This morning I arrived at Meramec Community College before 8:00 a.m., hoping to spot the Townsend’s Solitaire before it began its day. Two birders had just arrived and hadn’t seen the bird. This time I waited only a little over an hour before giving up and going elsewhere. I did check juniper bushes on the other side of Rosehill before I left. I read later on mobirds that the bird was found in its usual spot this morning as early as 6:50 and as late 7:30, and of course it was there at 4:00 p.m. as well.
This is the point at which I realize that I may not be temperamentally suited to chasing for the purpose of keeping a year list. On the one hand, I could get up a little earlier tomorrow morning, arrive at Meramec around 7:00, and add the bird to my 2006 list. It’s surely one I can’t count on finding elsewhere later in the year. On the other hand, I could do one of the following: (1) drive over to Horseshoe Lake to see what sparrows might have turned up in the past two days (longspurs would be a real treat), or (2) stay in town and walk Tower Grove Park to see what might be lurking off the streets — surely there is more in the park than the single mixed flock of juncos and white-throats I found last Wednesday.
The options listed “on the other hand” appeal to me more. I did get to watch the solitaire for 20 to 25 minutes on Friday and was thrilled to see a life bird; I would be more inclined to return if I had missed it altogether.
Raptors
After dipping on the solitaire, I drove to Forest Park to see whether I could find last month’s Merlin. No luck. I did see my first kingfisher of the year, but apart from him, some Mallards, a flock of around 70 Canada Geese (no Cackling Geese among them), and one unidentified sparrow, the Deer Lake area of the park was quiet. I haven’t seen the grebe yet this year.
My next stop was Lakewood Park Cemetery. Again, no Merlin, but while I was driving to the lake at the end, an immature Red-tailed Hawk flew into the tree where a Merlin has been found in past years. There were a couple of Mute Swans in the lake. Across the street in Resurrection Cemetery I found an adult red-tail, a couple of jays, and a cardinal.
A new cemetery
I forgot to mention yesterday that I drove through Foreover Oak Hill, a cemetery on Big Bend Rd. that looked intriguing because of its size and collection of large trees. I didn’t see a single bird, no starling, no House Sparrow — not even a pigeon.