|
[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 79, No. 3, Mar., 2006] JANUARY 2006 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerSightings: A Pied-billed Grebe was present in FP during most of January (SM). On 1/15, Frank Holmes reported 2 Cormorants at HL and one was seen at REDA/Ellis Bay on 1/19 (DC). As many as 125 Trumpeter Swans were in the REDA area on 1/7 (CM). On 1 /2, 2 Tundra Swans were seen at REDA (DB, RAB). Four Ross’s Geese were observed at Creve Coeur Mills Road on 1/3 (NB) and 8 were seen at REDA/Teal Pond (DR). All four species of geese (Canada, Cackling, Snow and Greater White-fronted) were found at Suntan Beach on 1/ 4 (CM), and at HL on 1/15 (FH). On 1/1, Joe Eades estimated 1,000 Pintails at King Lake/BK Leach; he also observed more Greater than Lesser Scaup at REDA. On 1/15 in Lincoln County, Yvonne Homeyer, Sherry McCowan and Jim Ziebol reported 10,000+ Snow Geese and 8 Ross’s Geese in flight, over 1,000 Pintails at BK Leach, and 18 Bald Eagles. On 1/17, 200+ Pintails, 150 Ring-necked Ducks, and 20 Redheads were seen at HL/203 side (JZ). Both Lesser Black-backed and Iceland Gull were reported at REDA on 1/1 (CA). Dick Coles found an adult California Gull at REDA on 1/19. The first 2 Bonaparte’s Gulls of the year were seen at HL on 1/29 (FH, JZ). On 1/11, Sherry McCowan watched a Bald Eagle soaring over Soulard. Bald Eagles on the nest were observed at three locations in January: Peruque Creek on 1/5 (CM), Hwy. 143 on 1/5 (FH), and CC on 1/21 (PH). Eight Turkey Vultures were present at BCA on 1/19 (JL, Thursday Group). On 1/14, 3 Black Vultures were observed in Ste. Genevieve County (JE, J&CM). On 1/31, Sherry McCowan watched a N. Harrier eating prey at HL. Connie Alwood reported a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Great Horned Owl at LCCL on 1/7. A dark-morph Western Red-tail was observed on Bruns Road on 1/22 (SM, JZ). On 1/21, a Harlan’s Hawk was seen at the Katy Trail Access by Kraig Paradise, Mark Paradise and Jeannie Moe. On 1/8, Josh Uffman relocated the Prairie Falcon at Winfield Dam. Another Prairie Falcon was seen at REDA on 1/21 (J&CM). The Thursday Group reported 2 Peregrines at REDA on 1/12 (J Chain). On 1/6, Shawn Clubb found Barred Owl and Krider’s Hawk at LCCL. The Thursday Group observed 2 Barred Owls on the Pine Trail/BCA on 1/19. Another Barred Owl was present at BCA on 1/25 (J&NS). One Great Horned Owl has returned to the stable area in TGP and was seen regularly (SC, MR, YH, RAB, J Chain). Mike Brady located a Long-eared Owl and a Great Horned Owl at LCCL on 1/3. Short-eared Owls were reported from REDA on 1/5 (JU), 4 on 1/5 (Bill Boesch), and on 1/7 (DB). Two covies of N. Bobwhite were found at LCCL on 1/7 (CA). Sixteen Eurasian Collared Doves were seen in Granite City (FH). Fish Crows apparently wintered at CSP (D Bozzay). Sapsuckers were reported from FP on 1/4 (SM), at CSP on 1/12 (Thursday Group), and at SNR with a Hairy on 1/16 (J Chain, RAB). Phoebes were observed on 1/1 in Jefferson County (MP) and on 1/27 near CSP (DH). On 1/3 at FP, Sherry McCowan observed Red-breasted Nuthatch, E. Towhee, and a Fox Sparrow. On 1/28, a Winter Wren and a second-year Bald Eagle were seen at Cliff Cave Park (SC). Another Winter Wren was seen at LVT on 1/13 (RAB). A Marsh Wren was reported at LCCL on 1/3 (MB). The Townsend’s Solitaire, originally found on 12/28 by Anne McCormack, was still present at Meramec Community College in early February (m. ob.). John & Nancy Solodar found a Hermit Thrush at BCA on 1/25. A Loggerhead Shrike was seen along Hwy. 30 near High Ridge on 1/27 (DC) and another shrike was seen at Peabody Coal on 1/31 (J Chain, RAB). At Notre Dame H.S. in south county, Mark Peters counted 7,935 Robins flying north at.dusk on 1/6, and on 1/12, he counted 153,000 Starlings and 14,000 Robins. A Catbird seen near BK Leach on 1/8 was a very good find (JU). On 1/21, the Malones found an E. Towhee at BCA. An Orange-crowned Warbler was reported at LCCL on 1/3 (JU, CB). On 1/26, 5 Swamp Sparrows and both Kinglets were seen in FP (SM). Forty Savannah Sparrows and 30 Horned Larks were found at Confluence Road on 1/13 (SM, JZ). A Field Sparrow was a good find at BCA on 1/22 (JU). On 1/29, one Harris’s Sparrow was seen at HL (YH) and another at Lake 6/BCA (JE). Fifteen Western Meadowlarks were present at Katy Trail Access on 1/22 (JU, SC) and they were still being seen at the end of January. On 1/11, 75 Great-tailed Grackles and several Rusty Blackbirds were seen at Seeburger & Church Roads (DR, CM). On 1/21, the Barkers found 2 Pine Siskins at Katy Trail Access, and 40 were seen there a short time later (J Moe, KP, MP). Between 8-10 Purple Finch were being seen at Fallen Oak Trail/BCA in the last half of January (m. ob.). Backyard Birds: Josh Uffman found a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in his Ferguson yard on 1/3. Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen on 1/1 at Mark Paradise’s home and on 1/17 at Connie Alwood’s feeders. A Brown Thrasher was present at Kraig Paradise’s north county home on 12/20. On 1/19, Jack Harris reported a Red-shouldered Hawk at his south county home. A pair of Great Horned Owls was heard calling at Margy Terpstra’s Kirkwood home; also seen were a Coyote and an albino squirrel. On 1/22, a Sapsucker was found at Anne McCormack’s home. Yvonne Homeyer heard a Song Sparrow singing in Brentwood on 1/30. Contributors: Connie Alwood, Nick Barber, David Becher, Torrey Berger, Rose Ann Bodman, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Chris Brown, Jackie Chain, Dick Coles, Joe Eades, Pat Harrison, Dottie Herwig, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, John Loomis, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, Jeannie Moe, Kraig Paradise, Mark Peters, Mick Richardson, David Rogles, John & Nancy Solodar, Margy Terpstra, Josh Uffman, 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; World Bird Sanctuary, WBS. |