By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer

American Bitterns were reported on 6/9 at REDA (Tina Weyman) and on 6/10, 2 were at MTC (KL). Least Bitterns were reported on 6/1 at MTC (G&TB), 2 on 6/15 at MTC (JU), and 1 at Eagle Park on 6/20 (JL & Th. Group). On 6/25, Jeannie Moe found 25 Pelicans and a Least Bittern at REDA. Late duck sightings in June included up to 120 Ruddies, Ring-necked, Lesser Scaup and 1 Redhead at HL (FH), a Gadwall at Chouteau Island (FH), and on 6/30, a female Canvasback at REDA (P&BJ). Two Common Moorhens were hotlined from Eagle Park on 6/16 (FH). Bob Mathis found a Black-necked Stilt on Columbia Bottoms Road on 6/10. Late migrating shorebirds included 2 Black-bellied Plovers at REDA on 6/2 (FH), 2 White-rumped on Hayford Rd. (J&CM), and 10 White-rumped, 30 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 4 Wilson's Phalaropes and a Black-necked Stilt on Casten Road in early June (DK). The Barkers found 3 Avocets at REDA on 6/28. Franklin's Gulls were seen at REDA on 6/2 (FH) and on 6/20 (JU). Several Least Terns were sighted at REDA, the first on 6/8 (MT & MM), 3 on 6/17 (SG), 2 on 6/24 (JU), and 2 on 6/30 (P&BJ). The pair observed on 6/30 were apparently attempting to nest but due to high water levels, they were not successful. On 6/6, the Thursday Group (RAB, JC et al.) found Black Vulture and 2 Mississippi Kites at Fort Kaskaskia. The Malones observed 6 Mississippi Kites at the Hwy. 79 slough near Elsberry on 6/29, as well as 2 Lesser Yellowlegs at Clarence Cannon NWR. A first adult plumage Bald Eagle was seen in Monroe County, IL on 6/8 (JZ). Jeannie Moe saw a Red-shouldered Hawk carrying a snake on 6/7 at the Watershed, Edwardsville.

Several St. Louis birders found the Monk Parakeets and Eurasian Collared Doves nesting in Carlyle, IL (CM, YH, JZ, FH). A Fish Crow was seen at Shaw Nature Preserve on 6/27 (P&BJ). Numerous Western Kingbirds were reported, with 1 at Eagle Park on 6/1 (FH), 1 in E. St. Louis with a Blue Grosbeak (CS), and 1 in Monroe County on 6/8 (JZ). Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were first observed at Hwy. 94 and 47 in Franklin Co. in early June (JJ, DH). By 6/14, Charlene Malone located and hotlined a nest there. Ron Goetz found a pair of adult Bewick's Wrens, with 3 fledglings, at Shaw Nature Preserve on 6/6, and one has been frequenting the home of Cheryl & Don Delashmit in Franklin Co. Charlene Malone reported a Loggerhead Shrike on Powers Road on 6/16. Bell's Vireos were located in BCA at various locations (YH, D Bz, TP, P&BJ). While doing his Busch breeding bird survey, Tom Bormann found a Black-and-white Warbler at Lake 21, on 6/16. A late Mourning Warbler was observed in Randy Korotev's yard on 5/31. A Prairie Warbler and a Peregrine Falcon were found on 6/16 on Hwy. 94 (MT) and another Prairie Warbler was seen at Robertsville State Park on 6/9 (G&TB, m. ob.). A Henslow's Sparrow was sighted at Robertsville State Park on 6/22 (J&CM), on 6/26 (G&TB), and on 6/27 (P&BJ, Th. Group). Several Lark Sparrows were reported: 6/2, BCA (MT); 6/13, BCA (Th. Group); 6/14, Schwede Rd. (G&TB); and 6/15, Katy Trail Access (J Co). An apparent White-crowned Sparrow was observed at MTC on 6/28 (J Co). Probably the best bird of the month was a Painted Bunting found at the Katy Trail Access on 6/8 (J&CM, m. ob.). Birders have continued to see the Painted Bunting in E. St. Louis.

Contributors: George & Terry Barker, Rose Ann Bodman, Tom Bormann, Dennis Bozzay, Jackie Chain, John Cohen, Ron Goetz, Sue Gustafson, Donald Hays, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Jim Jackson, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Dan Kassebaum, Randy Korotev, Kent Lannert, John Loomis, Jim & Charlene Malone, Bob Mathis, Mark Mittelman, Jeannie Moe, Tom Parmeter, Claudia Spener, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Jim Ziebol.