[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 75, No. 7, September, 2002] JULY 2002 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerThis year, some of our traditional wetlands remained wet and produced marvelous birds. Least Bittern and Common Moorhen bred in numerous places. Global warming and a continental drought may be responsible for the range expansion of birds such as Painted Bunting, Mississippi Kite, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Blue Grosbeak and Lark Sparrow. As of 1975, Western Kingbird had only started to appear in Columbia, MO and now they are nesting over much of Illinois. Sightings: On 7/27, Dan Kassebaum found a Neotropic Cormorant at CL. About 80 White Pelicans were found at REDA on 7/2 (J Moe). American Bitterns were seen at REDA on 7/2 (G&TB) and 3 were seen at LCCL on 7/19 (MT). These were either summer visitors, post-breeding dispersal birds, or possible breeders. Least Bitterns were observed at MTC (MB), HL (FH), Eagle Park (Th. Group), REDA (J Moe, G&TB), several at LCCL (MB, MT), Prairie Slough at Hwy. 79 (D Rogles), and Watershed Nature Center (J Moe). Sherry McCowan found 4 Yellow-crowned Night Herons at Indian Lake (formerly Collinsville Golf Course) on 7/12. Mike Thelen observed hundreds of Little Blue Herons returning to a roost near Lambert Airport on 7/19. The Malones hotlined Glossy Ibis at Indian Lake on 7/7 and subsequent birds found Common Moorhen with chicks and Yellow-crowned Night Heron at that location. Two Green-winged Teal and Semi-palmated Plovers were found on 7/24 at HL (FH). Ruddy Duck was seen at Eagle Park and LCCL (also a possible breeder). A Black-necked Stilt was found at Dwiggins & Salle Roads on 7/4 (CM). Also on 7/4, Dave Rogles reported 99 Killdeer at Harbor Point. Charlene Malone found 2 Piping Plovers at HL on 7/22. The first sighting of Ruddy Turnstone was at HL on 7/29 (FH). On 7/30, Rose Ann Bodman and Jackie Chain found Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the Boat Launch at HL. On 7/15, a breeding-plumaged Western Sandpiper, plus many Pecs and Least, were seen at HL, along with 400 Great Egrets, 600 Little Blue Herons, and 80 Snowy Egrets (FH). Josh Uffman found 6 Solitary, 6 Pecs, 4 Least and a Snipe at LCCL on 7/21. The Barkers observed Baird's Sandpiper at 2 River NWR on 7/13 and a Stilt Sandpiper at REDA on 7/27. There were thousands of Pecs, 5 Least, 12 Yellowleg species, 6 Semi-palmated Plovers and 75 Killdeer at HL on 7/26 (T Be). Common Moorhens were seen at Eagle Park, LCCL, and Indian Lake (m. ob.). A Sora was observed at Indian Lake on 7/11 (RAB) and another at LCCL on 7/19 (MT). By 7/4, Forster's and Black Terns had returned to REDA (D Rogles). Mary Ann Auer observed 2 Broad-winged Hawks at Hwy. D & DD, St. Charles Co., on 7/4. Helen Wuestenfeld reported a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons in Jerseyville, IL. A White-winged Dove was seen in Carlyle, IL on 7/3 (Jim Seiffert) but it was not relocated. Sedge Wrens were seen near Alton on 7/25 (FH), LCCL on 7/27 (YH, video), and several were heard at REDA (RAB). A recently fledged Western Kingbird was observed near Bend & Layton Roads at HL on 7/28 (YH, JZ, video). Mark Peters thought Wood Thrush and Yellow-billed Cuckoos were found in greater numbers this year than in recent years. Yellow-throated Warbler was observed in Madison Co., IL on 7/14 (FH). A Prothonotary Warbler was seen at HL on 7/7 (D Bz). On 7/13, a Lark Sparrow was seen near Labadie, MO (RAB, J Ch, J Cook). A Blue Grosbeak was observed at the end of Layton Road, HL on 7/8 (JZ). Comments: Dennis Bozzay found a Worm-eating Warbler feeding 2 young at LVT. He also has a Mississippi Kite frequently perching in his neighborhood and hunting in his backyard in Crestwood. Great-crested Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo have also been in his yard this summer. Kraig Paradise has Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird and E. Kingbird nesting at his N. Co. home. On 7/24, Torrey Berger observed 2 Turkey hens with 15 immatures at HL. Contributors: Mary Ann Auer, George & Terry Barker, Torrey Berger, Rose Ann Bodman, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Jean Cook, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Dan Kassebaum, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, Jeannie Moe, Mark Peters, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Helen Wustenfeld, Jim Ziebol, Many Observers. An asterisk means "documented". Abbreviations: Busch Conservation/Wildlife Area, BCA; Carlyle Lake, CL; Forest Park, FP; Horseshoe Lake, HL; Little Creve Coeur Lake, LCCL, Lost Valley Trail, LVT; Marais Temps Clair, MTC; Riverlands, REDA, Tower Grove Park, TGP. |