[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 75, No. 4, April, 2002] FEBUARY 2002 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerThis editor would like to sincerely thank Terri Brandt of Shaw Nature Reserve for the generous donation of wetland plants at the Jack Van Memorial Pool in Tower Grove Park. We also would like to thank Jeannie Moe, volunteer at Shaw, for helping with this process. Tower Grove Park would also like to plant more native plants around the pond. If anyone has plants they would like to donate, they could take them to the Park Office or the Park Horticulturist's Office. SIGHTINGS: Twenty White-fronted Geese were reported from HL on 2/13 (TB) and 107 were seen on 2/17 at Baldwin Lake, plus 3 Ross's Geese and a Rough-legged Hawk (IH). On 2/2, Mark Peters estimated 1400 migrating Snow Geese along with a few Bald Eagles in Jefferson County. Ten thousands Snow Geese were estimated at CL on 2/3 (P&BJ) and many thousands were observed on 2/24 at Swan Lake, MTNWR (CA). Dorcas Warner reported a Ross's Goose at a neighborhood pond in O'Fallon, Mo. on 2/2. Two Wood Ducks and 2 Hooded Mergansers were seen near the former Collinsville Road Golf Course on 2/16 (SM). An estimated 5-6,000 Mallards and 150 Pintails were at Hayford Road, St. Charles County, on 2/6 (DR). The Johnsons found Red-breasted Merganser at CL on 2/3 and Mike Thelen reported 4 Red-breasted Mergansers at REDA and 100 Ruddies at HL on 2/16. On 2/24, Frank Holmes reported 2 Black Ducks, 29 Buffleheads and Bonaparte's Gulls at HL and 135 Pintails at Eagle Park. The first Woodcock report was from Jefferson County on 2/1 (MP) and by 2/3, they were displaying at BCA (MB). Bonaparte's Gull sightings included 6 at HL on 2/24 (SM) with more seen on 2/28 (G&TB). By 2/16, only 10 Bald Eagles remained at REDA (MT). Turkey Vultures were reported in good numbers throughout February. On 2/27, 6 N. Harriers were observed at REDA and 1 was being shadowed by a Peregrine Falcon (DR). Mark Peters reported 2 Cooper's Hawks and a Sharp-shinned Hawk during his drive home on 2/12. By 2/17, the nesting pair of Cooper's Hawks in Tower Grove Park were first seen by the Barkers. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was reported from Gilbert Lake, MTNWR, on 2/2 (T Bo, KL). Rose Ann Bodman found a Red-tailed Hawk and many Robins in TGP on 2/3. A Krider's Red-tailed Hawk was a good find on Hwy. 111, HL, on 2/26 (T Be). A Harlan's Hawk was seen near Alton Dam 2/12 (FH). The Malones reported 4 Red-shouldered Hawks, E. Phoebe, and 4 Purple Finch at BCA on 2/9. On 2/24, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks were seen along with 2 Wood Ducks at LVT (RAB). John Uffman found a light-phase Rough-legged Hawk on Power Road, St. Charles County, on 2/1. The Johnsons reported a Peregrine Falcon from Little Creve Coeur on 2/6, along with 4 Bobwhite. On 2/23, 3 Pheasants were seen on Bend Road, HL (RAB). Ian Hunt reported a Short-eared Owl at Little Creve Coeur on 2/2 and 3 Screech Owls and 2 Barred Owls from Creve Coeur Park on 2/3. Two Great Horned Owls were observed on Orton Road on 1/31 (JL). On 2/2, Tom Bormann found 3 Barred Owls at BCA and 3 at MTNWR. Three Barred Owls and a Screech Owl were found at LVT and 4 Barred Owls and several Woodcocks were at Lake 34, BCA, on 2/17 (MB). Red-headed Woodpecker was seen at MTNWR on 2/2, along with Hairy and Pileated (T Bo). Red-headed was also seen at Shaw Nature Reserve on 2/24 (P&BJ). Sapsuckers were reported from her home in St. Charles County on 2/10 (J Mo) and by 2/18, several were observed in TGP, along with Red-breasted Nuthatch (SM). E. Phoebes were observed in FP on 2/23 (MAA) and at Powder Valley on 2/24 (TO). House Wren was a very good find on 2/3 at his home (JU). A Winter Wren, along with several Fish Crows, were found at Castlewood S.P. on 2/23 (MB). Two Bluebirds were seen by the Thursday Group at the Cypress Circle, TGP, on 2/22 and one was also seen at the campground, HL, on 2/15 (FH). A Hermit Thrush was seen near his home on 2/16 (MP). On 2/15, Paul Bauer found a Brown Thrasher at Spanish Lake Park. Two Loggerhead Shrikes appear to be regulars near Breese, Ill. (P&BJ). By 2/3, several Swamp and Fox Sparrows were seen at Orton Road (CA). Harris's Sparrow continues to be reported in good numbers, with one seen along with Winter Wren at Creve Coeur Park on 2/3 (IH) and 2-3 being seen at Weldon Springs C.A. from 2/3 to 2/16 (MAA, MT, G&TB). A Western Meadowlark was found there on 2/12 (P&BJ). Rusty Blackbirds were observed at Church & Dwyer Roads, St. Charles County, on 2/17 (P&BJ). A typical day in and around HL was reported by Torrey Berger on 2/4: 4 Great Blue Herons, 26 Canada Geese, 50 Mallards, 12 Pintails, 30 Shovelers, 8 Gadwall, 7 Canvasbacks, 50 Ring-necked Ducks, 120 Lesser Scaup, 30 Common Goldeneye, 12 Bufflehead, 6 Hooded Mergansers, 23 Common Mergansers, 75 Ruddy Ducks, 11 Red-tailed Hawks, 6 Kestrels, 3 Ring-necked Pheasant, 1 Bobwhite, 25 Coots, 9 Kildeer, 1,000+ Ring-billed Gulls, 50 H erring Gulls, 7 Horned Larks, 6 American Tree Sparrows, 8 Savannahs, 4 Song Sparrows, 6 White-throated, 4 White-crowned, 4 E. Meadowlarks, and 1 Fish Crow heard. COMMENTS: Jack Harris had a Pine Siskin come to his feeder a few times in January and February. Ian Hunt found 5 races of Canada Goose at Creve Coeur Lake: Todd's, nominate, common, giant, Richardson's. Linda Yust found 2 Wood Ducks at a pond in Ladue. A Brewer's Duck (Mallard x Gadwall hybrid) was photographed at Alton Barge at James Zatta on 2/3. Dancy Zahn and Josh Uffman had Screech Owls at their homes. A Cooper's Hawk was seen perched on his pool fence in Town and Country on 2/16 (T Be). CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, Mary Anne Auer, George & Terry Barker, Paul Bauer, Torrey Berger, David Becher, Rose Ann Bodman, Tom Bormann, Mike Brady, Frank Holmes, Ian Hunt, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Dan Kassebaum, Kent Lannert, John Loomis, Randy Korotev, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, Jeannie Moe, Tom O'Gorman, Mark Peters, Dave Rogles, John & Nancy Solodar, Mike Thelen, Kathy Thiele, Josh Uffman, 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 (Two Rivers) National Wildlife Refuge = MTNWR. |