JUNE BIRD REPORT
By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer
Early June produced a few late spring migrants but nothing out of the ordinary. The Western Grebe at Riverlands (MAA) was joined by something equally as unusual, a Greater Scaup on 6/5 (CM). An American Bittern was found at Heron Pond/Riverlands on 6/22 (J&CM). A Least Bittern was reported from Marais Temps Clair (KL, CA, m. ob.) and at Heron Pond on 6/27 (RW). A small nesting colony of Yellow-crowned Night Herons on the East side had 4 active nests by 6/21 (FH). By the end of June, the first nest had fledged young and the 4th nest was on eggs. A post-breeding dispersal Glossy Ibis was found on 6/22 at Heron Pond (KL, CA, m. ob.). On 6/27, there were 160 herons and egrets on Heron Pond (m. ob.). A pair of Green-winged Teal was reported on 6/23 at Two Pecans (CM). The first King Rail of the season was seen at Clarence Cannon on 6/20 (T Bo et al.). Another King Rail was seen by many observers on 6/26 at Heron Pond (Darrell Shambaugh, m. ob.). On 6/3, the Common Moorhens at Kidd Lake were relocated (CM). An adult Purple Gallinule was spotted walking on Wise Road on 6/27 (CM). The Sunday afternoon hotline drew many birders to Riverlands, which allowed them to see the King Rail and the Least Bittern, but not the Purple Gallinule. (This is the 4th Purple Gallinule reported in the 50 mile radius in the last 2 years). A Mississippi Kite was seen on 6/20 at his property (MP) but was otherwise poorly reported. The Forest Park Cooper’s Hawks were still at the nest on 6/15 and 2 nestlings were observed on 6/26 (KC, DB). Palmer states that only about 34% of first year Cooper’s Hawks even attempt nesting. A recently fledged Red-tailed Hawk was seen at Castlewood on 6/26 (DC).
A good find on 6/20 was a Black-bellied Plover at Riverlands (G&TB). Ruddy Turnstones seen at Riverlands on 6/23 were either very late spring migrants or very early fall arrivals (Edge Wade). An equally early fall migrant was a Solitary Sandpiper at Riverlands on 6/27 (JZ, YH). Both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs were reported from 6/28-30 on Red School Road (FH, J&CM). A Barred Owl flew in front of her car at Busch on 6/23 (J Mo). Jim and Margot Holsen were serenaded by Whip-poor-wills while celebrating his birthday on 6/19 at Archery/Busch. Three Black-billed Cuckoos were observed/heard at Gateway Int’l. Golf Course during June (EB). Yellow-billed Cuckoos were sparingly reported from their usual areas, with 2 seen on 6/4 at Lost Valley Trail (DC). Red-headed Woodpeckers continue to be poorly reported from former areas, but have been observed in Forest Park (LW) and TGP (m. ob.). While bicycling, Kraig Paradise located a Western Kingbird nest near Humboldt and Riverview. Of the 2 Western Kingbird nests found south of Granite City, by the end of June one had fledged 4 young and the other pair was still attending the nest (FH + photos). Two late spring migrant Alder Flycatchers were reported, one at Riverlands on 6/4 (Mike Thelan) and one at Busch on 6/5 (JZ). Cliff Swallows were noted nesting at Winfield Dam (DB). Bluebirds are described as "decidedly down in numbers" near Union, Mo. (D&CD). Elsewhere in the area, numbers were also down.
A Black-and-white Warbler seen in Busch on 6/19 is a very good find in this area (YH, J Mo). A small colony of Redstarts (6-8) was reported from Castlewood (MB). Two tardy Mourning Warblers were reported on 6/4 at Lost Valley Trail (DC) and on 6/5 at Busch (JZ). Several Worm-eating Warblers were seen at Lost Valley Trail on 6/12 (DR). Summer Tanagers were reported in numbers from Lost Valley Trail on 6/4 (DC) and on 6/26 at Greensfelder Park (DR). Breeding Lark Sparrows were present along Hopewell Road (BK) and at Busch (DB). Grasshopper Sparrows, although sparsely reported, were found nesting at Clarence Cannon (DB).
Dan Kassebaum’s June Highlights: 4 Least Bitterns, Kidd Lake, 6/24; Gadwall drake, Kidd Lake, 6/18-24; Am. Wigeon drake, Kidd Lake, 6/18; Cooper’s Hawk w/5 young, Belleville, 6/11 (photographed by Al Seppi 6/28); 2 Common Moorhens, Kidd Lake, 6/24; Least Sandpiper, Carlyle, 6/19; 46 Ring-billed Gulls, Carlyle, 6/28; 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Carlyle, 6/8; 3 Red-headed Woodpecker, Carlyle, 6/19; Willow Flycatcher, Carlyle, 6/8; Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird, Maeystown Road, Monroe County, Ill.; 2 Western Kingbirds, Granite City, 6/7; 2 Bell’s Vireos, Carlyle, 6/19; a small colony of Sedge Wrens, Mississippi River levee, 6/3; 7 Worm-eating Warblers, Pomona, 6/27.
Comments: On 5/20, 2 Mississippi Kites were seen copulating in Warson Woods (L&MW). A Great-crested Flycatcher is nesting in a backyard in Rock Hill (L&MW). On a sadder note, baby cowbirds were seen being fed by: a Yellow-throated Warbler on 6/19 at Lost Valley Trail (CA, KL); by a Common Yellowthroat and by 2 White-eyed Vireos, both at Busch on 6/24 (J Mo).
CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, Mary Anne Auer, George & Terry Barker, Ed Barresi, Dave Becher, Tom Borman, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Ken Cohen, Doug Corbett, Don & Cheryl Delashmit, Frank Holmes, Jim & Margot Holsen, Yvonne Homeyer, Dan Kassebaum, Randy Korotev, Kent Lannert, Jim & Charlene Malone, Jeannie Moe, Mark Peters, David Rabenau, Larry & Michelle Wells, Rad Widmer, Helen Wuestenfeld, Jim Ziebol, many observers.