Date: 6/28/25 10:26 am From: Sandra Elbert <selbert1...> Subject: Great crested flycatcher
Gcfl has returned to same cavity where she nested last summer! The river birch has been greatly trimmed so I thought she wouldn't return even though I been hearing it's frequent call nearby.
Sandy Sandra Elbert Columbia, Boone County <sandraelbert...> <selbert1...>
------------------------------------------------------------ The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/22/25 10:56 am From: Marge Lumpe <margelumpe...> Subject: Sunday at Hi Lonesome
It was a warm day at Hi Lonesome at about midday. I had gone out earlier, but I'd forgotten my binoculars! So back home I went. It was about 11:00 when I went out again, and I didn't expect to find a lot of birds. There. were, however, more than my average tripi. There were the usual species, with a few favorites: Eastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird, Henslow's Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bell's Vireo, Yellow-breasted chat, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting and Loggerhead Shrike.
Have a great Sunday and try to stay cool. Happy birding, Marge Lumpe Benton County
------------------------------------------------------------ The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/22/25 8:41 am From: Mike Taylor <3catacres...> Subject: Possible Peregrine Falcon - Ha Ha Tonka
While birding at the North Glade Project hotspot in Ha Ha Tonka State Park this morning, I had a large falcon-like bird soar close overhead. I was one the west side of Deamond Road on the north glade. Bird flew from east to west, soaring the entire way. It went towards the ridge on the west side of the creek below the glade.
I’ll have to add details to my checklist later but I wanted to get this info out, just in case. I will say that I have been able to reasonably eliminate all other raptors as possibilities. As soon as I saw it, I thought PEFA.
Mike Taylor
Bollinger County
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Hi Becky,Enjoyed reading your report. I too over the last four years have become a RGV addict. Although during those four years most visits have been Christmas week or shortly after, a few years ago had an early May trip to check off the last "common" bird of the valley, the Groove Billed Ani.I had gone to the island and loved the spring birding at the nature center and the mudflats just north. I hope you got the see the Mangrove version of the Yellow Warbler at the naturecenter. During that time there i saw many birds not found in the winter but common at this time of year.Just this past May I made a 48 hour trip down there. Last winter a Flamingo had been seen for months near Corpus Cristi but left a few weeks before I got down there. It is now back so decided to go for it and with now Yellow Green Vireos reported the last three summers took a couple extra days to try for that. Then after booking everything a Mexican Violetear reported down there. And then when staying in Corpus Cristi another lifer reported ten minutes away... I got three of the four but also did get to visit the mudflats on the island, a great thing to do from your AC car when it is 100 degrees out. This mini trip reminded me to return again in May, but earlier in the month.I can see how you can stay in one county as so many great places to visit. I usually end up with three and then on the way I have become fascinated with what has been in the Corpus Chisti area the last couple of years. The hazards of driving there as the temptation...Anyway, glad to hear you had a great time. I always enjoy reading Edges reports and glad to see another that shares that interest. Ironically I was looking at ebird reports for the Corpus Cristi area today and saw the name of another Missouri birder on it. It must be a fever many of us Missourians are catching... 😀Thanks,Steve Griffaw <Sgg.bluesfan...> Jefferson City MOSent via the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone -------- Original message --------From: Becky Lutz <000003b72781bbe2-dmarc-request...> Date: 6/20/25 4:44 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <MOBIRDS-L...> Subject: May RGV trip I used to live in the RGV (Laguna Vista) between 2004-2008. Although I was always excited to see the cool "big birds" like Roseate Spoonbills and Long-billed Curlews, I wasn't much of a birder...just enjoyed being outside in "nature". About a year after we moved down there, mom and dad came down to visit. After a trip to Laguna Atascosa NWR, they gifted me my first bird book. It definitely helped, but I was still more of a bird watcher than a birder. It was more about identifying what was in front of me than actively searching out and discovering something. Fast forward to 2017, dad convinced me to go birding with he and mom. Truth be told, I think I did it more to appease him and spend time with them. Somewhere over the next few years, things changed. I enjoyed looking for birds, being able to ID them, and learning a few calls. I can't tell you how many times I looked at a female Red-winged Blackbird before I finally "knew" what it was instead of asking for help or pulling out the bird book. Over the last couple of years, I've eagerly awaited reading about Edge's RGV adventures in winter. I'd been hoping to get back there myself. In April 2008, just a few months before we moved back to MO, I experienced a mini-fallout at the Convention Center. That always stuck with me and I wanted to go back during Spring migration. By pure chance, I noticed I had 7 days off the first week of May. I work 12 hr shifts and it was just the way they happened to land. I immediately started getting excited that I just might get to get my Spring migration trip to the valley. I messaged my parents and to my surprise and delight, my mom was up for the adventure. We boarded Southwest at 5am and was birding in Harlingen, TX before 10am. With a couple of exceptions, our efforts were all focused on Cameron County. One of those exceptions was Estero Llano Grande State Park (Hidalgo County) was offering free tram tours (with $5 entrance fee) around the park the day we arrived. This was well worth it and we were able to see a few areas of the park we wouldn't have been able to on our own. It's also a great way to explore for those that can't do a lot of hiking. We visited the South Padre Island (SPI) Convention Center/Boardwalk several times chasing all those migrants mixed in with those RGV residents. Our favorite spot was the SPI mudflats. We visited here almost daily...first thing in the morning, last thing in the evening, and sometimes both. We also visited the Valley Land Fund lots (new spot for me) and the World Bird Center on the island, Laguna Atascosa NWR, the South Texas Ecotourism Center (new spot for me), Palo Alto Battlefield to find 2 lifer sparrows and Oliveira Park in Brownsville (new spot) to find some lifer parrots and a few other spots. We packed as much as we could into those 6 days while somewhat limiting our driving. We still put lots of miles on the rental car, but to get from one end of the valley to the other, you can drive about 3 hrs and we wanted to avoid those extremes. I also wanted to stay on the island, so that was another limiting factor.While many things were the same as I remember from 17 years ago, I was surprised at how much had changed. I didn't get all of my targets, but I got a bunch. In 6 days, we saw 167 species, 12 of which were lifers for me. Mom had close to 30 lifers. I added almost 40 birds to my Texas life list (total 228 now) and my Cameron County life list (220). I want to go back again and explore more by foot. I also gotta go back in the winter and see what kind of surprises I can find. Anyway, I finally got through my pics and I think I've ID'd everything correctly, so thought I'd share my list with you. Hope you enjoy. I don't have a nice RGV report written up like Edge, but if anyone has any questions, I'm happy to try and answer them.RGV w/mom 2025 - eBird Trip ReportBecky Lutz636-432-9442Washington, MO Franklin County
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum Archives / Subscription options / MBS Website / Email the list owners ABA Birding Code of Ethics
MBS Fall Meeting: To be determined.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
I used to live in the RGV (Laguna Vista) between 2004-2008. Although I was always excited to see the cool "big birds" like Roseate Spoonbills and Long-billed Curlews, I wasn't much of a birder...just enjoyed being outside in "nature". About a year after we moved down there, mom and dad came down to visit. After a trip to Laguna Atascosa NWR, they gifted me my first bird book. It definitely helped, but I was still more of a bird watcher than a birder. It was more about identifying what was in front of me than actively searching out and discovering something.
Fast forward to 2017, dad convinced me to go birding with he and mom. Truth be told, I think I did it more to appease him and spend time with them. Somewhere over the next few years, things changed. I enjoyed looking for birds, being able to ID them, and learning a few calls. I can't tell you how many times I looked at a female Red-winged Blackbird before I finally "knew" what it was instead of asking for help or pulling out the bird book.
Over the last couple of years, I've eagerly awaited reading about Edge's RGV adventures in winter. I'd been hoping to get back there myself. In April 2008, just a few months before we moved back to MO, I experienced a mini-fallout at the Convention Center. That always stuck with me and I wanted to go back during Spring migration. By pure chance, I noticed I had 7 days off the first week of May. I work 12 hr shifts and it was just the way they happened to land. I immediately started getting excited that I just might get to get my Spring migration trip to the valley. I messaged my parents and to my surprise and delight, my mom was up for the adventure.
We boarded Southwest at 5am and was birding in Harlingen, TX before 10am. With a couple of exceptions, our efforts were all focused on Cameron County. One of those exceptions was Estero Llano Grande State Park (Hidalgo County) was offering free tram tours (with $5 entrance fee) around the park the day we arrived. This was well worth it and we were able to see a few areas of the park we wouldn't have been able to on our own. It's also a great way to explore for those that can't do a lot of hiking. We visited the South Padre Island (SPI) Convention Center/Boardwalk several times chasing all those migrants mixed in with those RGV residents. Our favorite spot was the SPI mudflats. We visited here almost daily...first thing in the morning, last thing in the evening, and sometimes both. We also visited the Valley Land Fund lots (new spot for me) and the World Bird Center on the island, Laguna Atascosa NWR, the South Texas Ecotourism Center (new spot for me), Palo Alto Battlefield to find 2 lifer sparrows and Oliveira Park in Brownsville (new spot) to find some lifer parrots and a few other spots. We packed as much as we could into those 6 days while somewhat limiting our driving. We still put lots of miles on the rental car, but to get from one end of the valley to the other, you can drive about 3 hrs and we wanted to avoid those extremes. I also wanted to stay on the island, so that was another limiting factor.
While many things were the same as I remember from 17 years ago, I was surprised at how much had changed. I didn't get all of my targets, but I got a bunch. In 6 days, we saw 167 species, 12 of which were lifers for me. Mom had close to 30 lifers. I added almost 40 birds to my Texas life list (total 228 now) and my Cameron County life list (220). I want to go back again and explore more by foot. I also gotta go back in the winter and see what kind of surprises I can find.
Anyway, I finally got through my pics and I think I've ID'd everything correctly, so thought I'd share my list with you. Hope you enjoy. I don't have a nice RGV report written up like Edge, but if anyone has any questions, I'm happy to try and answer them.
RGV w/mom 2025 - eBird Trip Report
Becky Lutz636-432-9442Washington, MO Franklin County
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/19/25 5:35 pm From: Yvonne Homeyer <yhomeyer...> Subject: City of Brentwood killed Canada Geese at one of its parks
Hello everybody,
I wish I had a positive post, but the information I have to share is disturbing. I live in Brentwood, MO (a suburb of St. Louis County). Recently, the City of Brentwood created a huge new park as part of a huge flood control program along Manchester Road to control flooding from a local creek. There are some lovely ponds in the park, along with extensive native plant habitat and a mile-long paved walking trail. The park also includes a destination playground that is truly impressive.
Some Canada Geese discovered our park and our ponds and decided to raise families there this year. The City of Brentwood teamed up with a federal agency during breeding season to kill some of the birds (presumably the adults - still trying to reach the Parks Department head to get details) and to relocate others (presumably the goslings). The City of Brentwood Board of Aldermen approved this plan this past Monday and the deed was done on Wednesday. I am still trying to find out how they were killed. To make it sound so much better, the goose meat was apparently processed and donated. I don't know what attempt was made to reach out to those of us who live in Brentwood but I heard nothing about this until after the fact. It only came to light because of a post on Next Door. Apparently only the Parks Director spoke at the Board of Aldermen meeting so no nature-friendly voices were heard. How could they be when the issue was not known to those of us who live here?
What did the City of Brentwood think would happen when they created this beautiful habitat and ponds? And their plan is, kill the birds that are attracted to the ponds that the City of Brentwood created? Why can't we co-exist with the wildlife that our ponds attract?
My own condo community in the City of Brentwood has a large lake with many Canada Geese present every year and they present no danger to anyone walking around our community. We have never killed any geese. A nearby St. Louis County park (Tilles Park) has a large goose population. There are ponds all over residential neighborhoods and corporate campuses in the St. Louis area. I've never heard of a wholesale slaughter of geese.
New geese will come in and then what? Is the City of Brentwood going to do this again? and again?
I want to educate our city officials and Board of Aldermen that they need to stop over-reacting and see the geese as another natural element rather than an enemy to be feared as dangerous (the alleged basis for killing them). If anybody knows of other ponds on private or public property that have Canada Geese on them, what do those property owners do about the geese? Co-exist or exterminate?
Yvonne Homeyer Brentwood (St. Louis) MO
------------------------------------------------------------ The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/18/25 10:10 am From: Edge Wade <1edgewade...> Subject: State Parks filling in blank (unbirded) weeks
Mobirders, Most of you are aware of a goal to complete bar charts (fill in weeks with no eBird checklists) for several state parks and conservation areas, with some identified for special focus--either because they have fewer than 10 blank weeks in the bar chart, or because they have far more than warranted for the quality of birding potential for the site.
This effort is part of the Missouri Birding Society (MBS) program called CACHE/SPARKS to gather data and provide other services for the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri State Parks via contractual agreements. Participation in this program earns funding used for partnership grants (for a list of partnership projects see the Conservation section on the MBS website, www.mobirds.org
Two state parks we're focusing on have no eBird reports for the third week of June (15-21). We are half-way through the week. If you're looking for a place to go birding before Sunday, please consider one of these: Lake Wappapello SP, Wayne Co. Big Sugar Creek SP, McDonald Co.
There are several sites with blanks for the first two weeks of July. I'll send a list of those next week.
Date: 6/12/25 7:32 pm From: Daniel Getman <000002b3a133f539-dmarc-request...> Subject: Killdeer nest in neighborhood
While walking in our neighborhood, I came across a Killdeer calling, but not flying away. This is typical behavior for one with a nest. They try to draw a predator away from the nest by calling and acting injured.
A quick search of two nearby rock beds revealed a nest with 4 green eggs, with dark spots. I them moved away and left them alone.
For those who’ve never seen Killdeer eggs or their nest among rocks on the ground, a photo can be found at:
flickr.com/photos/dgetman/sets
The rocky area was only about 10 ft from the road in a garden bed full of rocks. They often nest right next to roads, in gravel. Seems pretty risky!
Dan Getman, Kirksville, northeast Mo
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/11/25 1:54 pm From: Dana Ripper <dana.ripper...> Subject: No sighting - Webinar on King Rails next Monday!
Hello MO Birders,
Please join us for a presentation entitled King Rail Distribution and Wetland Management Associations of Breeding Secretive Marsh Birds in Missouri, presented by Ryan McGinty of MDC.
About our speaker: Ryan McGinty recently signed on as the Wetland Community Ecologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. In January of 2025 he completed his M.S. degree at SUNY Brockport studying management associations of breeding secretive marsh birds in Missouri. Prior to this, he completed his bachelors degree in wildlife ecology at Pittsburg State university.
Talk description: King Rail have experienced range wide population declines and their historic range has contracted. Migratory King Rail have been particularly influenced by these population declines leading King Rail to be listed as a state endangered species in 12 U.S. states including Missouri. The last focused survey effort for King Rail in Missouri was conducted in 2014, and the status and distribution of King Rail in the state is not well known. The objective of my study was to determine the current distribution of King Rail in Missouri. I used two survey methodologies, call broadcast surveys in 2023 and autonomous recording units in 2024, to detect King Rail at publicly managed wetlands throughout Missouri. I surveyed 14 wetland properties in 2023 and 12 properties in 2024. Across survey years, King Rail were detected at only 4 properties: B.K. Leach Conservation Area, Grand Pass Conservation Area, Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, and Ted Shanks Conservation Area. Due to the few and geographically distant detections, our results support past research that King Rail occupy scattered distributions at low densities throughout the state and potentially more broadly across the Midwest.
Regards,
Dana
Dana Ripper
Co-Director
mrbo.org
[A logo of a bird observatory Description automatically generated]
For it is not light that is needed, but fire
Not the gentle rain, but thunder.
-Frederick Douglass, July 1852
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/10/25 6:51 pm From: Daniel Getman <000002b3a133f539-dmarc-request...> Subject: Great Crested Flycatcher eggs
We’ve been gone for a while, but today we checked our nestboxes.
Besides boxes with Bluebirds, Tree Swallows and House Wrens, the highlight was the 6 eggs in the Great Crested Flycatcher nest box. Cornell reports that flycatchers usually lay 4-8 eggs, with incubation for 13-15 days and then fledging after another 13-15 days.
This nest boxes is actually a larger kestrel/screech owl box, but this is the 3rd year they’ve nested there and it’s conveniently visible from our back patio.
A couple photos can be viewed at:
flickr.com/photos/dgetman/sets
Dan Getman, Kirksville, northeast MO
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/7/25 7:48 am From: Mark Glenshaw <mglenshaw...> Subject: No Sighting, Owl Presentation in Cape Girardeau, Thurs 6/12
Morning, all!
I am giving a FREE, in-person, public, all-ages presentation in Cape Girardeau, Missouri this Thursday, June 12 about the Great Horned Owls I have studied in Forest Park in St. Louis for the last 19 years. I will share many of my photos and videos to illustrate the amazing behaviors of these beautiful birds. My sincere thanks to the Cape Girardeau Public Library for hosting this presentation-my first ever in southeast Missouri!
Here are the details:
"Great Horned Owls: Hiding In Plain Sight" Thursday, June 12, 2025, 6:30pm Cape Girardeau Public Library 711 N. Clark Street Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701 To register, please call: (573) 334-5279 ext. 113 or visit: tinyurl.com/5evdk3zb
Date: 6/2/25 5:31 pm From: Tim Kavan <tkavan_76...> Subject: Re: Grand Pass CA question
You can always call the area office and speak with the area manager if you have more specific questions.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 2, 2025, at 1:41 PM, sgg.bluesfan <sgg.bluesfan...> wrote:
Thanks all for your responses. I must have my first time there missed a sign and went into a area i should not. Not intentional of course but just a miss. On my next two visits I did not miss any of the signs, but noticed so much less area to bird...
I looked at the map again and found the area posted in a couple of ebird posts and that is accessible. I was just baffled about not only apparently being in the restricted area the first time by mistake but seeing others there. I am a stickler for following the rules.
Thanks all.
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: "sgg.bluesfan" <sgg.bluesfan...>
Date: 6/2/25 7:15 AM (GMT-06:00)
To: "<MOBIRDS-L...>" <mobirds-l...>
Subject: Grand Pass CA question
Good morning,
I have gone out to Grand Pass CA a few times over the last six weeks or so. I have noticed that many of the roads there while the gates are open have signs that say Authorized Vehicles only or something like that. With those a large portion of the area is off limits.
My first time there I must have accidentally went through one as I went through an area that I can't refind my way there. I know as you went left from the intersection at the office and then went right somehow I got beyond that area but the last two times the only roads I see beyond that have all of those signs. Even the short drive over the dike for a view of the river has that sign.
I have seen vehicles beyond those. One a few weeks ago drove thru the grass to get around a closed gate and it looks like others have before him with the tracks.
So, my question is, are we allowed to drive pass those signs if the gate is open? A silly question as I would never think to go forward but it seems so much is not available.
Thanks,
Steve Griffaw
<Sgg.bluesfan...>
Jefferson City MO
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
Date: 6/2/25 5:23 pm From: Daniel Getman <000002b3a133f539-dmarc-request...> Subject: No MO Sightings-Michigan Trip
We just returned from a 10 day trip to western Michigan, along Lake Michigan. We spent 2 days each in Holland, Traverse City, Beaver Island, Petoskey and Indiana Dunes, IN on the way home. At each city, we spent time visiting each downtown area, doing some wine tasting (lots of Michigan wineries) and selectively, some birding.
We had wonderful weather with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, not windy, and only one day with a couple hours of light rain.
Beaver Island is a 2 hr ferry ride from Charlevoix, MI. It was a very nice island approx 5 miles wide and 12 miles long. Mostly wooded. The previous week they had a birding festival there. Beaver Island has mostly gravel or dirt roads and generally thick woods, with several lakes and many hiking trails. There were a lot of midges insects, which do not bite, and some mosquitoes. So we opted not to do any hikes. We did most of our birding by just stopping along the road and listening - there was quite a few birds singing and providing photo opportunities of several warblers.
We also had a unique opportunity to view a Peregrine Falcon nest site atop a building in Muskegon, MI. I talked to a guy who worked there and he said one of the best aspects of his job is watching the peregrines dive-bomb the gulls. We didn’t see any of that exciting activity, but there were quite a few white feathers on the ground nearby.
We also saw an occupied Common Loon nest box from a rest stop at Birch Lake along Hwy 31 on the way to Charlevoix - a first for us!
While at Indiana Dunes, we hiked the short trail at Miller Woods - very nice, lots of birds. Unfortunately, the occasional train nearby was a little annoying, but worth the birding. We also visited several other areas, including the Great Marsh and the trails around the Nature Center at the Indiana Dunes State Park. The drive along the edge of the Great Marsh is definitely worthwhile.
Date: 6/2/25 1:48 pm From: Marge Lumpe <margelumpe...> Subject: Sunday at Hi Lonesome
'Twas a beautiful morning at Hi Lonesome with the small exception of the hazy skies from the wildfires in Canada. The usual birds were there but we began with four Eastern Bluebirds along Cemetery Road. Indigo Buntings and Common Yellowthroat were there in abundance. One unusual and a little upsetting change was that the American Kestrel box that has been inhabited as far as I know since 1992 is now providing a home for House Sparrows. The last time I went out, there were swallows flying out of there. Now it's House Sparrows!! There also were Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows which are always a treat. We heard the call of the Upland Sandpiper--not the wolf whistle--but the chatty one. And a Blue Grosbeak was a new for me for this spring. Plenty of Bell's Vireos also. A Gray Catbird was an additional treat as well as a couple of Eastern Towhees.
Happy Birding!!
Marge Lumpe, Benton County
Happy
------------------------------------------------------------ The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/2/25 11:42 am From: sgg.bluesfan <sgg.bluesfan...> Subject: Re: Grand Pass CA question
Thanks all for your responses. I must have my first time there missed a sign and went into a area i should not. Not intentional of course but just a miss. On my next two visits I did not miss any of the signs, but noticed so much less area to bird...I looked at the map again and found the area posted in a couple of ebird posts and that is accessible. I was just baffled about not only apparently being in the restricted area the first time by mistake but seeing others there. I am a stickler for following the rules.Thanks all.Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone -------- Original message --------From: "sgg.bluesfan" <sgg.bluesfan...> Date: 6/2/25 7:15 AM (GMT-06:00) To: "<MOBIRDS-L...>" <mobirds-l...> Subject: Grand Pass CA question Good morning, I have gone out to Grand Pass CA a few times over the last six weeks or so. I have noticed that many of the roads there while the gates are open have signs that say Authorized Vehicles only or something like that. With those a large portion of the area is off limits.My first time there I must have accidentally went through one as I went through an area that I can't refind my way there. I know as you went left from the intersection at the office and then went right somehow I got beyond that area but the last two times the only roads I see beyond that have all of those signs. Even the short drive over the dike for a view of the river has that sign.I have seen vehicles beyond those. One a few weeks ago drove thru the grass to get around a closed gate and it looks like others have before him with the tracks.So, my question is, are we allowed to drive pass those signs if the gate is open? A silly question as I would never think to go forward but it seems so much is not available.Thanks,Steve Griffaw <Sgg.bluesfan...> Jefferson City MOSent via the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/2/25 11:02 am From: Edge Wade <1edgewade...> Subject: Re: Grand Pass CA question
Pete,
Thanks for answering Steve.
I think Steve took the road north through the bushy area, then connected
with the loop road, going the wrong way for the approved flow of traffic.
I was there recently and noted how that could be done without realizing one
was "off limits" going the wrong way until well into it.
For Eagle Bluffs CA, birders representing Columbia Audubon Society and the
then Audubon Society of Missouri (now MBS) worked out a way for birders to
access some areas during hunting seasons during the time frame that
waterfowl hunters are exiting the area. This period is already one of
disturbance (by the hunters' exit activities), so it was deemed not a major
disturbance for birders to be present then.
Grand Pass CA has always been a different kettle of fish (or raptors if you
prefer). Rules of access there continue to be hard and fast and especially
restrictive during waterfowl hunting seasons. Enjoy and rejoice in
what/where we are allowed to bird.
Edge Wade
Columbia
<1edgewade...>
On Mon, Jun 2, 2025 at 12:50 PM Monacell, Peter L. <plmonacell...>
wrote:
> Hi Steve.
>
>
>
> There are a few areas of Grand Pass CA that you may be thinking about.
>
>
>
> The first is the counterclockwise one-way loop on the west side of the
> area that circles Pools 1 and 2. This loop was closed to general traffic
> for a significant stretch this past spring during Turkey Season. The
> vehicles you saw may have belonged to authorized turkey hunters, or else to
> those who passed the restriction signs to search for morels, possibly
> without permission. You shouldn’t drive past the signs without
> authorization, even if the barriers are open. This is true everywhere at
> Grand Pass.
>
>
>
> Drivers headed west from the headquarters building will first find an open
> spur to the north that allows access to a brushy area; however, passing
> that spur means that you essentially reach a dead end because turning north
> at the next road would take you clockwise, against the flow of traffic on
> the one-way loop. Wrong-way signs are clearly visible. That loop,
> incidentally, is closed off entirely during the waterfowl refuge period
> ending March 1st. Entering the loop to travel in the intended direction
> first requires driving to the northwest region of the CA.
>
>
>
> If you continue west from headquarters as far as you can go, you reach an
> area that is always off-limits; it contains machinery and controls for the
> river pumps.
>
>
>
> Another area you may be thinking of is the northeast portion of the CA,
> which contains the three pools inside of the Tetesau Oxbow. In recent
> years, the road running along the northwest edge of this area has been
> off-limits through April 30th because of an extended Light Goose Hunting
> Season. Driving on that portion of road when it is open, you do, past the
> northeast parking lot, reach an off-limits sign because continuing would
> take you up onto the river levee. I’ve had good luck birding on foot past
> that sign when the area accessible that way is open to foot traffic;
> however, you can never drive into that area.
>
>
>
> Finally, there is a long off-limits portion of the road that runs
> east-west through the middle of Pool 5. You can drive west on this road to
> a point but then come to an “Authorized Vehicles Only” sign and must park
> or turn around. Reaching this limit can feel frustrating because there can
> appear to be a lot of good habitat past the restriction sign, and birding
> that area during permissible periods would entail a lot of hiking.
>
>
>
> Good birding,
>
> Pete
>
>
>
> Pete Monacell,
>
> Jefferson City
>
>
>
> *From: *Missouri Wild Bird Forum <MOBIRDS-L...> on behalf
> of sgg.bluesfan <sgg.bluesfan...>
> *Date: *Monday, June 2, 2025 at 7:16 AM
> *To: *<MOBIRDS-L...> <MOBIRDS-L...>
> *Subject: *Grand Pass CA question
>
> *CAUTION!:* This email originated from outside of Columbia College.
>
>
>
> Good morning,
>
>
>
> I have gone out to Grand Pass CA a few times over the last six weeks or
> so. I have noticed that many of the roads there while the gates are open
> have signs that say Authorized Vehicles only or something like that. With
> those a large portion of the area is off limits.
>
>
>
> My first time there I must have accidentally went through one as I went
> through an area that I can't refind my way there. I know as you went left
> from the intersection at the office and then went right somehow I got
> beyond that area but the last two times the only roads I see beyond that
> have all of those signs. Even the short drive over the dike for a view of
> the river has that sign.
>
>
>
> I have seen vehicles beyond those. One a few weeks ago drove thru the
> grass to get around a closed gate and it looks like others have before him
> with the tracks.
>
>
>
> So, my question is, are we allowed to drive pass those signs if the gate
> is open? A silly question as I would never think to go forward but it
> seems so much is not available.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve Griffaw
>
> <Sgg.bluesfan...>
>
> Jefferson City MO
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum*
> Archives <https://po.missouri.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A0=MOBIRDS-L> / Subscription
> options <https://po.missouri.edu/SCRIPTS/wa.exe/wa?SUBED1=mobirds-l&A=1> > / MBS Website <http://mobirds.org> / Email the list owners
> <mobirds-l-request...>
>
> ABA Birding Code of Ethics <http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html> >
> MBS Fall Meeting: To be determined.
>
> ------------------------------
> *The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum*
> Archives <https://po.missouri.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A0=MOBIRDS-L> / Subscription
> options <https://po.missouri.edu/SCRIPTS/wa.exe/wa?SUBED1=mobirds-l&A=1> > / MBS Website <http://mobirds.org> / Email the list owners
> <mobirds-l-request...>
>
> ABA Birding Code of Ethics <http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html> >
> MBS Fall Meeting: To be determined.
>
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/2/25 10:35 am From: Monacell, Peter L. <plmonacell...> Subject: Re: Grand Pass CA question
Hi Steve.
There are a few areas of Grand Pass CA that you may be thinking about.
The first is the counterclockwise one-way loop on the west side of the area that circles Pools 1 and 2. This loop was closed to general traffic for a significant stretch this past spring during Turkey Season. The vehicles you saw may have belonged to authorized turkey hunters, or else to those who passed the restriction signs to search for morels, possibly without permission. You shouldnt drive past the signs without authorization, even if the barriers are open. This is true everywhere at Grand Pass.
Drivers headed west from the headquarters building will first find an open spur to the north that allows access to a brushy area; however, passing that spur means that you essentially reach a dead end because turning north at the next road would take you clockwise, against the flow of traffic on the one-way loop. Wrong-way signs are clearly visible. That loop, incidentally, is closed off entirely during the waterfowl refuge period ending March 1st. Entering the loop to travel in the intended direction first requires driving to the northwest region of the CA.
If you continue west from headquarters as far as you can go, you reach an area that is always off-limits; it contains machinery and controls for the river pumps.
Another area you may be thinking of is the northeast portion of the CA, which contains the three pools inside of the Tetesau Oxbow. In recent years, the road running along the northwest edge of this area has been off-limits through April 30th because of an extended Light Goose Hunting Season. Driving on that portion of road when it is open, you do, past the northeast parking lot, reach an off-limits sign because continuing would take you up onto the river levee. Ive had good luck birding on foot past that sign when the area accessible that way is open to foot traffic; however, you can never drive into that area.
Finally, there is a long off-limits portion of the road that runs east-west through the middle of Pool 5. You can drive west on this road to a point but then come to an Authorized Vehicles Only sign and must park or turn around. Reaching this limit can feel frustrating because there can appear to be a lot of good habitat past the restriction sign, and birding that area during permissible periods would entail a lot of hiking.
Good birding,
Pete
Pete Monacell,
Jefferson City
From: Missouri Wild Bird Forum <MOBIRDS-L...> on behalf of sgg.bluesfan <sgg.bluesfan...>
Date: Monday, June 2, 2025 at 7:16 AM
To: <MOBIRDS-L...> <MOBIRDS-L...>
Subject: Grand Pass CA question
CAUTION!: This email originated from outside of Columbia College.
Good morning,
I have gone out to Grand Pass CA a few times over the last six weeks or so. I have noticed that many of the roads there while the gates are open have signs that say Authorized Vehicles only or something like that. With those a large portion of the area is off limits.
My first time there I must have accidentally went through one as I went through an area that I can't refind my way there. I know as you went left from the intersection at the office and then went right somehow I got beyond that area but the last two times the only roads I see beyond that have all of those signs. Even the short drive over the dike for a view of the river has that sign.
I have seen vehicles beyond those. One a few weeks ago drove thru the grass to get around a closed gate and it looks like others have before him with the tracks.
So, my question is, are we allowed to drive pass those signs if the gate is open? A silly question as I would never think to go forward but it seems so much is not available.
Thanks,
Steve Griffaw
<Sgg.bluesfan...>
Jefferson City MO
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
Date: 6/2/25 5:15 am From: sgg.bluesfan <sgg.bluesfan...> Subject: Grand Pass CA question
Good morning, I have gone out to Grand Pass CA a few times over the last six weeks or so. I have noticed that many of the roads there while the gates are open have signs that say Authorized Vehicles only or something like that. With those a large portion of the area is off limits.My first time there I must have accidentally went through one as I went through an area that I can't refind my way there. I know as you went left from the intersection at the office and then went right somehow I got beyond that area but the last two times the only roads I see beyond that have all of those signs. Even the short drive over the dike for a view of the river has that sign.I have seen vehicles beyond those. One a few weeks ago drove thru the grass to get around a closed gate and it looks like others have before him with the tracks.So, my question is, are we allowed to drive pass those signs if the gate is open? A silly question as I would never think to go forward but it seems so much is not available.Thanks,Steve Griffaw <Sgg.bluesfan...> Jefferson City MOSent via the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
Date: 6/1/25 4:24 pm From: Terry Miller <millert832...> Subject: S.Carolina --- No Missouri sightings.....
No Missouri Sightings….
I just returned last evening from a trip to Carolina to see my oldest
daughter’s family and our four grandchildren! We drove 2750 miles and are
glad to be home…
We started at a lake house on Lake Marion where several Anhinga were easily
seen…along with some large alligators.
Later in the week, we went to the Folly Beach area around Charleston. The
best morning of birding was at the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve. I
was able to get one lifer…3 Wilson’s Plovers. One had a metal band on the
right leg and another tag with EHU on the left leg. Most of the birding
was along the beach shoreline and binoculars were all that were
realistically needed. But, I brought my scope which made it so much more
enjoyable. I shared several views with a man from Massachusetts who was
very appreciative! I was also concerned about mosquitos, so I wore jeans.
Two women, as they walked near me, said, “You have got to be hot in those
jeans”! A very correct statement…but it did deter the mosquitos a most
significant feeding area!
As I walked up the shoreline, two Ruddy Turnstones were so close …
awesome! I had a Black Skimmer fly over that provided some good looks.
And I had an American Oystercatcher only several yards away up in the dune
area. I was able to get some good pics of it, and you can see them in this
checklist…along with the list of other birds seen that morning.
While at the popular Folly beach, Laughing Gulls and Boat-tailed Grackles
were very common. I pondered if the Laughing Gulls calls (very accurately
named) were doing so for the beach attire (or lack of) present? The
Boat-tailed Grackles never shut up during the day and must have only been
silent at night due to the exhaustion of the day’s vocal onslaught? On the
pier, they had spikes on the overhead beams to keep birds from landing on
them. As you can see in this checklist, it did not deter some of the
Grackles!
We were able to swim in the ocean for a couple of days. A pretty humbling,
but enjoyable experience. Watching Brown Pelicans often fold up and
dive/dart into the ocean never got old.
*But the birding highlight had to be Least Terns*. As we were swimming and
enjoying the waves coming in a fair distance from shore…four Least Terns
appeared. They flew and hovered over our heads and then dove into the
ocean. Very, Very Cool! Such a vast difference from viewing them in a
spotting scope while stationary or with or without binoculars flying by.
That memory will stay with me forever!!
My daughter’s family has lived in S. Carolina these last several years, and
visiting is nice, but Missouri is home! We have such an awesome state…so
much diversity of habitats! And this might have been my last birding trip
east as my son-in-law just got a new job and they are moving to Cheyenne,
Wyoming. I can easily handle a 9 hour drive over the 16-17 hour one we
just made…twice!
For those of you who read this, I hope you enjoyed it!
Terry L. Miller
Plattsburg, MO
<millert832...>
www.millerstaxidermy.net
Follow me on Instagram: terryl.miller
"Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely his
eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have
been made." Romans 1:20
"The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of
wonder." G.K. Chesterton
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
