Tag: blackbird

Photos: Alcoa Bottoms

May 12, 2023
Northern Waterthrush

I recently visited Alcoa Bottoms near Arkadelphia to see if the Couch’s Kingbird was still there. It wasn’t. But here’s a highlight of what I did find, including my first Northern Waterthrush.

Eastern Kingbird
Marsh Wren
Yellow-headed Blackbird

Photos: Atkins Bottoms

March 24, 2023
Western Meadowlark

This winter, I began visiting the Atkins Bottoms area in Pope County. My goal was to find Tundra Swans. While I haven’t found a Tundra, I did come across a Western Meadowlark during a recent trip. I’m more used to the Eastern Meadowlark, which have darker head stripes. It helped that the Western Meadowlarks were very vocal, making identification easier. Recent trips have been filled with birds, including Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs and even a Merlin. I especially excited to see Lapland Longspurs – a first for me.

Fish Crow
American Kestrel
American White Pelican
Gadwall
Horned Lark
Lapland Longspur
Merlin
Northern Pintail
Red-winged Blackbird
Snow Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Lapland Longspur

Great-tailed Grackle

August 5, 2022

I recently stopped at a Prescott truck stop in southwest Arkansas, and found Great-tailed Grackles. These blackbirds are beautiful with sharp yellow eyes, black bills and legs, and a super long tail. Their feathers are iridescent.

Great-tailed Grackles are not as common in Arkansas, although they can be found year-round in the western part of the state near the border by Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana.