It was partly cloudy and mild with a light wind, turning warm with a moderate wind by noon. 57 species were found. I concentrated on migrant Passerines up till near mid day then went in to the reservoirs to count water birds. The heronry on Pintail Lake is pretty much finished for the year although I'm sure the birds are still using it for a roost at night. I wasn't surprised to spot a Sora out in the middle of one of the lakes walking around on the lilypads like a gallinule, as I often see them doing this. Sometimes in large numbers. Saw a female Indigo bunting feeding two fledglings that were following her around. Also saw a pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with a brood of half grown young. Still lots of juvenile gallinules everywhere. Here is my list for today:
Made a quick stop at Springhill Park after work. The PIPL is still there, actively foraging by the river's edge. Matt Matlock was also there and he helped me find the bird. The bird can be found by slow-scanning the water's edge. It's not very easy to find since it is so pale (sanderling-pale!) and tends to merge with the sandy shore.
KannanFt. Smith
Two updates:1. A stakeout hotspot is now set up for eBirders to use. If you've already seen it, please consider replacing your personal location with the new hotspot by opening your personal location from your list and tapping on MOVE. Then select the button for "stakeout Swallow-tailed Kite" and save it.2. At least one bird was seen around noon today. Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 9/2/25 8:29 AM (GMT-06:00) To: Lance Runion <lancerad2000...>, <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: RE: Swallow-tailed Kite-yes Correction. We only saw two adults. After we looked at Michael's photos, we determined the juvenile was a young Mississippi and not a Swallow-tailed. We should have figured that out in the field but those beautiful adults flying overhead, nabbing bugs and entertaining us so magically, won most of our attention. A wonderful treat.Patty and Michael -------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 9/1/25 12:57 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Lance Runion <lancerad2000...>, <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: RE: Swallow-tailed Kite-yes Michael and I decided to chase this bird today and found THREE of them! Two adults and one juvenile. Two flew over the designated area toward Hwy 124, so we drove down there and were treated to an aerial show with the adults nabbing bugs in flight while the juvenile rested and preened its pretty self. We also met Jarrod Hughes, the original finder of these birds. He's pretty excited to have them in his neck of the woods -- and to get to see them every day, even if just for a short time.Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners -------- Original message --------From: Lance Runion <000000d4f8891ec6-dmarc-request...> Date: 9/1/25 11:11 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Swallow-tailed Kite-yes Swallow-tailed Kite is still present at the reported spot in Pope County this morning.Lance RunionLR, ARSent from my iPhone. Please forgive any misspallings or punctuation errors;############################To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> click the following link:http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Correction. We only saw two adults. After we looked at Michael's photos, we determined the juvenile was a young Mississippi and not a Swallow-tailed. We should have figured that out in the field but those beautiful adults flying overhead, nabbing bugs and entertaining us so magically, won most of our attention. A wonderful treat.Patty and Michael
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 9/1/25 12:57 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Lance Runion <lancerad2000...>, <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: RE: Swallow-tailed Kite-yes Michael and I decided to chase this bird today and found THREE of them! Two adults and one juvenile. Two flew over the designated area toward Hwy 124, so we drove down there and were treated to an aerial show with the adults nabbing bugs in flight while the juvenile rested and preened its pretty self. We also met Jarrod Hughes, the original finder of these birds. He's pretty excited to have them in his neck of the woods -- and to get to see them every day, even if just for a short time.Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners -------- Original message --------From: Lance Runion <000000d4f8891ec6-dmarc-request...> Date: 9/1/25 11:11 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Swallow-tailed Kite-yes Swallow-tailed Kite is still present at the reported spot in Pope County this morning.Lance RunionLR, ARSent from my iPhone. Please forgive any misspallings or punctuation errors;############################To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> click the following link:http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Date: 9/2/25 3:53 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AUDUBON SOCIETY ANNOUNCES REDEDICATION OF REBUILT MULHOLLAN WATERFOWL BLIND
Mulhollan Waterfowl Blind Rededication Ceremony, Sep 16
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AUDUBON SOCIETY ANNOUNCES REDEDICATION OF REBUILT MULHOLLAN WATERFOWL BLIND
FAYETTEVILLE, AR (September 1, 2025) - The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society (NWAAS) proudly announces the official rededication ceremony of the redesigned and rebuilt Mulhollan Waterfowl Blind at Lake Fayetteville on Tuesday, September 16th, 2025 at 4:00 PM.
The original blind, named in honor of Paige and Mary Bess Mulhollan, was tragically destroyed by fire on Monday, August 26th, 2024. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Following this loss, an NWAAS committee quickly mobilized to raise funds and develop plans for rebuilding this beloved community resource, located on the Southeast side of the lake near the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.
The rededication ceremony will feature brief remarks from NWAAS President Robin Buff, a representative of the Nelms family (who provided major funding for the project), architectural designer Michael Cockram of Bowerbird Designs who created both the original and new blind designs, and Kelly Mulhollan representing his parents, Paige and Mary Bess Mulhollan.
The new design incorporates valuable feedback from the community to enhance safety and create a more welcoming environment for wildlife observation. Michael Cockram's thoughtful redesign maintains the aesthetic beauty and functionality that made the original blind so popular while implementing improvements based on years of community use.
Lake Fayetteville is one of the region's premier birding locations, with over 260 bird species documented since 1953. The blind provides an optimal viewing location that minimizes disturbance to waterfowl while offering excellent visibility for observers.
The Mulhollan Blind is free and open to the public, located off the Lake Fayetteville Nature Trail near the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. It serves as an educational resource and recreation destination for birders, photographers, students, and nature enthusiasts.
About the Mulhollan Blind: The original blind was build in 2016 in honor of Paige and Mary Bess Mulhollan. Paige, a former history professor at UA-Fayetteville and early Director of the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, was an avid birder who participated in many NWAAS activities. The blind was constructed with private donations and volunteer labor, with no public tax money used in its creation.
Contact: Robin Buff, Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society President
Email: <robinbuff...><mailto:<robinbuff...> Website: https://www.nwarkaudubon.org/mulhollanblind.htm Directions
The nearest trailhead parking lot is on the Southwest side of Lake Fayetteville at 4607 N Crossover Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72764<https://maps.app.goo.gl/PSJ7NqX9PeunvpTm6> (just South of the BGO parking lot). From the parking lot, you can walk across the open field to connect to the boardwalk trail, or follow the bike trail West and cut through the woods to the blind. The exact location of the blind is GPS 36.136538, -94.123705<https://maps.app.goo.gl/RSJE6kuAGhAb7gKH9>.
Date: 9/1/25 7:23 pm From: Kevin Krajcir <kjkrajcir...> Subject: September 2025 ASCA Presentation - Bluebirds and Climate Change by Dr. Virginie Rolland
Good evening!
Please join the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas on Thursday September 11th at 7 PM to hear from Dr. Virginie Rolland about the ability of Eastern Bluebirds to respond to climate change.
Nest box programs helped Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) recover from last-century population declines due to invasive species, DDT, and habitat loss. But how will bluebirds fare this century under climate change? Dr. Virginie Rolland, who took over a trail of 150 nest boxes established in 2003 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, has been exploring this question from various angles: morphology, demography, phenology, and more recently physiology. Bluebirds seem to be well adapted to warm climates and resilient to extremes but may be more challenged as new record conditions become the norm.
Dr. Virginie Rolland studied the population dynamics of four albatross species in the context of fisheries and climate change for her PhD, which she received in 2008 from University of Paris VI. She then completed a postdoc on the Northern Bobwhite’s (Colinus virginianus) population dynamics at University of Florida, before starting as an Assistant Professor at Arkansas State University in 2011. Now Full Professor, Dr. Rolland has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, several of whom received research funding from the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust.
Craziest thing. Hippies. Families used to also go there. It was like
Eureka Springs' Community Swimming Hole. My dad took us all there once when
I was probably 6 years old (after we first moved there from western
Kansas), because we'd heard how cool the swimming hole was. We kept our
clothes on, but we were the only ones. Could have been 60-100 people. The
place was full of hippie families of all generations, walking around,
talking to everybody, and sitting in the spring-fed natural stone pools
that were said to have been used to scald hogs for one of the armies in the
Civil War. Some things are best left in the 1970s!
On Fri, Aug 29, 2025 at 9:47 AM Todd Ballinger <todd.ballinger...>
wrote:
> Special place. It's seen some changes since the mid 70's when it was the
> community skinny-dipping nature waterpark.
>
> On Thu, Aug 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM Carol Joan Patterson <
> <joanie.patterson...> wrote:
>
>> I actually lived at Hogscald back in the early 80's. Many of us walked
>> to the springs on a regular basis. I have super wonderful memories but
>> never birded there. Now I plan to check it out!
>>
>> On Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 10:02:23 AM CDT, Todd Ballinger <
>> <todd.ballinger...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Art,
>> I must have missed your email the first time around when you sent it, but
>> found it when I was searching old emails for birders in Carroll County.
>> Hogscald Holler is a special place for me, long before I ever started
>> birding: it was where my dad taught me to swim back in the mid 1970s, and
>> then the place in the summer of 1998 I went on my first outing with my
>> future wife sitting around a little campfire on a small bluff one night
>> late after work. Birding Carroll County has given me a chance to retrace
>> some of my favorite places that I know like the back of my hand, as I
>> re-imagine my home country now by discovering the amazing birds that were
>> always there but had existed beyond my powers of perception. Finding your
>> email these three years after you wrote it shows me that there is someone
>> else who finds joy in uncovering the hidden treasures around us. Thank you
>> for sharing your discoveries.
>>
>> The Best,
>> Todd Ballinger, Fayetteville
>>
>> On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 12:00 PM Art Weigand <aweigand13...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I was pleasantly shocked to get a long look at a Canada Warbler this
>> morning. The necklace and gray back were quite clear. I was on CR 148 which
>> is about 6 miles south of Eureka Springs off Hwy 23. This road dips down
>> into a low area with a creek running eventually into the end of the big
>> Clifty arm of Beaver lake, an area commonly referred to as Hogscald. I’ve
>> had wonderful luck seeing warblers along this road for years. In addition
>> to the Canada I also had 3 Kentucky’s, a Northern Parula and a Hooded
>> warbler.
>> Although I couldn’t find them this morning I also often see Blue-winged
>> warblers, Louisiana Waterthrushes and Ovenbirds along this road as well.
>>
>> Art Weigand
>> Oak Ridge Park
>> Beaver Lake
>>
>> ############################
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
>> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> >> or click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Todd Ballinger, MA, NBCT
>> English 11/AP English Language and Composition
>> Fayetteville High School
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
>
> --
> Todd Ballinger, MA, NBCT
> English 11/AP English Language and Composition
> Fayetteville High School
>
--
Todd Ballinger, MA, NBCT
English 11/AP English Language and Composition
Fayetteville High School
I went to Chesney this morning hoping for some grassland shore birds, but only found Solitary Sandpiper and Killdeer, there were Dickcissels, Indigo Buntings, and American Goldfiches intermingling, and Wood Pewee”s dining from the trees, a bush held a Least Flycatcher, Merlin confirmed its call, But also reported Yellow-bellied. It was wetter than I expected especially on the south side of the row of trees running east/west. I ended up wading in water deeper than my boot tops. There are lots of meadow beauties, swollen sunflowers, and late purple asters., and accompanying butterflies.
The most interesting thing was a small crayfish! Ij would guess about 1.5 inches long,
waving cobalt blue claws at me as I approached it. It was standing in very shallow water/ on very wet ground. I did not expect a crayfish to have any bright colors.
Michael and I decided to chase this bird today and found THREE of them! Two adults and one juvenile. Two flew over the designated area toward Hwy 124, so we drove down there and were treated to an aerial show with the adults nabbing bugs in flight while the juvenile rested and preened its pretty self. We also met Jarrod Hughes, the original finder of these birds. He's pretty excited to have them in his neck of the woods -- and to get to see them every day, even if just for a short time.Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
-------- Original message --------From: Lance Runion <000000d4f8891ec6-dmarc-request...> Date: 9/1/25 11:11 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Swallow-tailed Kite-yes Swallow-tailed Kite is still present at the reported spot in Pope County this morning.Lance RunionLR, ARSent from my iPhone. Please forgive any misspallings or punctuation errors;############################To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> click the following link:http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Date: 8/31/25 12:40 pm From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> Subject: Fall is here, Purple Finch
Had a Purple Finch on the feeder today. Previous early date for Faulkner County is September 11.
Also had three species that have not been in the yard since spring, Yellow-throated Vireo, Orchard Oriole, and Baltimore Oriole.
Fall movements are on.
-- Allan Mueller (It) 20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm 501-339-8071 *BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com Pura Vida
Date: 8/31/25 10:31 am From: Bobby Allison <gunshowbob...> Subject: Re: Swallow-tailed Kite
I second that this morning. Camping at LDSP, and able to make the quick drive up once I saw Randy's email. Regrettably didn't have my camera and lens...
Was only able to see one at about 1045, but saw it immediately over the pastures about a 1/4 mile down the road. Soaring and hovering along with a Miss Kite. Spoke with one of the local residents who stated it's been there for a little bit, but he didn't realize it was special. He also said he thought he'd seen as many as five soaring high overhead. But there are also Mississippi Kites there so I believe he could be seeing both and not be able to discern the tail.
-Bobby Allison
On Sun, Aug 31, 2025, 09:37 Randy < <0000092d17afc790-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Date: 8/30/25 2:15 pm From: Robert Day <rhday52...> Subject: Re: Peep id.
Ian, I am not very good at peeps, but I would call the first one a Western
(probably male, which is shorter-billed than a female; also based on
overall warmth/rustiness of plumage, especially coverts, and overall look)
and would call the second one a Semipalmated (based on overall
dark/contrasty plumage). I don't think that either is a Least, based on
leg-color. However, I emphasize that I have not seen either of these
species for a long time, so my memory may be faulty.
I look forward to seeing what others think.
Bob Day
SW Bentonville
cell: 907-460-7061; <rhday52...>
On Sat, Aug 30, 2025 at 2:24 PM Ian MacGregor <
<00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> I am attaching two files. ,I thought Peep1.jpeg was a Western in the
> field. The legs are definitely black, the bill is to me to long for
> semipalmated, and there is a bit of rufous on the head. Merlin thinks it
> is a Least.
>
> Peep2.jpeg was not identified the field. Again Merlin says least, but its
> carriage looks wrong to me. Jim Landrum had a Baird's earlier in the day.
> I consider that butt the back looks too dark.
>
> I am still learning how to tell peeps apart.
>
> What don others think?
>
>
> Ian MacGregor Bella Vista
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 8/30/25 12:25 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Peep id.
I am attaching two files. ,I thought Peep1.jpeg was a Western in the field. The legs are definitely black, the bill is to me to long for semipalmated, and there is a bit of rufous on the head. Merlin thinks it is a Least.
Peep2.jpeg was not identified the field. Again Merlin says least, but its carriage looks wrong to me. Jim Landrum had a Baird's earlier in the day. I consider that butt the back looks too dark.
Date: 8/29/25 9:13 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Peep id
I had two interesting peeps at Charlie Craig[P1010317.jpeg]
The black legs, lomgish bill, shorting wings, and perhaps toe webbing to me adds up to Western. Merlin says "Least." I thought it was a Western in the field.
The second bird I did not notice until I got home
[PeepSp.jpeg]
Again Least is suggested. but again the legs are black and the bill looks wrong to me. Looks too long to me for a semipalmated. Toyed with Baird's because of the diffuse breast pattern.
I do not remember any outsized peep.
Special place. It's seen some changes since the mid 70's when it was the
community skinny-dipping nature waterpark.
On Thu, Aug 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM Carol Joan Patterson <
<joanie.patterson...> wrote:
> I actually lived at Hogscald back in the early 80's. Many of us walked to
> the springs on a regular basis. I have super wonderful memories but never
> birded there. Now I plan to check it out!
>
> On Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 10:02:23 AM CDT, Todd Ballinger <
> <todd.ballinger...> wrote:
>
>
> Art,
> I must have missed your email the first time around when you sent it, but
> found it when I was searching old emails for birders in Carroll County.
> Hogscald Holler is a special place for me, long before I ever started
> birding: it was where my dad taught me to swim back in the mid 1970s, and
> then the place in the summer of 1998 I went on my first outing with my
> future wife sitting around a little campfire on a small bluff one night
> late after work. Birding Carroll County has given me a chance to retrace
> some of my favorite places that I know like the back of my hand, as I
> re-imagine my home country now by discovering the amazing birds that were
> always there but had existed beyond my powers of perception. Finding your
> email these three years after you wrote it shows me that there is someone
> else who finds joy in uncovering the hidden treasures around us. Thank you
> for sharing your discoveries.
>
> The Best,
> Todd Ballinger, Fayetteville
>
> On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 12:00 PM Art Weigand <aweigand13...>
> wrote:
>
> I was pleasantly shocked to get a long look at a Canada Warbler this
> morning. The necklace and gray back were quite clear. I was on CR 148 which
> is about 6 miles south of Eureka Springs off Hwy 23. This road dips down
> into a low area with a creek running eventually into the end of the big
> Clifty arm of Beaver lake, an area commonly referred to as Hogscald. I’ve
> had wonderful luck seeing warblers along this road for years. In addition
> to the Canada I also had 3 Kentucky’s, a Northern Parula and a Hooded
> warbler.
> Although I couldn’t find them this morning I also often see Blue-winged
> warblers, Louisiana Waterthrushes and Ovenbirds along this road as well.
>
> Art Weigand
> Oak Ridge Park
> Beaver Lake
>
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
>
> --
> Todd Ballinger, MA, NBCT
> English 11/AP English Language and Composition
> Fayetteville High School
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
--
Todd Ballinger, MA, NBCT
English 11/AP English Language and Composition
Fayetteville High School
Date: 8/28/25 6:09 pm From: laura davis <000000177bab20ae-dmarc-request...> Subject: AGFC program for tomorrow
I got something about an opportunity to go to plummerville Arkansas to see Northern Bobwhite and wild turkeys it was for tomorrow so I went on Arkansas game and fish commission website and registered but now I can't find anything about it so I'm just wondering did I imagine that or did anybody else get it I can't find it in my emails or anything thank you for your help
Date: 8/28/25 3:25 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Canada warbler
I actually lived at Hogscald back in the early 80's. Many of us walked to the springs on a regular basis. I have super wonderful memories but never birded there. Now I plan to check it out!
On Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 10:02:23 AM CDT, Todd Ballinger <todd.ballinger...> wrote:
Art,I must have missed your email the first time around when you sent it, but found it when I was searching old emails for birders in Carroll County. Hogscald Holler is a special place for me, long before I ever started birding: it was where my dad taught me to swim back in the mid 1970s, and then the place in the summer of 1998 I went on my first outing with my future wife sitting around a little campfire on a small bluff one night late after work. Birding Carroll County has given me a chance to retrace some of my favorite places that I know like the back of my hand, as I re-imagine my home country now by discovering the amazing birds that were always there but had existed beyond my powers of perception. Finding your email these three years after you wrote it shows me that there is someone else who finds joy in uncovering the hidden treasures around us. Thank you for sharing your discoveries.
The Best,Todd Ballinger, Fayetteville
On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 12:00 PM Art Weigand <aweigand13...> wrote:
I was pleasantly shocked to get a long look at a Canada Warbler this morning. The necklace and gray back were quite clear. I was on CR 148 which is about 6 miles south of Eureka Springs off Hwy 23. This road dips down into a low area with a creek running eventually into the end of the big Clifty arm of Beaver lake, an area commonly referred to as Hogscald. I’ve had wonderful luck seeing warblers along this road for years. In addition to the Canada I also had 3 Kentucky’s, a Northern Parula and a Hooded warbler.
Although I couldn’t find them this morning I also often see Blue-winged warblers, Louisiana Waterthrushes and Ovenbirds along this road as well.
We joined friends Randy Robinson and Roger Massey yesterday for a full day of birding along the southern section of the Mississippi Levee (aka The Great River Road) from Desha County to Chicot County. This has become an annual event for many birders, and we were so lucky to have amazingly kind temperatures. We started at the nearby fish farm where we saw hundreds of egrets and a few dozen dark ibis. Most appeared to be WHITE-FACED IBIS but at least one had the distinctive thin blue-gray line above/below the eye, identifying it as a GLOSSY IBIS. (This is a private fish farm with restricted access, and they've been very busy with the operation and haven't had sufficient time to host a formal tour this year. But since Michael and I know our way around, we were cleared to make a stop.) From there, we drove the levee from the Paper Company to Arkansas City where we had lunch. Along this section, we noticed a large group of egrets and herons plus many cormorants, several of which were NEOTROPIC. When we stopped, Roger noticed some larger white and dark birds crouched under the trees. WOOD STORKS! Further scoping revealed a handful of ROSEATE SPOONBILLS. These two iconic birds are favorites to find anytime and anywhere. And then Roger noticed an immature Night-heron, hidden low in the distant trees and facing away. We had lots of debate as to specific species but we couldn't decide in the moment, so Michael took some photos and the debate continues.Not much at McCallie so we stopped at the state park at Arkansas City. The Delta Heritage Trail State Park (Southern End) is now somewhat operational with a friendly and helpful Park Superintent on board and eager to start offering events. Info here: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/trails/delta-heritage-trail-south-end-arkansas-city-rohwerAfter lunch, Roger headed home and we headed to Chicot County where our primary focus was Grand Lake. First we drove to the top of the levee at Cariola Rd to look for surprises -- and we found them! Dozens of WHITE-FACED and WHITE IBIS, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS, and a bonus Night-heron. This one brought limited debate and once we got close enough and the right angle, we could tell it was a juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON. Our last stop was Grand Lake where we found several more NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS at both ends of the lake, WHITE-WINGED DOVES (near intersection of AR 209 and Grand Lake Loop/Hwy 8 Spur), and a bonus bird -- a TRICOLORED HERON at the south end of the lake, feeding in the weeds.It was a long, eventful day and I drove home with Michael taking a well-deserved break. Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Art,
I must have missed your email the first time around when you sent it, but
found it when I was searching old emails for birders in Carroll County.
Hogscald Holler is a special place for me, long before I ever started
birding: it was where my dad taught me to swim back in the mid 1970s, and
then the place in the summer of 1998 I went on my first outing with my
future wife sitting around a little campfire on a small bluff one night
late after work. Birding Carroll County has given me a chance to retrace
some of my favorite places that I know like the back of my hand, as I
re-imagine my home country now by discovering the amazing birds that were
always there but had existed beyond my powers of perception. Finding your
email these three years after you wrote it shows me that there is someone
else who finds joy in uncovering the hidden treasures around us. Thank you
for sharing your discoveries.
The Best,
Todd Ballinger, Fayetteville
On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 12:00 PM Art Weigand <aweigand13...> wrote:
> I was pleasantly shocked to get a long look at a Canada Warbler this
> morning. The necklace and gray back were quite clear. I was on CR 148 which
> is about 6 miles south of Eureka Springs off Hwy 23. This road dips down
> into a low area with a creek running eventually into the end of the big
> Clifty arm of Beaver lake, an area commonly referred to as Hogscald. I’ve
> had wonderful luck seeing warblers along this road for years. In addition
> to the Canada I also had 3 Kentucky’s, a Northern Parula and a Hooded
> warbler.
> Although I couldn’t find them this morning I also often see Blue-winged
> warblers, Louisiana Waterthrushes and Ovenbirds along this road as well.
>
> Art Weigand
> Oak Ridge Park
> Beaver Lake
>
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
--
Todd Ballinger, MA, NBCT
English 11/AP English Language and Composition
Fayetteville High School
Date: 8/27/25 3:39 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Which Warbler?
I could not catch any black, but the shape, especially the tail suggests Wilson’s I had an adult male Wilson’s at Chesney Prairie today along with three Yellows. Wilson’s looks smaller, thinner, and relatively longer tailed. Your bird’s gestalt better matches Wilson’s
Ian MacGregor Bella Vista
On Wed, Aug 27, 2025 at 11:27 AM, Brian Carlson <[<brianrcarlson...>](mailto:On Wed, Aug 27, 2025 at 11:27 AM, Brian Carlson <<a href=)> wrote:
> Hello all, I saw this warbler yesterday and initially thought it was a Yellow Warbler but when I added the photos to my Ebird submission Ebird flagged it as a Wilson's. I think they may be correct. There appears to be a hint of black on top it its head. What do you all think? Brian
>
> https://youtu.be/5ph0i_W-taA >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
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Brian, iNaturalist too suggests Wilson’s as the first choice.
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 11:27 AM, Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> wrote:
#yiv1567982792 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Hello all, I saw this warbler yesterday and initially thought it was a Yellow Warbler but when I added the photos to my Ebird submission Ebird flagged it as a Wilson's. I think they may be correct. There appears to be a hint of black on top it its head. What do you all think? Brian
https://youtu.be/5ph0i_W-taA
Date: 8/27/25 9:27 am From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: Which Warbler?
Hello all, I saw this warbler yesterday and initially thought it was a Yellow Warbler but when I added the photos to my Ebird submission Ebird flagged it as a Wilson's. I think they may be correct. There appears to be a hint of black on top it its head. What do you all think? Brian
Date: 8/27/25 6:27 am From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Just Like That Bird--Dylan's Birds
Thanks for sharing the article. At one time I was noting all of the songs by different artists and poets that used birds and bird references in their songs. It is also an education to look at all of the bird reference that are made by William Shakespeare, Poe, Byron, Browning, and others.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Todd Ballinger <todd.ballinger...>
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 2:11 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Just Like That Bird--Dylan's Birds
Bob Dylan may not be submitting personal checklists to eBird, but he has apparently been making many references to birds in his songs over the last 60 years. He turned 84 this past May. For those who listen to Bob Dylan, or just sometimes think birds make for good analogies/metaphors, here's an article I've enjoyed reading recently that combines the two:
[excerpt] "If youll pardon the avian pun, Im ducking out of overviews and grand comparisons to focus on one small but typically interesting aspect of his [Dylan's] enormous body of work: the invoking of birds birds in general and birds of particular species and to consider how he deploys them.
"Im prompted by the happy way the white dove with which he flew into so many peoples consciousness back near the starting-point Yes, n how many seas must a white dove sail / Before she sleeps in the sand? returns on his most recent album, again invoked as a symbol of peace: If I had the wings of a snow-white dove / Id preach the gospel, the gospel of love.
Having had that prompt, I suppose I assumed thered be the handful of bird allusions recurrently in my head and perhaps as many again. How wrong I was: there are dozens!"
Date: 8/26/25 5:30 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - August 26
It was heavy overcast, windy, and cool with some light rain on the bird survey today. 46 species were found. The weather was not very conducive to finding birds and I had hopes of this cold front bringing some early migrants down but it didn't really produce. The only migrants were a few common shorebirds. Here is my list for today:
Date: 8/26/25 2:11 pm From: Todd Ballinger <todd.ballinger...> Subject: Just Like That Bird--Dylan's Birds
Bob Dylan may not be submitting personal checklists to eBird, but he has
apparently been making many references to birds in his songs over the last
60 years. He turned 84 this past May. For those who listen to Bob Dylan, or
just sometimes think birds make for good analogies/metaphors, here's an
article I've enjoyed reading recently that combines the two:
[excerpt] "If you’ll pardon the avian pun, I’m ducking out of overviews and
grand comparisons to focus on one small but typically interesting aspect of
his [Dylan's] enormous body of work: the invoking of birds — birds in
general and birds of particular species — and to consider how he deploys
them.
"I’m prompted by the happy way the white dove with which he flew into so
many people’s consciousness back near the starting-point — *Yes, ’n’ how
many seas must a white dove sail / Before she sleeps in the sand?* —
returns on his most recent album, again invoked as a symbol of peace: *If I
had the wings of a snow-white dove / I’d preach the gospel, the gospel of
love.*
Having had that prompt, I suppose I assumed there’d be the handful of bird
allusions recurrently in my head and perhaps as many again. How wrong I
was: there are dozens!"
The Jewelweed is blooming at Lake Atalanta from Frisco Spring to Walnut Street. It provides a great opportunity to see many hummingbirds and photograph them with natural backgrounds. Just be sure to move off of the trail surface when you are stopped, there are a lot of cyclists and runners on the trail.
Date: 8/24/25 8:22 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: NOWA not LOWA
During yesterdays (August 23, 2025) trip to Prairie State Park, north of Joplin, Missouri, we had great looks at a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (NOWA). It was foraging in a shady, mostly dried-up campground stream bed. The first job we had was to make sure it wasnt a Louisiana Waterthrush (LOWA).
LOWAs nest widely in the Ozarks. Judy Griffith at Ninestone Land Trust has recorded last LOWAs on Piney Creek as late as September 9, but often around mid-August. So you can see why we had to be careful yesterday. Fortunately, at Prairie SP we saw NOWA and photographed it. So no doubt. https://ebird.org/checklist/S269205819 Earliest Ive seen Northern Waterthrush in Northwest Arkansas City is August 11. Previous records like this have also come from upper reaches of Sager Creek in Chesney Prairie Natural Area.
One thing I find pretty interesting is absolute minimal travel distance for our NOWA migrant visitors. Cornells Birds of the World shows the closest breeding range is likely around the Great Lakes, but could be from much farther away, basically all across Canada and Alaska. Migration here could be, for them at minimum, 1000 miles, give or take. For a creature 6 inches long, weighing in at 18 grams (less than an ounce).
Something well worth thinking about, overall. Especially as we have increasingly negative impacts on our planetary environment. Should be a big issue. Please ask your local LOWA or NOWA before casting next ballot.
Date: 8/23/25 8:15 pm From: Ashlyn Ohm <4ever4hiskingdom...> Subject: Re: Bald Knob NWR ASCA field trip
Thank you so much for the opportunity to join the trip! I had a wonderful time and appreciate the ID help and welcome from everyone.
Karen, would it be possible for you to share the group photo you took?
Ashlyn
> On Aug 23, 2025, at 8:53 PM, Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> wrote:
>
> Today, Saturday, was the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas's (ASCA) field trip to Bald Knob. We got really lucky with very mild temperatures compared to last week's 100° heat. Our 18 participants were a mixed group of very experienced birders and several newer birders. We had only one field of mud. All the other fields still have rice growing in them.
>
> Our one bare field had a good mix of peeps and larger shorebirds, along with bigger species like herons, egrets, and ducks. Kevin Krajcir was a big help. He worked with the more experienced birders to sort out the smaller shorebirds. I worked with the newer birders to help them spot and identify the larger, easier to see species. They were so excited to see new species and learn about Bald Knob's excellent shorebirds. With Megan Foll's additions to the checklist of her sightings of several common species we had overlooked, the group had a final total of 26 species. Great teamwork!
>
> Nothing new or uncommon. But, we all really enjoyed a rare visit to Bald Knob in August without pouring sweat in extreme heat. Nice!
> Karen Holliday
> ASCA field trip coordinator
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 8/23/25 7:03 pm From: Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> Subject: AAS Fall Convention Registration is Open!
Dear ArBirders:
Registration for the fall AAS convention is now open! This fall we're meeting the last weekend in October, Oct. 24-26, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Conway. Thanks to Cheryl Johnson for planning what will be a wonderful meeting!
Field trips begin on Friday afternoon. Four will be offered on Friday, five on Saturday, and three on Sunday. Our field trip coordinator, Patty McLean, has included a bird banding demo for Sunday morning (thanks, banders Maureen McClung and Kevin Kracjir!) and a tour of a Master Gardeners' teaching garden containing mostly native plants on Friday afternoon. Other field trips will take place at hotspots in and around Conway. Thanks to Patty and all who have agreed to serve as guides.
Our two dinner speakers will be Spencer Daniels from AGFC, who will tell us all about our native Arkansas bears (with a few words about mountain lions) and Dr. Todd Green from Arkansas State University, who will share his fascinating research on the connections between cassowaries' casques and extinct, non-avian dinosaurs. For more details about the convention program and field trips, click here <https://arbirds.org/AAS/MeetingDetails.aspx?id=23>.
Our special room rate will be $110/night not including taxes, and is good through 9/26. To register at the hotel, click here <https://group.hiltongardeninn.com/3nnf8z>.
Early Bird registration of $15 for students, $25 for AAS members, and $30 for non-members is available until October 3. Register for the convention here <https://arbirds.org/AAS/Registration.aspx?id=23>.
Questions? Email VP Cheryl Johnson at <cjbluebird...>
Date: 8/23/25 6:54 pm From: Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> Subject: Bald Knob NWR ASCA field trip
Today, Saturday, was the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas's (ASCA) field trip to Bald Knob. We got really lucky with very mild temperatures compared to last week's 100° heat. Our 18 participants were a mixed group of very experienced birders and several newer birders. We had only one field of mud. All the other fields still have rice growing in them. Our one bare field had a good mix of peeps and larger shorebirds, along with bigger species like herons, egrets, and ducks. Kevin Krajcir was a big help. He worked with the more experienced birders to sort out the smaller shorebirds. I worked with the newer birders to help them spot and identify the larger, easier to see species. They were so excited to see new species and learn about Bald Knob's excellent shorebirds. With Megan Foll's additions to the checklist of her sightings of several common species we had overlooked, the group had a final total of 26 species. Great teamwork! Nothing new or uncommon. But, we all really enjoyed a rare visit to Bald Knob in August without pouring sweat in extreme heat. Nice!Karen Holliday ASCA field trip coordinator
A quick update. The jaeger has not been relocated since its initial sighting on the evening of Aug 20 at Bald Knob NWR in White County. Several folks have been and looked for it with no success.So far, only a limited sighting of a single Wood Stork and Tricolored Heron, both over a week ago. No sightings of a Roseatte Spoonbill yet. But the pelicans have (finally) arrived.Karen Holliday is leading a field trip through the refuge tomorrow. If interested, meet at 8:30a at the Admin Bldg on Coal Chute or look for the long line of cars. This time of year, anything can show up at this location.Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 8/21/25 2:51 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Long-tailed Jaeger Report Hi folks. A report with documentary photos of an adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER was submitted to the Arkansas Bird Records Committee and unanimously approved today.The bird was seen at Bald Knob NWR yesterday evening in one of the last two "wet" cells on Huntsman Rd (which we refer to as Cells 4 and 5). See the link below for this location.This is the first White County record. Several birders were at the refuge this morning but did not report seeing it. All other records (just three) are from Millwood Lake in Hempstead County, with the most recent report from Sept 2000. Karen Holliday is leading a field trip through the refuge this Saturday, Aug 23, on behalf of the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas. The trip is free and open to the public. Click here for information on this hotspot: https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L218758Patty McLean Conway AR
Date: 8/22/25 10:12 am From: Todd Ballinger <todd.ballinger...> Subject: Re: US big year video
Very entertaining. Not the stereotypical birders, for sure! Thanks for
sharing it.
On Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 6:16 PM Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> wrote:
> Very Good. Thanks for this post.
>
> Allan Mueller
>
> On Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 2:40 PM Joseph Neal <
> <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>> Thanks Cindy. Get ready for 2 hours of funny and interesting!
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...>
>> on behalf of CK Franklin <meshoppen...>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, August 21, 2025 7:16 AM
>> *To:* <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
>> *Subject:* US big year video
>>
>> Guys,
>>
>> We do not normally recommend YouTube content. We do make exceptions from
>> time to time. This video is well worth your time. Bill B & I watched it
>> last night. We were amused, entertained, and recommend this documentary to
>> anyone who birds. Verbal reactions to situations were not deleted. We've
>> all been there.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-wAqplQAo >>
>> Cindy F
>> Pulaski County
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
>
> --
> Allan Mueller (It)
> 20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
> Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
> 501-339-8071
> *BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
> Pura Vida
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
--
Todd Ballinger, MA, NBCT
English 11/AP English Language and Composition
Fayetteville High School
Date: 8/21/25 4:16 pm From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> Subject: Re: US big year video
Very Good. Thanks for this post.
Allan Mueller
On Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 2:40 PM Joseph Neal <
<0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Thanks Cindy. Get ready for 2 hours of funny and interesting!
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...>
> on behalf of CK Franklin <meshoppen...>
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 21, 2025 7:16 AM
> *To:* <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
> *Subject:* US big year video
>
> Guys,
>
> We do not normally recommend YouTube content. We do make exceptions from
> time to time. This video is well worth your time. Bill B & I watched it
> last night. We were amused, entertained, and recommend this documentary to
> anyone who birds. Verbal reactions to situations were not deleted. We've
> all been there.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-wAqplQAo >
> Cindy F
> Pulaski County
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
501-339-8071
*BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
Here is Charles Mills' photo from Millwood Lake, 12 Oct 1992. https://ebird.org/checklist/S98048155 And Kenny Nichols's from the same site, 12 Sep 1997.https://ebird.org/checklist/S32391133 These appear to be the only two photos from Arkansas.Kannan On Thursday 21 August, 2025 at 04:24:48 pm GMT-5, Patty McLean <plm108...> wrote:
No, at least not yet.
Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Date: 8/21/25 3:28 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Long-tailed Jaeger Report
Patty, was there an eBird submission with a photo? If so, can you please post the link?
On Thursday 21 August, 2025 at 02:51:47 pm GMT-5, Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Hi folks. A report with documentary photos of an adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER was submitted to the Arkansas Bird Records Committee and unanimously approved today.
The bird was seen at Bald Knob NWR yesterday evening in one of the last two "wet" cells on Huntsman Rd (which we refer to as Cells 4 and 5). See the link below for this location.
This is the first White County record. Several birders were at the refuge this morning but did not report seeing it.
All other records (just three) are from Millwood Lake in Hempstead County, with the most recent report from Sept 2000.
Karen Holliday is leading a field trip through the refuge this Saturday, Aug 23, on behalf of the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas. The trip is free and open to the public. Click here for information on this hotspot: https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L218758 Patty McLean Conway AR
No eBird report, at least not yet. Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Date: 8/21/25 3:28 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Long-tailed Jaeger Report
Patty, was there an eBird submission with a photo? If so, can you please post the link?
On Thursday 21 August, 2025 at 02:51:47 pm GMT-5, Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Hi folks. A report with documentary photos of an adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER was submitted to the Arkansas Bird Records Committee and unanimously approved today.The bird was seen at Bald Knob NWR yesterday evening in one of the last two "wet" cells on Huntsman Rd (which we refer to as Cells 4 and 5). See the link below for this location.This is the first White County record. Several birders were at the refuge this morning but did not report seeing it. All other records (just three) are from Millwood Lake in Hempstead County, with the most recent report from Sept 2000. Karen Holliday is leading a field trip through the refuge this Saturday, Aug 23, on behalf of the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas. The trip is free and open to the public. Click here for information on this hotspot: https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L218758Patty McLean Conway AR
Patty, was there an eBird submission with a photo? If so, can you please post the link?
On Thursday 21 August, 2025 at 02:51:47 pm GMT-5, Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Hi folks. A report with documentary photos of an adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER was submitted to the Arkansas Bird Records Committee and unanimously approved today.
The bird was seen at Bald Knob NWR yesterday evening in one of the last two "wet" cells on Huntsman Rd (which we refer to as Cells 4 and 5). See the link below for this location.
This is the first White County record. Several birders were at the refuge this morning but did not report seeing it.
All other records (just three) are from Millwood Lake in Hempstead County, with the most recent report from Sept 2000.
Karen Holliday is leading a field trip through the refuge this Saturday, Aug 23, on behalf of the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas. The trip is free and open to the public. Click here for information on this hotspot: https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L218758 Patty McLean Conway AR
Hi folks. A report with documentary photos of an adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER was submitted to the Arkansas Bird Records Committee and unanimously approved today.The bird was seen at Bald Knob NWR yesterday evening in one of the last two "wet" cells on Huntsman Rd (which we refer to as Cells 4 and 5). See the link below for this location.This is the first White County record. Several birders were at the refuge this morning but did not report seeing it. All other records (just three) are from Millwood Lake in Hempstead County, with the most recent report from Sept 2000. Karen Holliday is leading a field trip through the refuge this Saturday, Aug 23, on behalf of the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas. The trip is free and open to the public. Click here for information on this hotspot: https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L218758Patty McLean Conway AR
Date: 8/21/25 12:40 pm From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: US big year video
Thanks Cindy. Get ready for 2 hours of funny and interesting!
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of CK Franklin <meshoppen...>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2025 7:16 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: US big year video
Guys,
We do not normally recommend YouTube content. We do make exceptions from time to time. This video is well worth your time. Bill B & I watched it last night. We were amused, entertained, and recommend this documentary to anyone who birds. Verbal reactions to situations were not deleted. We've all been there.
Date: 8/21/25 7:10 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Egret roost at Alma Wastewater
August 20 was circled on my calendar for a shorebird trip to Arkansas River Valley. Weather Underground prediction was for a good rain on the 19th. As many of you well know, August rain should equal shorebird fallout. It has in many previous Augusts.
You dream about these things on hot August nights. It makes 98 F livable.
So the rain came in to Northwest Arkansas City, as predicted on evening of 19th, over 2 inches in some places. Deep inside reptilian sections of my brain I could just hear WIT IT WIT IT WIT IT from all those southbound Upland Sandpiper flocks.
From memory of shorebird expeditions past, I could see those tight, flocks of low-flying Buff-breasted Sandpipers weaving across WestArk Sod, followed by even bigger flocks of Pectoral Sandpipers.
Sadly, friends, it wasnt to be. No flocks of anything, not even European Starlings.
First hint came on Westville Road that runs along west side of WestArk Sod. All dust just where pavement ends -unpaved begins. No flooded ditches. Soybeans brown coated in good ole river valley dust. Distant pickup coming from Gun Club Road spreading dust tornadoes.
I didnt hear and Indigo Buntings, no Dickcissels, and for sure no WIT IT WIT WIT IT flight calls of migrating Upland Sandpipers. It was a while before I even saw a Killdeer even though WestArk Sod was running its sprinklers.
Finally one sod mower apparently flushed one Upland Sandpiper. What a relief! In a while I picked up 2 more in flight. But that was it for the sod farm.
Overall, Dogdays of August won.David Oakley was riding shotgun. He specializes in the Odonata. Didnt see much to report, either.
A quick trip over to Alma Wastewater Treatment Facility, plus adjoining King Ranch and roads, did yield a few more migrants: Spotted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper.
Still lots of young Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks. Some are adult size now.
Biggest surprise was at least 112 Great Egrets at Alma Wastewater. According to Cornells Birds of the World, Following breeding, individuals wander well outside their typical breeding range, occurring north to s. Canada -- including w. British Columbia, se. Alberta, Quebec, and Newfoundland Northward dispersal of juveniles occurs JunOct, with peak numbers in Aug and Sep; status of adults in these dispersals is unknown. These same birds move to wintering grounds SepDec.
Great Egret is the species killed almost to extinction more than a century ago. Its near demise spurred early day conservation efforts. I gave thanks for all the recovery work. Some photos of their descendants at Alma Wastewater are here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S268469496
Date: 8/21/25 5:16 am From: CK Franklin <meshoppen...> Subject: US big year video
Guys,
We do not normally recommend YouTube content. We do make exceptions from time to time. This video is well worth your time. Bill B & I watched it last night. We were amused, entertained, and recommend this documentary to anyone who birds. Verbal reactions to situations were not deleted. We've all been there.
Date: 8/20/25 6:49 am From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - Aug. 19
The bird survey started off yesterday mostly cloudy, calm, and mild but soon turned partly cloudy and hot, with a light wind. 60 species were found. Best highlight was an immature Roseate Spoonbill with White Ibis' in unit 31 where we have a nice mudflat area right now. Unit 31 is south of Bittern Lake and is best accessed through unit 17 from Black Land road. Also, most of the shorebirds were from this location including a nice Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Here is my list for yesterday:
Date: 8/18/25 11:59 am From: Kelly Chitwood <kellyannchitwood...> Subject: Union County Birds at Lock 8 and Calion Lake
For the past couple of weeks, approximately 800-1200 birds have been roosting in the cypress brake on the right side of the levee road on the way to the dam. Visibility is difficult through the trees, but I put a green flag around a telephone pole and near the shoreline at a small opening along the muddy water. Watch out for swamp puppies and danger noodles, bring insect repellent, a canon for the horse and deer flies, and wear shoes that protect your feet from pretty much everything that crawls.
It’s a mixed flock of Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork and Roseate Spoonbill. If you arrive around 6:30 PM and bring a lawn chair, many of them can be seen overhead as they come in to roost. It’s really neat to have a Wood Stork flyover, as they are pretty cool to observe! So far I’ve not regretted looking up. 😂 all birds are in varying stages of molt which is helpful for identification.
There are a few peeps at Lock 8 and at the presently very low Calion Lake too. We also saw 1 Osprey and 1 Adult Bald Eagle.
In response to Ragupathys post about Roxies connection to Arkansas, I literally just finished the book The Feather Detective by Chris Sweeney today. It was a fascinating look at the life of a stalwart woman who didnt let adversity and bias keep her down. The world, not just the country, owes her memory a great debt for her work in bird strikes with aircraft. The best book Ive read this year.
Date: 8/16/25 6:38 pm From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: The first forensic ornithologist
Our Jeff Short (UARK Alum, one of Doug James's graduate students) was the first to get Rosie a continuing USAF contract to identify bird strike remains. "It paid for her little Datsun sports car she drove to work", he says. What a great life led.
Roxie Laybourne, the first forensic ornithologist
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Roxie Laybourne, the first forensic ornithologist
A new biography probes the life of a taxidermist turned avian investigator
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Date: 8/16/25 10:32 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Wood Stork at BKNWR
Several folks (us, Donna Stirrup and Steve Warmack) have been chasing a juvenile Wood Stork at Bald Knob NWR. It was last seen a few minutes ago in a tree with several Great Egrets along the north end of the South Agri Fields. Here's information about this specific Bald Knob NWR sub-location. https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L44651271Also present in Cells 4 and 5 of the Central Agri Fields are several American Avocets, ducks and many shotebirds and waders. Cell 4 is where a Wood Stork WAS seen earlier this morning. Info on these fields: https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L43931096Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Date: 8/14/25 7:53 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - Aug. 13
It was mostly overcast, calm, and warm with a little rain early on the bird survey yesterday. 61 species were found. A few migrants are showing up now. Both species of gallinules have numerous second broods that have hatched out. I observed a small black downy Purple Gallinule chick following an adult sized immature bird from the first brood and was being fed by it. I have observed this behavior with Common Gallinules but I think this is the first time I have seen Purple's doing it. There are still four active Neotropic Cormorant nests and a few active Anhinga nests on Pintail Lake but most of the heron and egret young have fledged. Here is my list from yesterday:
Date: 8/14/25 6:00 pm From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: News of Members
Well, I ACCIDENTALLY sent this to all...so maybe we'll just send the photos. Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 8/14/25 7:58 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ctboyles...>, <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: RE: News of Members Michael will send 2 photos for this one. THIRD TIME'S A CHARMMichael Linz and Patty McLean traveled to Wisconsin hoping to see the Kelp Gull that's been hanging out at the Port of Milwaukee. It took three visits to the hotspot before they found the gull, resting atop its "regular" storage building. During their trip they also picked up European Goldfinch and joined some of Michael's German family for homemade rouladen, a first for Patty. The Kelp Gull is U.S. bird #700 for Michael and #734 for Patty. -------- Original message --------From: Dottie Boyles <ctboyles...> Date: 8/14/25 6:52 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: News of Members
Dear Arkansas Audubon Society members:If you have anything you'd like to contribute to the AAS News of Members section for the upcoming Arkansas Birds fall newsletter, please send to me (off list) by Aug 25th.
for those of you who don't already know, this will be my last News of Members article to put together. After 11 years, I feel it is time to step down and let someone else to take the reins. It's not a hard section to do, but helps contribute to the AAS Newsletter. Please consider helping AAS and the Arkansas Birds Newsletter out.
In the meantime, thank you for any contributions to this edition.
Date: 8/14/25 5:59 pm From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: News of Members
Michael will send 2 photos for this one. THIRD TIME'S A CHARMMichael Linz and Patty McLean traveled to Wisconsin hoping to see the Kelp Gull that's been hanging out at the Port of Milwaukee. It took three visits to the hotspot before they found the gull, resting atop its "regular" storage building. During their trip they also picked up European Goldfinch and joined some of Michael's German family for homemade rouladen, a first for Patty. The Kelp Gull is U.S. bird #700 for Michael and #734 for Patty.
-------- Original message --------From: Dottie Boyles <ctboyles...> Date: 8/14/25 6:52 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: News of Members
Dear Arkansas Audubon Society members:If you have anything you'd like to contribute to the AAS News of Members section for the upcoming Arkansas Birds fall newsletter, please send to me (off list) by Aug 25th.
for those of you who don't already know, this will be my last News of Members article to put together. After 11 years, I feel it is time to step down and let someone else to take the reins. It's not a hard section to do, but helps contribute to the AAS Newsletter. Please consider helping AAS and the Arkansas Birds Newsletter out.
In the meantime, thank you for any contributions to this edition.
Date: 8/14/25 4:53 pm From: Dottie Boyles <ctboyles...> Subject: News of Members
Dear Arkansas Audubon Society members:
If you have anything you'd like to contribute to the AAS News of Members section for the upcoming _Arkansas Birds _fall newsletter, please send to me (off list) by Aug 25th.
for those of you who don't already know, this will be my last News of Members article to put together. After 11 years, I feel it is time to step down and let someone else to take the reins. It's not a hard section to do, but helps contribute to the AAS Newsletter. Please consider helping AAS and the _Arkansas Birds_ Newsletter out.
In the meantime, thank you for any contributions to this edition.
Thank you, Dottie Boyles AAS News of Members Editor
...by creating Bird-Friendly Gardens! This is a great story and hopefully you'll enjoy it too.I recently met several Faulkner County Master Gardeners who have been hard at work designing and building a bird-friendly garden around the Faulkner County Museum in Conway. I wanted to see if we could set up a garden tour during the upcoming AAS Fall Conference which will be held in Conway.They showed us around the site and told us about several other public gardens they've worked on to get the AAS Bird-Friendly Gardens gold certification -- and have displayed their signage proudly. In addition, they have worked with several local homeowners to get this same certification for them.. So, yes, folks will have the chance to take a special tour of this location during the AAS meeting and get tips on design and care for native plants plus answer questions to help establish a Bird-Friendly Garden in their own yard or place of business. The City of Conway iis proud of the work these gardeners ar
e doing and have created this short video to highlight this success story. https://youtu.be/HsA7ADv5Sug?feature=sharedSo stay tuned for this special fall tour, and if you visit one of their gardens, please thank them for their dedication to this important issue. They love what they're doing to make more gardens bird-friendly.In the meantime, here's information on the AAS Bird-Friendly Certification Program for yards, businesses and places of worship. https://arbirds.org/BFA/Patty McLean Conway AR
The Birding In and Around Fort Smith group is heading west this Saturday 8/16 to the Oklahoma refuge. Plans are to meet at Sequoyah at 7:00. I will be meeting a person or two at the UAFS main parking lot here in Fort Smith at 6:15, in front of the greenhouse. Let me know if you need a ride or want to caravan.
Date: 8/11/25 6:42 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Bald Knob NWR Shorebirds
Bald knob is huge, with many interesting places to find birds. Across from the grain bins at the corner of Coal Chute and Huntsman Rd, there are several fields that are sometimes growing rice and sometimes left for ducks, shorebirds and waders. To keep it simple, they are numbered 1-5, each separated by small levies. These are usually the best places to look for shorebirds and waders. The first cell (#1) is directly across from the grain bins and the rest are numbered sequentially to the west, with 4 and 5 running north, allI ending at Overflow Creek. This area is part of the larger Central Ag Fields, which serves as an eBird sub-location to help birders have a better idea of where to search. This includes all the agricultural fields in this broader area, including the fields along Ditch 13 (the road -- and the ditch -- along the eastern edge of the refuge). Birch Pond is south of Huntsman Rd and runs along Overflow Creek. Daniel mentioned the South 40, which is aka the South Ag Fields. These fields are at the southern end of the refuge and runs along the edge of the Little Red River. Here's more information on this hotspot with maps and links to the specific sub-locations. https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L218758And a link to the Central Ag Fields sub-location. https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L43931096Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: "DUNN, JANE" <DUNNJ...> Date: 8/11/25 7:58 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Bald Knob NWR Shorebirds
Are there any maps showing the named places listed here?
Jane
Get Outlook for iOS
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Daniel Denman <denmanster...>
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2025 12:08:31 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Bald Knob NWR Shorebirds
You don't often get email from <denmanster...>
Learn why this is important
Shorebird Migration appears to be underway at Bald Knob NWR. So far there have been quite a few different species of Shorebirds: Black Neck Stilt, Willet, Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Wilson's Phalarope, Dunlin, Long Billed Dowicher, Yellow
Crowned and Black Crowned Night Heron at dusk, Egrets, Herons, Sandpipers and other little Peeps galore.
Cells 4 and 5 seem to be the current hot spots for birding. Other areas around Bald Knob NWR to visit: South Coal Chute Road, the fields East of South Ditch 13 Rd, Birch Pond and the South Forty. Also, just North of Bald Knob NWR there have
been Grasshopper Sparrows along Albert Hill Road.
If you plan to visit, come early morning or later afternoon/evening. I like watching the sunsets and evening flyway. As it has been hot as of late, be sure to bring plenty of water!
There is a Central Arkansas Audubon field trip to Bald Knob NWR in a couple weeks. Hopefully we have Terns, Woodstorks, and maybe (if we are lucky) a Rosette Spoonbill by the field trip.
Date: 8/11/25 5:58 am From: DUNN, JANE <DUNNJ...> Subject: Re: Bald Knob NWR Shorebirds
Are there any maps showing the named places listed here?
Jane
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Daniel Denman <denmanster...>
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2025 12:08:31 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Bald Knob NWR Shorebirds
You don't often get email from <denmanster...> Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification> Shorebird Migration appears to be underway at Bald Knob NWR. So far there have been quite a few different species of Shorebirds: Black Neck Stilt, Willet, Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Wilson's Phalarope, Dunlin, Long Billed Dowicher, Yellow Crowned and Black Crowned Night Heron at dusk, Egrets, Herons, Sandpipers and other little Peeps galore.
Cells 4 and 5 seem to be the current hot spots for birding. Other areas around Bald Knob NWR to visit: South Coal Chute Road, the fields East of South Ditch 13 Rd, Birch Pond and the South Forty. Also, just North of Bald Knob NWR there have been Grasshopper Sparrows along Albert Hill Road.
If you plan to visit, come early morning or later afternoon/evening. I like watching the sunsets and evening flyway. As it has been hot as of late, be sure to bring plenty of water!
There is a Central Arkansas Audubon field trip to Bald Knob NWR in a couple weeks. Hopefully we have Terns, Woodstorks, and maybe (if we are lucky) a Rosette Spoonbill by the field trip.
Date: 8/10/25 10:09 pm From: Daniel Denman <denmanster...> Subject: Bald Knob NWR Shorebirds
Shorebird Migration appears to be underway at Bald Knob NWR. So far there have been quite a few different species of Shorebirds: Black Neck Stilt, Willet, Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Wilson's Phalarope, Dunlin, Long Billed Dowicher, Yellow Crowned and Black Crowned Night Heron at dusk, Egrets, Herons, Sandpipers and other little Peeps galore.
Cells 4 and 5 seem to be the current hot spots for birding. Other areas around Bald Knob NWR to visit: South Coal Chute Road, the fields East of South Ditch 13 Rd, Birch Pond and the South Forty. Also, just North of Bald Knob NWR there have been Grasshopper Sparrows along Albert Hill Road.
If you plan to visit, come early morning or later afternoon/evening. I like watching the sunsets and evening flyway. As it has been hot as of late, be sure to bring plenty of water!
There is a Central Arkansas Audubon field trip to Bald Knob NWR in a couple weeks. Hopefully we have Terns, Woodstorks, and maybe (if we are lucky) a Rosette Spoonbill by the field trip.
Date: 8/8/25 4:19 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: White-bellied Barn Swallow
A leucistic squirrel sometimes visits us. It is very pretty. Only the color gray is missing, making the normally gristled area look tan. Overall the squirrel has more contrast than usual, being tan and white.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 02:34:43 PM CDT, Adam Schaffer <000000135bd342dd-dmarc-request...> wrote:
The one I saw did not look lecuistic. Its colors were all very bright. It really seemed to match the picture of Hirundo rustica rustica that I saw. I just don’t know how likely that is, but it seemed to match to me. I mean we all know how easy it is to miss field marks on a single swallow in a feeding flock, but it stood out to be sure.
Adam SchafferBentonville
On Aug 5, 2025, at :34 PM, Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> wrote:
I have seen leucistic animals of multiple species, perhaps this is an example.
On Monday, July 28, 2025 at 02:08:22 PM CDT, Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> wrote:
This morning while searching in vain for a lost lens cap at Charlie Craig, I noticed an adult Barn Swallow in excellent plumage with a gleaming white underparts. It really stood out from the other swallows. I also saw one last spring, and IIRC, Robert Langston also reported onefrom Charlie Craig as well. I've seen young Barn Swallows that look whitish, but this was definitely and adult with a deeply forked tail and underparts sa white as a Tree Swallow's. It also had a reddish throat. I cannot say for certain if it had the blue breast-band. I think it did, but I did not note it.
I doubt it was Hirundo rustica rustica, but it sure looked like one. What is a more plausible explanation as to what type of Barn Swallow this might be?
Unfortunately, my camera battery died, so no photographs.
Date: 8/8/25 8:41 am From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: In Memoriam: Mary Yarbrough
Mary Suffudy Yarbrough died in Fort Smith on August 4, 2025. She was born in Ranger, Texas, on December 2, 1946 to Scott and Dorothy Griffith Suffudy. In 1950 the family moved to Booneville, Arkansas, where Mary grew up. After graduating from Booneville High School, she attended Stephens College, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree before moving to New York where she worked as an editor and publisher of illustrated books.
Her career in publishing began at Chanticleer Press as Associate Editor of the first editions of the Audubon Society Field Guides to North American Birds, which appeared on The New York Times Best Seller List for more than a year and which, through several editions, remain in print today. She subsequently devised and developed a series of wildlife habitat books that received the New York Academy of Sciences Award for Excellence and were translated into six languages.
After a decade at Chanticleer, Mary joined Watson-Guptill Publications, the book division of Billboard Publications, as Acquisitions Editor of Art and Design. She was later appointed Editorial Director and Publisher with responsibility for all company imprints covering areas of art, interior and graphic design, architecture, photography, music, and theater.
In 2001 Mary returned to Arkansas with her husband Mike Jackson, who died in 2006. In 2016, in Fort Smith, she married Jerry Yarbrough with whom she lived lovingly and joyfully until his death in January 2025. Mary is survived by her stepdaughter Susan Jackson Rodgers of Corvallis, Oregon, and by many wonderful, deeply cherished friends. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.https://www.swtimes.com/obituaries/park1249687
I just had an adult female and her female young eating some Pokeweed. I saw this post yesterday and today I saw it myself for the first time. It was funny watching the young one trying to land on it.
On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM, Deena Raihl <[<deltamoon45...>](mailto:On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM, Deena Raihl <<a href=)> wrote:
> Converting 6,000 acres of agricultural land to industrial commercial is sad for the birds, pollinators, wildlife and the people of Arkansas. Judge Doug Erwin needs to hear from us regarding hos pending approval of the project. He alone makes the decision for the tax abatement that the developer (Invenergy) is requesting.
> The recent public hearing in Lonoke County about the proposed $600 million solar farm in Keo brought together nearly 100 community members eager to discuss this ambitious project. Spanning 6,000 acres, the solar farm aims to generate enough clean energy for around 70,000 homes and create hundreds of temporary jobs during construction. With strong local support and plans for sustainable practices, this initiative is a significant step toward a greener future for Arkansas! 🌞 #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #CommunityEngagement
>
> Get [Outlook for Android](https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg)
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Converting 6,000 acres of agricultural land to industrial commercial is sad for the birds, pollinators, wildlife and the people of Arkansas. Judge Doug Erwin needs to hear from us regarding hos pending approval of the project. He alone makes the decision for the tax abatement that the developer (Invenergy) is requesting.
The recent public hearing in Lonoke County about the proposed $600 million solar farm in Keo brought together nearly 100 community members eager to discuss this ambitious project. Spanning 6,000 acres, the solar farm aims to generate enough clean energy for around 70,000 homes and create hundreds of temporary jobs during construction. With strong local support and plans for sustainable practices, this initiative is a significant step toward a greener future for Arkansas! 🌞 #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #CommunityEngagement
Date: 8/7/25 12:12 pm From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Reply from Senator Boozman
For what it's worth.....---------------
Thank you for contacting my office to support wildlife and environmental conservation programs regarding birds. It is good to hear from you.
I agree that wildlife protection for birds, and their habitats, must be a consideration when debating environmental policies. Arkansas is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including bald eagles and several migratory bird species. Birding and other wildlife watching recreations are popular year-round tourist attractions in Arkansas. As a citizen of the Natural State, I understand the need to support and create policies that protect these animals and natural resources for generations to come. As a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, I will keep your thoughts in mind when relevant legislation on these issues is considered in the U.S. Senate.
Again, thank you for contacting me to share your views. Please visit www.boozman.senate.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter, request assistance with a federal agency, or learn more about my efforts on behalf of the people of Arkansas. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
Date: 8/7/25 11:43 am From: Joe Tucker <000001df0ca37a3b-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Tri-collored Heron at Bald Knob NWR
Glenn Wyatt and I were up there all this (Thursday) morning and we looked in all the normal and a few unusual places and no luck finding/seeing/ hearing the Tricolored Heron.
On Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 04:39:30 AM CDT, Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------From: Karen HollidaySubject: Re: Tri-collored Heron at Bald Knob NWR
Actually I found the Tricolored Heron and pointed it out to Lynn Christie who was birding with me. Cindy and Bill then caught up with us along with other birders which we got all of them on the Tricolored Heron. Karen Holliday
-------- Original message --------Patty McLean Date: 8/6/25To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Tricollored Heron at Bald Knob
So I just want to clarify that as far as I know, the Tricolored has only been seen on Sunday (the day Cindy called me) but I would hope it's still out there. From what I have heard from folks, it was lasPatty From: Patty McLean <plm108...>
Sent: Sunday, August 3, 2025 10:12 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Tricollored Heron at Bald Knob NWR Just had a call from Cindy Franklin that there's a Tricolored Heron working the water edges near the semi-flooded back cell off Huntsman Rd. She and Bill (the "hubs") found it while driving the unnamed road running west off Coal Chute before reaching the silos.
Patty McLean
Date: 8/7/25 5:13 am From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: ASCA August Meeting - Aug 14th at 7 PM - American Kestrel research with Ty Sharrow
Ty received $826 from the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust last spring for this research.
On Thursday 7 August, 2025 at 02:39:40 am GMT-5, Kevin Krajcir <kjkrajcir...> wrote:
Good evening!
Please join the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas on Thursday August 14th at 7 PM to hear from Ty Sharrow about nest box use of American Kestrels and their effects on agricultural pests.
Ty conducted research on American Kestrels in the row-crop agricultural landscape of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley in northeast Arkansas. His work focused on how nest box characteristics and surrounding habitat features influence kestrel nest box use for both nesting and winter roosting, as well as factors affecting nest success. He also investigated how the presence of nesting kestrels impacts local rodent, bird, and insect communities, exploring their role in regulating agricultural pest species.
Ty Sharrow is originally from northeast Pennsylvania and received his bachelor's in Wildlife Biology from Keystone College in 2021 and has worked on several bird related field projects across the US. He went on to study at Arkansas State University where he earned his master's in Biology this past spring. Ty now works at Duck Unlimited's headquarters in Memphis as a conservation science assistant.
Date: 8/7/25 12:51 am From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: Re: Pileated Woodpecker
For those of you who don't know, Salal is a fruit bearing plant that grows in the coastal mountains of the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Oregon and my mom's parents lived near Yachats. My grandmother made Salal berry jelly that was delicious!
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 2:19:19 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: Pileated Woodpecker
"4 scats contained seeds, some of which were either salal (Gaultheria shallon) or red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium) (Raley and Aubry 2006)." --From Birds of the World.
On Wednesday 6 August, 2025 at 10:58:03 am GMT-5, JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> wrote:
I've witnessed them doing the same thing here. :-)
Janine Perlman
Alexander Mt., Saline Co.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 09:34:29 AM CDT, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
The Birds of the World account on Pileated Woodpecker does not mention Pokeweed in its diet.
On Wednesday 6 August, 2025 at 12:34:35 am GMT-5, Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> wrote:
Just a few minutes ago had a male Pileated Woodpecker land in a Pokeweed bush about 5 feet from our widow. Ate his fill of pokeberries and moved on.
Very cool.
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
501-339-8071
BLOG birdsnonsense.blogspot.com<http://birdsnonsense.blogspot.com/> Pura Vida
Date: 8/6/25 9:49 pm From: Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> Subject: Tri-collored Heron at Bald Knob NWR
-------- Original message --------From: Karen HollidaySubject: Re: Tri-collored Heron at Bald Knob NWR Actually I found the Tricolored Heron and pointed it out to Lynn Christie who was birding with me. Cindy and Bill then caught up with us along with other birders which we got all of them on the Tricolored Heron. Karen Holliday -------- Original message --------Patty McLean Date: 8/6/25To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Tricollored Heron at Bald Knob
So I just want to clarify that as far as I know, the Tricolored has only been seen on Sunday (the day Cindy called me) but I would hope it's still out there. From what I have heard from folks, it was las
Patty
From: Patty McLean <plm108...>
Sent: Sunday, August 3, 2025 10:12 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Tricollored Heron at Bald Knob NWR
Just had a call from Cindy Franklin that there's a Tricolored Heron working the water edges near the semi-flooded back cell off Huntsman Rd. She and Bill (the "hubs") found it while driving the unnamed road running west off Coal Chute before
reaching the silos.
Date: 8/6/25 4:38 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - Aug. 6
It was mostly clear, calm, and very hot on the bird survey today. 59 species were found. About half way through the survey I ran into Jim Bradford (OK) and he joined me for the remainder of the survey. I searched for Passerines early and for Wood Storks in unit 31 which is slowly going dry and covered in waders. But no luck on the storks. By the time I got over to the big reservoirs it was mid morning and it was getting very hot and the heat waves were bad. Thus the reason for low numbers of gallinules this week. Numerous broods of newly hatched gallinules of both species seen today which probably represents their second broods of the year. Saw a Black-bellied whistling Duck with newly hatched young. Here is my list for today:
Date: 8/6/25 2:41 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: White-bellied Barn Swallow
H. R, rustiva has an unbroken breast band. I was not sure if the bird in question did, and said, but I think so. On furthrt reflection I’m fairly sure it did nilt. I was comparing the bird with other other barn swallows and I think if its breast band was complete and wide v.s.
narrow broken, it would have been noticeable. The only part that was missing pigment was the breast and belly below the broken breast band. Yes I know the blue is structural. The birds throat was normally colored.
It is not uncommon for a pigment problem to only occur on a certain part of the bird. Look at Eastern and Spotted Towhees, The spotted lacks pigment in areas the Eastern does not.
I think we have a bias toward spectral colors. I know I do. Who would deny the beauty of a male Painted Bunting, but there is also beauty in the wing feathers of a Long-billed Dowitcher, where individual feathers show black and orange and white. Getting those pigment granules to the right places and in the proper numbers on a dowitcher’s wing feathers is an amazing thing. I read a paper once discussing how the leopard got its spots, R. Kipling was not an author, I remember nothing from that paper whatsoever . I suppose the same method could also apply to a Dowitcher’s wings.
Ian MacGregor Bella Vista
On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM, Adam Schaffer <[<000000135bd342dd-dmarc-request...>](mailto:On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM, Adam Schaffer <<a href=)> wrote:
> The one I saw did not look lecuistic. Its colors were all very bright. It really seemed to match the picture of Hirundo rustica rustica that I saw. I just don’t know how likely that is, but it seemed to match to me. I mean we all know how easy it is to miss field marks on a single swallow in a feeding flock, but it stood out to be sure.
>
> Adam Schaffer
> Bentonville
>
>> On Aug 5, 2025, at :34 PM, Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>>
>
>>
>>
>> I have seen leucistic animals of multiple species, perhaps this is an example.
>>
>> On Monday, July 28, 2025 at 02:08:22 PM CDT, Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> This morning while searching in vain for a lost lens cap at Charlie Craig, I noticed an adult Barn Swallow in excellent plumage with a gleaming white underparts. It really stood out from the other swallows. I also saw one last spring, and IIRC, Robert Langston also reported one
>> from Charlie Craig as well. I've seen young Barn Swallows that look whitish, but this was definitely and adult with a deeply forked tail and underparts sa white as a Tree Swallow's. It also had a reddish throat. I cannot say for certain if it had the blue breast-band. I think it did, but I did not note it.
>>
>> I doubt it was Hirundo rustica rustica, but it sure looked like one. What is a more plausible explanation as to what type of Barn Swallow this might be?
>>
>> Unfortunately, my camera battery died, so no photographs.
>>
>> Ian MacGregort
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
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>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
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"4 scats contained seeds, some of which were either salal (Gaultheria shallon) or red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium) (Raley and Aubry 2006)." --From Birds of the World.
On Wednesday 6 August, 2025 at 10:58:03 am GMT-5, JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> wrote:
I've witnessed them doing the same thing here. :-)
Janine PerlmanAlexander Mt., Saline Co.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 09:34:29 AM CDT, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Allan-- Kim Smith and Cecilia Riley authored this wonderful piece on birds eating pokeweed berries in Arkansas. It's interesting that they did not mention Pileated Woodpecker as one of the visitors. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9581&context=wilson_bulletin The Birds of the World account on Pileated Woodpecker does not mention Pokeweed in its diet.
On Wednesday 6 August, 2025 at 12:34:35 am GMT-5, Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> wrote:
Just a few minutes ago had a male Pileated Woodpecker land in a Pokeweed bush about 5 feet from our widow. Ate his fill of pokeberries and moved on.
Very cool.
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, ARHome of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm501-339-8071BLOG birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
Date: 8/6/25 9:49 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Pileated Woodpecker
I have had the same observation in my yard. Pokeweed has 29 Bird Users, along with the American Beautyberry 38 Bird Users. Those without these plants in their yard are missing out on food for the Pileated Woodpecker and many other species that eat fruits. You can get buy these at the Native Plant sale or online. The Pokeweed needs lots of sun, dies back in the winter but comes up from the roots in spring. The Beautyberry is a perennial shrub that has survived our single digit temperatures in the winter and is drought resistant. With the value of these and other native plants for birds and other wildlife, why would you have your yard filled with exotics like Boxwood and pay people to trim them up to look like a ball on a Poodle’s tail? It is time that native plants that provide habitat for wildlife to become a status symbol.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
From: JANINE PERLMAN
Sent: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 10:57 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: Pileated Woodpecker
I've witnessed them doing the same thing here. :-)
Janine Perlman
Alexander Mt., Saline Co.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 09:34:29 AM CDT, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
I've witnessed them doing the same thing here. :-)
Janine PerlmanAlexander Mt., Saline Co.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 09:34:29 AM CDT, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Allan-- Kim Smith and Cecilia Riley authored this wonderful piece on birds eating pokeweed berries in Arkansas. It's interesting that they did not mention Pileated Woodpecker as one of the visitors. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9581&context=wilson_bulletin The Birds of the World account on Pileated Woodpecker does not mention Pokeweed in its diet.
On Wednesday 6 August, 2025 at 12:34:35 am GMT-5, Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> wrote:
Just a few minutes ago had a male Pileated Woodpecker land in a Pokeweed bush about 5 feet from our widow. Ate his fill of pokeberries and moved on.
Very cool.
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, ARHome of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm501-339-8071BLOG birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
Date: 8/6/25 8:55 am From: Adam Schaffer <000000135bd342dd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: White-bellied Barn Swallow
The one I saw did not look lecuistic. Its colors were all very bright. It really seemed to match the picture of Hirundo rustica rustica that I saw. I just don’t know how likely that is, but it seemed to match to me. I mean we all know how easy it is to miss field marks on a single swallow in a feeding flock, but it stood out to be sure.
Adam Schaffer
Bentonville
> On Aug 5, 2025, at :34 PM, Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> I have seen leucistic animals of multiple species, perhaps this is an example.
>
> On Monday, July 28, 2025 at 02:08:22 PM CDT, Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> This morning while searching in vain for a lost lens cap at Charlie Craig, I noticed an adult Barn Swallow in excellent plumage with a gleaming white underparts. It really stood out from the other swallows. I also saw one last spring, and IIRC, Robert Langston also reported one
> from Charlie Craig as well. I've seen young Barn Swallows that look whitish, but this was definitely and adult with a deeply forked tail and underparts sa white as a Tree Swallow's. It also had a reddish throat. I cannot say for certain if it had the blue breast-band. I think it did, but I did not note it.
>
> I doubt it was Hirundo rustica rustica, but it sure looked like one. What is a more plausible explanation as to what type of Barn Swallow this might be?
>
> Unfortunately, my camera battery died, so no photographs.
>
>
> Ian MacGregort
>
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Date: 8/6/25 8:53 am From: <plm108...> <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Tricollored Heron at Bald Knob NWR
I just heard from a friend that they didn't receive the email about the Tricolored Heron until late yesterday. I hope that's not the case for the rest of you. My email bank shows it was sent Sun, Aug 3 at 10:12 a.m.
So I just want to clarify that as far as I know, the Tricolored has only been seen on Sunday (the day Cindy called me) but I would hope it's still out there. From what I have heard from folks, it was last seen in Cell 5 which is the back north field along Huntsman Rd running along Overflow Creek. Hopefully someone will relocate it and share that information with us.
Patty
________________________________
From: Patty McLean <plm108...>
Sent: Sunday, August 3, 2025 10:12 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Tricollored Heron at Bald Knob NWR
Just had a call from Cindy Franklin that there's a Tricolored Heron working the water edges near the semi-flooded back cell off Huntsman Rd. She and Bill (the "hubs") found it while driving the unnamed road running west off Coal Chute before reaching the silos.
Allan-- Kim Smith and Cecilia Riley authored this wonderful piece on birds eating pokeweed berries in Arkansas. It's interesting that they did not mention Pileated Woodpecker as one of the visitors. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9581&context=wilson_bulletin The Birds of the World account on Pileated Woodpecker does not mention Pokeweed in its diet.
On Wednesday 6 August, 2025 at 12:34:35 am GMT-5, Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> wrote:
Just a few minutes ago had a male Pileated Woodpecker land in a Pokeweed bush about 5 feet from our widow. Ate his fill of pokeberries and moved on.
Very cool.
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, ARHome of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm501-339-8071BLOG birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
Just a few minutes ago had a male Pileated Woodpecker land in a Pokeweed bush about 5 feet from our widow. Ate his fill of pokeberries and moved on.
Very cool.
-- Allan Mueller (It) 20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm 501-339-8071 *BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com Pura Vida
Date: 8/5/25 8:08 am From: betty_evans <betty_evans...> Subject: Bird Island
Anonymous and I traveled down to Lake Ouachita on Sunday to experience the Purple Martins on Bird Island. The park interpreter estimated to flock size at between 50,000 and 60,000. It is quite a spectacle to see all these birds coming in to roost on the island. There are still a couple of opportunities left this season to participate in their tour. Here is the info from the park: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/events/bird-island-tour. If you have your own boat, the ebird hotspot accurately marks the location of the island.
Here is our ebird submission with a few photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S264909468 Betty
