Listing Through Life

meleagris (guinea-fowl) gallopavo (from gallus, a cock, and pavo, a chickenlike peafowl)

Wednesday, May 7, 1980 — 6:30 pm

Southeastern Missouri — along Amtrak tracks to Little Rock approximately 50 miles south of St. Louis

We were on an Amtrak train heading from St. Louis to Little Rock. I saw a Wild Turkey standing in a field about twenty yards from the tracks. When the train went by, it flew up over a fence and landed at the edge of an open oak woods. It was slimmer than your barnyard-variety turkey, and when it flew, I saw a rusty edge on its fanned tail.

parula (little titmouse) americana (of America)

Tuesday, May 6, 1980 — 2:15 pm

Pontiac, Illinois — Vermilion River

A friend and I wandered along to the Vermilion River. We sat on the bank to pass the time. I spotted the Parula foraging in the trees near the bridge that carries the Amtrak tracks across the river. It was with a flock of Myrtle Warblers. I was able to approach within three feet.

buteo (hawk) platypterus (from platys, broad, and pteron, wing)

Thursday, May 1, 1980 — 4:45 pm

Deerfield, Illinois

I was standing on a dirt hill by the baseball diamond looking at my lifer Lark Sparrow when I saw this Broad-winged Hawk. It was flying over, emerging from over the nearby trees heading northwest. It continued on over the field in a direct, flapping flight, only coasting occasionally for short distances. I watched the hawk until it disappeared. When I looked back to where the Lark Sparrow had been, it was also gone.

chondestes (from chondros, grain, and edestes, eater) grammacus (lined)

Thursday, May 1, 1980 — 4:45 pm

Deerfield, Illinois

I was walking around a college campus, back by the baseball diamond. There was a weed-covered dirt hill in the corner near the woods. As I walked up the slope, a sparrow flew out of the weeds and landed facing me about 40 feet away in a row of brush and trees. It was a beautiful bird with a striking head pattern and a white-edged tail that fanned out in flight.

pooecetes (from poa, grass, and oiketes, dweller) gramineus (grass)

Tuesday, April 29, 1980 — 12:30 pm

Northbrook, Illinois — golf course

I was on another half-hour walk to the golf course over lunch. I crossed the fairways and began walking through a weedy field that stretched beyond. I saw the Vesper Sparrow on a weed-covered dirt hill. It sat in a bush and preened for a short time then flew to a plowed field and foraged for a little while before taking off out of sight.