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[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 78, No. 9, Nov., 2006] SEPTEMBER 2006 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerIntroduction: September was a very good month for raptor sightings, and a Black-throated Blue Warbler entertained birders at Tower Grove Park for over a week. Sightings: Charlene Malone located 2 Horned Grebes at Riverlands on 9/26. An Eared Grebe, plus a Common Moorhen, were found at HL on 9/21 by Sherry McCowan and Jim Ziebol; the Eared Grebe was also seen by Charlene Malone and Frank Holmes. On 9/28, an Eared Grebe, along with 45 Pied-billed Grebes, were seen at Creve Coeur Lake (JE). A Pied-billed Grebe returned to its winter territory in FP on 9/26 (SM). The first Pelicans reported this fall were 2 at HL on 9/18 (FH) and by 9/20, 400-500 were soaring over Poplar Street Bridge (SC) and hundreds were seen at the dredge at HL (JZ). A Neotropical Cormorant was a good find at HL on 9/5 (FH). By 9/29, Ring-necked Ducks had returned to Riverlands (JE) and on 9/28, 4 Redheads and 2 Ruddy Ducks were seen at Creve Coeur Lake (JE). Twenty-eight Avocets were observed by several groups independently on the morning of 9/30 at Riverlands (D. Becher, CM, YH). Also on 9/30, an Avocet was seen at HL (CM). During Bill Rowe’s trip to Two Rivers NWR on 9/2, the group observed 3 Sanderlings, 2 Sora, and Marsh Wrens. On 9/9, 4 Baird’s, 5 Least, and 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers were seen at the Borrow Pit, HL (MT). A Woodcock was closely observed at Missouri Botanical Garden on 9/8 (JL). The Thursday Group flushed 6 Snipe at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville on 9/28 (J. Chain). Buff-breasted Sandpiper sightings included several at the Keeteman Rd. Sod Farm on 9/2 (D. Becher), 20 at the same location on 9/4 (CM), and 1 with a Baird’s at Nichols Pond, HL, on 9/18 (FH). A road-killed Sora was found at Tyson on 9/20 (NB). On 9/30, along Wise Road at Riverlands, several Sora were heard calling (JZ, YH). The first Franklin’s Gull of the fall was seen at HL on 9/24 (FH). Mike Thelen found a first-winter Laughing Gull at the Borrow Pit, HL, on 9/9. The same bird was re-found at Riverlands on 9/17 (JU). The first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the fall was seen at Riverlands on 9/11 (CA). Sabine’s Gulls were first reported at Riverlands on 9/10 (JU) and were later seen at CL on 9/15 (DK). Caspian Tern sightings included 25+ at Winfield on 9/4 (CM) and 1 at HL on 9/16 (SC). On 9/3, a few Black Terns were observed at HL (FH). Two Ospreys were observed over Hampton Lake, BCA, on 9/2 (JZ). A Harrier was reported at HL on 9/24 (FH). On 9/21, the Thursday Group encountered 2 Cooper’s Hawks in TGP (J Chain). The Hawk Watch on 9/24 at Mark Peters’ prairie was an exceptional day – 1 Turkey Vulture, 7 Osprey, 2 Harriers, 34 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 20 Cooper’s Hawks, a possible Goshawk, 1,660 Broad-winged Hawks, 3 Merlins, 1 Peregrine Falcon, and 1 Kestrel (MP, D Rabenau). [At hawk watches in the early 1980s, Sharp-shins outnumbered Cooper’s by 10 to 1; on 9/24, the ratio was 1.7 to 1 (JZ)]. On 9/25, 250 Broad-winged Hawks and 3 Peregrines were reported at Mark Peters’ prairie (MP) and on 9/27, Mark saw 200 Broadwings and 1 adult Bald Eagle. Also on 9/24, at Weldon Springs CA, Joe Eades counted 719 Broadwings and 9 Sharp-shins. On 9/26, 400 Broadwings, several Turkey Vultures, and a Peregrine Falcon were seen at CSP (MB). Shawn Clubb counted 38 Nighthawks near Sauget on 9/7. Towards evening on 9/29, 125+ Nighthawks were seen migrating over TGP (SM, JZ). On 9/26, Jackie Chain located a Barred Owl in TGP that Jean Cook had seen earlier in the day. Jackie observed a young hawk flying at the owl, cackling the entire time. The owl sat calmly on its branch, ignoring the antics of the agitated hawk. The first Sapsucker reported this fall was seen at TGP by the Thursday Group (J Chain). Frank Holmes reported a Winter Wren at HL on 9/24, and by 9/29, several were seen in TGP (GA). Jean Cook found Marsh Wrens in TGP on 9/18 and 9/25. Sherry McCowan observed several Marsh Wrens, a Sedge Wren and about 20 House Wrens in FP on 9/25. On 9/30, 4 Marsh Wrens were seen at Riverlands along Wise Road (JZ, YH). A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen on the early date of 9/12 in TGP (SE). Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers were present at HL on 9/29 (FH) and at TGP on 9/29 (GA). Six Catbirds and 2 Brown Thrashers were found in FP on 9/15 (SM). A Veery at FP on 9/3 was a good find for the fall (MT). Red-breasted Nuthatches were reported at BCA, Lake 8, on 9/26 (CM) and one was seen at TGP on 9/29 (GA). On 9/21, the Thursday Group enjoyed a small warbler fallout which occurred at the Cypress Circle of TGP, where they saw many Black-throated Greens, Chestnut-sided, and Black-and-white, plus Tennessee, Magnolia, Nashville, and Redstart (JC). Several Mourning Warblers were found this fall, including 1 at HL on 9/3 (FH), an immature at TGP on 9/4 (SC), and another at TGP on 9/10 (SE). A Cape May Warbler, a good find in the fall, was seen along with Yellow-rumps and a Parula at HL on 9/18 (FH). A Golden-winged Warbler seen this fall at TGP on 9/30 was somewhat late (D Becher). Jim Hickner reported a male Black-throated Blue Warbler at TGP on 9/29. This cooperative bird stayed in the same area until at least Thursday, 10/5, to the delight of many birders who found it relatively easy to spot the Black-throated Blue as it kept returning to the same group of trees and shrubs near the creek and Jack Van Benthuysen pond. On 9/19 at the Cypress Circle of TGP, a dozen Black-throated Greens, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Nashville, Baybreasted, Cape May and 5 Redstarts were seen by Shawn Clubb, Julie Randle and Jack Cowan. September 9 was a good day for warblers at Columbia Bottoms and BCA, where combined sightings included 2 Nashville, Wilson’s, Tennessee, 5 Redstarts, 3 Canada, 5 Magnolia, 5 Black-and-white, 2 Golden-winged, Black-throated Green, plus 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (T Bormann, D Rogles). Nick Barber reported Least Flycatcher, 2 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, plus Nashville, 5 Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided and 2 Redstarts at TGP on 9/17. Les Jenkins found 2 juvenile Blue Grosbeaks and 2 Dickcissels at Ellis Island, Riverlands, on 9/16. The first Junco of the season was banded at World Bird Sanctuary on 9/21 by Pat Lueders. Six Lincoln’s Sparrows, several Swamp Sparrows and a Pine Siskin were seen on 9/25 at FP (SM). On 9/29, 10 Lincoln’s, a Savannah, 20+ Swamp Sparrows, 2 Bobolinks and a Sora were present at Riverlands (JU). On 9/30, Shawn Clubb found LeConte’s and a Sharp-tailed Sparrow at LCCL, one of the finest remaining natural wetlands in the St. Louis area. Other sparrow sightings included White-crowned Sparrows at BCA on 9/28 (D Rogles), White-throated at FP on 9/28 (SM), and Fox Sparrow at CC on 9/30 (JE). The Sunday Walk at TGP on 9/10 included sightings of Cooper’s Hawk, Canada Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush, and Least and Traill’s Flycatcher (IH). A typical day at MTC on 9/30 included 40 Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 30 Goldfinch, 20 Tree Swallow, 1000+ Brownheaded Cowbirds, 100 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Indigo Bunting, 20 Bluejays, 1 Brown Thrasher, 4 Carolina Wrens, 2 Tufted Titmice, 2 Cardinals, Phoebe, 4 Turkey Vultures and 100 Pelicans (A McCormack). Backyard Birds: On 9/10, Larry Wells had Blackpoll and Redstart in Rock Hill. During the summer, he had many sightings of Mississippi Kites, and a pair of Cooper’s Hawks fledged 2 young in his yard. Margie Richardson found Golden-winged Warbler, Magnolia, Redstart, Black-throated Green, and Common Yellowthroat in her yard. Randy Korotev reported 20 Cormorants flying over his University City home on 9/24. On 9/19, Clarence Zacher saw a House Finch at his home. During the week of the 24th, several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were reported by Dennis Bozzay, Charlene Malone and Margy Terpstra. Margy also had Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and several Broad-winged Hawks on 9/26. Also during the week of the 24th, Joe Pennell reported a possible immature Black-chinned Hummingbird. Contributors: Gail Ahumada, Connie Alwood, Nick Barber, David Becher, Tom Bormann, Dennis Bozzay; Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Shawn Clubb, Jean Cook, Jack Cowan, Joe Eades, Steve Ewer, Jim Hickner, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Ian Hunt, Dan Kassebaum, Judy Lamotte, Pat Lueders, Charlene Malone, Anne McCormack, Sherry McCowan, Randy Korotev, Joe Pennell, Mark Peters, David Rabenau; David Rogles, Bill Rowe, Margy Terpstra, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Clarence Zacher, Jim Ziebol. Abbreviations: BCA, Busch Conservation Area; CC, Clarence Cannon NWR; CL, Carlyle Lake; CSP, Castlewood State Park; FP, Forest Park; HL, Horseshoe Lake; LP, Lafayette Park; LCCL, Little Creve Coeur Lake; MTC, Marais Temps Clair; TGP, Tower Grove Park. |