Category: Birding

I arrived at 8:05. It was cloudy with temperatures in the mid 40s but there was no wind and it was milder that I expected for that reason. My target bird was the Brown Pelican reported there yesterday, it would be a state bird for me. The bird was not apparent from the dam site so I moved into Bell Slough figuring I check the lake more when I was done. I did see the Brown Pelican when I checked the lake the second time. 38 species in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Species seen or heard:
• Brown Pelican
• American Coot
• Canada Goose
• Blue Jay
• Northern Cardinal
• Carolina Chickadee
• Pine Warbler
• Great Blue Heron
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Great Egret
• Belted Kingfisher
• Fish Crow
• Bald Eagle
• Northern Mockingbird
• Eastern Bluebird
• American Crow
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Mallard
• Eastern Phoebe
• White-throated Sparrow
• Wood Duck
• Common Grackle
• Eastern Wood-Pewee
• European Starling
• Northern Flicker
• Blue-winged Teal
• Downy Woodpecker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Turkey Vulture
• Brown Thrasher
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Carolina Wren
• American Robin
• Swamp Sparrow
• Ring-billed Gull

Samantha, Angie, and I joined an ASCA field trip to Delta Rivers Nature Center, Pine Bluff Water Treatment Ponds, and Cane Creek State Park on March 14. This was an all day event and we got home just in time for Sam and me to scarf down some dinner and head for a CAAS meeting. Once everything was tallied, Samantha got about 12 official life birds (official cause she’s seen more that we’ve got recorded in eBird) and much to my later surprise, I got one life bird – Eared Grebe.

Species seen or heard:
Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center (spent two hours here)
• Canada Goose
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Eastern Phoebe
• Carolina Wren
• Northern Flicker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Blue Jay
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Carolina Chickadee
• Belted Kingfisher
• Northern Cardinal
• Hermit Thrush
• White-throated Sparrow
• Cedar Waxwing
• Common Grackle
• Tufted Titmouse
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• American Coot
• American Robin
• Great Blue Heron
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Blue-winged Teal
• House Finch
• Mallard

Pine Bluff–Boyd Point Wastewater Treatment
• American Coot
• Northern Cardinal
• Northern Shoveler
• Bufflehead
• Canada Goose
• Ruddy Duck
• Eared Grebe
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Blue-winged Teal
• Eastern Bluebird
• Ring-billed Gull
• Lesser Scaup
• Belted Kingfisher
• Red-tailed Hawk

Plus an Armadillo

Lake Saracen
• Double-crested Cormorant
• American White Pelican
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Purple Martin
• American Coot
• Ring-billed Gull
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Belted Kingfisher
• Common Grackle
• Northern Mockingbird
• Eastern Phoebe
• Great Blue Heron
• Pied-billed Grebe

Cane Creek State Park (stayed about 90 minutes)
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Mourning Dove
• Tufted Titmouse
• Bald Eagle
• American Crow
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Killdeer
• Belted Kingfisher
• Turkey Vulture
• Northern Harrier
• Barred Owl
• Wood Duck
• Great Egret

I went to Gillam Park in SE Little Rock this morning. My first trip there since the Little Rock CBC. I arrived at 8:45 and if that sounds late, remember that Daylight Savings time started today. I walked about 2 miles total, far short of a full visit, when rain interrupted my fun. Not wanting to short out my camera, I left at 9:55. I did see my first Hairy Woodpecker of the year, in fact since I got back into birding two years ago this month Gillam Park is the only place where I’ve seen Hairies.

Species seen or heard:
• Carolina Wren
• European Starling
• Northern Cardinal
• Blue Jay
• American Robin
• Eastern Phoebe
• Turkey Vulture
• Northern Flicker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• White-throated Sparrow
• American Crow
• Eastern Towhee
• Tufted Titmouse
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Carolina Chickadee