[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 76, No. 7, Sep., 2003] MAY 2003 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerEarly Arrival Dates: 5/10 Least Tern, REDA (m. ob.); Willow Flycatcher, REDA (m. obs.); Common
Tern, Introduction: During May, many of you may have seen Jim Rathert at the Gaddy Bird Garden in TGP. Jim, who is the photographer for the Mo. Dept. of Conservation, spent a week taking photographs at the bubbler as well as at Margy Terpstra’s back yard. He characterized the bubbler in the Gaddy Bird Garden as the best place he’s ever seen to photograph land birds. One birder recorded Mourning Warbler 9 days in a row at the end of May in TGP. Connecticut Warbler was seen there by many birders between 5/24 and 5/28. Another Connecticut was found on the 21st in Forest Park. Several species, including the Oporornis warblers and Empid flycatchers, are migrating well into the first week of June, as birders are discovering. We want to thank the Riverlands managers for creating such good habitat for migrating shorebirds this spring. Several cold fronts created adverse winds and made May a very interesting month. Sightings: A Least Bittern was seen on the Katy Trail on 5/27 (LY). Mike Thelen found an Am. Bittern at the Borrow Pit, HL, on 5/3, and had a Little Blue Heron in the meadow at Castlewood on 5/4. Torrey Berger counted 78 Great Blue Herons at Alta Villa Road on 5/19. About 28 Little Blue Herons were seen at Indian Lake (old Collinsville Golf Course) on 5/1 (T Be) and 40 were estimated there on 5/3 (SM). Two Greater White-fronted Geese were found at REDA on 5/1 (J&CM). Mark Mittelman reported a female Common Merganser at REDA on 5/18. On 5/10, a Snow Goose was seen at HL (LB). On 5/10, there were 4 Black-necked Stilts, a Least Tern, Willow Flycatcher and Virginia Rail at REDA (CA, m. ob.). Doug Willis found a White-faced Ibis there on 5/25. Twenty Semipalmated Plovers were seen at REDA on 5/1 and 7 Black-bellied Plovers were there on 5/10 (J&CM). Two Whimbrels were a good find at REDA on 5/25 (DK, m. ob.). Two Hudsonian Godwits were observed at REDA on 5/26 (CM). A male Red-necked Phalarope was first seen at REDA on 5/23 (KL, SC, FH) and on 5/26, a male and female were seen together (SM, JM, JU). John & Nancy Solodar reported 50+ Greater Yellowlegs, 100+ Lesser Yellowlegs, and 25 Great Blue Herons at MTC on 5/2. Good counts of shorebirds at REDA included 5 Wilson’s Phalaropes, 5 Willets, and 2 Sanderlings on 5/5 (CA). Connie also reported over100 Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Stilt Sandpiper, 10 Dunlin, 4 Common Terns, and a Black Tern on 5/21 at REDA. On 5/6, Shawn Clubb saw a Virginia Rail perched on a plant stalk on I-55/70 west of Hwy. 111. Gull sightings included 2 Laughing Gulls and 3 Franklin’s Gulls at REDA on 5/10 (LB) and 2 Bonaparte’s were seen there on 5/2 (CA). At REDA on 5/5, Jeannie Moe reported 2 Black-bellied Plovers, 8 Franklin’s Gulls, 200 Lesser Yellowlegs, 8 Caspian Terns, 6 Forster’s Terns and 2 female Hooded Mergansers. There were multiple Mississippi Kite sightings in May, including 1 at TGP on 5/7 (T Be), 2 at his home on 5/8 at his home (CA), 1 in TGP on 5/9 (MR), an immature in Crestwood on 5/10 (JZ, YH), 1 in Kirkwood on 5/12 (MAA), 6 at Prairie Slough on 4/13 (PH), 2 in TGP on 5/15 (MR), 1 at his home on 5/20 (D Bz), 2 soaring over TGP on 5/21 (Joe Pinnell), 2 on 5/22 east of the Gaddy Bird Garden (Jim Rathert, BW, JZ, and Jim Hickner), 1 at Young C.A. on 5/26 (JZ) and a Merlin harassing the Kites over TGP on 5/26 (MR). A Peregrine Falcon was observed in TGP on 5/14 (T Be); another Peregrine, tundrius form, was filmed on video at REDA on 5/30 (YH, BK, JZ, LB). A Merlin flew in front of his car on the Levee Road on 5/3 (JZ). A Chuck-widow’s-widow, perched on a horizontal Elm limb, was photographed and videotaped on 5/25 at HL (FH, BW, JZ). On 5/19, 20 Nighthawks were seen at Page & Hanley (MT). Black-billed Cuckoos were well-reported in May, with 6 seen in FP between 5/2 and 5/26 (RK); other sightings included 1 at Castlewood on 5/2 (DB & WGNSS Group), on 5/2 at TGP (SM), on 5/12 at Weldon Spring C.A. (P&BJ), on 5/20 at Shaw N.R. (P&BJ), on 5/24 at TGP (Wade Pearson) and a very interesting sighting in the Gaddy Bird Garden at TGP of an adult Black-billed Cuckoo with a fledgling (LB). Sadly, a dead adult Black-billed Cuckoo was found near the stables (SM). Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were sighted in Fenton on 5/17 (T Bo) and at REDA on 5/19 (MM). Western Kingbirds were observed in E. St. Louis on 5/4, along with Bobolinks at HL (JC & WGNSS Group). New locations for Western Kingbird include Alton Barge on 5/24 (BW), 2 near 2nd & 3rd & Shenandoah on 5/31 (John Newman). On 5/19, Ian Hunt observed Olive-sided Flycatcher in TGP and on 5/21, Jim Rathert obtained excellent photographs of one (MR, Joe Pinnell). Bewick’s Wrens were seen at Shaw N.R. on 5/14 and 5/20 (P&BJ). Randy Korotev and Nick Barber found 25-30 Swainson’s Thrush in FP on 5/5. On 5/2, Claudia Spener observed Veery and Yellow-billed Cuckoo in TGP. A Veery and Wilson’s Warbler were found in TGP on 5/7 (MM). On 5/25, the Barkers found a Veery in the Gaddy Bird Garden in TGP. On 5/17, Swainson’s, Gray-cheeked, Veery and Wood Thrush came to the bubbler in TGP (A&BM). Two female Bluebirds were seen in the large meadow south of the Gaddy Bird Garden in TGP on 5/21 (G&LW); a male Bluebird had been seen there earlier in the month. A Philadelphia Vireo was observed in TGP on 5/21 (BW). Bell’s Vireo sightings included 1 in E. St. Louis on 5/3 (SW), 1 at the Borrow Pit, HL (SM), 1 at HL on 5/4 (DB), 1 at FP on 5/5 (RK), and 1 at Weldon Spring C.A. on 5/6 (P&BJ). On 5/2, 50+ Yellow-rumped Warblers and 20 Palm Warblers were seen on Walker Island, HL (BW) and on 5/2, in TGP, there were 20 Ruby-crowned Kinglets and 20 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (NB). Mike Brady counted 4 Cerulean Warblers and 5 Prothonotary Warblers at Castlewood on 5/3. On 5/25, Ian Hunt found 5-6 Ceruleans and an Alder Flycatcher at LVT. On 5/5, there were 15 warbler species in FP, including Redstart, Blackburnian, Magnolia and Blackpoll (RK). Paul & Barbara Johnson found 2 Prairie at Weldon Spring C.A. on 5/6. On 5/9, there were 15 warbler species, 4 Scarlet Tanagers and a Black-billed Cuckoo seen in FP (RK). Two Mourning Warblers were seen by many in TGP on 5/8 (NB), and at the end of the month Mourning Warblers were seen 9 days in a row by Mick Richardson. Connecticut Warblers were observed in FP on 5/5 and 5/21 (RK), in TGP on 5/17 (T Bo), in Wilson Park, Granite City, on 5/18 (FH), and in TGP on 5/25 (Jurek Majka), on 5/26 (ML), on 5/27 (JZ), and on 5/28 (Mick Richardson). On 5/5, at Point DuSable Park in St. Charles, there were 2 Louisiana Waterthrush, Blackpoll & Golden-winged Warblers, Wood Thrush, and Fish Crow (JM). Henslow’s Sparrows were reported from BCA on 5/8 (CM) and several were seen in Castlewood (MB). Two Lark Sparrows were found at MTC on 5/24 (Mary Regan, JM). On 5/28, Chipping and White-throated Sparrow were seen in TGP (BW, SM). Two Harris’s Sparrows in breeding plumage were observed on 5/3 on Blue Grosbeak Trail (A&BM). Dan Kassebaum found 2 male and 1 immature male Painted Buntings in E. St. Louis on 5/21, and on 5/10, Painted Buntings were found at the Katy Trail Access (DC, JCk, RAB). A female Lazuli Bunting was seen in TGP on 5/11 (LB, JCk, DB). On 5/18, 30 Bobolinks, a Henslow’s Sparrow and 2 Prairie Warblers were found on the Blue Grosbeak Trail (MT, MAA). On 5/19, the Thursday Group found 2 Mississippi Kites & 3 Scarlet Tanagers in TGP, 2 more Kites over Hwy. 40, and the Painted Bunting in St. Charles County. On 5/17, the Saturday Group found Blue Grosbeak on the Blue Grosbeak Trail and Grasshopper Sparrow in Chesterfield Valley (DB). On 5/25, the Saturday Group saw Bobolinks at the Blue Grosbeak Trail, a Broad-winged Hawk in BCA and Grasshopper Sparrow was again seen in Chesterfield Valley (DB). A typical day at Blue Grosbeak Trail on 5/3 included Harris’ Sparrow, LeConte’s Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, juvenile or female Yellow-headed Blackbird and Willet (A&BM). A typical day at Riverlands on 5/25 for the Saturday Group included 14 species of shorebirds (2 Whimbrels, Ruddy Turnstone, 20 Black-bellied Plover, 120 Dunlin), 5 species of gulls (Laughing, Franklin’s, Bonaparte’s), 3 terns (Black, Caspian and Common), and more (BR, leader). A typical day at SNR on 5/17 included numeous Yellow-throated Vireo, Summer Tanagers and House Wrens, lower-than-expected numbers of Blue-winged Warbler, and no sign of a Prairie Warbler (DB); brush clearance and cedar removal has at least temporarily changed the habitat there. Comments: Pat Lueders found Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided, Redstart, Nashville, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, Swainson’s Thrush, Cooper’s Hawk, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, andYellow-billed Cuckoo in her yard on 5/12. Connie Alwood saw Black-billed Cuckoo and Least Flycatcher in his yard on 5/6. Margy Terpstra had up to 50 species on any given day in May, bringing her yard total to 127 and her bubbler total to 82. She also reported Barred Owl on 5/9. Mike Grant reported the following window-strike fatalities at the IBM Building: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, White-crowned Sparrow and Blue Gray Gnatcatcher. Gail Ahumada found Yellow and Wilson’s Warbler in her yard in late May. The Spring Bird Count on 5/10 in Madison County, IL, which included HL, reported Common Loon, 12 species of ducks (3 Greater Scaup, Canvasback and Pintail), Marsh Wren, 25 Black Terns, 15 Forsters’ Terns, and 1 Caspian Tern. Contributors: Gail Ahumada, Connie Alwood, Mary Anne Auer, Bob Bailey, Loy Barber, Nick Barber, George & Terry Barker, Paul Bauer, David Becher, Torrey Berger, Rose Ann Bodman, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Shawn Clubb, Dick Coles, Jean Cook, Jack Cowan, Joe Eades, Bill Ford, David Garcia, Patrick Harrison, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Ian Hunt, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Dan Kassebaum, Wilma Kennell, Bob Kleiger, Kent Lannert, Pat Lueders, Mark Lund, Jim & Charlene Malone, Anne McCormack, Sherry McCowan, Alex & Brian Meilleur, Mark Mittleman, Jeannie Moe, Kraig Paradise, Mark Peters, Kevin Renick, Margie Richardson, Mick Richardson, David Rogles, Bill Rudden, John & Nancy Solodar, Claudia Spener, Margy Terpstra, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Jane Walker, Bruce Wetteroth, Steve Whitworth, Rad Widmer, George & Linda Wilson, Linda Yust, Jim Ziebol. An asterisk means “documented”. Abbreviations: Busch Conservation/Wildlife Area, BCA; Carlyle Lake, CL; Clarence Cannon, CC; Forest Park, FP; Horseshoe Lake, HL; Little Creve Coeur Lake, LCCL, Lost Valley Trail, LVT; Marais Temps Clair, MTC; Riverlands, REDA; Shaw Nature Reserve, SNR; Tower Grove Park, TGP. |