[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 79, No. 3, Mar., 2007]

back to Bird Report index

JANUARY 2007 BIRD REPORT

By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer

Introduction: The best birds of the month were a Snowy Owl on I-255, a Pacific Loon at Horseshoe Lake, and a Western Tanager at the home of Phil & Colleen Bruns in north county. Unusual movement of passerines is sometimes attributed to El Ninos and according to scientists, we are in a permanent El Nino because of global warming.

Sightings: A Pacific Loon was first seen at HL on 1/21 (JZ) and was relocated, photographed and videotaped on 1/22 (JZ, FH, CM, CA). Waves of Trumpeter Swans – totaling about 170 birds - were observed coming in at dusk to Teal Pond in Riverlands on 1/5 (SM, JZ). Trumpeter Swans have a very curious and beautiful flight song. On 1/1, 13 Trumpeter Swans were observed at the New Pogue Road exit on I-255 (YH, JZ). On 1/6, the Thursday Group found 2 Mute Swans at HL (J Chain). Five species of geese were found at Baldwin Lake on 1/9, including a Ross’s Goose, 2 Cackling Geese, and 35 White-fronted Geese (J Chain, RAB). Sherry McCowan reported 16 Wood Ducks in FP on 1/15. On 1/18, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers and 8 Pied-billed Grebes were present at HL (FH). Also on 1/18, 2 Black Scoters and a few Redheads were seen at Riverlands. On 1/18, the Thursday Group observed a large flock of Greater White-fronted Geese and a Black Duck, at Riverlands, and at Columbia Bottoms they saw Hairy Woodpecker and a Screech Owl (J Chain). Sherry McCowan and Jim Ziebol reported 9 Greater White-fronted Geese, and a Tundra Swan, a female Redhead, 4 Greater Scaup, 27 Common Mergansers, and 10 Buffleheads at Riverlands on 1/19. The SLAS, led by Mike Thelen, reported 3 White-fronted Geese, 2 Black Ducks, all 3 Mergensers, a first-year Great Black-backed Gull, and a Kingfisher on 1/13 at Riverlands. Gull sightings included a Franklin’s Gull at Riverlands on 1/27 (J&CM), a Glaucous Gull at the Borrow Pit at HL which stayed for the first week in January (m. ob.), a first-winter Iceland Gull at Riverlands on 1/19 (CA, CM) and re-found on 1/31 (DC), a first-winter Thayer’s Gull at Riverlands on 1/28 (MT), a Lesser Black-backed Gull seen at both HL and Riverlands throughout the month (m. ob.)., and a first-winter Great Black-backed Gull at Riverlands on Jan. 1 (JE). Seven Killdeer were seen on Bruns Road in early January (FH).

Fifteen Turkey Vultures were observed near Alton on 1/24 (FH). On 1/6, the Thursday Group observed the Bald Eagles at their nest on Hwy. 143 (J Chain). An immature Bald Eagle appeared over Sand Prairie Lane on 1/21 (SM). An apparent Goshawk was seen by Mick Richardson flying over I-170 on 1/31. Merlins were observed at Confluence Road on 1/22 (RAB, J Chain) and on 1/26 at Columbia Bottoms (MT). Mike Thelen also reported 2 Bald Eagles, N. Harrier, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a Red-tailed Hawk at Columbia Bottoms on 1/26. On 1/7, Bill Rowe observed 4 species of falcons at various locations, including a Prairie Falcon at Columbia Bottoms. The Prairie Falcon could not be re-found on 1/8 (FH, JZ). On 1/27, 9 Long-eared Owls and 2 Saw-whet Owls were found at Mourning Dove Access, Carlyle Lake (CA, DK). An immaculate immature Snowy Owl was perched on the exit 5 sign on I-255 (Roxana) on 1/1; the owl was spotted by a passerby and reported by Keith McMullen. This bird was a life bird for many who photographed and videotaped it on 1/1. On the following day, the bird was found on the ground, injured [probably struck by a vehicle], and taken to a local bird rehab center where it was determined to be necessary to destroy the bird. On 1/6, the Thursday Group observed a gray-phase Screech Owl in a nest box at Columbia Bottoms (J Chain). Jeannie Moe saw a Kingfisher catch a large fish, which the bird proceeded to beat against a branch, thereby breaking the bones and allowing the Kingfisher to swallow the fish. Sherry McCowan visited the Bruns/Bischoff Road area on 1/21, where she saw 30 Horned Larks. On 1/1, a House Wren was seen at the Equestrian Trail, HL (FH); the wren has been present since the Christmas Count on 12/19. Hermit Thrush sightings included 1 at Lake 2, BCA, on 1/19 (DW), 1 near his home in Jefferson County on 1/14 (MP), 1 near Alton on 1/23 (FH), and 2 at Laumeier Park on 1/28 (D Rabenau). Several Pipits were located at Riverlands on the very early date of 1/21 (D Rogles, CA). A Towhee was observed at Columbia Bottoms on 1/6 (MT).

About 50 Juncoes, a few White-throated Sparrows, and a Fox Sparrow were found at the Gaddy Bird Garden, TGP, on 1/18 (SM). Several American Tree Sparrows were spotted in FP on 1/31 (SM); this is a really good bird for a city park. Sherry also observed 3 Savannah Sparrows at Riverlands on 1/5. On 1/21, Joe Eades counted about 75 Lapland Longspurs on Confluence Road. Also on 1/21, a few Western Meadowlarks were present at Confluence Road (D Rogles). A Yellow-headed Blackbird, seen at the Boulder Road Access, CL, on 1/27, was a good winter find (DK). A Great-tailed Grackle was observed on 1/23 in flight where Bruns and Bischoff Roads meet (FH). The best bird for the Thursday Group on 1/25 was the Western Tanager, seen at the home of alert feeder-watchers Phil & Colleen Bruns in north county. Paul Bauer confirmed this winter record on 1/21.

The Thursday Group observed the following birds at Riverlands on 1/11: Surf Scoter, Glaucous Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Common Merganser, several Bald Eagles, and N. Harriers (J Chain).

Backyard Birds & Other Sightings: On 1/1, Chickadees, Titmice, and White-breasted Nuthatches were observed eating carrion, a deer carcass found on Hwy. 94 (AMc, YH). Bernd Heinrich, an author, reported this phenomenon in one of his books about ravens. This past summer (late report), a Great Blue Heron observed in flight at Creve Coeur Lake appeared to have a foot deformity which turned out to be a hummingbird coat-tailing in the draft of the heron’s flight (Mike Barbaud). A White-crowned Sparrow joined the White-throated Sparrows and Juncoes in Kraig Paradise’s yard on 1/12. Sherry McCowan has a Carolina Wren and a regular Song Sparrow visiting her Soulard home. A Carolina Wren is singing daily in Brentwood (YH). A Eurasian Collared-Dove appeared in Jim Ziebols’ backyard on 1/1. In January, Connie Alwood reported 2 Great Horned Owls (seen copulating), 2 Barred Owls, a Screech Owl and a Purple Finch on 1/9 at his Ferguson home; this is only the 2nd Purple Finch reported in the area this winter.

Poem:

He was the King of Trees
Keeper of the glades,
The way he lightened my life
Makes me so amazed.
We used to meet by him
Many years ago.
I loved you,
Now they’ve come to lay the road.
Don’t lay the road.

Cat Stevens

Contributors: Connie Alwood, Nick Barber, David Becher, Rose Ann Bodman, Jackie Chain, Shawn Clubb, Dick Coles, Jack Cowan, Joe Eades, Jack Harris, Frank Holmes, Dan Kassebaum, Randy Korotev, Jim & Charlene Malone, Anne McCormack, Sherry McCowan, Mark Peters, David Rabenau, Mick Richardson, David Rogles, Bill Rowe, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Dorcas Wanner, 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.

back to WGNSS homepage

back to Bird Report index