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[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 79, No. 7, Sep., 2007] JUNE 2007 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerIntroduction: Without a doubt, the best bird of the summer was the Neotropic Cormorant at Horseshoe Lake, first found on 6/28 by Frank Holmes. Sightings: Pelicans were reported, with 40 individuals at HL on 6/3 (FH), and 100+ at Moredock Lake on 6/1 (WG). Besides spotting the Neotropic Cormorant, Frank Holmes also located a Least Bittern and 6 Yellow-crowned Night Herons at HL on 6/28. Jackie Chain and Rose Ann Bodman recorded 2 Yellow-crowned Night Herons, 2 Black-crowned Night Herons, along with Green Heron and a Snowy Egret, on Bend Road at HL on 6/29. On 6/1, Wally George located 40 Great Egrets, 30 Snowy Egrets, and 30 Little Blue Herons just south of the J.B. Bridge in Monroe County, IL. Both Sherry McCowan and Clarence Zacher reported Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret in FP during June. In FP, Sherry McCowan photographed a Green Heron eating an adult Bull Frog, which is quite a feat. Duck sightings in June included 26 Wood Ducks, 2 Ring-necked, and 12 Hooded Mergansers at Two River NWR on 6/9 (MT), and on 6/16, Mike spotted a possible Whistling Duck at B.K. Leach. A first summer Franklin’s Gull was seen at Riverlands on 6/9 (D Becher). Between 6/1 and 6/3, an adult Laughing Gull was being seen at HL (FH) and on 6/7, Frank observed a Herring Gull in Madison County. Forty-seven Black Terns, probably late migrants, were found at Two River NWR, Swan Lake, on 6/9 (MT). An Osprey spent part of the summer at Riverlands, where it was seen on 6/2 by Josh Uffman and on 6/19 by Jim Malone. David Becher reported a Mississippi Kite on 6/8 in the vicinity of Olive and Mason Roads. Western Kingbirds were found at Levee and B Roads in Monroe County on 6/1 (WG). Another Western Kingbird and a Cattle Egret were seen on Confluence Road on 6/9 (SM). An Alder Flycatcher was heard at Lost Valley Trail on 6/2 (MT). The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, found by Jim Hickner at SNR on 6/8, was a very good find. Several Pewees and Phoebes, plus Prothonotary Warbler and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, were seen at CSP on 6/29 (J Chain, Thursday Group). On 6/2, 35 Purple Martins were observed at Katy Access/Weldon Spring (MT). Mike also counted 12 Prothonotary Warblers at Two Rivers NWR/Gilbert Lake, on 6/9. Connecticut Warblers are typically seen in the first week of June, and Mike Brady found one at CSP on 6/5. A Lark Sparrow was observed at Katy Access on 6/2 by Mike Thelen; they probably bred there this year, and have been reported at that spot last year as well. On 6/9, Bill Rowe and Josh Uffman visited Katy Access, where they observed 2 Painted Buntings, Blue Grosbeak, Lark Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, and at Busch C.A., they observed Pine and Prothonotary Warblers. On 6/2, a Blue Grosbeak was seen near Hampton Lake, BCA (YH, DR), and on 6/3, 2 Blue Grosbeaks were found at HL (YH, EL). Another Blue Grosbeak was reported on 6/28 at Columbia Bottoms by Ken Thompson. Twenty Meadowlarks and 4 Fish Crows were present at Riverlands on 6/19 (JU). On 5/31, the Thursday Group visited SNR and reported Henslow’s Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Prairie Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush (JChain), plus a Marsh Wren found by Dick Coles. On 6/23 at CSP, Mike Brady hiked the 8 mile Cedar Bluff Loop Trail, where he observed Hooded Warbler, 4 Redstarts, Prairie Warbler, 3 Cerulean Warblers, 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoos, 7 Acadian Flycatchers, 2 Yellow-throated Vireos, 2 Blue Grosbeaks, 1 Broad-winged Hawk, and a Chuck-will’s-widow, which he flushed. Castlewood State Park is the most reliable place to find breeding Redstarts. Back Yard Sightings: Tom Kennedy was surprised to find a female Black-and-white Warbler at his yard on 6/19, near the Mississippi River. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found by Sherry McCowan in her Soulard yard on 6/3. Mike Thelen saw 10 Cardinals at his feeder in University City on 6/1. Mike Brady reported an Armadillo at CSP on 6/23. Contributors: Connie Alwood, David Becher, Rose Ann Bodman, Tom Bormann, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Dick Coles, Jean Cook, Evelyn Luecke, Wally George, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Jim & Charlene Malone, Sherry McCowan, David Rogles, Bill Rowe, Sherry McCowan, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Clarence Zacher, Jim Ziebol. Abbreviations: BCA, Busch Conservation Area; CC, Clarence Cannon NWR; CL, Carlyle Lake; CSP, Castlewood State Park; CB, Columbia Bottoms; FP, Forest Park; HL, Horseshoe Lake; LP, Lafayette Park; LCCL, Little Creve Coeur Lake; MTC, Marais Temps Clair; RMBS, Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, SNR, Shaw Nature Reserve, TGP, Tower Grove Park. |