Geese through Limpkins

There appears to be a surge of Tundra Swans into Arkansas this winter based on reports from six different counties. Eight Tundra Swans were seen in the Atkin’s Bottoms, Pope Co 3 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). Two adults and four cygnets were reported in Clark Co, a first for Bald Knob NWR, White Co 6 Jan (Renn & Terry Tumlison). Two adults were observed at Lake Sequoyah, Washington Co 26 Jan (Todd Ballinger). Nine birds were photographed in fields North of I-40 and East of Blackwell exit, Conway Co, 7 Feb (Michael Linz & Patty McLean). An adult was on Clay Rd, White Co 7 Feb (Tamalyn Wortham), and another adult was seen near County Rd 5, Lafayette Co 9 Feb (Keith McFaul).

A group of seven Trumpeter Swans were observed near Clay Rd, White Co 7 Feb and 16 Feb (Tamalyn Wortham). Most of the swans seen in Arkansas are Trumpeter Swans although Tundra Swans appear to be increasing in Arkansas.

An adult Black Scoter was observed almost daily at Lake Dardanelle–Nichols Property (restricted access), Yell Co 12 Dec and continuing until 9 Feb (Kenny & La Donna Nichols).

Rare wintering Common Mergansers were reported at two different locations: two females at Lake Beaverfork, Faulkner Co 16 Jan (Michael Linz & Patty McLean) and one adult female at Lake Dardanelle, Nichols Property (restricted access), 17 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols).

A very rare Red-necked Grebe was found at Beaverfork Lake, Faulkner Co 17 Jan (Michael Linz & Patty McLean). Surprisingly, a Western Grebe was found at Anderson’s Minnow Farm, Lonoke Co 17 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols).

An uncommon winter resident Short-eared Owl was photographed at Bald Knob NWR, White Co 26 Feb (Tamalyn Wortham).

Limpkins continued into early Dec at four different locations: Shadow Lake, Greenwood, Sebastian Co 3 Dec (David & Laufrain Taylor); Lake Dardanelle at Shoal Creek, Logan Co 5 Dec (Keven Phillips); Lake Catherine, the lagoon at Spencer’s Bay, Garland Co 7 Dec, present for 5 days, (Larry Hedrick and Richard Rosemier); Willow Beach area, Pulaski Co 9 Dec (Jamie Turpin, Nick Turpin). Only one Limpkin was observed at each location.

Cranes through Falcons

Twelve Sandhill Cranes were located South of Arkadelphia in the fields near the Veolia plant, Clark Co 3 Dec (Bart Theriot).

There were several rare gulls wintering in Arkansas. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was found roosting on an island below the Dardanelle Rock Natural Area/Riverview Recreation Area, Yell Co 3 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). A Glaucous Gull in first-winter plumage was noted at Lake Dardanelle, Nichols Property (restricted access), and Yell Co 9 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). A late-migrating adult Franklin’s Gull was observed at Lake Dardanelle, Nichols Property (restricted access), Yell Co 16 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). A Lesser Blacked-backed Gull in first year plumage was seen at Lake Dardanelle, Nichols Property (restricted access), and Yell Co 18 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). A Glaucous Gull in adult plumage was photographed at Dardanelle Rock Natural Area/Riverview Recreation Area, Yell Co 7 Feb (Michael Linz & Patty McLean). An Iceland Gull in first-cycle plumage was seen almost daily at Dardanelle Rock Natural Area/Riverview Recreation Area, Yell Co 14 Feb–8 Mar (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols).

A large group of 42 lingering Black-crowned Night Herons was counted just off Bob Long Rd, Lonoke Co 17 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). This species has been found at this location over the past several CBC counts.

A Red-tailed Hawk was notable because it may be the same bird that was in the area last winter at Atkins Bottoms, Pope Co 19 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). A Ferruginous Hawk was photographed on Goldman Sunshine Rd, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co 24 Feb (Tamalyn Wortham). This species is a rare visitor to Arkansas in the winter season.

A mature and sub-adult Golden Eagles were observed in the Atkins Bottoms 17 Feb (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). A single Golden Eagle had occasionally been observed in the area through the winter. An unusual observation was a Bald Eagle catching and eating a Ring-billed Gull at the Dardanelle Rock Natural Area/Riverview Recreation Area, Yell Co 26 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols).

A Merlin was sighted at Bald Knob NWR, White Co 26 Feb (Tamalyn Wortham).

Wrens through Warblers

A Rock Wren was giving its bubbling call as it was photographed at Point Remove Creek at Highway 113 Bridge, Conway Co 29 Dec (Michael Linz & Patty McLean).

A Townsend’s Solitaire was located at Mount Magazine SP, Hang Glider Launch Site, Logan Co 12 Dec (Kevin Krajcir, Heather Cook; Betty Evans). Townsend’s Solitaire is a very rare bird in Arkansas. When it appears, it is found on Mount Magazine during the winter.

Four Red Crossbills were reported and photographed at a yard near Lake Norwood, Benton Co 11 Feb (Deb Hayden).

Uncommon was an Oregon sub-species of Dark-eyed Junco at the Lake Dardanelle, Nichols Property (restricted access), Yell Co 17 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols).

Two thousand Brewer’s Blackbirds were tallied at Cherokee St/Willow Bend Drive, Conway Co 2 Dec (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). Normally, only a dozen or so Brewer’s Blackbirds are found at a given location in Arkansas.

An apparent overwintering Palm Warbler was photographed in the rough ground at the U of A Experimental Farm, Fayetteville, Washington Co 9 Jan (Todd Ballinger). A Prairie Warbler was also found overwintering, located in the Atkins Bottoms, Conway Co 11 Jan (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). This may be the same individual that has been found at this location for several winters.

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 03 Sep 2024.