Saturday morning I went to Two Rivers Park and birded the backwater, the field north of the main trail, and then the horse trail. I saw a reasonable number and variety of birds but nothing unusual. I hoped one of the Eastern Meadowlarks would morph into a Western but none obliged me. Later I went the Terry Library and was greeted by Cedar Waxwings as I got out. Yay!
Sunday, I decided to do various points on Lake Maumelle. I started with a closed road north of the Lyon Nursery Pond. It is marked “no trespassing” but I had previously gotten an okay from CAW to birds these areas. Right after the gate the road goes up a steep hill that elevates your heart and breath rates but the path was otherwise never hard. It opens up to a bay that probably only boat people ever see. It was cool, in its newness, and I hope CAW will open it or the abandoned marina on the other side up but I didn’t see anything unusual there.
Then I went to Vista Point and scoped the area. After a bit, I spied a Pacific Loon floating with several of his more Common cousins. Since they were together I was able to make direct comparisons to make the identification easier. Nothing else unusual was seen there or at other points on the lake on my way back.
Where I found the Pacific Loon:
34.876
92.645