Just north of Mine La Mott on Rt. 67 (north of Fredericktown) on Saturday
just before noon, we saw what was almost certainly an adult male Goshawk
move east to west over the highway about eight stories up. Shape, speed, and
markings were right, including a definite undertail white fluff, but we could
not see the head for positive ID. Five minutes later, after turning onto
Rock Creek Road just on the St. Francis side of the county line, an immature
Bald Eagle swooped low in front of the car and tried to pick up something
dead at the roadside. It was a gorgeous look. I wish we had more
birders in that area, as there is a lot of great habitat.
In Cape County, Sunday morning opened with the woods full of singing
Robins. In the evening near the Mississippi, we had a flock of
White-fronted geese fly over, Canadas visible on the Illinois
side, and probable White Pelicans flying over the river too far away
south of us to be sure, even with zoom binocs, except for being very large and
very white.
On Oct. 19, at the bird bath with a flock of local birds, we had delightful
Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Black-throated Greens (some still in good
plumage), and Bay-breasted Warblers that cooperated enough for
photos. I assume that these little migrant flocks habitually locate local
flocks and forage with them in order more quickly locate resources in unfamiliar
areas?
Ida Domazlicky
Cape Girardeau County