October 11, 2019
OK, so my August/September bird list of new species observed for the year is rather embarrassing. I know it sounds like a broken record but this just isn’t my year for birds. So I’m going to quit stressing about my list but will continue to share it here for historical purposes. It’s also worth noting that while I am not happy with my species for the year, I have still had some great moments birding in Missouri this year.
The list
So without further ado, the below list of birds are new species for the year from the last 2 months.
- Field sparrow
- Blue grosbeak
- Yellow-crowned night heron
- Common loon – a lone bird has been hanging out at Teal Pond at Riverlands for a long time.
- Swallow-tailed kite – a truly spectacular bird observed in Alton, IL
This brings me to a total of 146 birds observed for 2019.
Other highlights
I enjoyed a great day exploring Weldon Springs and Klondike Park in St. Charles County in early August. The hummingbirds were swarming in the native garden at the Weldon Spring Interpretive Site (Mt. Doom). I observed field sparrows and blue grosbeaks in the prairie. Turkey vultures were drying their wings and soaring over the bluffs above the Missouri River at Klondike Park, and indigo buntings were everywhere.
I also had a fun morning at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. It really never works out this way, but I went there in search of the Common loon that had been reported in Teal Pond. I pulled up, scanning the lake as I drove along Riverlands Way. Eventually I parked near the boat ramp and there it was, the loon was only a few yards from shore right next to the boat ramp. It offered great views while it fished for several minutes near shore before wandering further out. As I continued driving in the area, I saw many killdeer, literally hundreds of great egrets, a few American white pelicans, and many more of the usual suspects. Always a nice place to visit.
I don’t often chase specific birds, but once again it proved to be fruitful when seeking the swallow-tailed kite that had been reported in Alton, IL. I have seen this species many times over the years, but it is still amazing to watch while it hunts. This particular bird had been reported hunting over a field near a Ford dealership not far from the interstate in Alton. I picked a hot afternoon ahead of a cold front to try to see it, and sure enough there it was. How this bird managed to pick this field and use it as its hunting ground for several weeks is beyond my comprehension, but I’m just glad he did.
Closer to home, I had a great hour sitting on my screened in porch on a late September weekend. I watched a red-bellied Woodpecker repeatedly take an acorn from a nearby pin oak and stash it away in the rough bark of a nearby ash. At the same time, an unidentified empid flycatcher hunting insects from perch only about 10 feet away from me. These flycatchers have always been so difficult for me to identify, so I wasted little energy trying to nail the ID and just enjoyed the show. To seal the deal, a family of Eastern bluebirds flitted around the entire back yard doing their best flycatcher imitation, leaving their perch to catch insects out of the air.
So what’s next?
I have no idea. We are down to the final months of the year where I don’t honestly expect to add many new species to the tally. So I plan on enjoying the waterfowl migration, and on welcoming the other common winter birds that will be arriving any day now. Maybe I will catch a rarity or two, but I doubt it. So time to get the feeders back up and enjoy all the MO-birds!
