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[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 79, No. X, XXX, 2006] JULY 2006 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerIntroduction: The bird of the month was a female Ruff, or Reeve. It was found by Jim Ziebol on 7/18 at HL and re-found on 7/19 by Frank Holmes (m. ob.). Sightings: Pied-billed Grebes fared well at HL during this year’s breeding season, with 98 counted there on 7/9 (FH). Other high counts at HL included 9 Green Herons on 7/2, 1800 Great Egrets on 7/23, and 210 Snowy Egrets on 7/14 (FH). On 7/30, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron and several Green Herons were found in FP (M Thelen). Blue-winged Teal and a Pintail were seen in July at HL (FH). A King Rail with 8 young and a Marsh Wren were reported at BK Leach on 7/10 (AD). A Common Moorhen with 5 young were seen on the 111 side of HL on 7/8 (IH). A Ruddy Turnstone and an Upland Sandpiper were very good birds at Winfield Dam on 7/27 (SS). Eric Schuette reported Marbled Godwit at BK Leach on 7/30. A Willet was present at REDA on 7/4 (JU). The first migrating Upland Sandpipers were 2 seen at the Keeteman Sod Farms on 7/15 (TB, DR). The first returning migrant Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found at HL on 7/29 (DK) and on 7/30, Frank Holmes, Jackie Chain, Rose Ann Bodman and Steve Ewer observed a Buff-breasted there. On 7/9, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, 4 Pectorals, and 50 Least Sandpipers were found at Eagle Park (FH, JZ). On 7/7, 300 Killdeer, 12 Solitary Sandpipers, and 100 Least Sandpipers were seen at Sandy Slough (CM). On 7/14, Torrey Berger reported 1 Greater and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Short-billed Dowitchers, 6 Least and 100 Pectoral Sandpipers on the 111 side of HL. Tern sightings included 4 Black Terns at HL on 7/11 (T Berger, FH), a Caspian Tern at HL on 7/15 (FH), and 4 Forsters’, 2 Common, and 20 Black Terns at Winfield Dam on 7/27 (SS). Yvonne Homeyer and Jim Ziebol had very good looks at 2 Broad-winged Hawks on Hwy. 32 near Hawn State Park on 7/12. Mississippi Kite sightings at BK Leach included 4 on 7/7 (T Berger) and 2 on 7/30 (SM, JZ). Twelve Whip-poor-wills (a very high number), 3 Chuck-will’s-widows and a Nighthawk were present at Greenfelder Park on 7/2 (MB). Connie Alwood was the lone observer of a White-winged Dove at BK Leach on 7/30. Ian Hunt was the lone observer of an adult Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Fenton on 7/28. Western Kingbirds were found at Earth City on 7/1 (DB). On 7/17, Jackie Chain and the Thursday Group found the Western Kingbirds with young at their Soulard location (2nd and Barton) and found the immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron in FP. On 7/1, Pine Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler and Summer Tanagers were good birds at Hawn State Park (YH, JZ). That same day, they also found a Louisiana Waterthrush and a Scarlet Tanager at Magnolia Hollow C.A. In late July, both Charlene Malone and Mike Thelen saw and possibly heard a second male Painted Bunting at Weldon Spring Katy Access. June Allen and the Thursday Group saw the Painted Bunting and 2 Lark Sparrows there on 7/2. After hearing a possible Western Meadowlark several times at BK Leach, Abby Darrah positively identified one there on 7/23. Eurasian Tree Sparrows are usually not found in the Soulard area; however, Tom Kennedy found one there in late July. Backyard Birds: An immature Barred Owl mistakenly confused a green garden hose at Margy Terpstra’s home for a snake. “The owl became interested in the green garden hose. He hopped over to it and began pecking at it and lifting it. We decided that he must have thought he’s found quite a snake! After a couple of minutes, the “snake” fell to the ground, and the owl flew up to a higher branch watching the pond again. He stayed about 30 minutes and then flew into Great Horned Owl territory.” On 6/7, a mink was observed carrying dead fish left behind by fishermen across the road near the old dredge area at HL (JZ). Contributors: Connie Alwood, David Becher, Torrey Berger, Rose Ann Bodman, Tom Bormann, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Jean Cook, Jack Cowan, Abby Darrah, Steve Ewer, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Ian Hunt, Kent Lannert, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, Mick Richardson, David Rogles, Eric Schuette, Scott Schuette, Mike Thelen, 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. |