Birds outnumber people at any Army Corps of Engineers park at Beaver Lake during winter. That's one reason the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society to host a field trip at the lake at least once each winter.
Water, meadows and forest at Rocky Branch park, on the lake east of Rogers, attracts dozens of bird species. Rocky Branch was the destination for a dozen birders who trained their binoculars on swimming waterfowl, songbirds in trees and soaring eagles on Jan. 17. The local Audubon group hosts monthly field trips at prime birding spots around the region. All are welcome. Audubon membership isn't required.
Swepco Birds
The next Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society field trip will be Feb. 7 along the Eagle Watch Nature Trail near Swepco Lake near Gentry. All are welcome. Audubon membership society isn’t required.
Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking area on Arkansas 12 two miles west of Gentry. The trip is an easy one-quarter mile walk to a viewing platform to see birds on water and land.
Information: www.nwarkaudubon.org.
— Staff Report
Rocky Branch park is a favorite destination for Joe Neal of Fayetteville, who led the trip on a mild and sunny Saturday. Neal has written several books about birds, including "Arkansas Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance" that he co-authored with his friend, Doug James.
The trip got off to a bang even before the 10 a.m. start time. Three bald eagles soared over the marina parking lot while the group gathered. At the same time, two species of woodpeckers were seen pecking away in some pines. We set off for an easy walk around the vacant park, empty except for birds.
Waterfowl started the show. Mallards are the most easily recognized ducks at Beaver Lake, but Neal was giddy when he spotted a flock of 16 golden-eye ducks bobbing on the waves. Golden-eyes sport a white cheek patch that makes them easy to identify. Two birders set up high-powered spotting scopes so everyone could get a close look at the unexpected find.
"We pop the blood vessels in our eyeballs trying to see golden-eyes and there they are right there," Neal said.
Graceful gulls put on a show above the lake while small horned grebes swam in formation not far from the golden-eyes.
Songbirds sounded off, perched on forest branches. Several in our group opened field journals and jotted down each species seen. At times, fast penmanship failed to keep up with the variety. Cedar waxwings fed on the blue berries of cedar trees at the edge of a glade.
"That's one reason we take this particular walk is because there are cedar glades. Glades are some pretty fancy bird habitat," Neal said. "We always see some interesting stuff."
All the Corps of Engineers parks at Beaver Lake are fine birding destinations. The reason, Neal explained, is these parks have varied habitat and they're away from housing tracts and other development. They have lots of native plants that birds like.
Ann Gordon of Chester watched the cedar waxwings, but enjoys the Audubon field trips for the people as much as the birds.
"I like the trip leaders. They're so knowledgeable and patient. They don't dismiss beginners," she said.
Don't know a cardinal from a yellow-rumped warbler? No worries on a Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society outing. Everyone is happy to share what they know, be it a little or a lot. Experts and beginners are united in enjoyment during a few hours of admiring beautiful birds.
Flip Putthoff can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip
Sports on 01/29/2015