[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 78, No. 9, Nov., 2005]

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SEPTEMBER 2005 BIRD REPORT

By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer

Introduction: Despite the pros and cons involving banding birds, occasionally regrettable deaths and injuries occur. This reporter was told of an incident that occurred in Canada in the early 1990s. Two experienced banders had 2 mist nets up in October. Simultaneously, 350 Black-capped Chickadees hit the nets. Because of the large number of birds in the nets, the banders were only able to free half of the birds in the net, and the other half died.

Sightings: About 350 White Pelicans were seen over I-44 on 9/17 (YH, JZ). On 9/20, Jackie Chain observed 50 Pelicans over the Mississippi River at Olin Nature Reserve. Green Herons were still being seen in FP (CZ) and 1 was still present there on 9/29 (SM). On 9/11, Frank Holmes estimated 800 Great Egrets at Chouteau Island and several Soras were seen at HL. Frank also saw a Mute Swan at HL on 9/15. A Glossy Ibis (Plegadis species) was observed by the staff at BK Leach on 9/5 (JS). On 9/1, a Blue-winged Teal joined the Mallards and Wood Ducks in FP (SM). Three Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 2 Am. Golden Plovers were found at the Emerald View Turf Farm on Steppig Rd. on 9/11 (SM, JZ). At HL on 9/15, Charlene Malone reported a first year Sabine’s Gull and Joe Eades found 2 Laughing Gulls, an adult and a first year bird. On Sunday, 9/4, Jackie Chain and Jean Cook reported Common, Caspian, and 2 Forster’s Terns at REDA. Late Mississippi Kites were reported on 9/2 (D Bz), 9/6 (Margie R), and at the beginning of the month (PL). Ospreys were observed at REDA on 9/4 (J Ch, J Cook) and on 9/17 (G&TB). A N. Harrier was seen at REDA on 9/22 (J Ch, Thursday Group). Cooper’s Hawks were reported from Brentwood Forest on 9/12 (YH), in south City on 9/26 (D Bz), and 2 adults in FP on 9/28 (SM). Clarence Zacher found a Sharp-shinned Hawk in St. Louis County on 9/15. On 9/17 in FP, a single Broad-winged Hawk was spotted by Jean Cook. The only large number of migrating Broad-wings reported were those seen over Tyson on 9/26, in a flock of 300-400 (DL). The following were reported from Mark Peters’ home in Jefferson County on 9/26: immature Bald Eagle, 5 Osprey, 20 Broad-wings, 1 Red-shouldered, several Cooper’s Hawks, and a Kestrel. On 9/24 at Indian Lake, David Becher and the Saturday Group found Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned, and Red-tailed Hawks, plus a small unidentified falcon. Two Barred Owls were conversing at Covered Bridge Historic Site in Jefferson County on 9/24 (SM, JZ). Fairly strong numbers of Nighthawks were observed in September, with 166 seen at Mark Peters’ property on 9/14 (JZ), about 40 over I-44 on 9/16 (SM), and about 150 flying very low on 9/20 (MB).

On 9/15, a rainy Thursday, Jackie Chain and Rose Ann Bodman found 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoos in TGP. Black-billed Cuckoos are becoming harder and harder to find in the St. Louis area, but Mark Peters saw one near his Jefferson County home on 9/28. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were found in TGP on 9/16 (DD) and on 9/17 (T Bo). Michael Botz reported about 100 Chimney Swifts entering a chimney at his CWE home on 9/25. Another large flock of Chimney Swifts was seen at Kingshighway and Vandeventer on 9/27 (G&TB). Several Olive-sided Flycatchers were reported during September, including 1 in TGP on 9/3 (SM), 1 in FP on 9/14 (SM), 1 in TGP on 9/18 (SE), and one at HL on 8/18 (FH). The following flycatchers were seen at Katy Trail Access on 9/16 by David Rogles: Alder, Acadian, Great-crested and several Pewees. On 9/4, Sherry McCowan reported an immature Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 2 Black-and-whites, Redstart and Magnolia at Lafayette Park. About a dozen Fish Crows were seen along Layton Road, HL, on 9/17 (JZ, YH). Six Winter Wrens, 6 House Wrens, 2 Marsh Wrens, and a Sedge Wren were seen in FP on 9/29 (SM). That same day, she also reported Ruby-crowned Kinglet in FP. On 9/29, the Thursday Group found both kinglets, a Fox Sparrow, and 10 species of warblers in TGP (J Ch). David Rogles discovered 2 Black-throated Blue warblers in the willows at REDA on 9/25. The first Hermit Thrush was found on 9/23 at HL (FH).

Following the passage of a cold front on 9/14, a Blackburnian Warbler (RAB) and a male Golden-winged Warbler (SE, SM) were observed at TGP on 9/15, along with good numbers of Redstarts, Chestnut-sided, Wilson’s and Black-and-white. After another cold front on 9/28, Margy Terpstra and Tina Weyman found Blackburnian, N. Parula, and an extremely late Yellow Warbler at REDA on 9/25. The only Blackpoll reported in September was one seen at CSP on 9/11 (MB). On 9/30, Jim Hickner found Pine Warbler and Brown Creeper at the Jack van Benthuysen Pond in TGP. Four Palm Warblers were seen in FP on 9/29 (SM). Mourning Warbler and N. Parula were the best birds seen at CSP on 9/9 (J Ch, Th. Group). The only Clay-colored Sparrow was reported on 9/27 in TGP (G&TB). On 9/29, Sherry McCowan found a Junco in Lafayette Park and White-throated Sparrows in FP, TGP and Lafayette Park. On 9/29, Lincoln’s Sparrow was seen in Lafayette Park (SM) and at Mark Peter’s Prairie (MP). On 9/2, Jim Hickner found the following birds in TGP: 2 Golden-wings, 2 Magnolias, 3 Chestnut-sided, Wilson’s, Canada, Ovenbird, Baltimore Oriole and Red-eyed Vireo. Josh Uffman reported 15 Bobolinks at CC NWR on 9/4. In TGP, Steve Ewer observed 3 Scarlet Tanagers on 9/15 and a Summer Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak on 9/27. A Wood Thrush and Scarlet Tanager were seen in TGP on 9/23 (JH). All of the migrating thrushes were seen in very low numbers this fall. On 9/9, a SLAS group, led by Nick Barber in TGP, found a juvenile Olive-sided Flycatcher, Golden-winged Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, and Yellow-billed Cuckoos (PL).

A typical day at Busch Wildlife on 9/3 included White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Pewee, Phoebe, Cedar Waxwings, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, N. Parula, Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Carolina Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, several Green Herons, Red-tailed Hawks, Spotted and Pectoral Sandpipers, and Yellowleg species (J Ch, Saturday Group).

A typical day in TGP on 9/16 included 4 Brown Thrashers, 2 Gray Catbirds, 2 Ovenbirds, 3 Black-and-whites, 6 Chestnut-sided, 3 Magnolia, 1 empid sp., 2 Golden-winged Warblers, 6 Redstarts, 2 Pewees, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 2 Nashvilles, Great-crested Flycatcher, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Orange-crowned, Least Flycatcher, and 2 Yellowthroats (JH).

Backyard Birds: Pat Lueders reported that her nesting Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fledged 1 young, and she observed a Nighthawk in her yard on 9/8. A Pine Siskin (summering?) was found near Wally George’s Cedar Hill home in late September. A House Wren was seen in Clarence Zacher’s yard on 9/20. Connie Alwood observed an Orange-crowned Warbler at his Ferguson home in late September. On 9/6, Sherry McCowan found an immature Mourning Warbler at her Soulard home. Dennis Bozzay reported Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Red-eyed Vireo at his Crestwood garden on 9/26. Sept. 27 was the last date Dennis observed a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in his yard. A selasphorus hummingbird paid a visit on 9/27 to the Solodars’ University City home.

Contributors: Nick Barber, George & Terry Barker, David Becher, Torrey Berger, Rose Ann Bodman, Tom Bormann, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Jean Cook, Derek Driemeyer, Joe Eades, Steve Ewer, Wally George, Jim Hickner, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Dave Larson, Pat Lueders, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, Mark Peters, Margie Richardson, Mick Richardson, David Rogles, Scott Schuette, John Solodar, Margy Terpstra, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Tina Weyman, 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).

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