MAY BIRD REPORT
By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer
This year’s Big Day, May 8, produced better results than in the last few years. Only Shorebirds were sparsely reported. The highlight of Big Day, besides the excellent songbirds, was the Western Grebe found at Riverlands (MAA).
White Pelicans, which have usually left by this time, were still being seen on Big Day and later in May (FH). Good counts of herons and egrets included 75 Great Blues and 50+ Great Egrets in Monroe County on 5/22 (T Be). Eleven Little Blue Herons were at Dwiggins Road on 5/23 (J Mo). Least Bitterns were seen at Little Creve Coeur Lake on 5/20 (JM, CA). Two Yellow-Crowned Night Herons were joined by an American Bittern on 5/8 at the Collinsville Golf Course (P&BJ, FH). Two Yellow-crowneds were also seen at the Chain on 5/30 (LH). A Surf Scoter found on 5/8 at Busch was the latest spring migrant ever located in Missouri (JE, PB*). A total of 14 Surf Scoters reported this spring is a record. A Hooded Merganser with chicks was seen at Pump Road/Swan Lake (LH). Two very late White-fronted Geese were found at Stump Lake on 5/8 (Edna Alexander).
Mississippi Kites were reported sparingly, with one seen near his home in Ill. on 5/15 (LH). Also on that date, one was observed at Castlewood (MB). On May 8, Bald Eagles were seen near the Katy Access along Hwy. 94 (JM) and 2 were also seen in Calhoun Co., Ill. (LH). An Osprey was reported on 5/8 at Riverlands (MAA). Three Broad-winged Hawks were seen at Busch on 5/15 (J Mo). The Red-tailed Hawk that apparently fledged from a nest in TGP was observed eating a rabbit, a robin, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (DC). A migrant Peregrine Falcon was observed in Tower Grove Park for several minutes on 5/3 (DG, JZ). A late migrant Merlin was found in Calhoun Co., Ill. on 5/30 (LH, HW, et al.).
A good find on 5/19 at Little Creve Coeur Lake was a Black-necked Stilt (JM). Three Black-bellied Plovers were seen at Riverlands on 5/14 (CA) and 6 were seen on 5/17 (J Mo). An Am. Golden Plover in breeding plumage was seen at Mark Twain NWR on 5/20 (DB). Four Willets were found at Pump Road/Swan Lake on 5/8 (LH) and 2 were reported at Riverlands on 5/11 (LB). On 5/8, a Willet was located near the end of Wise Road/Riverlands (PB). Fifty + Pectoral Sandpipers appeared at Harbor Point on 5/18 (T Be). A total of twenty-five Lesser and 10 Greater Yellowlegs were seen throughout St. Charles Co. on 5/8 (T Be). Four Wilson’s Phalaropes were a good find at Hayford Road on 5/8 (T Be). Thirty-five Semi-palmated Sandpipers were a high count in Monroe Co. on 5/22 (T Be). On 5/2, four White-rumped Sandpipers were found at Harbor Point (CA). A flock of about 100 Peeps were seen in flight near Dwiggins Rd. on 5/23 (J Mo). Also on 5/23, 19 Long-billed Dowitchers were at Harbor Point (J Mo) and on 5/9, 9 Short-billed Dowitchers were seen across St. Charles Co. (T Be, m. ob.). A Bonaparte’s Gull was a good find on Big Day at Riverlands (A Mc). An adult Laughing Gull was seen at Riverlands on 5/11 (CA, m. ob.). A first year Glaucous Gull was seen at Melvin Price Dam on 5/8 (FH). A high count of 12 Caspian Terns was reported at Riverlands on 5/11 (CA, m. ob.). Thirty Common Terns were also seen that day. Fourteen Black Terns were observed at Horseshoe Lake on 5/8 (FH, m. ob.) and 12 were seen at Kidd Lake on 5/22 (T Be).
A Great Horned Owl was located at Katy Trail Access on Hwy. 94 on 5/8 (A Mc). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was found in Tower Grove Park on 5/2 (G&TB). A Black-billed Cuckoo was first reported on 5/4 in TGP (JZ), on 5/11 at Tower Grove Park (G&TB), and also at Lost Valley Trail on 5/9 (DC, JM). Chuck-will’s-widow and Whip-poor-wills are steadily declining in the area; very few were reported this spring. A very good spring total of 100 Nighthawks were seen on 5/9 at Mo. Botanical Gardens (P&BJ). An Anna’s Hummingbird visited a feeder in Caseyville, Ill. for a few minutes only on 5/9 (Mark LaCombe). An Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen on 5/9 at Tower Grove Park (G&TB), at Busch on 5/15 (JZ, YH), and 2 were observed near Layton Rd. on 5/17 (T Be). Very good numbers of Least Flycatchers, which migrated late this year, included 7 in Madison Co. on 5/8 (FH) and 4 in TGP on 5/10 (T Be). Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were decidedly down in numbers this year. Alder Flycatchers seen included 1 on 5/15 at Lost Valley Trail (KR, m. ob.) and 1 on 5/23 in Madison Co. (FH). Willow Flycatcher was reported on 5/15 at Busch (JZ, YH) n 5/25 at MTC (CA). The first Western Kingbird was found on 5/6 at the Katy Access (CM) and 1 was also found on 5/31 on Rte. 3 (DB). Up to 30 Bank Swallows were found nesting on Island Road on 5/5 (JM). A late Winter Wren was found in TGP on 5/7 (BW). On 5/2, 2 Gray-cheeked Thrush were located in TGP (DC). Swainson’s Thrush were fairly numerous but not singing as much as usual. Wood Thrush, a local breeder, continues to decline in numbers. The first Veery was found on 5/5 in TGP (JM).
Bell’s Vireos, a rare but local breeder, were found in 5 places in Ill. and 1 in Mo. Philadelphia Vireos were numerous in migration this year. The very rare Lawrence’s Warbler was found at the Arboretum on 5/6 (Jerry McLaughlin). An equally rare Black-throated Blue was found in Forest Park on 5/6 (RK). Canadas were scarce but 1 was found in Busch on 5/9 (RK, BR) and 2 were seen on 5/16 in Carondelet Park (KL). Cape Mays had a spectacular year, with up to 13 seen on 5/31 in TGP (m. ob.). There are 3 territoried male Cerulean Warblers at Pere Marquette Park (LH). Two Blackburnians were reported on 5/13 in TGP (CA, KL) and 3 on 5/16 (DG, BB). On 5/9 a Worm-eating Warbler was heard at Lost Valley Trail and also at Dardenne Creek/Busch (YH, m. ob.). Hooded Warblers also had a very good year, with sightings from Busch, Rockwoods, Carondelet Park & Forest Park (m. ob.). One was photographed by Paul Bauer on 5/10. The first Mourning Warbler was reported on 5/4 at Carondelet Park (Stephen & Melanie Garcia) and on 5/9 at Busch (BR, RK). The first Connecticut Warbler was found on 5/16 at TGP (JC) and a total of 3 were seen on 5/21 (R. Silverman, D. Johnson, J. Mohrmann, JZ). Twenty-five Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were seen on 5/4 in TGP (T Be). Bobolinks were seen on 5/1 along Powers Road (J&CM), on 5/8 on the Levee Roads (BM), at Horseshoe Lake on 5/13 (FH), and the high count was 45 on 5/20 along the Mississippi River Rd. in Ill. (LH). Orchard Orioles were reported in good numbers in Calhoun Co., Ill. (LH). Blue Grosbeaks were found at the Arboretum on 5/3 (DC), in TGP on 5/4 (DG), at the Katy Trail Access on 5/13 (CM), on Plummer Hall Rd. on 5/15 (LH), at the Borrow Pit on 5/17 (T Be), and 4 were observed on 5/9 at Weldon Springs (JZ,YH). As many as 25 White-throated Sparrows were still present at Point DuSable Park in St. Charles Co. on 5/3 (J Mo). A Clay-colored Sparrow was seen at Weldon Springs on 5/9 (BR, RK). A Lark Sparrow was found at Schoolhouse Rd. on 5/7 (T Be). Grasshopper Sparrows were found at Riverlands on 5/8 (DB, LB) and in Madison Co. on 5/9 (FH). A large number of Lincoln’s Sparrows were reported from Weldon Springs on 5/9 (BR, RK, YH).
Dan Kassebaum Spring Highlights: 8 Least Bittern, Kidd Lake, 5/2; 150 Great Blue Herons, Carlyle, 3/27; 1,000 Snow Gees, Carlyle, 3/27; 600 Shovelers, Carlyle, 3/27; 450 Green-winged Teal, Carlyle, 3/27; 8 Surf Scoters, Carlyle Sewage Pond, 4/17; adult N. Goshawk, Carlyle, 3/27; 4 Rough-legged Hawks, Carlyle, 3/27; 10 Kestrels, Carlyle, 3/27; Yellow Rail, Kidd Lake, 5/10; 2 Purple Gallinules, Carlyle, 5/16-18; 5 Moorhens, Kidd Lake, 5/2; 500 Am. Golden Plover, Carlyle, 4/10; Upland Sandpiper, Carlyle, 4/17; 150 Mourning Doves, Carlyle, 3/27; 15 Downy Woodpeckers, Carlyle, 3/27; 7 Alder Flycatchers, Carlyle, 5/15; Gray Kingbird, Carlyle, 5/15; Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird, Wartburg, Ill., 6/3; 6 Marsh Wren, Kidd Lake, 5/2; 11 E. Bluebirds, Carlyle, 3/27; 15 Swainson’s Thrush, Carlyle, 5/1; 150 Am. Pipits, Carlyle, 3/27; 45 Yellow Warblers, Carlyle, 5/8; 30 Yellow-rumped Warblers, Carlyle, 5/8; 27 Palm Warblers, Carlyle, 5/8; Cerulean Warbler, Pomona, Ill., 5/27; 8 Worm-eating Warblers, Fults Hill Prairie, Monroe Co., Ill., 5/2; 12 N. Waterthrush, Carlyle, 5/8; 44 Yellowthroats, Carlyle, 5/8; 2 Clay-colored Sparrows, Carlyle, 5/1 & 5/8; 33 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Carlyle, 5/8; 50 Bobolinks, Carlyle, 5/8; 500 Rusty Blackbirds, Carlyle, 3/27; 500 Brewer’s Blackbirds, Carlyle, 3/27; 3,000 Grackles, Carlyle, 3/27; 33 Baltimore Orioles, Carlyle, 5/8. The Gray Kingbird and Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird are amazing records for this area.
Comments: Paul Bauer reported 2 Cape Mays and 4 Blackpolls in his Florissant backyard on 5/12. Wilma Kennell reported these in her U. City backyard 5/8-11: Black-throated Green, Wilson’s, 2 Blackpolls, Indigo, N. Waterthrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Lincoln Sparrow. Four species that were low in numbers last year regained their presence this year (Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Redstart, Swainson’s Thrush).
CONTRIBUTORS: Connie Alwood, Mary Anne Auer, Bob Bailey, Loy Barber, George & Terry Barker, Paul Bauer, Dave Becher, Dianne Benjamin, Rose Ann Bodman, Torrey Berger, Tom Borman, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Viola Buchholtz, Doug Corbett, Ken Cohen, Dick Coles, Jean Cook, Cheryl & Don Delashmit, Joe Eades, David Garcia, Lou Hanes, Frank Holmes, Jim & Margot Holsen, Yvonne Homeyer, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Dan Kassebaum, Randy Korotev, Kent Lannert, Peggy Leonard, Jim & Charlene Malone, Anne McCormack, Bob McFall, Keith McMullen, Jeannie Moe, Mark Peters, Kevin Renick, Bill Rowe, Bruce Wetteroth, Helen Wuestenfeld, Jim Ziebol, many observers.