Hotline: Missouri Bird Alert Service Number to Access and Report:
573/445-9115
Coverage: Missouri Statewide
Compiler and Transcriber: Jerry L. and Edge Wade
E-mail: edgew@socket.net
Compiled 30 March, 1999
Statewide:
Warblers have been seen and heard! Shorebird numbers are increasing,
Greater Prairie-chickens are booming, and the gentle gurgle of the
Brown-headed Cowbird wafts once more across a landscape tinged with hints of
green. The list of species seen this week is so long, we have not included
it. Species of note are CINNAMON TEAL, SMITHıS LONGSPUR and a variety of
WARBLERS.
In the west:
Schell-Osage Conservation Area, St. Clair and Vernon counties, was
definitely the place to be last weekend. The CINNAMON TEAL found by Betty
Overall on Friday was seen by most, but proved elusive for some, even though
it was usually seen in Pool A. Several duck species were present, including
an American Wigeon on the 26th. For the 27th, Mike Beckıs report included 2
Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Rusty and Brewerıs
Blackbird, two alternate plumaged Common Loons, an Eared Grebe,
Red-shouldered Hawks, Eastern Towhee, a Yellow-headed Blackbird, Fox,
White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Tom Curtis added Purple Martins (Bell Pond) and an Eastern Phoebe near the
old barn, and American White Pelicans overhead. On Sunday, the 28th, Don
Arneyıs group added to the mix: 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Pileated
Woodpeckers, eight Golden-crowned Kinglets and, in the pines south of the
headquarters, 2 Pine Warbers. Chris Hobbs saw a Bald Eagle.
Taberville Prairie C.A. was visited by most who went to Schell-Osage. They
were rewarded by sights and sounds of booming Greater Prairie-chickens. Two
active leks were reported on the west side, along H. Don Arneyıs group
flushed a Le Conteıs Sparrow; Mikeıs group saw a Merlin, 2 Wood Ducks and
many Field Sparrows.
At Four Rivers C.A., Vernon and Bates counties, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 6
American White Pelicans, 200 Snow Geese and 12 Savannah Sparrows were seen
by Mike Beckıs group. Chris Hobbs reported 89 Pectoral Sandpipers and more
than 200 Common Snipe. At the north unit he counted a single flock of 120
American Pipits.
Additional birds reported by Chris included a flock of 80 American Pipits
just north of Montrose C.A., 2 SMITHıS LONGSPURS in the mined land south of
Montrose; 8 Eastern Phoebes and 4 Loggerhead Shrikes. At a burn in progress
in northern Henry Co., he saw 22 Red-tailed Hawks, a Northern Harrier and an
American Kestrel.
We received a report on the 30th that a red-shafted Northern Flicker has
been in the Kansas City area since mid-December, but has not been seen for
the last few days.
West central:
17 Greater Prairie-chickens were counted by Tom Curtis at Hi Lonesome
Prairie, Benton County, in the recently burned area northeast of the parking
lot. He watched a Northern Harrier chase a prairie chicken over the hill.
He also saw a Vesper Sparrow, 2 SMITHıS LONGSPURS, and 3 Rough-legged Hawks.
North Central:
Macon County fairgrounds and area ponds and lakes were birded by a group on
the 27th. John Tateıs report included Greater and Lesser Scaup, Canvasback,
Bufflehead, Blue-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, a Brown Thrasher and a Song
Sparrow.
Central:
At Eagle Bluffs C.A., Boone County, Bill Goodge reported Tree Swallows and
Purple Martins on the 26th. Also present were 15 Greater-white-fronted
Geese and a Red-breasted Merganser, 25 Pectoral Sandpipers and many Common
Snipe. Tom Curtis reported large numbers of Scaup on the 28th; most had
gone by the afternoon of the 29th. Most Snow Geese have left; duck numbers
are down. Tom noted Great Egret, Barn Swallow and Purple Martin. Both
Yellowlegs species, Pectoral Sandpiper, American Golden-plover, Commpon
Snipe and a Merlin were present. Vicky Neill saw an alternate plumaged
Eared Grebe in Pool 11 on the 28th.
At Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Boone Co., Bill Goodge saw Louisiana
Waterthrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Hrmit Thrush on the 27th.
Also in Boone County, Susan Hazelwood birded Bradford Farm, a University
agronomy research station on the evening of the 27th. Birds included 2
Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, American Tree Sparrows, Savannah
Sparrows, and Brown-headed Cowbirds.
At Tucker Prairie in Callaway County on the 29th, Susan and Edge Wade saw
one, possibly 2 Spotted Towhees.
South Central:
Linda Frederick birded Lane Spring in Mark Twain National Forest, south of
Rolla at least twice this week. She reported large numbers of Brown Creeper
and Golden-crowned Kinglets, 3 singing Louisiana Waterthrush, 1
Yellow-throated Warbler, a Black-and-white Warbler, 4 Winter Wrens, a Hermit
Thrush, Song, Fox and Field Sparrows.
In the East:
Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area, St. Charles County was birded
Saturday, the 27th by Doyle Banks and a small group. They saw 25 species,
including many ducks, Pectoral Sandpiper, Pied-billed Grebe, and Lesser
Yellowlegs.
Also in St. Charles County, Marias Temps Clair was birded on the 25th by
John and Nancy Solodar. They reported 9 Rusty Blackbirds, 10 Common Snipe,
20 Tree Swallows, an Eastern Phoebe, and Red-tailed and Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Mike Brady birded Castlewood State Park on the 28th and reported Louisiana
Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-and-white
Warbler.
This is the Missouri Bird Alert, a service of the Audubon Society of
Missouri, Wednesday, March 24th, 10 p.m. Information about the Audubon
Society of Missouri can be obtained by calling Jean Graebner, treasurer at
573/698-2855. Good birding.