By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer

The year’s first Common Loon was behind headquarters at Riverlands on 2/25 (G&TB). Four Horned Grebes were seen in the rough water at Horseshoe Lake near the dredge on 2/7 (DBz, DBj). A Double-crested Cormorant was observed at Horseshoe Lake on 2/20 (JS, PB). By 2/6, the first White Pelicans began to arrive at Riverlands (G&TB). Fifty more were seen at Mark Twain on 2/8 (DC) and by 2/25, 150 were seen at Riverlands (JMo). Two Black-crowned Night Herons were spotted along Bend Road the first week of the month and 4 were found on 2/8 (DB). Three Tundra Swans were seen on Pogue Road (Madison Co.) on 2/1 (FH), 2 were seen on 2/8 at North Road/Horseshoe Lake (P&FB), and another was seen on Pogue Road on 2/14 by Paul Johnson. White-fronted Geese continued to be numerous, with 5 seen on 2/2 at Riverlands (KL) and 30 on 2/11 (DC). Two Ross’s Geese were observed on 2/8 at Riverlands (DC). According to Jim Rathert, about 5% of Snow Geese flocks now consist of Ross’s Geese. Hundreds of Pintails, with some Gadwall, Shovelers, and Lesser Scaup, were found at Little Creve Coeur Lake on 2/14 (YH, DBj). Many Pintails were also being reported from Riverlands at that time. Gadwall were reported area-wide. Three Wood Ducks were seen at Lake 35/Busch on 2/12 (JMo.) Redheads appeared at Mark Twain on 2/20 (G&TB). A flock of 1000 Lesser Scaup was observed at Carlyle Lake on 2/11 (CA). Five Red-breasted Mergansers were found at Riverlands on 2/2 (KL) and 50 were counted on 2/25 (G&TB, JMo). A female White-winged Scoter was seen at Riverlands on 2/25 (JMo). A very cooperative Surf Scoter was seen by many at close range on 2/1 at Horseshoe Lake (KM), where it remained for a week. By 2/20, all 3 Mergansers had been reported at Horseshoe Lake (PB). Eleven species of ducks were reported from the Horseshoe Lake & Bischoff Road areas on 2/28, including 2 Wood Ducks, 10 Green-winged Teal, and 8 Wigeons (FH).

An early Turkey Vulture was observed over Hwy. 40 on 2/6 (YH) and one was seen at Busch on 2/12 (JMo, DC). A Bald Eagle was observed eating a Canada Goose at the Borrow Pit on 2/9, as several noisy crows watched hungrily (JZ). By the end of February, most Bald Eagles had disappeared from Riverlands. One Sharp-shinned Hawk was found at Busch on 2/6 and one was seen in Tower Grove Park 2/27 (JZ). A Cooper’s Hawk was reported at the end of Bend Road on 2/8 (KL) and another was found between Lakes 34 & 35/Busch on 2/28 (JMo). Red-shouldered Hawks were actively displaying and calling throughout the area, with reports from Castlewood (CM, MB), the Arboretum on 2/9 (JC), and West Tyson Park on 2/20 (SG). An active Red-tailed Hawk’s nest was found near Little Creve Coeur Lake on 2/14 (YH, DBj). A Harlan’s Hawk was also seen perched in that area on 2/14 (YH, DBj). A well-described Red-tailed Hawk, an apparent Fuertes’ race, was seen near Lake 7/Busch on 2/22 (JMo). An adult dark-phase Western Red-tailed Hawk was seen near Bunker 70/Busch on 2/28 (JMo). A partial albino (90%) Red-tailed Hawk was seen near Lake 8/Busch on 2/20 by Jerry Ondr; it was mostly white with some red in the tail and dark wingtips. On 2/26, a Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk was observed at Busch (CM). A Rough-legged Hawk was seen at Green Bottom Road (St. Charles Co.) on 2/3 and another was seen at Hwy. 370 & Elm on 2/25 (JMo). Two local Peregrine Falcons were closely observed at Riverlands on 2/7 (DBz, DBj). Killdeer were seen at Lakes 35 and 15/Busch on 2/12 (JMo, JZ). A Lesser Yellowlegs was observed off Powers Road near MTC on 2/27 (J&CM). This is an exceptionally early bird and may be a state record. Woodcocks were observed at several locations in Busch on 2/4 (CM).

There were 11 Bonaparte’s Gulls at the Borrow Pit on 2/15 (JZ) and others were seen at the Sewage Lagoon/Carlyle on 2/11 (CA). A first-winter Great Black-backed Gull was found on 2/1 at Riverlands (JS). A large number of gulls had migrated north by mid-February. Mike Phelan flushed a Short-eared Owl near Heron Pond/Riverlands on 2/8. Great Horned Owls were seen at both Riverlands and Tower Grove Park on 2/4 (CA). A Barred Owl was closely observed at Busch on 2/20 (DB et al.). A Screech Owl was found in a nest box in Rock Hill (MW). A red-phase Screech Owl was seen in the usual hole in Tower Grove Park (JC, G&TB). Five species of Woodpeckers visited a Rock Hill back yard this month (L&MW). A Hairy Woodpecker was seen at the Arboretum on 2/9 (JC) and one was found in Elsah, Ill. on 2/20 (G&TB). Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were reported throughout the area: Tower Grove Park 2/1 and 2/13 (JS) and Busch on 2/22 (JMo). Six Pileated Woodpeckers were found near the Brussels Ferry on 2/20 (TBr). The first Fish Crows were reported at Castlewood (MB), and 6 were at the Borrow Pit on 2/10 (KM).

The year’s first Red-breasted Nuthatch was found behind Busch headquarters on 2/14 (RB). Both Kinglets were seen in Tower Grove Park on 2/4 (G&TB). The Brown Creeper that was reported earlier in the Wells’ back yard remained throughout the month. As many as 6 Brown Creepers were found along the Fallen Oak Trail/Busch on 2/21 (JMo). Yellow-rumped Warblers were reported from Busch on 2/12 (JMo) and Lost Valley Trail on 2/14 (RB). An immaculate male Oregon Junco was closely observed in Tower Grove Park on 2/28 (JZ). A male Indigo Bunting, described in "pre-alternate molt", visited the feeder of Dottie Herwig on 2/22. A Spotted Towhee was reported on Lost Valley Trail on 2/28 (KL). A most unusual species for a city park, an American Tree Sparrow, was seen in Tower Grove Park on 2/28 (JZ). Four Fox Sparrows were seen at Bunker 70/Busch on 2/6 (YH). Several more Fox Sparrows were observed at Busch on 2/20 (DB et al.) and 9 were seen at Tower Grove Park on 2/27 (JZ). A female Purple Finch was seen in Eureka on 2/9 (DC) and 2 males, 1 female were found in Elsah, Ill. on 2/20 (TBr). The winter finches did not make an appearance this year, with the exception of a handful of Purple Finches and Pine Siskins. A female Rusty Blackbird was observed at Horseshoe Lake on 2/7 (DBz,DBj) and 1 was also seen near Riverlands on 2/9 (G&TB). A small flock of Brewer’s Blackbirds was seen in Clinton Co., Ill. on 2/11 (KL). Large flocks of Eurasian Tree Sparrows are still being seen at Riverlands and the Borrow Pit, and 60+ were foundn at MTC along Island Road (PB et al.).

COMMENTS: As spring birding approaches, please make special note for this report of American Bittern, Red-headed Woodpecker, Henslow’s Sparrow, Dickcissel. These 4 species are classified as "species of special management concern" by the USFWS. The following Neotropical migrants made a poor showing in Spring 1998 and we would like to hear of any reports for: Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Blackpoll, and Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, and Cerulean Warblers. In addition, there were almost no reports of Least Bittern and Common Moorhen last year. Please report any sightings. Some are noting an absence of the usually common Carolina Wren - many probably died during the harsh winter storms in January. We would like to hear of all sightings of this bird. Finally, as spring migration approaches, please report unusually early migrants. A male Ruffed Grouse (complete tail band visible when flushed) was seen by Paul & Fran Bauer feeding along the edge of a primitive camping area in Daniel Boone CA on 2/21.

CALIFORNIA GULL: On 10/11/98, a possible California Gull was hotlined from the Borrow Pit. Two knowledgeable local birders responded and one of them confirmed it as a California Gull. Fifteen to 20 people saw this bird and it was a lifer for some. Two birders documented the bird and two others photographed it. The Illinois Records Committee rejected the identification and all now agree that it was not a California Gull. It was a small pale Herring Gull with an atypical bill. Only one area birder did not originally agree with the identification; he thought it was a Thayer’s.

CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, George & Terry Barker, Paul & Fran Bauer, Dave Becher, Dianne Benjamin, Rose Ann Bodman, Tom Borman, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Dick Coles, Sue Gustafson, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Kent Lannert, Jim & Charlene Malone, Keith McMullen, Jeannie Moe, John Solodar, Larry & Michelle Wells, Jim Ziebol.