I put the turkey in the oven and then headed for a new point on the lake that Dennis Braddy put me on to the other day. It is a peninsula jutting westward into the lake from the northeast corner not too far from North Shore Landing and visible from what I call the Southern Rest Area on Highway 10. To get there, go to Roland and then take the Roland Cut-Off to the west. After the initial curves, that straightens out and goes due west until there is a right angle bend in the road and it then heads due north. At that bend is an old gravel and dirt road heading westward toward the lake. That is the starting point and there is room to park along the side of the road. You will need your water-proof boots as the road is more dirt (or mud) than gravel. From the starting point, walk about 0.2 miles and when you get to the fork in the road, take it. To the left that is. I don’t know where the right fork goes at this writing. Follow that left branch for another 0.5 miles according to my pedometer and then you’ll see another road going to the right, this is the second road going to the right so don’t be fooled by the first which dies quickly. This second road goes out onto the peninsula and has its own fork just out of sight from its start. Bear right there as well. After I while, you’ll see a CAW sign and fence posts but no fence and you’ll cross the Ouachita Trail as well. Follow this nearly due west for 0.6 miles and as you get close you’ll be able to see lake on your left and right. Eventually you will get to one final fork in the road going to the north and south sides of the peninsula. I took the north fork to avoid glare from the Sun and then walked around the edge of the land keeping an eye on the lake. I did not see anything exotic but as I got around to the southwest side I could see the Southern Rest Area on the far side of the lake. I then proceeded back to my car completing an approximate 4 mile loop and then home to the turkey.
Species seen or heard:
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• Northern Cardinal
• American Crow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Carolina Wren
• Carolina Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• White-throated Sparrow
• Bufflehead
• Horned Grebe
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Lesser Scaup
• American Coot
• Greater Scaup
• Common Goldeneye
• Common Loon
• Blue Jay
