Field Trips

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

BELL SLOUGH WMA—MAYFLOWER, AR

We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the main entrance to Bell Slough WMA, south of Mayflower. We’ll slowly walk the trail looking for migrating fall warblers. This is a good opportunity to learn to identify warblers in their non-breeding (basic) plumage. The trail is gravel and fairly level for easy walking. This will be a morning trip.

Directions: From Little Rock-Take I-40 West to Exit 135 at Mayflower. Cross over the interstate, then turn left (south) onto Hwy. 365. Go approximately 2.5 miles, look for the brown sign. Turn left off Hwy. 365 onto Grassy Lake Road. Follow Grassy Lake Rd. under I-40 then turn left into the parking lot just after crossing Palarm Creek.

OCTOBER 23, 2010

MOUNT NEBO STATE PARK—DARDANELLE, AR

We will meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Mayflower commuter lot off I-40 West at Exit 135. We’ll arrive around 9:00 a.m. at the Visitor Center on top of the mountain for those who want to meet us there. The trails offer sweeping views of the Arkansas River Valley, are gravel and fairly level for easy walking. With a bit of luck, the mountain will still be in fall color. Our target birds will be winter residents. Bring scope, water, snacks, and a lunch. If time permits, we may make a quick stop at Holla Bend NWR. This will be an all-day trip.

The address for the park is: 16728 W State Highway 155, Dardanelle, AR 72834. Go to www.arkansasstateparks.com/mountnebo for more information about the park.

NOVEMBER 12-14, 2010

ARKANSAS AUDUBON SOCIETY (AAS) FALL CONFERENCE

All birders are encouraged to participate in the AAS Conference being held at the Lake Point Conference Center, Russellville, Arkansas. Go to www.arbirds.org for more information.

NOVEMBER 20, 2009

DEGRAY LAKE RESORT STATE PARK—ARKADELPHIA, AR

We will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the commuter lot at I-630 and Shackleford Road (I-430) in Little Rock. We’ll arrive around 9:30 a.m. at the park’s Lodge for anyone in the area who would like to join us. Our target birds will be eagles, ducks, mergansers, gulls, and other water birds. Bring scope, water, snacks, and lunch. Dress warm, the lake can be windy. We will return to Little Rock after lunch.

Address for the park is: 2027 State Park Entrance Road - Bismarck, Arkansas 71929. Go to www.degray.com for more information about the park.

FIELD TRIP REPORTS

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge

August 21, 2010

Thirty-five birders converged at the Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, August 21 for ASCA’s August field trip. Our group included birders from as far away as Camden, Jonesboro, Heber Springs, Harrison, Conway, and even Missouri! The day was hot and sunny, and the birds were abundant. We did not see our target birds-Wood Storks or Roseate Spoonbills. Great Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Little Blue Herons, and Snowy Egrets were present in large numbers, along with one lone American White Pelican. Also spotted was a group of five immature WHITE IBIS. An UPLAND SANDPIPER close to the road was early find. Two more were spotted later in the day. Adult and immature Black-necked Stilts were scattered among the herons and egrets. Shorebirds included lots of Semipalmated Plovers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers, some still in breeding plumage, Stilt Sandpipers, and many peeps. Three BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were spotted.

A small group of birders were fortunate to see a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. Four BLACK TERNS skimmed and dove over one of the ponds. Ducks included Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, and Mallards. Some of our group checked the swampy area and found six Black-crowned Night-Herons. Another group spotted Yellow-crowned Night-Herons on one of the levee roads. Many in the group were able to see the two WILSON’S SNIPE that flushed periodically. We made a quick side trip to see the Bald Eagle nest on the back side of the refuge. It’s an interesting looking nest. Unfortunately, the eagles weren’t present. Sixteen BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were a nice end to a fun day. Our final tally was 53 species for the trip.

Karen Holliday

ASCA Field Trip Coordinator

Arkansas Post National Memorial

July 17, 2010

The Audubon Society of Central Arkansas (ASCA) headed south to Arkansas Post National Memorial on Saturday, July 17. Fourteen plucky birders got up at the crack of dawn, braving the heat, to drive two hours to reach the national park. At the park, we were rewarded with a cooling breeze, lots of fun birds, and three alligators! Our first stop was a bonanza of Purple Gallinules, Anhingas, and Common Moorhens with their chicks, little black balls of fluff with bright orange bills. Two Least Bitterns flushed and flew across the slough. Ten American White Pelicans circled and flashed overhead. Two alligators were spotted; one leisurely swimming among the blooming lotus plants, and one sunning on top of a small grassy knoll.

At the Visitor Center, Sarah Allely, the Park’s biologist, joined us for our trail walk. She provided informative pointers about the park’s varied habitat and vegetation and interesting tidbits of the history of the area. Orchard Orioles, Great-crested Flycatchers, Summer Tanagers, Carolina Wrens, and Eastern Wood-Pewees abounded. We were treated to a Yellow-throated Warbler foraging at eye-level in a tree next to the trail. We also watched a 14 foot alligator swim across the small lake located behind the Visitor Center.

We stopped for lunch at the picnic area overlooking the back waters of the Arkansas River where we observed the Bald Eagle nest. It’s been an active nest for the past eleven years. The two juvenile Eagles spotted near the nest two weeks ago were not present. Three Mississippi Kites soared on the updrafts along with a Broad-winged Hawk, while numerous Great Egrets and Anhingas flew overhead. We headed back to Little Rock with a total of 46 species for our trip list.

Submitted by

Karen Holliday

Cook’s Lake

June 12, 2010

The Audubon Society of Central Arkansas’ June field trip was to Cook’s Lake on Saturday, June 12. Cook’s Lake is located approximately 15 miles east of Stuttgart. Fifteen birders made the trip, braving temperatures in the mid 90’s. At Cooks’ Lake, we were met by Don McSwain, facility manager, and Tana Beasley, education specialist, at the Potlatch Conservation Education Center. Our group first walked the trail that runs along the top of the bluff of the oxbow lake. Great-crested Flycatchers were numerous, as were Prothonitary Warblers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Summer Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and Eastern Wood-Pewees. At various intervals, we came across Red-eared Sliders, semi-aquatic turtles, who had made the long climb up the bluff and were laying eggs in mud holes they had shaped on the forest floor. We spotted a total of 30 bird species along the trail.

We then gathered in the air-conditioned (much appreciated!) Education Center to hear Don and Tana’s hummingbird program. They covered the life cycle of the tiny birds, including their arduous migration flight, nesting sequence, and tips on attracting hummingbirds to your backyard with various plants and feeders. Tana then captured several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds from among the 30-40 that were visiting the feeders and Don demonstrated his banding techniques and documentation system. The entire presentation was fascinating and informative.

On the way back to Little Rock, a small group made a quick side trip to the Stuttgart airport in hopes of finding a Painted Bunting. Unfortunately, we couldn’t call one up. We did hear and see a lot of Dickcissels, Red-winged Blackbirds, Mourning Doves, and Killdeers. Even though it was mid-afternoon, a Common Nighthawk made several swoops over the group. We saw a total of 16 species.

Submitted by Karen Holliday