[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 78, No. 7, Sept., 2005]

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MAY 2005 BIRD REPORT

By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer

Introduction: On the mornings of May 27 and 28, a new bird appeared in the St. Louis area: Mottled Duck, which was found by Joe Eades and confirmed by Dan Kassebaum. This distinctive-appearing duck was seen from the Causeway at Horseshoe Lake.

Early Arrivals:

Sightings: An American Bittern was seen at Lake 6, BCA on 5/16 (JZ) and one was seen from the boat launch at HL on 5/29 (FH). Torrey Berger and out-state Audubon members reported 2 American Bitterns, 2 Least Bitterns, 9 Pied-billed Grebes, Virginia Rail, 3 Sora, 2 Common Moorhens, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, and 7 Long-billed Dowitchers at LCCL on 5/6. Steve Mitten found a Yellow-crowned Night Heron in FP on 5/7. Ian Hunt had a good day at Two Rivers NWR on 5/3, where he observed Black-necked Stilt, Red-necked Phalarope, Wilson’s Phalarope, and 2 Willets. On 5/2, Torrey Berger found 5 Avocets, Marbled Godwit and a Virginia Rail at REDA. On 5/14, 4 Black-bellied Plovers and 2 Ruddy Turnstones were found at HL (LB, MAA). On 5/15, 9 Black-bellied Plovers, a Hudsonian Godwit, 4 Short-billed Dowitchers, a Dunlin, 4 Baird’s and several Least Sandpipers were found in the HL area (FH, JZ). Josh Uffman reported a Whimbrel at REDA on 5/24. On 5/20, 2 Hudsonian Godwits were seen briefly at REDA (CM, DR). A Willet was seen at HL on 5/1 (FH). On 5/20, a Red-necked Phalarope was seen at REDA (DR). The Barkers reported a Western Sandpiper at REDA on 5/15. Connie Alwood stated that 2005 was the best year he can remember for both Yellowleg species. The Thursday Group found a displaying Woodcock, 2-3 Virginia Rails and a King Rail at LCCL on 5/5 (J Ch). Mark Mittelman saw a Woodcock on 5/19 in TGP. On 5/15, Connie Alwood reported the following from REDA: 2 Caspian Terns, 4 Black-bellied Plovers, hundreds of Least and Pectoral Sandpipers, 75 Short-billed Dowitchers, 20 Semi-palmated Plovers, 1 Dunlin,12 White-rumped, and 8 Stilt Sandpipers. On 5/16, 30 Black Terns were seen at HL (FH). This was an excellent year for Virginia Rails, with sightings at REDA, LCCL, Two Rivers and Indian Lake (m. ob.).

On 5/5, Linda Tossing saw a Black Vulture soaring with a group of Turkey Vultures at Lone Elk Park. Marvin & Karen Staloch reported 2 Cooper’s Hawks at BCA on 5/16. On 5/14, 2 Mississippi Kites were seen north of BCA in St. Charles County (MS). Mike Thelen located an active Mississippi Kite nest in University City and he observed 3 soaring there on 5/24. On 5/3 at REDA, Mick Richardson observed a Virginia Rail, as well as a Merlin eating a Red-winged Blackbird. A Peregrine Falcon was eating a shorebird at “Stonehenge” near REDA on 5/4 (CA, DR). One hundred + Chimney Swifts, Barn, Tree and Rough-winged Swallows, and 1 Purple Martin, were flying over a lake in FP on 5/3 (SM). On 5/3, a Sapsucker was seen in TGP (SM). Clarence Zacher reported 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers at FP and a Pewee in Calvary Cemetery on 5/18. On 5/4, at Lafayette Park, Sherry McCowan counted 4 Willow Flycatchers, a Pewee, a Chat, 2 Lincoln Sparrows and a Sapsucker. Western Kingbird sightings included 1 at 2nd & Barton on 5/8 (SM), 1 on Bend Road on 5/16 (SM) and 2 in Madison City on 5/15 (P&BJ). Sherry McCowan found 2 Olive-sided Flycatchers in TGP on 5/18 and she heard one calling there on 5/19. On 5/20 at the Gaddy Bird Garden, Pewee and Least, Acadian, and Great-crested Flycatchers were seen by Jim Ziebol. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet seen at Weldon Springs on 5/3 was somewhat late (P&BJ). Dick Coles heard a Bewick’s Wren at Tyson on 5/4 and a pair nested at the Delashmit’s home in Franklin County. On 5/13, Margy Terpstra photographed a male Black-throated Blue Warbler at her home and on 5/17, a female was seen in TGP (CA, SD). A male Cerulean Warbler was found at SNR on 5/19 (IH). Eighteen species of warblers, including 10 Cape Mays, were seen on 5/8 by the WGNSS Sunday Group, led by David Garcia and Bob Bailey. On 5/11, at least 4 Mourning Warblers were present at the Gaddy Bird Garden (Jim Rathert, CS, m.ob.). Wally George found 24 species of warblers at SNR on 5/12, including Connecticut and Canada. An elusive Connecticut was present with a Mourning Warbler on 5/18, but was only seen by David Rogles and Jack Cowan. Another Connecticut was seen in CSP on 5/21 (MB). Nineteen warbler species were found in FP on 5/17, including Blackburnian, Worm-eating and Prothonotary (DG, BB). A White-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, N. Waterthrush, Summer Tanager, and a first-year male Orchard Oriole were seen in Lafayette Park on 5/1 (SM). On 5/7, the Johnsons found a Hooded Warbler in TGP. On 5/8, somewhat late Vesper Sparrows were seen at the Blue Grosbeak Trail (P&BJ) and at HL (JZ). A beautiful breeding plumage Harris’s Sparrow was seen in TGP on 5/1 (JZ) and on 5/3 (J Cook). Also on 5/3, one was reported at Blue Grosbeak Trail (P&BJ). A Clay-colored Sparrow was a good find at the Blue Grosbeak Trail on 5/30 (BR). On 5/7, at HL, the following sparrows were encountered by JZ: Lark, Vesper, 4 Chipping, 30 Savannah, 60 White-crowned, Field and Song. On 5/31, the Barkers found Clay-colored and Grasshopper Sparrows at the Katy Trail Access and Willow Flycatcher at Blue Grosbeak Trail. Bill Ford saw 3 Summer Tanagers, an Orange-crowned Warbler, and a Nashville on 5/3 (TGP). A Rusty Blackbird was found at LCCL on 5/1 (P&BJ). On 5/3, the following finches were found in TGP at the Jack Van memorial pool: 6 Purple, 20 Goldfinch, 2 House, and a Pine Siskin.

A typical day on 5/1 at LCCL included Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, 6 duck species, Turkey, 6 Bobwhites, Sora, 6 species of shorebirds (500 individuals) including 23 Long-billed Dowitchers and a Wilson’s Phalarope, 5 Caspian Terns, 2 Kingfishers, all swallow species except Cliff, 1 Swainson’s Thrush, 3 Warbling Vireos, 5 warbler species including N. Waterthrush, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, and Orchard Oriole (MT).

A typical day on 5/21 at TGP included Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Magnolia Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Cowbirds, Grackle, Pewee, E. Kingbird, Bluejay, Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray Catbird, N. Waterthrush and Mourning Warbler (J Chain, Thursday Group).

Backyard Birds: On 5/6, Wilma Kennell found a Catbird and a Tennessee Warbler at her U. City home. A Carolina Wren nesting in her garage was seen entering and exiting through a cat door. On 5/19, 2 Chestnut-sided Warblers, a Redstart and an apparent gray-form House Wren, per Sibley’s field guide, were seen in her yard. Steve Vogel reported nesting Pileated Woodpeckers and Kentucky Warbler at his Jefferson County home. John Cooper had a Woodcock in his Webster Groves yard on 5/30. Pine Siskins, seen on 5/25 at Wally George’s home in Cedar Hill, were very late. Linda Virga and Elaine Fortner reported nesting Carolina Wren, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker and Brown Thrasher at their Affton home. Don & Cheryl Delashmit reported that the Red-shouldered Hawk at their home in Franklin County fledged 2 young and there are many Blue-winged and Prairie Warblers nearby. Wilson Park in Granite City had 4 Yellow-crowned Night Heron nests and a Cooper’s Hawk nest (FH).

Contributors: Gail Ahumada, Connie Alwood, Mary Anne Auer, Bob Bailey, Loy Barber, Nick Barber, George & Terry Barker, David Becher, Torrey Berger, Tom Bormann, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Shawn Clubb, Dick Coles, Jean Cook, Jack Cowan, Steve Dillinger, Joe Eades, David Garcia, Wally George, Frank Holmes, Ian Hunt, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Randy Korotev, Kent Lannert, Pat Lueders, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, Keith McMullen, Mark Mittleman, Steve Mitten, Kraig Paradise, Mark Paradise, Mick Richardson, Dave Rogles, Bill Rowe, John & Nancy Solodar, Claudia Spener, Marvin & Karen Staloch, Margy Terpstra, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Clarence Zacher, and Jim Ziebol. An asterisk means “documented”. Please submit sightings by the last day of the month to Jim Ziebol or Yvonne Homeyer (homeyer@earthlink.net).

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.

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