APRIL BIRD REPORT
By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer
There were no rare Loons or Grebes reported except for 2 alternate-plumaged Eared Grebes at Horseshoe on 4/19 (T Be). Sightings of Am. White Pelicans at Horseshoe increased during the month, from 300+ on 4/5 (T Be) to 500 on 4/10 (KL) to 750+ on 4/15 (JZ). Seven White Pelicans were seen flying over Tower Grove Park on 4/24 (m. ob.). Five hundred + Double-crested Cormorants were counted there on 4/19 (FH). Am. Bitterns were first found in the area at Sauget on 4/11 (JC) and two were seen there on 4/17 (CA, KL); another was found at Riverlands on 4/18 (J Mo). By 4/11, Green Herons had been sighted at Busch (RB et al.) and again on 4/13 (J Mo). Snowy Egrets arrived somewhat early, with 3-4 seen on the East side on 4/3 (m. ob.) The resident Yellow-crowned Night Heron was seen at Sauget on 4/22 (T Be). A migrant Black-crowned Night Heron was observed at Riverlands on 4/18 (PL). On 4/27, 12 Little Blue Herons were found at Hampton Lake/Busch (D Bz). As of 4/18, these duck species remained at Horseshoe: Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, both Teals, Wood Duck, Ruddy Duck, and Red-breasted Merganser (FH). Several area-wide reports of Sora were made around 4/17, with one seen that date at the Shorebird Area/Busch (SG). The week of 4/23, up to 10 Soras were present daily at Little Creve Coeur Lake (JM).
An Osprey was seen near the Brussels Ferry for several days in early April (HW) and one was seen at Lake 33/Busch on 4/10 (BK et al.). Sharp-shinned Hawks were reported in above average numbers in April. Sightings of Cooper’s Hawk occurred in Forest Park on 4/10 – apparently 2 immatures that are nesting (RK) and in Tower Grove Park on 4/13 (YH). An accipiter circling Hampton Lake/Busch on 4/7 proved to be an adult Goshawk; it then dove on prey in an adjacent field and did not reappear (JZ). Another Gos was seen along Hwy. 94 near Busch on 4/10 (ML). Two Red-shouldered Hawks were observed feeding young at the Arboretum on 4/29 (G&TB). Red-shouldered Hawks are doing well all over the area. Broad-winged Hawks were seen in small numbers the week of 4/11 and only a few were seen during their migration peak around 4/21. An immature melanistic Western Red-tailed Hawk was observed at Horseshoe on 4/16 (D Bz). On 4/18, a local Peregrine Falcon (pealei) was observed at close range at Riverlands (PL). A likely tundrius Peregrine Falcon was seen at Tower Grove Park on 4/24 (P&BJ). Turkeys were reported from Forest Park on 4/6 – including one vigilant Turkey sitting on a stump at Clayton & Skinker (RB) and one was seen on Big Bend Rd in west St. L. Co. on 4/18 (G&TB). Several Eurasian Collared Doves were hotlined from Sunset Park/Florissant (Tom Parmeter, DC, m. ob.). The high count for Am. Golden Plover was 65, at Marais Temps Clair on 4/3 (CA). A lone Hudsonian Godwit was a fly-over at Riverlands on 4/17 (BR). Good counts of LesserYellowlegs included 100+ at Marais Temps Clair on 4/8 (KL) and 50 at Riverlands on 4/17 (J Mo). Twenty-five Greater Yellowlegs were also at Riverlands on 4/17 (J Mo). The first Spotted Sandpiper was found on 4/10 at Busch, along with a sizable flock of Least Sandpipers (ML). Two Long-billed Dowitchers were at Marais Temps Clair on 4/10 (T Bo), one with an 8 cm. bill. On 4/23, another Long-billed Dowitcher was reported along Bruns Road (T Be) and on 4/28, 8 were found at Schoolhouse Rd. & Bischoff Rd. (KR). Dunlin arrived early in basic plumage at the Collinsville Rd. Golf Course on 4/12 (BK, VB); they were also seen on 4/16 at Riverlands (CM). An Upland Sandpiper along Bruns Road was somewhat early on 4/3 (YH, JZ). This is a USFWS species of special management concern due to drastically declining numbers; only one was seen in the St. Louis area last year. This species should be reported every time it is seen.
A few Bonaparte’s Gulls were reported on 4/16 at Riverlands (CM) and at Horseshoe Lake (FH). Ring-billed Gulls had mostly left the area by the middle of April. Three Forster’s Terns were seen at Riverlands on 4/17 (PL) and a Common Tern was reported there on the same day (JM). A very early Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard at Busch on 4/17 (JM et al.) and one was seen at Tower Grove Park on 4/21 (BW). A lone Short-eared Owl was sitting in a field on Bischoff Rd. on 4/5 (T Be). The resident Great Horned Owl in Tower Grove Park continues to be mobbed by crows on a regular basis. Barred Owls were very vocal and visible in Busch starting in early April. Seven Barred Owls were heard in Town & Country on 4/5 (T Be). Several people observed a Chuck-will’s-widow flying low across the Bird Garden/Tower Grove Park on 4/27 (JS, J Mo). A Common Nighthawk finally appeared on 4/27 over Granite City (FH). A red-phase adult Screech Owl and three branchlings were observed perched in a Bald Cypress at the Cypress Circle in Tower Grove Park on 4/25 (G&TB). Fifty-seven Flickers were counted migrating in Tower Grove Park on 4/8 (JZ). An early E. Kingbird was seen at Frank Holton S.P. on 4/11 (M Th). By 4/10, the remaining Swallow species had arrived, with Cliff and Bank seen at Horseshoe (FH). Fifty+ Bank Swallows were nesting at the Borrow Pit/Horseshoe on 4/24 (G&TB). Chimney Swifts arrived on time, with the first ones seen area-wide on 4/11 (MB, G&TB, T Be, FH). Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were first reported on 4/18 at the Coles’ residence (DC). Wood Thrush were first reported on 4/15 at Castlewood (MB) and 2 were seen at Tower Grove Park on 4/24 (YH). Veery were reported at Tower Grove Park on 4/24 (JM) and 4/26 (T Be). Thirty+ Hermit Thrush and the first Swainson’s Thrush were present in Tower Grove Park on 4/19 (T Be). Gray-cheeked Thrush were observed on 4/24 (KR) and 4/26 at Tower Grove Park (BB). Many Catbirds arrived in Forest Park on 4/26 (RK, m. ob.). Ruby-crowned Kinglets peaked at 200+, with a few Golden-crowneds, on 4/19 (T Be). A Loggerhead Shrike was reported from Bischoff Rd. on 4/16 (T Be) and at Busch on 4/27 (CM).
Yellow-throated Vireo was found on 4/10 at Lost Valley Trail (G&TB) and on 4/12 in Tower Grove Park (BK, JC, RB). Bells’ Vireos arrived on 4/29 at Weldon Springs (CM) and at Tower Grove Park (BK). Twenty-five+ Warbling Vireos were counted in Busch on 4/25 (T Be). The season’s first and slightly early White-eyed Vireo occurred on 4/8 in Jefferson County (MP). Prothonotary Warbler was a little early at Castlewood on 4/15 (MB). Two Prothonotaries were in Kennedy Forest on 4/27; these birds are rarely seen in migration (RK). On 4/25, a Golden-winged Warbler was located in Rockwoods (CM); this warbler was very hard to find last spring. A Brewster’s Warbler was closely observed near the Bubbler/Tower Grove Park on 4/27 (Tom Bailey). Tennessee Warblers were first heard on 4/18 in Castlewood (T Be). Orange-crowned Warblers were first found on 4/18 in Forest Park (D Bz, KC) and on 4/19 at Tower Grove Park (BK, J Co). Northern Parula was first reported on 4/11 at Tyson and after that, in fair numbers throughout the area (m. ob.). A singing Cerulean Warbler was seen at Castlewood on 4/15 (MB) and on 4/27 one male Cerulean was singing in Tower Grove Park (BW). Male Ceruleans on territory have been reported in the following places: as of 4/24, three in Castlewood (MB), one in the Arboretum (P&BJ), and as of 4/25, three on Lost Valley Trail (Doug Corbett). The first Magnolia Warbler was found in Tower Grove Park on 4/27 (D. Driemeyer). Very good numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers were encountered at Castlewood, with 100+ on 4/18 (T Be) and 30+ at Frank Holton S.P. on 4/10 (BE). Many territorial Yellow-throated Warblers were observed at Castlewood on 4/4 (MB), at Busch on 4/6 (BK), and at Frank Holton S.P. on 4/10 (BE). On 4/27, a Yellow-throated Warbler appeared in Forest Park where it is a rare migrant (RK). Prairie Warblers arrived at their nesting sites in Union in late April, but were not otherwise seen as migrants (C&DD). A Bay-breasted Warbler was seen in Tower Grove Park for several days beginning on 4/24 (RB, KR). Normal numbers of Pine Warblers have been reported from around the area and on 4/28 a Cowbird was observed near a Pine Warbler nest in Rockwoods (DC). Twenty-five Palm Warblers were counted in Tower Grove Park on 4/26 (T Be). A possible Mourning Warbler was heard singing in Whitecliff Park on 4/26 (D Bz). A Hooded Warbler first seen in Tower Grove Park on 4/21 stayed for several days (David Garcia, T Be); another was found at Rockwoods on 4/25 (CM). On 4/21 and 4/22, many new species of landbirds arrived in very good numbers. A cold front had been blocking movement for several days, and radar imagery from the Texas coast showed a large flight arriving at the Gulf on 4/19. These new species included: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great-crested Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Solitary Vireo, Nashville, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green (very good numbers), Palm (low numbers), Yellow, Kentucky (MH), and Worm-eating Warblers (JS), Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (very good numbers), Indigo Bunting (good numbers), Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Summer Tanager (m. ob.). Vesper Sparrows were noted from early April until the 18th, mostly on the East side, Riverlands and St. Ch. Co. (m. ob.). A high count of 12 Savannahs were seen along Bischoff Road on 4/3 (YH). Chipping Sparrows were first found on 4/4 at the Arboretum (KL) and 35 were seen at Tower Grove Park on 4/5 (T Be). One hundred + Am. Tree Sparrows were estimated along Layton Rd./Horseshoe on 4/9 (T Be). A high count of 150+ White-throated Sparrows were found in Tower Grove Park on 4/22 (CA, m. ob.). An immature White-crowned Sparrow spent several months at a U. City feeder (RK). A somewhat early Lincoln’s Sparrow was observed at Tower Grove Park in early April (RB). The only LeConte’s Sparrow reported this spring was observed at the Busch Prairie on 4/27 (D Bz). Many people observed a singing Clay-colored Sparrow near the Cypress Circle/Tower Grove Park on 4/25-27 (David Garcia, m. ob.). The only W. Meadowlark reported was seen on 4/17 at Riverlands (JM). A male Yellow-headed Blackbird at Riverlands was hotlined on 4/10 (T Bo et al.). On 4/24, 8 Summer Tanagers in varying plumages were found in Tower Grove Park (KR). The WGNSS/SLAS group found 6 Purple Finches at Hampton Lake/Busch on 4/17 (JM et al.) and a female was seen at Tower Grove Park on 4/19 (DC). These are very low numbers for what used to be a common winter/spring visitor. A Smith’s Longspur, probably a young male, was seen on Bruns Rd. on 4/3 – a diagnostic identification point is the white outer tail feathers like those found on the Vesper Sparrow (JZ, YH). Rusty and Brewer’s Blackbirds were reported sparingly – perhaps they have shifted their migration westward? Six Rusty Blackbirds were seen at Horseshoe on 4/4 (VB) and 6 Brewer’s were seen on Bruns Rd. on 4/5 (T Be).
Carlyle Lake: During the week of 4/18, there were 8 Surf Scoters, a field full of Am. Golden Plover, and an Upland Sandpiper (DK).
COMMENTS: Most wintering and migrant ducks had left the St. Louis area by the end of April. Breeding Bluebirds were down in numbers throughout the area. Red-headed Woodpeckers in migration are also down in numbers. Only one Bewick’s Wren has been reported so far (Ed Karsh, 4/12) and no Lark Sparrows were reported in April. Whip-poor-wills are declining, with very few reports. Additional Carolina Wren reports include 2 at Spanish Lake Park on 4/19 (PB) and one at the Gaddy residence. Because these birds were only heard starting in March, it has been suggested that these males are new to the area and not survivors of our winter storms. An aberrant warbler was seen in Tower Grove Park from 4/24-4/26 (m. ob.), possibly a hybrid Tennessee x ?. It had a peachy/orange throat and a broken eye ring; otherwise, it was a typical Tennessee male and it sang an atypical Tennessee song.
CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, Bob Bailey, George & Terry Barker, Paul & Fran Bauer, Dave Becher, Dianne Benjamin, Rose Ann Bodman, Torrey Berger, Tom Borman, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Viola Buchholtz, Jackie Chain, Ken Cohen, Dick Coles, Jean Cook, Cheryl & Don Delashmit, Bob Engelbretsen, Sue Gustafson, Frank Holmes, Jim & Margot Holsen, Yvonne Homeyer, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Bob Kleiger, Randy Korotev, Kent Lannert, Peggy Leonard, Mark Lund, Jim & Charlene Malone, Keith McMullen, Jeannie Moe, Mark Peters, Kevin Renick, Bill Rowe, Lawrence Schriewer, John Solodar, Mike Thelan, Larry & Michelle Wells, Bruce Wetteroth, Helen Wuestenfeld, Jim Ziebol, many observers.