By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer

A nice concentration of 30 Horned Grebes occurred on 3/3 at Creve Coeur Lake (CM) and 4 were seen at Horseshoe on 3/16 with 2 Eared Grebes (PB). American White Pelicans were reported throughout the area, with 500 at Mark Twain and up to 75 at Horseshoe in early March. Fifty + Double-crested Cormorants were observed at the nest trees along Bend Road/Horseshoe by mid-March (FH). A Yellow-crowned Night Heron arrived in Granite City on 3/30 (FH). One Little Blue Heron was seen near Cahokia Mounds on 3/28 (FH). Two early Great Egrets were found at Cahokia Mounds on 3/6 (KL et al.) and 14 were seen at the Borrow Pit on 3/20 (Mike Phelan). A Cattle Egret was at Little Tower Field/Horseshoe on 3/30 (LS). As of 3/6, all of the possible geese in the area had been seen at Heron Pond/Riverlands. Nine Greater White-fronted Geese were noted off of Schoolhouse Road/Horseshoe on 3/7 (YH) and a high count of 46 were at Heron Pond/Riverlands on 3/11 (JMo). Three Ross’ Geese and a few Snow Geese were still at Riverlands on 3/21 (CA). A Ross’ Goose was also a new bird to the Busch list on 3/27 (DB, BK et al). This is the first new bird seen at Busch since the 1997 female Oldsquaw. This spring, Canada Geese were reported in increased number and Snow Geese were average in number (HW). Two hundred-fifty Snow Geese were seen at Riverlands on 3/1 (PB). Wood Ducks were observed on 3/ 4 at Lost Valley Trail (G&TB) and on 3/6 at Castlewood (MB). The high count for Green-winged Teal was 25 on Mertz Road/St. Ch. Co. (JMo). The first Blue-winged Teal were seen at Mertz Rd. and Hwy. H and also at Riverlands on 3/2 (CM). Black Ducks were seen at Horseshoe on 3/9 (FH) and at Carlyle Lake on 3/20 (G&TB). A sizable flock of 70 Wigeons were observed along Schoolhouse Road/Horseshoe on 3/7 (YH). Several large flocks of Pintails were seen into early March, with 250 at Mertz Road on 3/11 (JMo). Ruddy Ducks were down in number across the area. One thousand Lesser Scaup were estimated at Riverlands on 3/19 (BR). Six Greater Scaup were observed at Pere Marquette on 3/1 and a female was observed at Busch on 3/17 with other ducks (Wilma Kennell). Surf Scoters were well reported, with 1 at Horseshoe on 3/ 4 (FH) and 4 at Riverlands on 3/13 (BK) and 1 at Horseshoe on 3/28 (FH). Three counts of Red-breasted Mergansers at Riverlands included 300 on 3/ 4 (JMo), 150 on 3/16 (PB), and 150 on 3/19 (BR). The duck migration was slow to average this year.

Eleven Turkey Vultures were seen at Busch on 3/14 (YH). The year’s first Osprey was reported from Riverlands on 3/15 (Bob Lewis). Only 1 Bald Eagle remained at Riverlands as of 3/1 (PB). A nesting eagle was observed at Clarence Cannon on 3/28 (DC). Four Sharp-shinned Hawks were observed at Busch on 3/27 (YH). .Cooper’s Hawk continues to be seen in fair numbers, with an immature at Busch on 3/9 (YH). An adult Red-shouldered Hawk and an immature were soaring at Busch on 3/9 (JMo). Another has been seen regularly at Shady Springs Park/St. Ch. Co. this spring, possibly breeding there (JMo). A Red-shouldered Hawk was harrassing 2 Great Horned Owls at Castlewood (MB). An adult Broad-winged Hawk was observed migrating on 3/25 in south St. Louis (JZ). A female Merlin was seen on 3/20 at Layton Rd./Horseshoe perched high in a tree, where it was buzzed by Tree Swallows before it unsuccessfully attacked a Meadowlark (JZ). A Sora was reported at Clarence Cannon around 3/28. Three Sandhill Cranes were observed in flight at Castlewood on 3/5 (MB; J&MH). Lesser Golden Plovers arrived on 3/18, with 2 at Marais Temps Clair (Th. Group) and were also at Riverlands on 3/20 (KL). A Lesser Yellowlegs was found in St. Ch. Co. on 3/13 (CA, TBo) and by 3/20, many Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs had been seen throughout the area. A dozen of each were seen at Clarence Cannon on 3/28 (DC). The first Pectoral Sandpiper was noted on 3/18 at MTC (Th. Group), 17 were seen at Riverlands on 3/20 (TBo), and 12 at Clarence Cannon on 3/28 (DC). Crows were observed chasing a Short-eared Owl on 3/21 at the end of Bend Road/Horseshoe (PB). A Great Horned Owl was seen at Tower Grove Park on 3/25 (G&TB). A perched Great Horned Owl was found in a U. City cemetery on 3/1 (C&DD). The resident Tower Grove Park Screech Owl has been observed several times in March (T Be). Mark Peters saw his first March Whip-poor-will ever in Jeff. Co. on 3/31. Fifteen Flickers were noted in Tower Grove Park on 3/28 (P&BJ). Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers began to arrive by 3/28 (m. ob.). Phoebes arrived on schedule with 2 reported on 3/2 at Castlewood (MB). Tree Swallows were first reported on 3/18 at Marais Temps Clair (Th. Group) and many were reported by 3/20 throughout the area. An early Winter Wren was found at Castlewood on 3/6 and an early House Wren appeared there on 3/30 (MB). Another Winter Wren was found at Tower Grove Park on 3/17 (T Be). Carolina Wrens were reported sparingly, mostly at feeders (C&DD, Peggy Leonard, Dottie Herwig) and only a few were seen in typical areas. Two territorial males did not survive the January storms in Jefferson County (MP). A Fish Crow was heard at Riverlands on 3/20 (KL) and 2 were seen at Spanish Lake Park on 3/16 (PB). Only the second Red-breasted Nutchatch of the season was found at Busch on 3/26 (Nancy Snider). The first American Pipits were seen at Weiss Road and Cora Island Road on 3/16 (CA, PB) and by 3/20, more were reported throughout the area. Hermit Thrush and Brown Thrasher were seen at Tower Grove Park on 3/28 (P&BJ, BK). Golden-crowned Kinglets were numerous in Tower Grove Park by 3/27 (P&BJ). A rare migrating Loggerhead Shrike was found at Little Creve Coeur Lake on 3/20 (DB et al.). The first Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were observed on 3/26 at Castlewood (MB).

On 3/26, Louisiana Waterthrush and Pine Warbler were found at Rockwoods (CM). Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush were seen in Castlewood on 3/28 (MB). An early Field Sparrow arrived in Jeff. Co. on 3/1 (MP) and they were singing in Busch on 3/16. Fox Sparrows were numerous, with a high count of 50 on 3/7 at Tower Grove Park (JZ). Others were seen at Busch and Castlewood. A Chipping Sparrow was reported at Riverlands on 3/6 (WK). Vesper Sparrows were first encountered on 3/28 near the dredge/Horseshoe (FH). Juncoes seemed down in numbers area-wide. A male Rusty Blackbird was found at Tower Grove Park on 3/28 (JZ). A Brewer's Blackbird and a male Yellow-headed Blackbird were seen at Clarence Cannon on 3/28 (DC). Once common in the spring, Brewer’s and Rusty Blackbirds were reported sparingly this year. The SLAS/WGNSS Sparrow Round-up at Horseshoe on 3/21 netted the following: 1 Field, 10 Savannah, 3 Fox, 12 Song, 6 Swamp, 5 White-throated, 2 White-crowned.

COMMENTS: Reporting numbers of each species seen will help provide comparison data for use in future years. Also, as migration approaches, please keep in mind some birding ethics: 1) Avoid chasing or repeatedly flushing a bird. 2) Use tapes sparingly. 3) Keep "pishing" to a minimum.

CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, George & Terry Barker, Paul & Fran Bauer, Dave Becher, Dianne Benjamin, Rose Ann Bodman, Tory Berger, Tom Borman, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Dick Coles, Cheryl & Don Delashmit, Sue Gustafson, Frank Holmes, Jim & Margot Holsen, Yvonne Homeyer, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Wilma Kennell, Bob Kleiger, Kent Lannert, Jim & Charlene Malone, Keith McMullen, Jeannie Moe, Mark Peters, Bill Rowe, Lawrence Schriewer, John Solodar, Larry & Michelle Wells, Helen Wuestenfeld, Jim Ziebol, many observers.