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I joined ASCA for a field trip to the local park today. I believe there were 21 birders in attendance. The highlight for me was the Henslow’s Sparrow. I saw it as well as Donna H and a third birder who I don’t know but I’m not sure if anyone else did. It all happened too fast for the camera but the olive colored head was distinctive.

Species seen or heard:
• Henslow’s Sparrow
• Le Conte’s Sparrow
• Brewer’s Blackbird
• Gray Catbird
• Blue Jay
• American Crow
• Canada Goose
• Ring-billed Gull
• Eastern Bluebird
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Northern Flicker
• Bald Eagle
• Northern Mockingbird
• Mourning Dove
• Carolina Wren
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Northern Cardinal
• Double-crested Cormorant
• White-throated Sparrow
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Black Vulture
• Carolina Chickadee
• Song Sparrow
• Fox Sparrow
• Virginia Rail
• American White Pelican
• Swamp Sparrow
• Hermit Thrush
• Brown Thrasher
• Pileated Woodpecker
• American Kestrel
• Killdeer
• Turkey Vulture
• American Robin
• Field Sparrow

I arrived at 8:45 Sunday morning. The temperature was just over freezing. I started at the backwater, walked along the river’s edge until I got to Pfeifer’s Loop then walked along it until met Isabella Jo Trail and then followed that back to the river then Lake Campbell trail back to IJT to my car. I thought this path would maximize my habitats and birds.

Species seen or heard:
• Bonaparte’s Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Northern Mockingbird
• Great Blue Heron
• Northern Flicker
• Blue Jay
• Bufflehead
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Killdeer
• Greater Scaup
• Ring-necked Duck
• Canada Goose
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Carolina Wren
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Northern Shoveler
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Double-crested Cormorant
• American Crow
• European Starling
• Tufted Titmouse
• Carolina Chickadee
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Eastern Bluebird
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Belted Kingfisher
• Downy Woodpecker
• Turkey Vulture
• Northern Cardinal
• White-throated Sparrow

I decided to track down reports of Laughing and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Lake Dardanelle this morning with the option of going to Holla Bend afterward. I got a late start due mainly to sleeping in but got to the Lake Dardanelle Dam at around 9:30. Then I went to Delaware Park where I ran into the Nichols. The funny thing about that was I was spying on and photographing this odd looking and large gull, which I took to be a 1st winter Herring, when an email arrived on my cell phone. It was from Kenny to AR-Bird announcing he was at Delaware Park scoping a Thayer’s Gull. So I walked over the small hill separating us and continued to bird with Kenny & LaDonna.

After finishing there, I decided to head home with a stop at Lake Conway on the off change that there would be a Black-legged Kittiwake. Alas there was not but there was what I believe is a Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid.

Species seen or heard:
Lake Dardanelle
• Ring-billed Gull
• Northern Cardinal
• Dark-eyed Junco
• American White Pelican
• Great Blue Heron
• American Crow
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Laughing Gull
• Northern Mockingbird
• Eastern Phoebe
• Canvasback
• Turkey Vulture
• Herring Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Blue Jay
• American Crow
• American Coot
• Ring-billed Gull
• Thayer’s Gull
• Bufflehead
• Black Vulture
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Carolina Chickadee
• Carolina Wren
• European Starling
• Pied-billed Grebe

Lake Conway
• Ring-billed Gull
• Great Egret
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Bonaparte’s Gull
• Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser Hybrid
• Bufflehead
• Common Goldeneye
• Belted Kingfisher
• Mallard
• Turkey Vulture