6/30 Western Kingbirds Bridgeton Mo

Bridgeton, Missouri • Nuthin' but WEKI ... almost (updated July 2nd)
I visited three areas in Bridgeton/Hazelwood where I had seen Western Kingbirds (WEKI) earlier this year and found all three had active nests. Two of the nests have at least three chicks and the other nest looks like it might have been damaged in the recent storms.

A few of the birds seen, complete set and larger sizes in gallery. Click here to view the gallery.
For location of birds click for Map here.
Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.

Fee Fee Road just South of McDonnell Blvd. Nest on telephone pole next to electrical sub-station.


Returned to Fee Fee Road nest July 2nd for a pole shot and found the nest occupied!!


Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex (BMAC)


West end of St. Charles Rock Road at levee. Notice colored crown-strip on top of head of last photo.


Preview of Photos in gallery

6/18 SE Missouri Trip Part 3

East Prairie Missouri • Big Oak Tree State Park
We stopped on the way to Big Oak Tree State Park in East Prairie and had success finding the White-winged Dove and some Eurasian Collared-Doves. The White-winged Dove is my 286th bird photographed in Missouri. See gallery here.

At Big Oak Tree we went out to were we heard the "Swainson's Warbler" the day before and had no response to the call. I walked the boardwalk with my new All Weather Tripod Shoes on my tripod legs which worked very good, the legs did not go through the big holes in the metal grading of the boardwalk.

A few of the birds seen, complete set and larger sizes in gallery. Click here to view the gallery.
For location of birds click for Map here.

Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.


Preview of Photos in gallery

6/17 SE Missouri Trip Part 2

Crowley Ridge Conservation Area • Otter Slough Conservation Area
East Prairie Missouri • Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
We got up at three in the morning to drive to Crowley Ridge CA to try for the Chuck-will's-widow. It is very similar to the Whip-poor-will and the call is very similar. None were seen on the roads but I heard one off in the distance so we played their call. We got three birds to respond and they come in close but couldn't get any eye shine to locate for a photo. Two came in less then fifteen yards it seemed, but stayed in the thick brush.

Found nothing but a couple of Flycatchers and an Eagle at Otter Slough. At Ten Mile Pond there were about ten Least Terns and many Egrets and a few Herons.

We ended the day with a quick scouting trip to Ten Mile Pond CA and Big Oak Tree SP and passing through East Prairie Missouri we found a Common Nighthawk resting on a Church eve. We also stopped in East Prairie looking for the White-winged Doves reportedly nesting there and drove around the streets slowly but no luck. The target bird for Big Oak Tree SP was a Swainson's Warbler. We took a walk around the trail and played its call when we saw some cane. We got responses from of a couple very similar to a Swainson's call. They did come in close but we didn't see the birds. We planned to try these spots the next morning. Again, very hot and humid, temps 89-93°F.

A few of the birds seen, complete set and larger sizes in gallery. Click here to view the gallery.
For location of birds click for Map here.

Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.


Preview of Photos in gallery