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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

I went to the park this morning to bird as the weather was not amenable yesterday. This morning it was sunny with a temperature of 27 and 15-20 MPH wind from the north. So much better than Saturday. I arrived at 8 AM. I found the water at the swamp to be about a foot higher than when I was last here two weeks ago. The most notable find was probably the 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers which were about 2 weeks early. I saw small fleeting birds the right color with eye-rings and the white bars along the tail. I can’t think of anything else they could have been. Also got my first Winter and Sedge Wrens of the year. I also saw six species of sparrow including Le Conte’s and Lincoln’s. Left at 10:30 AM.

Species seen or heard:
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2)
• Le Conte’s Sparrow
• Lincoln’s Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Field Sparrow
• Savannah Sparrow
• Fox Sparrow
• Sedge Wren
• Winter Wren
• Carolina Wren
• Double-crested Cormorant (200)
• American Robin
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Northern Cardinal
• Eastern Bluebird
• American Coot
• Great Blue Heron
• American Crow
• Blue Jay
• Northern Flicker
• Canada Goose
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Turkey Vulture
• White-throated Sparrow
• Mourning Dove
• Downy Woodpecker
• Ring-billed Gull
• Carolina Chickadee
• Northern Mockingbird
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk

Plus one Fox Squirrel, some deer, and one Armadillo carcass suitable for cleaning and mounting. I thought of my 13 year old son and then decided against bringing it home for him.

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