Eureka Nature

Here's the bird list

2011-10-10T09:59:00.003-05:00

Click on the link in the title to get web access which will get a properly formatted copy. Blogger has my formatting screwed up.

Lake Leatherwood bird-list

199 species seen, incl 49 with one or two records

Seasons are Spr=Mar-May, Sum=Jun-Aug, Fall=Sep-Nov, Win=Dec-Feb
C common, U uncommon, O occasional, R rare, X single sighting (* breedeer)
note: probability of detection, seen or heard, not rigorous population measures
Sightings of R,X species should be reported to the park office, also any unlisted

W woods, F field, T thicket, M marsh, S shallow & D deep H2O, O flying, B bldg area

Habitat S S F W

__ Common Loon D X
__ Pied-billed Grebe SD U C C
__ Horned Grebe D X
__ American White Pelican X
__ Double-crested Cormorant DO R R

__ Great Blue Heron * SM C U C U
__ Great Egret M O O R
__ Tricolored Heron X
__ Little Blue Heron M O R
__ Snowy Egret X
__ Green Heron M C C X
__ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron MW R X

__ Trumpeter Swan O X
__ Greater White-fronted Goose SM X X
__ Snow Goose O R U
__ Ross's Goose O X
__ Canada Goose * FS C C C C
__ Cackling Goose SMf x
__ Wood Duck * WS C C U
__ American Wigeon DSM X
__ Gadwall SD O U C
__ Green-winged Teal MS O U C
__ Mallard * MS U X C C
__ Northern Pintail S R
__ Blue-winged Teal MS C O
__ Northern Shoveler MS O O R
__ Canvasback DS X
__ Redhead D O R
__ Ring-necked Duck DS U U C
__ Lesser Scaup D O O U
__ Common Goldeneye DS X
__ Bufflehead DS C C C
__ Ruddy Duck D R R R
__ Greater Scaup DS X X
__ Hooded Merganser DS X
__ Red-breasted Merganser DS X
__ Common Merganser DS X X

__ Black Vulture O O O U
__ Turkey Vulture * OW C C C C

__ Osprey DO R
__ Bald Eagle DW O U U
__ Sharp-shinned Hawk W O O U
__ Cooper's Hawk * W O O O O
__ Red-shouldered Hawk * WS C C C C
__ Broad-winged Hawk W U O O
__ Red-tailed Hawk O U U C
__ Golden Eagle O X X X
__ Rough-legged Hawk O X
__ American Kestrel OF X

__ Wild Turkey * WF O O O O

__ Sora M X
__ American Coot SD C C C

__ Killdeer MF C C C O
__ American Woodcock W R O
__ Wilson's Snipe M X
__ Willet SM X
__ Semipalmated Sandpiper SM X
__ Least Sandpiper SM X
__ Pectoral Sandpiper SM X
__ Lesser Yellowlegs M R
__ Solitary Sandpiper M R X
__ Spotted Sandpiper M U X

__ Ring-billed Gull OD X
__ Franklin's Gull OD X

__ Rock Pigeon FB X X
__ Mourning Dove * WF C C U
__ Yellow-billed Cuckoo * W C C R

__ Eastern Screech-Owl * W O O O
__ Great Horned Owl * WF R R
__ Barred Owl * WF R O R

__ Chuck-will's-widow WF X
__ Whip-poor-will WF X

__ Chimney Swift * O C C U
__ Ruby-throated Hummingbird * WB C C
__ Belted Kingfisher * SDW C C U U

__ Red-headed Woodpecker WB X X
__ Red-bellied Woodpecker * W C C C C
__ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker WB U C C
__ Downy Woodpecker * WT C C C C
__ Hairy Woodpecker * W U U U U
__ Northern Flicker W U C C
__ Pileated Woodpecker * W C C C C

__ Olive-sided Flycatcher W X
__ Eastern Wood-Pewee W C C C
__ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher W X
__ Acadian Flycatcher * W U U
__ Willow Flycatcher T O O
__ Least Flycatcher WT O R O
__ Eastern Phoebe * FTM C C C U
__ Great Crested Flycatcher * W C C
__ Eastern Kingbird * WF C C

__ Purple Martin O U U
__ Tree Swallow OM C R
__ Northern Rough-winged Swallow M U R
__ Bank Swallow SM X
__ Cliff Swallow SM O
__ Barn Swallow * MFB C O

__ American Pipit M R R
__ Golden-crowned Kinglet WT O O C
__ Ruby-crowned Kinglet WT U U C
__ Cedar Waxwing WO U X U C

__ Carolina Wren * WT C c c c
__ Bewick's Wren W U U
__ Winter Wren WT U U C
__ House Wren FT U u
__ Sedge Wren MT X X
__ Marsh Wren MT X

__ Gray Catbird * TW U U O X
__ Northern Mockingbird * FB O R O U
__ Brown Thrasher * FTW U R U

__ Eastern Bluebird * WFB C C C C
__ Veery W X
__ Gray-cheeked Thrush W X
__ Swainson's Thrush WT C
__ Hermit Thrush WT O U C
__ Wood Thrush * WT U U U X
__ American Robin * WFB C U C C

__ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher * WT C C U
__ Carolina Chickadee * WTB C C C C
__ Tufted Titmouse * WTB C C C C
__ White-breasted Nuthatch * WB C C C C
__ Brown Creeper

__ Blue Jay * WFB C U C C
__ American Crow * FBO C C C C
__ Fish Crow * FBO C C U

__ European Starling FB U U

__ White-eyed Vireo * WT C C U
__ Bell's Vireo FT X
__ Yellow-throated Vireo * WB U U O
__ Blue-headed Vireo WT O O
__ Warbling Vireo WB O
__ Philadelphia Vireo WT O R R
__ Red-eyed Vireo * WB C C R

__ Purple Finch FB X R U
__ House Finch * WFB U U R R
__ American Goldfinch * WFB C C C C

__ Blue-winged Warbler * WFT C C R
__ Tennessee Warbler FT U
__ Orange-crowned Warbler WT O
__ Nashville Warbler WT U R
__ Northern Parula * W C C R
__ Yellow Warbler WT U R
__ Chestnut-sided Warbler WB O X
__ Magnolia Warbler WT O X
__ Yellow-rumped Warbler FTB U U C
__ Black-throated Green Warbler WT O O
__ Blackburnian Warbler WB X
__ Yellow-throated Warbler WB O U O
__ Pine Warbler * WB U O R R
__ Prairie Warbler * WT U U
__ Palm Warbler FT X
__ Bay-breasted Warbler WB X
__ Blackpoll Warbler WBT X
__ Cerulean Warbler WD X X
__ Black-and-white Warbler * WTB C C R
__ American Redstart WB O
__ Prothonotary Warbler TS R
__ Worm-eating Warbler WT R R
__ Swainson's Warbler * TW X X
__ Ovenbird WT U U R
__ Northern Waterthrush WT U R
__ Louisiana Waterthrush * WT C C R
__ Kentucky Warbler * WT C U
__ Mourning Warbler WT R
__ Common Yellowthroat * ST C U R
__ Hooded Warbler WT X
__ Wilson's Warbler WT U R
__ Canada Warbler WT R
__ Yellow-breasted Chat * T U U R

__ Scarlet Tanager W X X
__ Summer Tanager * WFB U U R

__ Eastern Towhee WT U U U
__ American Tree Sparrow TM R O
__ Chipping Sparrow * TFB C U C
__ Field Sparrow * FTB U U U R
__ Vesper Sparrow FT X
__ Lark Sparrow FT U R
__ Grasshopper Sparrow FT X
__ Savannah Sparrow FT O R R
__ Fox Sparrow WFT U U U
__ Song Sparrow SFT C U C
__ Lincoln's Sparrow ST U U U
__ Swamp Sparrow ST U U U
__ White-crowned Sparrow WFT U U U
__ White-throated Sparrow WTF C C C
__ Dark-eyed Junco WFB C C C

__ Northern Cardinal * FTB C C C C
__ Rose-breasted Grosbeak WB O R
__ Blue Grosbeak F R
__ Lazuli Bunting FW X
__ Indigo Bunting * WFB C C O

__ Red-winged Blackbird * ST C C O R
__ Eastern Meadowlark F X
__ Western Meadowlark F X
__ Common Grackle * WB C C O
__ Great-tailed Grackle FB R
__ Brown-headed Cowbird * WFT C C
__ Baltimore Oriole WFB U R
__ Orchard Oriole * WFB C C

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commentary - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This table is based on approx 9000 sightings resulting from regular surveys for a five year period. Coverage was best in spring and fall, less so in summer and winter. Breeding status is based on known evidence, some listed birds do breed in the region but I haven't any evidence in the park. The habitat list isn't exhaustive; in particular, the B designation covers the open canopy woodland around the developed part of the park. S for land birds includes the bird blind area. More observers covering some areas more remote from the upper end of the lake could easily pick up more records of the accidentals, and maybe some other species not seen as yet, eg Painted Bunting, Red-breasted Nuthatch. I did very few night hikes, and some time spent then would show many more owls and Whips.

J Pat Valentik 479 981 0901 9/10/2011

Possibilities awaken at Lake Leatherwood

2011-10-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

I've been talking with Bruce Levine at the Parks Department about his vision for more birding and wildlife viewing at the park. The fantasies/visions are fueled by the possibility of receiving some substantial grant money focused on improving wildlife viewing opportunities in Arkansas. So far I've worked up a checklist of the birds seen at the lake during the five years when I regularly walked around on Sunday mornings and counted everything seen. I'll put the draft in the next post. We're also talking about building two more blinds on the far side of the lake, one located near the cove across from the boat dock, and another along the shoreline near the quarry. Also possible are handicap access improvements at the existing blind, something I had envisioned when we first built it. Ran out of money then. Also possible are some focused and informative signs at various points along the trail that would connect the various facilities. This is exciting for me, like finally the seed planted with the first blind has sprouted. Wish luck to the park and the public that will benefit.

Lake Leatherwood detailed birding directions

2009-08-18T09:50:00.001-05:00

Lake Leatherwood City Park located about a mile west of Eureka proper at the foot of the Leatherwood Curves. Go to the second entrance, not the ballfields. There's 1600 acres of mixed habitats in the park, including the 160 acre lake itself. I've documented around 190 species over the course of ten plus years. That's about half the species ever seen, even just once, in Arkansas. The area around the bath-house and cabins, with widely spaced mature trees, is excellent for passerine residents and migrants. The lake shines in fall and winter as a duck attractor, and during the spring and summer can be very good for herons, and a few shorebirds. The rocky parts of the lakeshore are good for Spotted Sandpiper in spring migration, also the small sandy beach area.

Two side detours from the cabins can also be productive. One is a short loop from the boat launch ramp. Follow the shore until another path cuts back to the left returning shortly to the launch. The tangled thicket between the two paths has been very productive for warblers, sparrows, and kinglets. If you follow he shore further it's possible to see a lot more of the lake, including the deep water which has had an occasional loon, also mergansers, cormorants, and other divers. The second side trip is an old road to the side of the gate leading to the dam. It's an open path into a classic cedar glade, grown up some from fire suppression. The sandy soil has a great patch of pennyroyal in late spring, as well as wild orchids if you're lucky. It usually has several pairs of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and sometimes Prairie and Blue-winged Warblers.

Going from the cabin area down the gravel lane to the large meadow allows access to the bird blind. But first a productive side-trip is to go right to the far end of the meadow, staying left as you approach the gate, then edging around the maintenance yard to the outflow pipe of a good spring. Residents and migrants find this very attractive, especially in hotter dryer weather. Return through the meadow, (I follow the creek bed on the right listening for Louisiana Waterthrushes), and then cross the creek into the small meadow. Stop right at the crossing. If the little meadow has no folks camping, and you're early, you can often see a variety of ducks or waders before they flush as you cross the meadow. The bird blind is to the left, and the start of the Beacham Trail is to the right. Large trees along the lakeshore attract several pairs of Orchard Orioles, and Eastern Kingbirds. The area of the bird-blind is very good for seeing these, as well as some herons (it's a good place for Green Herons in summer) and Wood-Ducks. Approaching the blind quietly and slowly can pay off with some real close up views through the ports. Note that Woodies are very shy, arriving early and quietly is the key to good views. Luck helps. Worth the effort since they are one of the most beautiful critters in North America. Linger in the meadow, especially watching the brushy lake edge and the large sycamores and a dense cedar thicket.

At the inlet end of the lake where the Beacham Trail starts, is an area of mature bottomland hardwoods, which attracts migrant and breeding warblers and such. When the trail branches to the right, follow it for about two hundred yards. This is a reliable place for Blue-wing Warbler, Northern Parulas, Kentucky Warblers, Worm-eating Warblers, Chats, Acadian Flycatchers, several Vireos including Yellow-throated, and a general selection of woodland species. There are also numerous Cedar Thickets, which can be deserted or hosting foraging mixed flocks. The cedars are also a good place for sparrows, and White-eyed Vireos. Thrushes like them too, especially Hermit Thrushes in winter. Listen for their "chup" call note. Brown Thrashers make a very similar sound and are present but seldom seen. When you reach the creek, either return or wade, or walk the creekbed if it's dry. When you've studied the area thoroughly, return to the trail fork where you turned right initially, and turn right again so the you continue on the Beacham Trail.

The trail quickly climbs a wet north slope before starting it's return loop on the far side of the lake. It's usually not very birdy, but occasionally has half a dozen Golden-crowned Kinglets in late fall. The real attraction along here is in the spring when the wildflowers bloom. It's the spot for trout lilies very early in spring, then bloodroot and trillium, followed by Jack-in-the-pulpit. A very occasional bloomer along here is the False Hellebore. It's one of the few places in the state where it's found, it being a relict from populations that retreated north following the glaciers. When you descend to the small inlet, you're in another warbler zone. Look for Louisiana Waterthrush along the creekbed, also Black and Whites and Ovenbirds. Scarlet Tanager is a possibility here. On the far side of the inlet stop and listen for Prairie Warbler on the hillside above. Sometimes it's possible to find them by following their calls into the cedar thicket up there. If you've been birding intently, it's probably been around three hours since starting. You can continue on around the lake for another mile and a half, crossing the quarry for the historic stone dam and the dam itself. If lunch beckons it's quicker to retrace your way back to the cabin area where you probably parked.

To get a more detailed knowledge of the park, attend one of the several public hikes put on locally or by Northwest Arkansas Audubon.

Rogers Homeschoolers at Lake Leatherwood

2008-05-31T10:05:00.001-05:00

Rose Nystrom brought her three homeschooled sons, Arthur, John and Charles, and their friend Jordan to find some birds at Lake Leatherwood. WE got great looks at Indigo Bunting, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Parula, Mourning Dove and others. Heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo really well, but couldn't get it to give us a look. We spent about two hours wandering around, ending at the bird blind, and then sat at the CCC picnic pavilion and went over the Arkansas checklist and learned some ideas about the pattern of bird migration and seasonal occurance.

Home schoolers at Lake Leatherwood

2008-05-23T06:48:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday and Thursday, 5/21 and 22, I took a group of Home Schoolers around the City Park at Lake Leatherwood. On wed, we focused mainly on the area around the cabins and bath-house, down to the bird blind and then back to the CCC pavillion for a short talk on migration. I gave all the folks copies of the official Arkansas Audubon Society Checklist and explained how to interpret the various codes.

We had good looks at several birds, Indigo Bunting, Northern Parula, Pileated Woodpecker, and such. About 26 species were seen or heard, but not all by all the folks.

On Thursday, a slightly larger group walked mostly around the big and small meadows, including the Hyde Hollow Spring, with a short foray into the bottomland hardwoods along the Leatherwood Trail. We had great luck at the spring, with looks at Yellow-throated Warbler, American Redstart, and Blue-winged Warbler. Best bird was the first Yellow-billed Cuckoo seen by the parents while the kids raced ahead to the blind where I repeated the talk of the previous day. There was a calling Willow Flycatcher there, and a female Orchard Oriole sang for us at the end. They said they had a good time, and the parents said they'd learned something. We saw or heard 30+ species.

We hope to do it again in the late fall when there will be quite a few different species, especially ducks and sparrows.

SPECIES SEEN by homescholars from Eureka Springs area
From 5/21/2008 to 5/22/2008 ~ in Lake Leatherwood ~ 40 seen

HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERNS
Great Blue Heron - both days
Green Heron - both days
DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS
Canada Goose - both days
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Turkey Vulture - Thurs only
HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES
Red-shouldered Hawk - heard Thurs only
SANDPIPERS
Spotted Sandpiper - seen from blind, Thurs only
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Mourning Dove - both days
CUCKOOS
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - seen by parents, Thurs only
SWIFTS
Chimney Swift - both days, many more Wednesday
HUMMINGBIRDS
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Wed only
WOODPECKERS
Red-bellied Woodpecker - heard both days, seen badly Wed
Pileated Woodpecker - seen both days
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Eastern Wood-Pewee - heard several, Thurs
Willow Flycatcher - heard at blind, Thurs
Least Flycatcher - seen at blind, Wed
Eastern Phoebe - seen both days
Eastern Kingbird - seen barely, Thurs
SWALLOWS
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2 seen Wed
Barn Swallow - both days
WRENS
Carolina Wren - heard both days
THRUSHES
Eastern Bluebird - seen well both days
GNATCATCHERS
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - heard Wed
CHICKADEES AND TITS
Carolina Chickadee - Thurs only
Tufted Titmouse - heard both days, brief sightings
CROWS AND JAYS
American Crow - both days
Fish Crow - heard Thurs
VIREOS AND ALLIES
White-eyed Vireo - heard at spring and blind, Thurs
Red-eyed Vireo - heard both days, seen Wed
FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS
American Goldfinch - brief views both days
WOOD WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler - at spring, Thurs
Northern Parula - seen really well both days
Yellow Warbler - seen briefly (maybe just JP) Wed
Yellow-throated Warbler - at spring, Thurs
American Redstart - at spring, Thurs
SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS
Chipping Sparrow - Wed only
SALTATORS, CARDINALS AND ALLIES
Northern Cardinal - both days
Indigo Bunting - seen and heard well both days
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC.
Red-winged Blackbird - many male and female both days
Common Grackle = many both days
Orchard Oriole - both days, male Wed only

-------- STATISTICS --------
Species seen - 40

Rosies galore

2008-05-08T09:24:00.001-05:00

Rosies galore
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Sally Thackery sent me some pictures of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Orioles on her feeders. This is pretty amazing.

UArk Continuing Ed group at Lake Leatherwood

2008-05-06T11:23:00.004-05:00

Monday May 5

A group of about eight folks from the University of Arkansas Continuing Education Program came to Lake Leatherwood for some birding. There were also two video guys who were producing a promotional video. They got some good looks at Pileated Woodpecker, Prairie Warbler, Red-winged Blackbirds, and numerous others. Best bird of the day was Mourning Warbler, but not everyone saw it since it was doing its typical skulking in the undergrowth behavior.

Here's a list of all the birds I saw that morning plus some species seen the next day by Jason Luscier , an herpetologist from the U as well.

Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Canada Goose
Blue-winged Teal
Turkey Vulture
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cedar Waxwing
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
American Goldfinch
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Summer Tanager
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole

-------- STATISTICS --------
Species seen - 58

This is pretty typical for this time of year. A little more looking, especially in the bottomland hardwoods along the creek, would probably add 5-10 more species.

Migratory bird hike at Lake Leatherwood

2008-04-28T07:55:00.018-05:00

Cold, windy, gray. Not an attractive day. Fourteen folks was a record attendance thoiugh, some coming from Rogers and Bentonville. Species count was pretty low for this time of year, 46, opposed to the ususal around 60. There was only one migrant, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. All others were either late winter or early summer residents. Most of the breeding warblers were present and singing. Not all the usual summer birds have arrived, still no Summer Tanagers, nor Acadian Flycatchers. Vireo numbers low, and no migrant vireos. The cold weather and relentless fronts from the north have slowed down migration throughout the midwest.

But we had a great day, good company, and several people saw birds they had never seen or seen well. That was satisfying.

Joys of Dawdling, new yardbirds

2008-04-21T09:14:00.004-05:00

I was goofing around before leaving home for town, repotting and whatnot, and got the first of year Indigo Bunting, a Palm Warbler, and an Orchard Oriole. But the White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows are still here, and I even saw one Junco yesterday.

Lake Leatherwood, Osprey

2008-04-09T11:39:00.006-05:00

Just a quick stop while the laundry was drying. An Osprey fishing at the shallow end. More Gnatcatchers. A Field Sparrow.

Lake Leatherwood after the flood

2008-03-24T08:43:00.000-05:00

Mar 23, 2008

I made a trip out to Lake Leatherwood on Sunday morning, primarily to see what damage and changes had been done by the flood the previous Tuesday and Wednesday. There was over six inches of rain mostly in less than a day. The newspaper had pictures of water through the flood gates of the dam, and preliminary warnings had been delivered to downstream flood plain residents.

My first stop was the bird blind to see if there had been any structural damage, but there was none, we had built it well, and the water had only been high enough to leave some flood wrack over the pathways, and to strip some of the chips off the paths that suppress the mud. Maybe a twenty dollar fix there, and a little shovel and broom work. Naturally all the creeks were running, so I went from the blind up the Beacham trail to see what had been shifted around. The flood had apparently covered the whole bottom-land, and had moved or made new piles of flood trash, and had cleared a lot of ground of dead plat material, leaves and such, so there was a lot of new bare dirt exposed. Probably wrecked a lot of wren nests, but had also made lots of new places for more. I'm curious to see if any Bewick's Wrens will take advantage of new preferred habitat.

All the Beacham bridges had been shifted until they rested against trees, except the high bridge which is built on stone pillars, and which was undamaged, but it seems like several upstream trees had their rootballs undermined and had fallen into the creek. The inlet end of the lake had already started to clear, but the main body was muddy from the goose island onward. I was surprised that the cat-tail beds looked fine, and only areas that had died back more than a couple of years ago seemed to have been scraped and re-arranged. Those beds will have stopped a lot of silt, and will be emerging for willow tree rooting as soon as the lake drops a little. The beds of Eurasian Water-milfoil had survived pretty well also, but I suspect that a lot of new rootlings have been spread out in the lake and probably downstream as well. A couple of narrow channels had been cleaned up pretty well, not completely, and I could see some minnows and shiners where they had seemed to disappear for the last several years. I need to get someone out there that can do good IDs on them to figure out what's really happening.

A few migrant birds were about. There was one brown swallow, but I never got a good look, it seemed chunky, and might have been a Bank. There was one male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a lot of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Also a first Louisiana Waterthrush, bobbing away. Wildflowers are very thin still, a scattering of Harbinger-of-Spring, a couple of just starting to bloom Bloodroots, some buds swelling on the Spicebushes, but not much else.

'Catastrophic' climate change looms for European birds

2008-01-15T14:15:00.001-06:00

LONDON (AFP) - Global warming could be "catastrophic" for European birds by wrecking their habitat, British conservationists warned Tuesday.

Three-quarters of Europe's nesting birds are likely to see their ranges shrink by the end of the century, the Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds showed.

Rising temperatures could push their distribution an average of 550 kilometres (340 miles) northeastwards, the atlas said.

The atlas was drawn up by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) along with experts from Cambridge and Durham universities.

The average bird's distribution will shrink in size by a fifth and overlap the current range by only 40 percent if temperatures rise by just under three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, the RSPB said.

"We must heed the wake-up call provided by this atlas and act immediately to curb climate change," said RSPB conservation chief Mark Avery.

"Anything above an average of two degrees Celsius (3.6 F) risks catastrophic impacts for wildlife."

"But some level of climate change is now inevitable and we must help wildlife become resilient to the worst impacts by increasing investment in creating larger areas for nature and making the countryside more wildlife-friendly to allow species to move to areas where the climate becomes more suitable," he added.

British species such as the Scottish crossbill, the Leach's petrel and the snow bunting could face extinction if suitable areas for them to live in are wiped out by warmer temperatures, according to the atlas.

Red and black throated divers, ptarmigans, redwings, greenshanks are set to see their distribution reduced to less than five percent of their current range.

And lapwings, curlews, red grouse, Arctic terns and common gulls might see their range reduced too.

However warmer temperatures in Britain might see birds such as the short-toed eagle, night heron, hoopoe and black kite move in.

"To enable these new colonists to gain a foothold we must prepare for their arrival by giving them the habitat they need and the freedom from persecution they deserve," said Avery.

Last year, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the mean global atmospheric temperature had already risen by 0.8 C (1.44 F) since the start of the 20th century.

By 2100, temperatures could rise by another 2.4 C-4.0 C (4.3-7.8 F), compared to 1980-99 levels.

October Bird Report

2007-10-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

I haven't been keeping up with the local news, for some good and some stupid reasons. Here's a catch-up report from Lake Leatherwood and some other local bits, covering October 2007 when I got back to doing weekly counts. The migrants have all passed except for late travelers like geese, and some ducks. Some of the ducks will stay all winter unless the Lake freezes over completely (hasn't happened in a few years). Winter residents are arriving, and some summer birds are now completely gone. I've had some birds at home, ten miles south of Eureka, that I haven't seen at Leatherwood. Juncos and White-throated sparrows showed up a couple of weeks ago. I've had a nice flock of a dozen Purple Finches for about a week, which seems early, but is within the dates given in the official Arkansas checklist. Those are available for sale, $1.00, at the office at Lake Leatherwood. Notable is a Red-breasted Nuthatch seen in town last Sat 10/20. There have been quite a few reports from surrounding states so this might be a good year for them. It's been several years since they were at all common. The best news was a Clay-colored Sparrow on one of my feeders on 10/27, rarely seen in Arkansas during migration. It was a state first for me.

Here's an annotated list of all species seen at Leatherwood in October.

Snow Goose - one flock, 45, flyover
There have been several flocks moving at night in the area, also Canadas and White-fronts
Canada Goose - around thirty residents, and some birds from migrating flocks
Wood Duck - half a dozen still hanging on
Mallard - 3 found 10/28
Blue-winged Teal - 1 female 10/28
Redhead - a pair 10/28
Pied-billed Grebe - increasing, 6 plus now
Great Blue Heron - one seen irregularly
Green Heron - all gone, one on 9/27
Turkey Vulture - migrants and residents
Red-shouldered Hawk - resident,seen or heard irregularly
American Coot - numbers increasing, 25+ on 10/28
Mourning Dove - one seen
Eastern Screech-Owl - one heard 10/28
Belted Kingfisher - one seen most days, they had been absent for a long time
Red-bellied Woodpecker - a few resident
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - one or two on each trip
Downy Woodpecker - a few resident
Hairy Woodpecker - resident, but hard to find, one seen
Northern Flicker - flocks at beginning of month, 30+, now justa few
Pileated Woodpecker - easily heard and sometimes seen
Eastern Phoebe - usually one or two
White-eyed Vireo - one beginning month
Yellow-throated Vireo - one beginning month
Blue Jay - 4-6 most days
American Crow - around 6 resident
Fish Crow - There are still a few in town
Carolina Chickadee - resident, not common
Tufted Titmouse - resident, not common
White-breasted Nuthatch - usually 4-6
A Red-breasted was seen at Rosco's Coffeehouse mid month, this could be a good year for them
Brown Creeper - seen once
Carolina Wren - resident, seen and heard
House Wren - one heard 10/28
Winter Wren - seen several times
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - first seen 10/28, six
Eastern Bluebird - half a dozen resident
Hermit Thrush - first two on 10/28
American Robin - flocks, 50 plus
Brown Thrasher - resident, seen once
Yellow-rumped Warbler - many, mostly juneniles
Eastern Towhee - one seen
Chipping Sparrow - mostly gone
Field Sparrow - one on 10/28
Song Sparrow - two on 10/28
Lincoln's Sparrow - two on 10/28
White-throated Sparrow - arrived, small flocks
I've had Juncos at my house south of town for two weeks, but none at Leatherwood yet.
Northern Cardinal - many, forming winter flocks
Red-winged Blackbird - a few left
American Goldfinch

Number of Species: 48

Lightening struck tree

2007-10-10T10:03:00.001-05:00

Lightening struck tree 2
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

View of the tree struck by lightening at the top of Benton street Sunday morning 10/8/07. See post below for a detail.

Lightening struck tree

2007-10-10T10:00:00.001-05:00

Lightening struck tree detail
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

On Sunday morning as I started down Benton Street, there was a loud explosion. A thunderstorm was approaching so I presumed a lightening strike. Just down the hill, in the parking lot behind the Log Cabin Inn I found this. The tree was blown to shreds, I'm thinking a steam explosion in the wet rotted core of an already dead tree (there was no greenery). Shreds were blown around in a bout a fifty foot diameter circle, and into the street.

Migratory Bird Day Hike at Lake Leatherwood

2007-04-30T09:35:00.000-05:00

All the participants had a great time, and we tallied 57 species. I went back on Sunday and got 59, but many of them were new from Saturday, so the total species for the two days was 72. Warblers were good with an up-close Prothonotary, and two Yellows near the small meadow. Five species of Vireos, including Warbling and Philadelphia.

The really good finds were a Palm Warbler, a first for the park, and a Gray-cheeked Thrush, a first for my state list, and for the park too.

Here's the complete list for the two days

SPECIES SEEN

From 4/28/2007 to 4/29/2007 ~ in Lake Leatherwood ~ 72 seen

GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe

HERONS, EGRETS AND
BITTERNS
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron

DUCKS, GEESE AND
SWANS
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler

NEW WORLD VULTURES
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture

HAWKS, EAGLES AND
KITES
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk

TURKEYS
Wild Turkey

RAILS, GALLINULES AND
COOTS
American Coot

SANDPIPERS
Spotted Sandpiper

PIGEONS AND DOVES
Mourning Dove

SWIFTS
Chimney Swift

HUMMINGBIRDS
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

WOODPECKERS
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird

SWALLOWS
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow

KINGLETS
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

WAXWINGS
Cedar Waxwing

WRENS
Carolina Wren
House Wren

THRUSHES
Eastern Bluebird
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin

GNATCATCHERS
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

CHICKADEES AND
TITS
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse

NUTHATCHES
White-breasted Nuthatch

CROWS AND JAYS
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow

VIREOS AND ALLIES
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo

WOOD WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler

SPARROWS, TOWHEES,
JUNCOS
Chipping Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

SALTATORS, CARDINALS
AND ALLIES
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES,
GRACKLES, ETC.
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole

FINCHES, SISKINS,
CROSSBILLS
American Goldfinch
--------- STATISTICS ---------
Species seen - 72

List of sightings from Birding Site Tour

2007-04-16T08:44:00.000-05:00

I made some notes on a few, to give a sense of the spread. My house is just feeder birds and things heard in the yard before and after trips. Nine miles south of Eureka, and easily within our local circle. The Red-breasted Mergansers were quite unexpected. Shore birds were just starting, probably slowed down a little by the relentless cold weather and north winds.

I had 49 species at Lake Leatherwood in just over three hours.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon - Centerton
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck - Centerton
Lesser Scaup - Beaver Lake
Red-breasted Merganser - Beaver Lake
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret - Lake Leatherwood
Green Heron - Lake Leatherwood
Turkey Vulture
Osprey - Centerton
Red-tailed Hawk
Wild Turkey - My house
American Coot
Killdeer - Centerton
Spotted Sandpiper - Lake Leatherwood
Solitary Sandpiper - Centerton
Pectoral Sandpiper - Centerton
Rock Pigeon - Eureka Springs
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl - My house
Red-headed Woodpecker - Eureka Springs
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Lake Leatherwood
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker - Lake Leaherwood
Northern Flicker - Lake Leatherwood
Pileated Woodpecker - Lake Leatherwood
Eastern Phoebe
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing - My house
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler - Black Bass Lake
Pine Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Chipping Sparrow
Lark Sparrow - Leatherwood Ball Fields
Savannah Sparrow - Beaver Lake
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Number of Species: 77

Migration update, insects too

2007-04-04T14:18:00.000-05:00

Just spent an hour at Lake Leatherwood. Lots of swallows, mostly Northern Rough-wing, but did find first of year Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts. Two new Butterfly species for me were Pearl Crescent and Red-banded Hairstreak. A new dragonfly was a Springtime Darner. All bugs were on the Beacham Trail from the small meadow down to the woods edge.

Saw a couple of publications with local birding info. Ruth Hager handed me a tear-off map with some activities for April, including the two bird hikes, and also a slick tri-fold calender thing with the hikes marked on a calender and the descriptions in the side-bar. ALERT: some of the dates are wrong on the calenders. The survey of local sites is the 14th and 15th, Sat and Sun. The Migratory Bird Day hike is the 28th, Saturday.

Two birding events in April

2007-04-02T11:01:00.000-05:00

Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15

An exploration and tour of local birding areas near Eureka Springs.

In order to help folks plan for birding around Eureka during spring migration and throughout the year, we'll drive around to several local areas that have proven productive in the past. Most of these are highlighted in the article on local birding opportunities, but it's not possible to see them all in a day and a half. We'll meet at 8:00 AM at the Little Bread Company on Hiway 62/23 and decide how to organize transport. I'm hoping we can get several folks in a few cars to make traveling in a group easier. If anybody has FRS radios they can really help. We'll also try to plan out a reasonable sweep of places folks want to see. Three or four hours at Lake Leatherwood City Park will be reserved for Sunday morning at 8:00 am, so Saturday will be a little farther ranging, up to thirty plus miles from Eureka. Likely spots are places near Beaver Dam, Roaring River State Park in Missouri, Withrow Springs State Park south on Hiway 23, the Ozark Natural Science Center, and the prairies north of Grandview.

This is a rain-or-shine event, since we'll mostly be touring. If the weather is inclement, bring rain gear and we'll do our best. No white or bright clothes, wear good walking shoes, bring water and binoculars. This is the beginning of spring migration, but the trend has been for the birds to begin moving earlier than was historically the case, so we could find some notable species. Children under twelve should be accompanied by an adult. No pets. There is no charge and the public is welcome. For more information, please call (479) 981 0901 during reasonable hours.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Saturday, April 28

Eleventh Annual International Migratory Bird Day Hike at Lake Leatherwood

This is not the usual nationwide date for this event. I've made it earlier since the migrants are coming earlier, and the trees have been so well leafed-out in May thet observing is much better if we go earlier.

We'll meet at the bathhouse at Lake Leatherwood City Park at 8:30 am. Some folks will probably be there earlier so come as early as possible to catch the dawn chorus and early activity and birdsong. Dress in duller colors, no whites or brights. Wear decent walking shoes, but this isn't strenuous hiking. Maybe bring some water since we usually go about three hours. Definitely bring binoculars. Some, a few, loaners will be available, but don't count on them. Children less than twelve should be accompanied by an adult. No pets.

We usually see between 50 and 60 species of migratory and resident birds, as well as the spring wildflowers and some butterflies and dragonflies, and general natural whatnot. Over the years we've seen 102 species on these hikes, so some pretty unusual things are possible. This is the early part of the peak of northbound migration, and the trees don't have a thick covering of leaves, so the birds are easier to find. We usually get lots of warblers, flycatchers, vireos, orioles, and tanagers making for a very colorful selection of critters.

There is no charge, the public is welcome, and in case of rain we'll try the same time on Sunday April 29. For more information please call (479) 981 0901 during reasonable hours.

Jacob's Ladder and Sunday update

2007-04-01T13:05:00.001-05:00

Jacob's Ladder1
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Some migrant birds are setting up territories, mostly Norhern Parulas, Louisiana Waterthrushes, Chipping Sparrows, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. The Paw-paws are blooming, I'll get a photo soon, and I had the first Dragonfly today. At my house in the country, I heard the first Whip-poor-will last night, and one closer this morning before sunrise. No real surprises, big flocks of Goldfinches, lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, There were small flocks of Coots, Blue-wing Teal, and Northern Shovelers. No seasonal waders yet, nor Spotted Sandpipers, the teeter bird. Wild Ginger is up, and some buds were there, but I didn't find any opened. Other wildflowers were lots of Phlox, and a few Buttercups. Sorry this is not much organized.

Bird Migration report

2007-03-26T09:39:00.000-05:00

I checked Leatherwood on Sat morning before the cleanup, and then briefly this morning. The Louisiana Waterthrushes have moved in and claimed territories, at least six were singing along the creek and another on the lakeshore. The first Chipping Sparrow was near the cabins. This morning I found two Black-and-White Warblers, and a Northern Parula singing. The sparrow variety from last week had fallen considerably, and no Swallows at all. Still it's encouraging, and it won't be long at all now.

Butterflies

2007-03-26T09:18:00.000-05:00

Quite afew kinds of butterflies are flying already. Three kinds of swallowtails, Zebra, Tiger, and a black variety that I didn't get close enough to ID. The mystery from last week is a Goatweed Leafwing, and I've seen several more individuals in the last week. This is the only time to see them, so keep an eye out for a ST size solid orange flitter, with pointed forewings. The Spring Azures are plentiful. Another one I was able to ID is a Common Sootywing, not very colorful, but often seen on paths clustered on feces.

There's a butterfly site at http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

There's a butterfly checklist at

www. arkansastateparks.com/images/pdfs/Ark_Butterfly_Checklist.pdf

Lake Leatherwood Cleanup

2007-03-26T09:10:00.000-05:00

About a dozen folks showed up for the cleanup on Saturday, and we picked up over twenty kitchen-can size bags. I went around some of the same areas today and picked up more. Then I found a place along the road where some slobs have been dumping a lot of stuff. It's sad. Some of the worst is fishing detritus, especially bait containers. I'm gonna recommend that the bait store at the lake charge a deposit on their stuff. The prizes went to folks that could really use them and deserved them as well. Besides the two packs offered by Lewis and Clark, Alexa Pittenger gave a gift certificate for body work, and Dave Renko brought some Fat Tire Fest bling. We'll do it again at the end of the season.

A Chimney Swift Site

2007-03-22T10:46:00.001-05:00

Here's a way to learn a little more about our favorite aerial acrobats. A good show is sitting on the wall by the public restrooms at Pendergrass corner around sundown.

http://www.chimneyswifts.org/

Bloodroot bloom

2007-03-20T08:38:00.001-05:00

Bloodroot bloom
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

This is one of my favorites, the roots were used, still are, as a red dye. sometimes there'll be big patches in gravelly soil where the roots can propagate easily.

Trout Lily 2

2007-03-20T08:32:00.001-05:00

Trout Lily 2
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

These are blooming now, and they don't last long, so head out soon. Lots of other early wildflowers are kicking in as well. Didn't realize it would come up sideways, guess you can download it and rotate it, or just click on the picture and it'll take you to more wildflower pics.

The Mix is changing at Lake Leatherwood

2007-03-18T14:11:00.000-05:00

I was at Lake Leatherwood for birding on both Wednesday and Sunday mornings. Big changes hapening. There were still ducks, Buffys, Mallards, Gadwalls, on Wed, but none Sunday. Three Pied-bill Grebes. But Wood Ducks have arrived for the summer breeding season. One pair gave me a superb look at the blind, and I've seen and flushed others along the creek. The sparrows that had been really few all winter showed up today, 6 species, and good numbers. White-throated, Fox, Field, Lincoln's, Song, and Tree Sparrows. Even better were three wren
species, lots of Carolinas, three Winters, and a Bewick's close to the blind that gave a long look. There was a Louisiana Waterthrush on Wed, but none today that I could find. The Wed bird is the earliest I've ever recorded one there. More good news: the Kingfishers are back, lots of Phoebes, several small focks of Robins, ful complements of Grackles and Red-wings. And the best news of all, a new species for the Park, Wilson's (formerly Common) Snipe. I'd found one at Black Bass last year, but this is the first from Leatherwod. Add Swallows, Northern Rough-wings passing through, and Tree Swallows, some of which will breed here.

Spring Peepers are singing, and I saw lots of Cricket Frogs. Several Wildflowers are blooming, Harbinger of Spring, Henbit, Johnny Jump-ups, Wild Gentian, Bluets, and a couple I didn't know. But I got pics. There was a patch of Bloodroot right by the big bridge over the creek on the Beacham trail, which has already gone to seed, but I found a few more blooms. The Little Azure butterflies were out too, and I saw a few Trout Lily leaves, and later found some blooming. There was another large orange butterfly that i didn't know and can't find in the book yet. It's the kind of day to make my blood move a little quicker.

Another Carnegie Library

2007-03-18T06:53:00.001-05:00

Another Carnegie Library
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Found this in Eureka Kansas while on a birding trip last weekend.

Green Heron

2007-03-06T08:53:00.001-06:00

Green Heron
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

These guys will be coming soon, and should be really easy to see from the bird blind.

Blackbirds bringing in Spring

2007-03-06T08:49:00.001-06:00

I birded Lake Leatherwood on Sunday. Several blackbird species were making a celebration of spring. Red-wings were singing territorial songs from the treetops. Common Grackles had arrived, a few. The first Fish Crow was making rubber ducky sounds, and a Phoebe had returned from its escape south when all that cold blew in. It was a song filled sunrise, which warmed my heart.

Local Birding areas

2007-03-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

Here's the unedited text of the article that will appear in the Flyer for Outdoor Recreation Month in Eureka

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Birding opportunities around Eureka Springs

Copyright JP Valentik

The town of Eureka Springs, its parks, the lakes nearby, and several other places within fifty miles offer ample opportunity to see in excess of two hundred species through the course of the year. We have a good selection of year round residents typical of the Eastern Hardwood Biome, and our location between the Central and Mississippi Flyways guarantees an excellent selection of migrants, but not in extreme numbers. Our location is also near the eastern edge of the old Tallgrass Prairie. so an hour's drive can reach another whole realm of birding possibilities. The Ozarks are one of the largest tracts of somewhat intact hardwood forest in the country, and the
landscape is the oldest in North America that has neither been glaciated nor submerged by the ancient oceans. This has given ample time for a wide variety of plants and animals to evolve and adapt, creating many unique biological communities. Birds are too wide ranging for this process, but more sedentary critters like salamanders, fish, mussels, crayfish, even earthworms have developed a radiation of species.

Here's an overview of a widening circle of places to watch for various avian critters and spectacles. Within Eureka proper: Above all don't miss the Chimney Swifts circling and diving into the old chimneys of the downtown buildings. The best place to watch is from the wall extending from the public restrooms near the New Orleans Hotel downtown during the hour before sunset. Relaxing and fascinating. If you've never seen a Red-headed Woodpecker, Eureka is one of a few places in the south where they are resident. In most of the rest of
the state they may or may not show up in the winter. Best spots are on East Mountain in the first quarter mile downhill from Hiway 62, from the porch of Rosco's Coffeehouse across from Bubba's BBQ, and along Pivot Rock Rd. During spring the trilling of Pine Warblers
can be heard from almost any cluster of large pines in town. A very good spot is the Cemetery, which is also good for other pine specialists, like Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Siskins (in winter) and some winters, Red-breasted Nuthatches. Some of the hollows
scattered around town can have a wonderful variety of birds singing at dawn and dusk, especially Wood Thrushes in the summer, which the locals call "eternity birds". In migration, the same spots have Swainson's Thrushes. I recommend the hollow extending uphill behind
the Grand Central Hotel, which can be walked in a convenient loop which is only steep at the beginning and end. The hollows below the Crescent Hotel, both sides, and across from the library are also good. And one shouldn't miss the often relocated roost of both Turkey
and Black Vultures (yes, there are two kinds, study the white patches on the wings), which can be seen over the town in large numbers almost any day.

The town also has two fine parks for general birding.

** Black Bass Lake located at the foot of Oil Springs Road on the left of Hiway 62 about a quarter mile west of the Inn of the Ozarks, This is an old park getting a lot of new attention. Plans are for it to be a node of an extended trail system stretching from the Town of Beaver
to Lake Leatherwood. You can walk around the lake, but it may be easier to go in and out on the old road. Make sure to check out the smaller pond about 75 yards above the head of the main lake. Approach carefully and you may get good looks at Wood Ducks. I haven't birded it much, but it is the only place I've seen a Snipe in Carroll County. There is a real critter called a snipe.
** Lake Leatherwood City Park located about a mile west of Eureka proper at the foot of the Leatherwood Curves. Go to the second entrance, not the ballfields. There's 1600 acres of mixed habitats in the park, including the 160 acre lake itself. I've documented just under 200 species over the course of ten plus years. That's more than half the species ever seen, even just once, in Arkansas. The area around the bath-house and cabins, with widely spaced mature trees, is excellent for passerine residents and migrants. The lake shines in fall and winter as a duck attractor, and during the spring and summer can be very good for herons, and a few shorebirds. At the inlet end of the lake is an area of mature bottomland hardwoods, which attracts migrant and breeding warblers and such. This is a reliable place for Blue-wing Warbler, Northern Parulas, Kentucky Warblers, Worm-eating Warblers, Chats, Acadian Flycatchers, several Vireos including Yellow-throated, and a general selection of woodland species. Large trees along the lakeshore attract several pairs of Orchard Orioles, and Eastern Kingbirds. The area of the bird-blind is very good for seeing these, as well as the Herons and Wood-Ducks. Note that Woodies are very shy, arriving early and quietly is the key to good views. Luck helps. Worth the effort since they are one of the most beautiful critters in North America. There are also numerous Cedar Thickets, which can be deserted or hosting foraging mixed flocks. Thrushes like them too. To get a more detailed knowledge of the park, attend one of the several public hikes put on locally or by Northwest Arkansas Audubon. Most Sunday mornings, pretty early, I'm doing a count and welcome company.

Striking out a little further afield, the area of Table Rock Lake near the Beaver Bridge, and at the Marina at Holiday Island can be good for Gulls and Terns, including the endangered Interior Least Tern. Go thru the village and up the hill to the Beaver Firehouse, park away from the firehouse doors, and walk around back. Across the Inlet below the cliff is a Blue Heron Rookery good for hours of entertainment during breeding. Keep children away from the cliff. About a mile past the Beaver firehouse on the left after coming back down to creek level is a small pond that has a pair of breeding Hooded Mergansers. Shy birds, so stay in your vehicle and be careful where you stop so that traffic from either direction can see you.

If you continue on 187 and then turn left (East, downhill) in about a half mile you come to the road to the Houseman access to the White River. Go down and check out the old cemetery, and search for Prothonotary Warblers which may breed along here. Returning to Hiway 62, continue East to the next 187 turnoff marked for Beaver Dam and the Dam-site Park. The Lake in winter is sometime good for deep water ducks, sometimes Loons too. But it's often disappointing. Better are the campgrounds below the dam, accessed by a turnoff on the left before you reach the actual dam. Sometimes somebody is collecting an entry fee for the Corps of Engineers. The campgrounds are good places for Ovenbirds, which seem very tame down there, walking through the campsites. The patch of cane at the end of the road is often good for Swainson's Warbler, but be prepared to work for it. Best during breeding, so playbacks not advised then, and they abandon their territories after fledging, so the window is narrow. They can also be found at Lake Leatherwood, with luck of course.

On the East side of town after checking the Cemetery, continue to the left turn toward Grandview after the King's River Bridge. After passing through the old town you come to open farmland that is remnants of the original tallgrass prairie. You can find Shrikes here, but the prize is flocks of Bobolinks in spring migration. The King's River itself can make a pleasant day of birding from a canoe, and there are several outfitters who will rent the necessities and provide a shuttle. Check the phone-book.

Three more sites are worth mentioning. Roaring River State Park (has camping and a nature center) just over the border in Missouri is an excellent place during migration, and pretty good the rest of the year. Withrow Springs State Park, about 25 miles south on Hiway 23 has a wonderful trail along the War Eagle River, and you can camp there too. If you desire shorebirds at the appropriate time of year, the best site is about an hour's drive west at the Charlie Craig Fish Hatchery in Centerton. Here's a little more detail.

** Roaring River SP, located between Cassville and Eagle Rock, MO, reached by going north on Hiway 23, then west on MO 86. Watch for signs. There are several places in the park that have good birding. The campground itself is usually good, as well as the informal trails you can poke around on at the upper end of the campground along the river. The best spot though is to walk up the dirt road that heads uphill from the hatchery. This is a good place for finding Cerulean Warblers, not guaranteed, but you'll find a lot of other species regardless. Check in at the nature center for the most current information.

** Withrow Springs SP. Drive down 23 south until you come to the park entrance road in Forum. Drive through the park, stopping if you get an inspiration, but the focus of the trip is at the far end of the park. You'll come back to Hiway 23, go right and then very soon, just before the bridge go right again into a perking area. The trail goes to the left under the highway and then along the War Eagle River passing some great habitat. The trail is slightly elevated from the floodplain, giving an excellent viewpoint. of canebrakes as well as more open bottomland habitat.

** Centerton Fish Hatchery is just south of the main intersection in old Centerton. If the big gates are closed there's a pedestrian gate, but its okay to gently drive the levees around the various pools. Look for drained pools with mudflats, which are what attracts the shore birds. Best times are northbound from mid-April to early June, and southbound from late July to October. Numbers aren't as good as major flyway stopovers, but the variety through time is quite satisfying. Also watch for Scoters in winter, Black Terns in spring, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds in spring and summer. Unusual Hawks can show up as well, drifting in from the Prairies to the west.

Resources

The Eureka Nature Blog http://natureofeureka.blogspot.com/ has reports of local natural history events, announcements, and simple rant.

The Archives of the ARbird listserv http://listserv.uark.edu/archives/arbird-l.html this has postings from birders from all over the state concerning sightings and commentary on issues. If you like the material you can sign up for free. Follow the instructions.

The Arkansas bird checklist http://www.arbirds.org/ go down the page to downloads. There are some other good ones too, especially the butterfly checklist. On the bird checklist is a tremendous amount of information in very condensed form. All the species ever seen in the state are listed, and codes provide the usual times of year, parts of the state, and abundance. It's a PDF, so you can print a copy, or order nice printed ones.

Birdwatching technology, April birding hikes

2007-02-27T14:59:00.001-06:00

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB117226240759417633-lMyQjAxMDE3NzIyNTIyNjUyWj.html

An article in the environmentally clueless WSJ, interesting. I use recordings sometimes, especially when trying to make a difficult bird see-able by a group, but avoid using recordings often or in the same places. It's handy to have them in the truck for quick reference too. I enjoy getting a good picture too, but having the camera along really hampers my concentration, so I usually leave it behind. I haven't gotten my hands on a good pointer laser, but have seen them used well by Doug James, a prof at UArk. I'll probably use recordings on the public hikes in April. Her's a first draft of the announcements.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Saturday, April 28

Eleventh Annual International Migratory Bird Day Hike at Lake Leatherwood

We'll meet at the bathhouse at Lake Leatherwood City Park at 8:30 am. Some folks will probably be there earlier so come as early as possible to catch the dawn chorus and early activity and birdsong. Dress in duller colors, no whites or brights. Wear decent walking shoes, but this isn't strenuous hiking. Maybe bring some water since we usually go about three hours. Definitely bring binoculars. Some, a few, loaners will be available, but don't count on them. Children less than twelve should be accompanied by an adult. No pets.

We usually see between 50 and 60 species of migratory and resident birds, as well as the spring wildflowers and some butterflies and dragonflies, and general natural whatnot. Over the years we've seen 102 species on these hikes, so some pretty unusual things are possible. This is the early part of the peak of northbound migration, and the trees don't have a thick covering of leaves, so the birds are easier to find. We usually get lots of warblers, flycatchers, vireos, orioles, and tanagers making for a very colorful selection of critters.

There is no charge, the public is welcome, and in case of rain we'll try the same time on Sunday April 29. For more information please call (479) 981 0901 during reasonable hours.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15

An exploration and tour of local birding areas near Eureka Springs.

In order to help folks plan for birding around Eureka during spring migration and throughout the year, we'll drive around to several local areas that have proven productive in the past. Most of these are highlighted in the article on local birding opportunities, but it's not possible to see them all in a day and a half. We'll meet at the Little Bread Company on Hiway 62/23 and decide how to organize transport. I'm hoping we can get several folks in a few cars to make traveling in a group easier. If anybody has FRS radios they can really help. We'll also try to plan out a reasonable sweep of places folks want to see. Three or four hours at Lake Leatherwood City Park will be reserved for Sunday morning at 8:00 am, so Saturday will be a little farther ranging, up to thirty plus miles from Eureka. Likely spots are places near Beaver Dam, Roaring River State Park in Missouri, Withrow Springs State Park south on Hiway 23, the Ozark Natural Science Center, and the prairies north of Grandview.

This is a rain-or-shine event, since we'll mostly be touring. If the weather is inclement, bring rain gear and we'll do our best. No white or bright clothes, wear good walking shoes, bring water and binoculars. This is the beginning of spring migration, but the trend has been for the birds to begin moving earlier than was historically the case, so we could find some notable species. Children under twelve should be accompanied by an adult. No pets. There is no charge and the public is welcome. For more information, please call (479) 981 0901 during reasonable hours.

Great Backyard Bird Count starts today

2007-02-16T12:15:00.000-06:00

Friday through Monday Feb 16 - 19. Count birds in your yard, or at a nearby good place. I'll be doing Lake Leatherwood, but someone could check out Black Bass Lake, or the Cemetery. Who knows what else? Then report your results at the GBBC site.

Lake Leatherwood - cold and fewer birds

2007-02-11T09:26:00.000-06:00

I had been away for a couple of weeks to the Gulf Coast, birding of course. I'll get a report up on the Bird Traveling blog. Got some pretty good pics, mostly waders. But I made it to Leatherwood yesterday. Apparently the long cold spell has taken its toll. Not a single Grebe. Buffleheads about average, Ring-necks way down, six Mallards, no teal. Only a single sparrow, but still many Juncos. Other residents seen in low numbers. A mature Eagle flew in and landed in a far side tree.
The best birds were six Golden-crowned Kinglets.

The good news? I think my Bluebirds at home are pairing up. Spring is coming. Persevere.

An Interesting Site - Bird Cams

2007-01-14T09:12:00.000-06:00

This came in as a comment. I don't have much in the way of links, but this site has a lot of links to live bird feeder cams, as well as a lot of other stuff.

Northern Mockingbird

2007-01-08T15:11:00.001-06:00

Northern Mockingbird
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Here's a pic I got with my new camera, and also a test post for Flickr. This mocker has been in this bush for three years now, assuming it's the same one.

Slow birding

2007-01-08T14:57:00.000-06:00

I've made several stops at Lake Leatherwood, and the birding has been slow. Waterfowl variety and numbers are down from earlier in the fall. Sparrows, normally one of the better aspects of winter birding, have been dismal; it's hard to find White-throats. Numbers of all species are low, except Robins, which are abundant. I've seen Eagles several times, and once had three Red-shouldered Hawks. My guess is that the mildness of the winter hasn't forced a lot of birds to come this far south. Even the Fayetteville CBC had a much lower species count than average. Either more cold or more snow might stir things up.

American Pipit 1

2006-12-02T11:17:00.000-06:00

American Pipit 1
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Found this at Lake Leatherwood Friday 12/1/06, after the first ice storm. This pic shows the tail being dipped. There were around ten of them, mostly back in the dead Lotus stalks walking on the ice. There were also big flocks of Mallards, Coots, Green-wing Teal, Ring-necked Ducks, and a few Pied-bill Grebes, Buffleheads, and Lesser Scaup. Good day for waterfowl.

Global Warming Threatens 'Large-Scale' Bird Extinctions: Report

2006-11-14T14:53:00.000-06:00

Spelled out in a little more detail than usual:

Global Warming Threatens 'Large-Scale' Bird Extinctions: Report

Today we go into the ecological red

2006-10-09T11:32:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure that such a thing can be pinned down to a single day, but this is a stronger warning about what civilization, so-called, is doing to the natural infrastructure that supports its functioning.

Independent Online Edition > Environment

Finally a Lake Leatherwood report

2006-10-09T08:49:00.000-05:00

I've been out of town and missed doing my survey at Lake Leatherwood for three weeks. That's a gap just at the peak of fall migration. And just when I'm finally getting to know the fall warbler plumages. Last week, 10/1, I went with a visitor from Colorado, Paul Darby, and he was very pleased, not being familiar with the eastern birds. That sea of grass makes a big difference in the avifauna. My thrill was a Bay-breasted Warbler, a first for me for Lake Leatherwood and the state. His was a gorgeous Summer Tanager, perfect fresh brilliant post-molt, plus some other new critters. We also had a pair of fall Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Some winter birds are arriving, including Yellow-rumped Warblers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Also Coots and PB Grebes. There were lots of Great Spangled Fritillaries, maybe my favorite butterfly, which also got Paul's attention.

Yesterday, 10/8, was surprisingly good for warblers, including Nashville, Pine, Prairie, a Black-throated Green, and many Yellow-rumps. Sapsuckers were also easy. I have a pair of Catbirds and a pair of Brown Thrashers in the path at the beginning of the Beacham Trail at the little meadow. Sightings from the bird blind are hard due to the amount of vegetaion, but there are small flocks of American Coots and Pied-bill Grebes, and a lone female Blue-wing Teal, who may be injured, though not obviously. Another FOS (first of season) was White-throated Sparrows. I may have had a Winter Wren, but it skulked off before I could be sure.

Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the Florida Panhandle

2006-09-26T15:41:00.000-05:00

More birds in Florida, better documentation etc. All the more reason to find more in Arkansas too.

Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the Florida Panhandle

Sunday - Very good migrants

2006-09-05T16:23:00.000-05:00

On Sunday at Lake Leatherwood, I had ten species of warblers, as well as multiple empids. Good birds were Yellow Warblers, and a first year female Chestnut-sided Warbler, both species highlighted in the spring. The bird of the day though was a pair of astounding brilliant Male Hooded Warblers, The plumage looked brand new, markings were crisp and textbook perfect. There was an Ovenbird with them, one of several seen that day. Many Parulas, a single Blue-wing, and two Black-and-Whites.

The lake is getting overrun with vegetation, Asian Water Milfoil, and Water Lilies. It's getting hard to see critters in there, but I did find the first migrant ducks, about ten Blue-wing Teal, none males. On an inspiration, I played some rail calls, and got a Sora to call back. It's a species I've long thought should show up there, and I thought I'd heard one sometime before, but only once and not certain. It's a new species for the park list.

Hummer aggression at feeders

2006-09-05T16:12:00.000-05:00

I got a comment on one of my posts about aggressive hummingbirds guarding feeders and keeping other hummers from accessing the nectar. Question was if this is unusual. Answer from my experience is that it's common behavior. I have two feeders out of sight of one another. At one, I've seen six birds feeding at once, a little skittish, but able to finally get a drink. At the other there's a female that guards the feeder all day using a great deal of energy to avoid sharing. The group feeder gets refilled every three days or so, the guarded one can go two plus weeks and still not be empty. What the hummers are doing this time of year is putting on weight for migration, lots of weight, 50+% gain. So the ones with unimpeded access may be getting up to the required energy level faster than the one with control of the feeder at the cost of endless guard duty chasing off interlopers. It would be an interesting experiment to see which gains weight faster. Under conditions of very limited food supplies, guarding might be the best stategy, but unlimited access might make a looser approach better. Maybe a moral here, greed is dumb when the world is rich.

Early August Composites

2006-08-26T14:29:00.000-05:00

This is a site I check about every week, from the Carolina Piedmont. There's enough overlap in our ecologies that it's often relevant, like this one.

Early August Composites

The dragonfly identified

2006-08-22T12:08:00.000-05:00

I sent an email to Herschel Rainey, excellent Arkansas birder and lover of arthropods, describing the dragonfly sighting from Sunday. He says Dragonhunter, a dragonfly that hunts other dragonflies. Where I saw it, where the road crosses the big meadow below the cabins, is usually patrolled by 30 - 50 Saddlebags (another dragonfly) and so a good place to hunt. Herschel has a site, and if you scroll down to Dragonhunter you can get a pic. Go up a level for more species and other information. I found another site for Arkansas insects at the University, and a good site with lots of nationwide links

Herschel has a book out called Snowmelt Timberdoodles, full of tales, reflections, and lots of natural history. One of the best things I've read recently.

Sunday birds, a good find

2006-08-21T15:49:00.000-05:00

Well it's a pretty dead time of year for birding, but then a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher shows up. The Arkansas checklist has it as rare migrant. It was below the bathhouse in the semi-open space by the big cat-tail patch right where Mulladay creek enters the lake. Another interesting thing was a flock of half a dozen Great Crested Flycatchers. I think our local birds are gone, and these were likely migrants from further north. Lots of Parulas, a single Kentucky still. White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos still thick. Found a new dragonfly too, but I haven't run down the ID yet, a clubtail, I believe, with clear wings that had a thin yellow leading edge. A big puppy too, almost four inches. I'll get that together tomorrow.

Beating the dawn chorus

2006-08-10T16:12:00.000-05:00

I was beat from the heat, took a long nap, like seven hours, and up at half past midnite Wednesday morning. Since I'd just finished the Kroodsma book, The Singing Life of Birds, I figured I'd try for the dawn chorus at Lake Leatherwood. Got there about 5 am, dark enough to use a flashlight since the full moon was setting. Watched the day slowly arrive. First big thrill was both Eastern Screech Owls and Barred Owls calling. The first daylight birds were Cardinals, followed by wrens, crows, and woodpeckers. At that point the clouds turned orange, meaning sunrise, though it takes a long time for the light to come over the ridge above the lake and actually hit the ground. By nine o'clock I had nearly forty species, and that with some big misses. Eastern Kingbirds are gone as well as Great Crested Flycatchers. Pewees, Phoebes and Acadians still present. Chipping sparrows gone. But about a dozen Hummers, more than I've ever seen there by a factor of two. Hummer migration is in full swing according to postings on the net as well. This is the beginning of the time of year to watch for some rare vagrant hummers, most likely being Rufous. If anybody finds one around Eureka, please let me know.

Ivory-bills LiVE!!

2006-08-07T10:59:00.000-05:00

Sort of local news, read the post addressed to skeptics.

Ivory-bills LiVE!!

National Invasive Species Information Center

2006-08-04T12:19:00.000-05:00

On the downside of plants, invasives are a local problem. The two worst n my opinion are Sericea Lespideza along roadsides and in pastures, and Asian Water Milfoil, which is swallowing up most of the shallows at Lake Leatherwood.

National Invasive Species Information Center

Celebrating Wildflowers - Southern Region

2006-08-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

Here's a Forest Service wildflower site, and there are three specific listings for Arkansas. The Missouri side of the border is on a different page, so go back through the home page.

Celebrating Wildflowers - Southern Region

Southbound Migration

2006-07-28T11:20:00.000-05:00

It's already happening. The first signs were a Spotted Sandpiper, and the disappearing Orchard Orioles. The spotty was about three weeks ago, and I haven't seen any more, nor any othere shorebirds at Lake Leatherwood, but If someone were to travel to Centerton Fish Hatchery about forty miles west, they would probably find eight to ten species of southbound migrants. Send me a note if you want to make a trip. Another sign is the decline in common warblers. Blue-wings, Louisianas, and Kentuckys have all but disappeared. Many birds disperse after completing nesting. Some also molt, as several folks have asked what was up with their Cardinals, funny gray bald heads. It'll still be awhile before any winter residents show up, but I'm curious when the first southbound ducks will blow in.

This should be the beginning of a great time totake advantage of the new blind. Currently viewing is hampered by the amount of vegetation, lilies and whatnot, tho that can be attractve to the critters as cover. I'm still hoping for some rails to make an appearance, am actually surprised that I've never found one at Leatherwood. Especially given that I had a Sora land in a flower-bed at my house.

Native plants and hummers

2006-07-26T07:26:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting article on Native plants and wildlife, and some reflections on the state of yard plantings to attract birds.

Nature, hummingbird, ecology, bird banding

The White River threatened

2006-07-21T09:50:00.000-05:00

Not in our area, but it does involve some of the most important habitat in the state.

The White River - Arkansas Wildlife Federation

More inverts

2006-07-20T12:18:00.000-05:00

I just got an email back from Herschel Rainey, one of our excellent Arkansas Naturalists, and the Author of "Snowmelt Timberdoodles", a collection of natural history essays that I found entrancing. Anyway, I'd sent him some questions about a couple of insects I'd seen at Leatherwood. So, a large dark blue Dragonfly is a Great Blue Skimmer, larger than the very common and paler blue Pondhawk, and a great wasp with no common name, a Pelucinid. This thing is really striking, and at first I'd thought a kind of Dragonfly, but couldn't find anything in the book vaguely like it.

A Tale of two Crows

2006-07-20T12:14:00.000-05:00

A number of folks have asked me, "what's wrong with our crows, they sound funny?" Well they sound okay for a species called a Fish Crow, which differs from the usual American Crow that most of us grew up with. So, two species of crows, two differnt calls. The usual "caww, caww" is the American, and the higher pitched rubber-ducky-like "kee-kee" is the Fish. The next question is a vaiation on, why haven't I noticed thembefore, have they always been here? Well, no. They arrived in the last twenty years or so, and have become quite common in the summer. They are migratory, while the American version is here all year. Apparently they, the Fish, started out as a primarily coastal species, specialized for water habitats, and then they started following rivers inland. Up the Mississippi, up the Arkansas and the White, first to Beaver Lake, and then to nearby lakes like Leatherwood, and even more recently, into town. Study the range maps for each of them. They have to be pretty adaptable, and something must alsobe changing in the habitat, but I don't know what that factor is. According to David Sibley, before agricultural settlement crows were adapted to mixes of woodland and openings, which have become far more common as farming has spread, but (I'm guessing) The American crow must be more cold tolerant, ie, better able to find food and shelter in winter, and critically, after ice storms or deep snow events. Possibly a warming climate has favored the fish crows in some way.

When I see them both at Lake Leatherwood, they are usually in separate flocks, or pairs, and aren't often together, tho I haven't witnessed any actual conflict. The Ameicans are slightly larger and sleeker. The Fish crows sometimes give the impression of having bad hair days. Fish Crows also spread the feathers on their necks when they call, unlike the American.

Some local Dragonflies

2006-07-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

Here are some dragonfly species that I've seen in the last couple of weeks.

Common Green Darner

Widow Skimmer

Common Whitetail

Eastern Pondhawk

Carolina Saddlebags - I couldn't find a site I liked for this one

Halloween Pennant

There are some others, but I haven't developed an eye for them yet.

Giant Swallowtail Butterflies

2006-07-18T10:49:00.000-05:00

I did the bird count on Monday, since they were racing at Lake Leatherwood on Sunday morning. The birds were pretty good, except that I couldn't find a single Kentucky Warbler. There was a Worm-eating. But the big deal was two Giant Swallowtails, which I don't recall seeing there, or anywhere around here before. One down on the overgrown meadows on the Leatherwood trail, and one in the cabin area. For more info, click on the back link below the picture.

Avian flu: Is there an ornithologist in the house?

2006-07-18T10:41:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting take on a current bird type issue from my friend in Duluth.

Birderblog.com - Avian flu: Is there an ornithologist in the house?

Five local breeders on the Audubon Watchlist

2006-07-15T10:20:00.000-05:00

Five species that breed locally have been placed on the Audubon Watchlist, at the less critical level. These birds have population trends that are of concern and are under stress from a variety of factors.

The birds are:

Blue-winged Warbler, a common breeder at Lake Leatherwood, usually found in the meadows along the Leatherwood Trail, and also in the overgrown glade habitat behind the Forestry Office and down the trail behind their dozer parking space.

Kentucky Warbler, one of the common (!) breeders at Lake Leatherwood. I guess we have the perfect habitat. I can usually find half a dozen territories in four hours, probably more if I set my mind (and feet and ears) to it.

Prairie Warbler, which we've had one or two of most years. This past year I've been finding them in a new area, and there seems to be a lot of similar habitat at the Lake. They my actually be thriving there.

Wood Thrush, common at Lake Leatherwood, and very common in town (Eureka Springs, AR) where some of the locals call it the eternity bird, for it's haunting eerie calls in the morning and evening.

Worm-eating Warbler, less commonly seen, but always present during breeding season. I found one last Sunday. Very much a skulker, but I've read in older research that they were one of the most common woodland birds in the Ozarks. Population decline has raised a flag.

Two other species are seen regularly and breed in the area, Prothonatary Warblers, which I've found easier to find around the Houseman Access, and Cerulean Warblers, which we see in migration at Lake Leatherwood, and which are probably breeding there below the Dam, but I don't survey that area regularly. Here's a project for some interested person.

Dickcissels are also on the list, which seemcommon in the flatlands on the way to Fayetteville, and in the Arkansas River Valley, but like most grassland species they are suffering from habitat loss.

Southeastern gecko found in Kansas - Yahoo! News

2006-07-11T11:14:00.000-05:00

I learned to love Gecko's in New Orleans, where they lived in my kitchen. They must be here too. Heads up!

Southeastern gecko found in Kansas - Yahoo! News

Sedges Have Edges . . . (Grasses, Sedges & Rushes)

2006-07-10T15:43:00.000-05:00

I found this very useful site about grasslike plants. There is a very common rush, a small one and it's often in paths, little clusters of yellowish green. Joe Woolbright, the Nature Conservancy priarie mantenence guy, calls them path rush. They're very resutant to abuse. They grow in my dirt driveway where the tires kill all else.

Sedges Have Edges . . . (Grasses, Sedges & Rushes)

Good luck with skulkers

2006-07-10T13:05:00.000-05:00

Between last Sunday and yesterday I've found thre of the little hide in the underbrush warblers. Last week I got an Ovenbird in the thicket along the Leatherwood trail after it splits off Beacham. Then yesterday there was a Common Yellowthroat in the same area. And over by the spring overflow wetland by the maintenence yard I found the first of the year Worm-eating Warbler.

Another interesting find along the Leatherwood trail: in the open area with the light purple mint that's very common, about two feet tall, many Hummingbird Moths. They have transparent wings and thick bodies, and fly about the flowers in a sort of upright position. They do sort of look like hummers, but smaller.

Species numbers were down slightly, but many individuals, especially fledgelings of all kinds. Even a Pileated Woodpecker. And finally I'm seeing Black-and-White Warblers again, which seem much less numerous than previous years. There are more than usual Yellow-throated Vireos, which I guess is a compensation.

Fourth of July

2006-07-05T14:03:00.001-05:00

My efforts to sell some Bluebird houses made from the leftovers of the cedar deck fencing were pretty much rained out. I still have ten left, so if you want one, leave a phone number in the comments (I won't let it post) or try an email through my profile. The good part was sitting around in the wet and just watching the afternoon activity. Saw a Kingfisher, which was not doing its rattle call. That might explain why I haven't been catching them much lately. But the best news was after the fireworks, when I heard a Chuck-will's-widow calling from across the lake. It's a new species for the Lake Leatherwood list. It now stands at 193 species. Just need few more to make 200, and think that a Great-horned Owl, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and a Common Loon shouldn't be too hard. Beyond that I just need some luck.

Finally, a bird report

2006-06-26T12:47:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been busy on the blind, (which is completely done, the path has been gravelled and a few carpentry final touches) and hung up in other ways, but Sunday I finally ran my regular survey route. Nothing special to report. There were a lot of Wood Ducks, many immatures, and moms with ducklings. Several other species feeding young, best being an immature Cuckoo hanging in a tree-top and begging. Lots of Titmouse families. Two Louisiana Waterthrushes in the entryway of the bath-house; I have no idea what they were doing there. And etc. I confess I find this part of the year the least interestin. I've been sitting at home planning a trip in Eastern Kansas for the fall, but may do something shorter and closer since I'm itching to drive around and see new territory.

On the thank-you front: Contributions to the bird blind were received from The Ninestone Land Trust, and from Kamal Singh. Larry Harrison made a pledge as well. My thanks to all of them.

Apologies

2006-06-19T15:29:00.000-05:00

I'm not doing too well on birds sightings and all that. Started to Leatherwood for the weekly count on Sunday, and the road was blocked by heavy equipment, something to do with the bridge construction. I did get out there today and make the cement pour for the whelchair pad. Ended up the inevitable one bag short. That should be the name of a rock band.

The finished lower ramp

2006-06-15T14:33:00.000-05:00

The finished lower ramp
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Lon Dell and Randall Thompson came out, and we finished the lower ramp and all the forms and prep for the wheelchair landing pad and the short connector section of gravel pathway. A nice morning, and all the wood stuff is done (I hope).

Ramp framing 3

2006-06-14T08:20:00.000-05:00

Ramp framing 3
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

On Tuesday we got the framing in for the rest of the ramp. Work party on Thursday morning to pour the landing pad. More thanks to Lon Dell.

Unidentified flower

2006-06-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

P6070103
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Does anyone know what this flower is. I found it near the birdblind, doesn't seem to be a coneflower.

Upper sections of ramp from above

2006-06-08T10:45:00.000-05:00

Upper sections of ramp from above
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

LonDell came out and we got the upper portion of the ramp pretty much finished. I ran a little short of fencing boards, but got them up this morning. The fence along the ramp slopes upward from under five feet at the rest/passing platform to tthe full height at the viewing platform.

Our Breeding birds

2006-06-05T08:32:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the slow posting of bird sightings. What we're seeing now is pretty much the summer residents and breeders. The following list is for two days the past week. The Yellow-billed Cuckoos finally showed up, and in good numbers. Also heartening is the three singing Prairie Warblers, two in an area where they haven't been before, but where the habitat seems perfect, along a glade ledge with old field cedars.

Northwest Arkansas Audubon, one of the supporters of the Bird Blind project, had a field trip at Lake Leatherwood on Sat June 3. We had about a dozen people, with me and Joe Neal leading. Worked my regular route, walked the dry creek a ways, circled up the far side of the lake as far as the first inlet, birding and botanizing care of Joe Woolbright, manager of several Nature Conservancy Prairie restorations.

He thinks there are restorable Ozark glade habitats at the park, but it doesn't seem likely that the Parks commission would be ready to undertake such a project, even though they have the Forestry equipment on site already. It would include extensive preparation that looks a lot like logging, and then controlled burning to open the glades and reduce fuels.

SPECIES SEEN
From 5/30/2006 to 6/4/2006 ~ in Lake Leatherwood ~ 52 seen

Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Turkey Vulture
Cooper's Hawk
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Crow
Fish Crow
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue-winged Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
American Goldfinch

I speculate that the following species are also present and breeding

Black Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-wing Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Blue Jay
Northern Flicker possible
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Three species of Owls
Whip-poor-will, maybe Chuck's and Nighthawks too
Bewick's Wren possible
Northern Mockingbird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Pine Warbler
Cerulean Warbler below the Dam
Worm-eating Warbler
Swainson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Dicksissel
Eastern Meadowlark
Field Sparrow
Painted Bunting
House Finch

That would make about 80 breeding species at Lake Leatherwood, and by inference in the area of Eureka Springs. I'd like to hear if anyone can add a species to this list, for instance Red-tailed Hawks, Red-headed Woodpeckers, or Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. There are of course the imports, House Sparrow, Rock Pigeon, and Starling. We should be able to confirm some of the possibles as the season progeses.

Ramp framing

2006-06-04T08:12:00.000-05:00

Ramp framing
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

This is the beginning of the ramp construction. The wide spot is a rest/passing area.

Friday bird walk

2006-05-20T13:51:00.000-05:00

I took five folks around on Friday morning. Not real birdy, but we got some great looks at very nice birds. Two best were a male Yellow Warbler, and a female was present in the same tree where I found her nearly a week ago, presuming it's the same bird. We also got a great look at two different Prothonotary Warblers. Both species are possible but uncommon breeders in Arkansas, so I'm excited by that possibility. We got some pics of a Great Spangled Fritillary too, one of the most beautiful butterflies aound here. I'm supposed to be getting some pictures from the hike, and if allowed, I'll put some of these critters up on the blog.

There has been some talk on the net in the birding listservs that this year's migration is pretty slow, and some speculation invokes the hurricane damage on the gulf coast. The migrants are pretty finely tuned to get some rest and forage as soon as they hit the coast, and a lot of the tree patches were just leveled. There may also be some toxins about released by all the damage. Lot of room for speculation.

Birding on Monday

2006-05-17T10:03:00.000-05:00

I did the Sunday survey on Monday. Very strange, not a single woodpecker. Still 53 species and all the ducks but woodies are gone. One really neat thing was several Blackpoll Warblers, left from Saturday, and at least three Chestnut-sided Warblers and then another when I got to town. Not much else as far as migrants. The dense foliage is a problem as far as spotting motion up high, so I'm betting I'm missing some good sightings. I haven't found the Lazuli Bunting again, but one is coming to a feeder at the Elk Education Center in Ponca. Apparently a lot have been blown this way by the series of big storms blowing through; there were reports in eastern Kansas too.

Migratory Bird Day Hike

2006-05-13T14:08:00.000-05:00

About ten folks showed up for the annual Bird Day Hike. Conditions were less than ideal for seeing birds, since the early warmth this spring coupled with the recent rains has got the trees fully leafed out, rather than the more open state they are usually in this time of year. We got some great looks at a female Yllow Warbler, a singing Blackpoll Warbler (which is a new bird for Lake Leatherwood), male and female Baltimore Orioles, Bluebirds, a White-eyed Vireo, and some other usual suspects. A lot of birds were heard but were impossible to see. A favorite with the crowd was a Yellow-breasted Chat.

After the hike some folks came by for the bird blind dedication, a very informal affair, but productive of some good ideas. They said they liked the blind, and seemed sincere.

Before the hike started I heard a bird singing that wasn't familiar, and tried to find it. Sounded sort of like an Indigo Bunting, but not exactly. I was able to find it in the top of a tree uphill from the big meadow, and eventually saw enough red on the chest of a blue bird to figure out it was a Lazuli Bunting. This species has been seen three times in Arkansas as far as I know right now, ie, a big deal. I've played some recordings, and the sound seems to match as well. Needless to say that's a new bird for Leatherwood too.

Where do the birds go?

2006-05-12T13:06:00.000-05:00

Partners in Flight offers maps showing wintering grounds for the birds that breed her, and breeding grounds for the birds that winter here. Other less important states too.

Partners in Flight - U.S.-- Technical Series

Stairs

2006-05-11T15:48:00.000-05:00

Stairs
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Finished. Now for the ramp.

View of lower deck

2006-05-11T15:46:00.000-05:00

View of lower deck
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

This is what Lon Dell spent the morning on. I got the design idea from some research I had done on blinds a few years ago. The idea is that a person can roll up to the shelf and have a place to rest arms. I put them at slightly different heights, and they should be good kid places too. I'm hoping they're strong enough to stand being stood on.

Lon Dell Williams

2006-05-11T15:34:00.000-05:00

Lon Dell Williams
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

I can't seem to get a good picture of Lon Dell. I don't know how this project would be as far as it is without him. Heartfelt Gratitude, simple Amazement. He came out again today, the fourth or fifth day he's put in great quality work, and been good company. He got the wheelchair ports done while I worked on the stairs.

Upper deck walls done

2006-05-07T14:52:00.000-05:00

Upper deck walls done
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Spent Sunday morning getting some cedar fencing up. I think it looks OK. Also got the little benchseat done. No help came so I didn't get anything done on the ramp. Still have to figure out the wheelchair port details, maybe get that done tomorrow, if it will just not rain.

Support comes from NWAAS

2006-05-04T10:04:00.000-05:00

The Board of Directors of Northwest Arkansas National Audubon (NWAAS) voted a $300 grant to the Bird Blind Project, and their president, John Humphries, also the proprietor of the Wild Bird Center, gave another $50 in the name of the business. I am very grateful to all involved for their generosity. Special thanks to Paige Mulhollen for shepherding the project through their review process. Anybody local, or visitors, that wants to make a contribution can go on one of the personal hikes, arranged through the CAPC (479 253 7333) or the May Fine Arts Festival office (866 947 4387), at $25 per person, 2 people minimum. All proceeds go to the bill for materials for the blind.

Portholes framed out

2006-05-04T10:02:00.000-05:00

BB Day7 3
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Wednesday saw most of the wall framing done with the portholes defined. I still have to figure out the details of the wheelchair ports. Lon Dell had to tend to a wedding, so we haven'tgot going on the ramp yet, but it still looks possible by IMBD, May 13.

Upper deck fence framing under way

2006-05-01T15:51:00.000-05:00

Upper deck fence framing
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Spent a good day getting the fence framing defined. I still haven't got exact locations on the ports, and may wait til the fencing is in hand, which won't be until the beginning of next week.

View from lower deck

2006-04-30T14:20:00.000-05:00

BB Day5 3
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Looking toward the stairs

Lower portion decked

2006-04-30T14:18:00.000-05:00

BB Day5 1
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Lon Dell and Jerry helped out and made quick work of decking the lower platform. I think we're about halfway done. The ramp still has to be done, and I'm waiting for the fencing to be delivered. Next project is framing out the walls to receive the fencing.

Salt and Pepper Kingsnake

2006-04-30T14:15:00.000-05:00

Kingsnake 3
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

That's what I always called them, but I don't know if that's the official name. When I found him (?) he was down the hole where the little pebble is. I was afraid he'd go through and fall in a well. It was about three feet long, maybe a little less.

Spicebush Swallowtails

2006-04-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

Spicebush ST 2
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

Seen at the birdblind site. The group at left is females, which have greenish coloring and are larger than the male at upper right, which has an almost pure blue coloring. The behavior of gathering at shallow water puddles is called "puddling". Isn't that strange.

Flowers and a Question Mark

2006-04-25T12:24:00.000-05:00

New bloomers include Spiderworts, Milkweed almost, Comfrey (known locally as Lamb's Ear), Purple Asters, the blooms have appeared on the Wild Ginger, Wood Sorrel is blooming, the Pennyroyal is up enough to be fragrant, and there are some very well done Wild Geraniums.

A Question Mark is a butterfly. The one I saw was gunmetal blue-gray on the hindwing, outlined with white, much nicer than the photo in the link. I also had an Eastern Pondhawk, one of the few dragons I've learned so far.

After the Flood

2006-04-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

I had three inches at my house, and I think Eureka may have been over four. Leatherwood Creek was bank-to-bank again, with lots of flooding over trails and re-arranging of flotsam. I ended up wading, wet to my knees, hoping for some fallout. That's when the north-bound birds hit heavy weather and go to ground in unusual concentrations. It didn't happen. But I did find a number of new birds for the year. The following is just the things not seen on Sunday.

Chimney Swifts
Many Tree Swallows
Cliff Swallows, a few
Magnolia Warbler
Pine Warbler
Gray Catbird
Broad-wing Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Common Yellowthroat
Tennessee Warbler
Baltimore Oriole

That makes another ten species in the last three days

Journey North Monarch Butterfly Spring 2006

2006-04-24T13:50:00.000-05:00

Journey North Monarch Butterfly Spring 2006

This is a great site, lots of nuances. The Monarchs have been here for a couple of weeks, and I'm seeing milkweed about a foot tall. Haven't checked for eggs.

Today's bird list, with comments

2006-04-23T15:49:00.000-05:00

I've added some links on the more interesting critters, and some notes

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Great Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron - this was a treat, I see one or two every year

Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
American Coot - seems late
Solitary Sandpiper - flying with wing flicks, unususal here
Spotted Sandpiper - two together
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher

Red-headed Woodpecker - a real treat always, but hardly ever at Leatherwood. There are a coupleof places in town where they are relaible.

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo - sounds like a red-eye, but some phrases are extended, loud too

Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow - two males in conflict, maybe we'll get a nest
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Wren

Bewick's Wren - this is special, they've nested sucessfully at Leatherwood, but only seen a couple of times last year. Hoping for another nesting. They look like Carolina's but have white bellies instead of orangeish.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler - saw two males chasing, with a female watching
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula

Yellow Warbler - a singing male, gorgeous. I think they could nest here, I have a record from near Ozark, but they head on north every year.

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler - in its regular place on the far side of the lake
Black-and-white Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush - numbers seem to fall, maybe because of dryness
Kentucky Warbler - they're back
Summer Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow - a pair with bright orange legs
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting - the electric blue blessing, first one at Leatherwood
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird

Orchard Oriole - suddenly there are five or six, singing and claiming trees. Leatherwood is one of the best palces around to see them.

American Goldfinch

Number of Species: 60

Saturday results

2006-04-23T11:52:00.000-05:00

BB Day4 1
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

This shows most of what we got accomplished on Saturday. Lon Dell came by and we set four more posts, hung some rim joists and built the stairs, which are still needing some treads and railings. I'm hoping to get that done today (Sun). Bird report coming too, 58 species this morning

Good morning on the blind, birds too

2006-04-22T14:43:00.000-05:00

Birds first. Sally Thackery called and said she had Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, the one that goes "chicky-tuck", and Rose-breasted Grosbeak in her yard yesterday. Now that's three of the showiest species in Eastern North America. Too bad Wood Ducks don't show upon feeders. There's also been a rumor for years that Painted Buntings stay at Holiday Island in the summer. If anyone has specific info about them, I'd love to know.

I had an email and comment on the Falcate Orange-tip butterfly from Don and Judy of Nine-stone. Apparently they have seen them there as well. So heads up, it's a single brooded spring flyer, so now is the time.

Lon Dell came again and we got four more posts cemented in the ground, the lower deck rimmed, and the stairs to the upper deck mostly done. Should also be able to get some pics up tomorrow. I'll be out there tomorrow morning for the bird count starting at 7, then will work on the blind railings in the afternoon. Anybody is welcome for either or both events.

Blind under construction

2006-04-20T12:33:00.000-05:00

Blind under construction
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

This is the view down the little path to the stair location. The height of the wall will be six feet, so some of the posts seen here will be shortened. We hope to get the stairs built on Saturday, which will make everything a lot easier with acces to a flat work area on the platforms.

Blind under construction

2006-04-20T12:30:00.000-05:00

Blind under construction
Originally uploaded by Jettpakk1.

This gives some idea of the visualimpact from the path of the wheelchair ramp. The lower paltfrom will be decked this weekend.

Work on the Blind

2006-04-19T13:56:00.000-05:00

Lon Dell came out again, and we got some rim joists bolted and the inner joists hung, then decking applied. That makes the upper platform able to be stood on, and the view is great. LD was surprised at how much four-plus feet added to the view. Next work party is Saturday morning, any help is appreciated. Kate from the Carroll County News came by and took a few pictures and is working up an article. I'll get a couple of my pix up tomorrow. I didn't see any new migrants, but birding was not very good with the generator running, but it sure did make a difference in ability to use tools.

Sunday 4/16 Bird report

2006-04-17T09:44:00.000-05:00

First of year this weekend were Lots of Red-eyed Vireos, and two Warbling Vireos. There was one Indigo Bunting on Sat, but I couldn't find any on Sunday. Hawks were good, Red-shoulders that live there, a great look at a Sharp-shinned that will be gone soon, and a Broad-wing. I had the first Chimney Swift on Sunday, so they should be doing their crepuscular dances downtown soon. I had a couple of Ovenbirds too and a small flock of a dozen Cedar Waxwings hanging around the cabin area. There are still Ruby-crowned Kinglets, but they should be leaving soon, along with the single White-throated Sparrow that is still skulking.

The wildflower report

2006-04-17T09:36:00.000-05:00

While birding at Lake leatherwood I took notes on the wildflower bloom too. Buckeyes and PawPaws are blooming, the pawpaw bloom being one of the wonders of our local nature. On the ground I had lots of the plants previously mentioned and several new ones.

Two colors of Larkspurs
Wild Onions
Blue-eye Grass
Yellow Star Grass (I think that's the right name)
Shooting Stars
White Violets
Wood Sorrel (it was out last week)
A few Trilliums
A few Mayapples
The Wild Ginger leaves are up, but I couldn't find any blooms yet

Many Monarch Butterflies, and several others that I didn't get IDs on, and several Dragonflies that I couldn't even get good looks at, they seem disinclined to rest much in the morning.

Bird Blind progress and new critters arriving

2006-04-15T13:15:00.000-05:00

LonDell Williams came out this morning and helped for four hours, so we got up five additional posts and some rim joists. Big progress there. Saw DonnaKay and Leona, super birders of Berryville, who said they'd seen first of year Indigo Buntings and Red-eyed Vireos. They also reported Pine Warblers and Yellow-throated Vireos seen. We had a singing Yellow-throated Warbler over the blind site, and a Louisiana Waterthrush at the yard. I've had Whip-poor-wills a home for at least a week. Blind pictures coming soon, next work party is Wednesday morning at 8:30, we'll get some bolts run in and joists and decking going. Ron of Seligman dropped off the generator he's generously allowing us to use. A good looking machine too.

Sunday report, GREAT butterfly

2006-04-09T16:54:00.000-05:00

Well I got fifty species of birds, but the best find was a beautiful butterfly, a Falcate Orangetip. Check the range map to see why this is quite a find. It was along the trail from the Beacham loop to the ball fields, right where the big sycamores open into a little meadow. Same place where the first Blue-Winged Warblers showed up today. Only new flowers I noticed were Orange Hawkweed, and White Violets. Also new were Northern Rough-wing Swallows, Green Heron, Barn Swallows (but this group must have just been passing through). That's all I can remember.