Arkansas & Louisiana: Summer 2018
Summer 2018: 1 Jun–31 Jul
Paul Conover (LA)
zoiseaux@lusfiber.net
Kenny Nichols (AR)
kingbird@ymail.com
Recommended citation: Conover, P., and Nichols, K. 2021. Summer 2018: Arkansas & Louisiana. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-9Pd>Â North American Birds.
Seasonal highlights include Masked Duck, Black-billed Cuckoo, Swallow-tailed Kite, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Siskin.
Contributors (subregional editors in boldface):
Bill Beall, Paul Conover (Louisiana), Eric Cormier, Paul Dickson, Sally Jo Gibson, Gabrielle Hargrove, James Holmes Jr, Erik I Johnson, Michael Linz, Charles Lyon, Jason McCallie, Patty McLean, Sarah Morris, Joe Neal, Kenny Nichols (Arkansas), LaDonna Nichols, Lance Runion, Phil Ryan, Jacob Wessels, Glenn Wyatt.
Abbreviations: BKNWR (Bald Knob N.W.R, White, AR). Significance for Arkansas records is based on Arkansas Birds, their distribution and abundance (James and Neal 1986) and the Arkansas Audubon Society (AAS) online bird record database (for records since 1986). The significance of Louisiana records is based on trends derived from the database of bird record cards submitted to and archived at the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science (LSUMNS); records are taken from rare bird reports submitted to the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) and to the Louisiana birding listserv (LABIRD). More detailed information on Louisiana rarity reports can be found at www.losbird.org/lbrc/lbrc.htm. County and parish names are italicized. Identifying state abbreviations are used in the accounts only in the first mention of a place/county/parish name unless confusion is otherwise unavoidable.
Waterfowl through Grosbeaks
Rare and local, a Mottled Duck at Bundrich Farms 23 Jul was a first for Lafayette AR (CL). Lingering Canvasbacks were at Ozark, Franklin AR (PR) and Choctaw Island WMA, Desha AR (JM) 8 Jun. Providing Louisiana’s fifth accepted record and first in over 25 years, a Masked Duck was discovered at Tar Slough, Caddo 26 Jun (PD, m.ob) and remained until 24 Jul. Rare in summer, a Black-billed Cuckoo near the Buffalo National River 2 Jun was a first for Searcy AR (JW). Rare and very local, an adult King Rail with two chicks was photographed at Choctaw Island WMA, Desha 15 Jun (GH). Rare in summer, an American Coot was at BKNWR 13 Jul (GW). An American Golden-Plover at BKNWR 10 Jun was two weeks late (SM). A Marbled Godwit at BKNWR 28 Jul (PM, ML) was the season’s only report of this rare migrant. A Gulf of Mexico cruise passing through Louisiana offshore waters yielded seven Audubon’s Shearwaters on 25 Aug (JH). Locally rare, a returning Neotropic Cormorant was at SWEPCO Lake, Benton AR 29 Jun (JN). An adult Glossy Ibis and an immature White-faced Ibis were photographed at Bundrich Farms, Lafayette 19 Jul (CL). Both of these species are rare transients. Rare during the breeding season, a Swallow-tailed Kite was observed in Russellville, Pope AR 6 Jun (EC). Locally rare in summer, a Swainson’s Hawk was observed near Chesney Prairie Natural Area, Benton 7 Jul (JN). Most Louisiana records of Black-whiskered Vireo are from coastal parishes, so one recorded singing in inland Lafayette, Lafayette 10 Jun (EIJ) was surprising. A Red-breasted Nuthatch west of Dardanelle, Yell 17 Jun was just the fourth ever summer occurrence for AR (K&LN). Late by at least two weeks, a pair of Pine Siskins visited a feeder in Harrison, Boone AR 3 Jun (SJG). A Great-tailed Grackle in southeast Little Rock 7 Jul (LR) was just the second for Pulaski AR. A late Rose-breasted Grosbeak was observed at feeder in Ft. Smith, Sebastian AR 1 Jun (BB).
Report processed by Randi Minetor, 9 Feb 2021.
