Date: 4/9/24 5:59 pm From: Joanna Reuter <joanna...> Subject: Warblers & Whip-poor-will: Eclipse report from the St. Francois Mountains
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Eric & I spent the night of April 7 back-country camping on Proffit Mountain in Ketcherside Mountain CA (between Taum Sauk and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Parks) and experienced the solar eclipse from an isolated igneous glade on the same mountain. Short summary: Wow.
On that trip, first-of-year birds for us included Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Northern Parula, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, plus an evening Whip-poor-will. Other warblers were Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Pine Warbler.
The lead-up to the eclipse was quiet on the bird front; songsters seemed to be in siesta mode, at least on the sun-baked south slope. But we had entertainment from Turkey Vultures riding the thermals, an activity that seemed to abate as the light faded, though perhaps with a component of observer bias? Intermittently, a Carolina Chickadee and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher provided some commentary near us on the glade. As light was dimming, a flock of about 30 American Goldfinches flew over in the direction away from the increasing shadow; coincidence or not? A Broad-winged Hawk flew overhead in a southbound direction as totality approached, making a series of unusual sounds that we personified as meaning “What the (heck)?” Warbler song did pick up somewhat as light intensity and temperatures declined. During totality, our senses were pretty overwhelmed and birding was not our primary focus, but our memory of the soundscape was of quiet stillness. Just after totality, Eric heard the one bird that we can be most certain spoke up as a result of the eclipse: a Whip-poor-will in the valley below. Awesome.
Hope others had a great eclipse experience!
Joanna & Eric Reuter
Boone County, MO
(With a report from Reynolds and Iron Counties, MO)
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