mo, KP, Doug Willis from Farmington). A Turkey Vulture was found on 1/10 along I-44 (LY) and one was seen on 1/27 at BCA (MB). Three N. Harriers were seen at REDA on 1/6 and on 1/19 (MT). An immature N. Harrier and Hairy Woodpecker were good finds in TGP on 1/27 (S Mc). Mike Thelen reported 45 Bald Eagles at REDA on 1/5. About 110 Bald Eagles were counted in Illinois from I-270 to the McKinley Bridge (FH, Diane Tecic). Barb Dietrich reported 2 Bald Eagles from George Winter Park on 1/26. Sharp-shinned Hawk sightings included 1 at BCA on 1/1 (G&TB), a perched bird at BCA on 1/19 (CA), and 1 at HL along with a Thayer's Gull (DB et al.). An immature N. Goshawk was reported from MTC on 1/9 (P&BJ). The year 2002 is an historic invasion year for Goshawks. Their cycle is approximately every 10 years and the year before and after can also be good. Red-shouldered Hawks were reported across the entire region, with 2 at BCA on 1/6 (S Mc). A Harlan's Hawk returned to Sand Prairie Road near HL for the 5th winter (FH, photo). Rough-legged Hawks included a sighting at CL on 1/14 (DK) and a dark morph bird on 1/29 on Ill. Hwy. 4 (P&BJ). Merlin sightings included 1 at REDA on 1/10 (CA) and 1 on Dwiggins Road on 1/19 (J&CM).

Two Common Snipe and Killdeer were found at Grafton, Ill. on 1/1 (Edna Alexander). Bonaparte's Gulls were found at CL on 1/26 (DK, G&TB) and on 1/29 at REDA (P&BJ). Frank Holmes reported the following gulls from REDA: first year Glaucous on 1/9 (photo), adult Lesser Black-backed on 1/8 (photo), first year Iceland on 1/18 (photo), and Great Black-backed on 1/9. Jeannie Moe sighted a Glaucous Gull at REDA on 1/13. Four Lesser Black-backeds and an immature Thayer's Gull were found at REDA and HL on 1/5 (JM, m. ob.). Mike Thelen described Laurus fuscus intermedius at REDA on 1/6. There are 3 subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull and one intergrade, two of which have been reported in North America. On 1/19, the Audubon Society of Mo. Gull Workshop found Glaucous, Iceland and an adult Thayer's Gull (D Ben, MT, m. ob.). On 1/6, a Barn Owl was observed at very close range at BCA (Steve Whitworth, Shawn Clubb). Kathy Thiele and other Busch staff confirmed this sighting. Shawn Clubb also found a Barn Owl at Olin Nature Reserve three weeks earlier. Three Short-eared Owls were found near Peabody Coal on 1/19 (T Bo). Six Long-eared Owls were reported from CL on 1/20 (DK). Calling Barred Owls were found at BCA (Th. Group), Tyson (DL) and at their home in Franklin County (C&DD) during January. The Johnsons found a gray-morph Screech Owl at 1/24 at Portage De Sioux and the Solodars had a red-phase at their home in University City. One to three N. Saw-whet Owls have been seen regularly at CL/Hazlet State Park in January (DK). A Winter Wren and several Pileated Woodpeckers were seen at Gilbert Lake on 1/1 (T Bo). On 1/17, the Thursday Group and George & Terry Barker observed an E. Phoebe at the BCA Shorebird Area. Jeannie Moe found 18 Bluebirds at Greensfelder Park on 1/3. Brown Thrasher and 2 Brown Creepers were found at HL on 1/6 (FH, G&TB). An American Pipit seen at Creve Coeur Lake on 1/6 was a good winter find (IH).

Mike Thelen reported 15 Savannah Sparrows from REDA on 1/6. On Jan. 2, Sherry McCowan observed a Field Sparrow at HL/Walker Island. A Chipping Sparrow seen at CL/Hazlet S.P. on 1/1 was a good find (DK). Jackie Chain found a Harris's Sparrow on Sandridge Road/Mark Twain NWR on 1/22. Zoe Geist found 50 Cardinals at Babler S.P. on 1/1. Purple Finch were sparsely reported area-wide. Other winter finch were not reported. Pine Siskins were still being found in a sunflower field near CL on 1/13 (DK). Flocks of 100 and 50 Eurasian Tree Sparrows were seen near Alton on 1/18 (CA).

COMMENTS: On 1/1, Sharon Kempen had about 150 ETS in her yard and a Cooper's Hawk was seen eating one on 1/8. Dennis Bozzay is still seeing his Cooper's Hawk in January. Margie Terpstra has had an adult and an immature Cooper's Hawk in her yard this month. By 12/27, Cardinal, E. Meadowlark and Killdeer were heard singing and calling at HL (FH). Frank Holmes also reported a Bald Eagle clutching a Ring-billed Gull to its breast in flight. On 1/6, Judy Boeser videoed 12 species at her feeder, including a Red-breasted Nuthatch. Red-breasted Nuthatches are being seen at feeders through the area, including Babler S.P. (Zoe Geist). During January, Paul & Barbara Johnson found these birds at their home: Hairy & Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Brown Creeper.

CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, George & Terry Barker, Paul Bauer, David Becher, Diane Benjamin, Tom Bormann, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Cheryl & Don Delashmit, Barbara Dietrich, Peter Hoell, Frank Holmes, Ian Hunt, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Dan Kassebaum, Kent Lannert, Randy Korotev, Dave Larson, Vivian Liddell, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, Jeannie Moe, Kraig Paradise, John & Nancy Solodar, Mike Thelen, Kathy Thiele, Linda Yust, many observers. An asterisk means "documented".

ABBREVIATIONS: Busch Conservation Area = BCA; Carlyle Lake = CL; Forest Park = FP; Horseshoe Lake = HL; Lost Valley Trail = LVT; Marais Temps Clair = MTC; Riverlands = REDA; Tower Grove Park = TGP; Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge = MTNWR.

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