Yesterday, we had the Arkansas Audubon Society of Central Arkansas’s monthly field trip. this month it was to the Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery in Lonoke County.

While we were greeted by Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Bald Eagles, the greatest finds were Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and a large v of 100 Franklin’s Gulls flying over. It took us a while to identify the gulls – none of the trip’s 8 birders had seen that large of a group of Franklin’s before nor seen them fly in a v before.

As for the whistling ducks, they are always just a welcome sight. It was also the first time I’ve heard them whistling. A domestic mallard was hanging out with the whistling ducks.