Another new year, which I began in the time-honored way of waiting hours for a bird that didn’t show, a Townsend’s Solitaire.

On Wednesday Anne McCormack found the solitaire on the campus of Meramec Community College. On Friday morning a birding buddy and I met Anne and were able to watch the bird fairly close up for around 25 minutes. A very nice bird to end 2005 with. I wasn’t listing in 2005 and will be this year, so I was hoping to begin the year with it. Alas, it was seen before I arrived and made a quick appearance and departure while I was wandering around campus looking for likely spots where it might feed. Tomorrow, unlike today, an early start will be possible, so maybe I’ll have better luck.

My first bird of 2006 was an American Goldfinch at the thistle feeder. There was a mockingbird out back above the alley, the first I’ve seen from the yard in a long time. A couple of birds got away before I could get good looks: an accipiter that flew over Highway 44 while I was on my way to Kirkwood (57 mph just isn’t a good speed for prolonged viewing) and what was surely an immature Bald Eagle flying along Highway 55 while I was on my way home (again, not optimal viewing conditions). I chased the eagle in the industrial area of Soulard, but never got an entirely satisfying look.

2005 wrap-up

I participated in the Horseshoe Lake (Madison County, Illinois) CBC on December 29. We didn’t find many species or great numbers of individuals, apart from ducks and gulls, and on the 203 side (where we were) it was like a morning in Hell — flames and smoke shot out of the stacks across the lake, and the air was malodorous. We did find some Savannah Sparrows in the wet brushy area near the D-shaped parking lot and a couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets along Layton Rd., both of which were very nice.

I also helped in the Busch Conservation Area CBC on the 31st. Nice finds on that count were 3 Red-shouldered Hawks, including one standing close by in a field, and several Swamp Sparrows.

Resolutions

The same resolutions as last year apply, with the addition of a goal: 250 St. Louis area birds — gotta get out in the field more to meet that goal.