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[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 79, No. X, XXX, 2006] AUGUST 2006 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerIntroduction: Undoubtedly, the bird of the month and the most outstanding bird of the year was the Swallow-tailed Kite reported by Charlene Malone on 8/10. According to John Vogel, manager of Busch Wildlife, the kite was originally seen on 8/6 by Mark Howell of the USFWS; however, the sighting was not communicated to the birding community. Charlene’s subsequent identification and MoBirds alert has allowed scores of birders from many states to see this beautiful bird. Sightings: On 8/7, Mike Brady located a few Black-crowned Night Herons and immature Little Blue Herons at CSP. Twenty-nine Blue-winged Teal and a Gadwall were found at HL on 8/14 (FH) and on 8/20, Mike Thelen had 75 teal at Two Rivers NWR. Shovelers returned to Winfield Dam on 8/18 (D Rogles) and at HL on 8/21 (FH). Three Pintails were found at Two Rivers on 8/20 (M Thelen). Mike also located a King Rail at BK Leach on 8/12. A Common Moorhen was seen with 4 young at HL in early August (FH). A Piping Plover was a good find at HL on 8/1 (CM) and later that afternoon, 2 were present there (FH). On 8/20, Josh Uffman reported 4 Willets and 2 Caspian Terns at Winfield Dam. Mike Thelen estimated 3,000 shorebirds at Two Rivers on 8/20, including 2 Buff-breasted, an Avocet (CA), and a Red-necked Phalarope. On 8/3, Charlene Malone reported 3 Upland Sandpipers at Keeteman Road and 75 Black Terns, 1 Least Tern, 4 Caspian Terns, and several medium-sized Terns at Winfield Dam. One adult and a first-year Caspian Tern were seen at Swan Lake on 8/15 (Thursday Group, P Brockland). Frank Holmes reported 6 Black Terns at HL on 8/19. On 8/26, 19 species of shorebirds were found at the sod farms along Hwy. 79, including 4 Willets, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and Am. Golden Plover (T Bormann, D Rogles). Ospreys were first reported on 8/27: 1 was seen at Winfield Dam (YH) and 1 was found at BCA (JU). A N. Harrier was seen in Lincoln County on 8/26 (T Bormann, DR). While searching for and observing the Swallow-tailed Kite, birders also saw an impressive number of migrating raptors: a Merlin on 8/11 (M Grant, JZ), and on 8/12, 3 Mississippi Kites, a Sharp-shin, a Cooper’s Hawk, a Broad-winged Hawk, 3 Red-shouldered Hawks, 10 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Kestrels, and 1 unidentified falcon (MT). On 8/11, Jim Ziebol found the first migrating Nighthawk in Richmond Heights, and on 8/15, Connie Alwood saw one at his home in Ferguson. On 8/19, Tom Bormann and David Rogles reported a large number of Nighthawks passing through at Busch Wildlife: “We ran into a broad front of migrating nighthawks – the line extended from the headquarters to the far side of the prairie, and from the prairie north ½ mile or so. We had a couple of fields where there were more than 50 birds in the air.” [Ed: In the early to mid-1990s, hundreds of Nighthawks would often be seen in late afternoon and early evening at TGP.] On 8/15, Frank Holmes located an Olive-sided Flycatcher at HL. A flock of 20 Eastern Kingbirds was seen at the island at Hampton Lake, BCA, on 8/19 (T Bormann, DR). Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky, N. Parula and a vocalizing Yellow-throated Warbler were found at CSP on 8/9 (MB). Early migrants included a Black-and-white Warbler and Nashville Warbler seen at TGP on 8/15 (GA). On 8/27, Tom Kennedy found Black-and-white, Redstart, Canada Warbler, and 4 Red-eyed Vireos at TGP. Sherry McCowan reported Magnolia Warbler and Redstart at TGP on 8/30. A flock of 23 Grasshopper Sparrows was seen in a light morning rain at BK Leach on 8/26 (T Bormann, DR). Two fledgling Lawk Sparrows were found at Bend Road, HL, on 8/20 (YH, SM), confirming nesting there. Good birds for the Thursday Group on 8/31 included 20 Buff-breasted Sandpipers on Keeteman Road, an Osprey at Winfield Dam, Sedge Wren and Sanderling at Clarence Cannon, and a Loggerhead Shrike near Elsberry (J Chain). Backyard Birds: Several birds with albinistic traits were reported in August: an albino Eurasian Collared Dove at Jim Ziebol’s home, a leucistic Mallard at BCA (JZ), a leucistic Downy Woodpecker in Lincoln County (JU), and a leucistic Bobolink in Illinois (MT). Cheryl Delashmit still had a Bewick’s Wren near her Franklin County home on 8/22. Contributors: Gail Ahumada, Connie Alwood, Paul Brockland, David Becher, Tom Bormann, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Mike Grant, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, Mick Richardson, David Rogles, 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. |