national wildlife refuge

Taking A Break

July 1, 2023

I took a few days off because I needed a break. One of the first things I did was head to south Arkansas to visit the Overflowed National Wildlife Refuge (specifically the North Sanctuary section) in Ashley County.

My goal was to spot, and photograph, Least Bitterns. It was a success, although I really did not expect to be successful on my first attempt. Least Bitterns are very small herons found in wetland areas, although they can be difficult to find. They are found in Arkansas during breeding season. I actually found five with the most active Least Bittern being the one feeding its young.

It was a great trip with plenty of findings – including my first look at a Broad-winged Hawk. Here’s some of what I found at the refuge and in the nearby area:

Photo: Blue-winged Warbler

September 6, 2021

I saw my first Blue-winged Warbler today at Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge in Saint Charles.

The Blue-winged Warbler migrates through Arkansas each year. Cool fact per All About Birds: the oldest recorded Blue-winged Warbler was a male that lived at least 9 years and 11 months. The data was collected during banding operations in Ontario that had the captured, banded, and released.

Revisiting the Whooping Crane

November 27, 2019

Whooping Crane4 Holla Bend WNR 111319.JPG — Whooping Crane at sunset

I recently traveled back to Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge after hearing reports that the Whooping Crane was roaming closer to the road, allowing birders a better view. That was not necessarily the case for my second visit to see it. However, I did get the chance to get a slightly better view as the sunset. Along the way, I also spotted the below Red-tailed Hawk while a group of Northern Shovelers swam in water located just across the road from the Whooping Crane.

Whooping Crane3 Holla Bend WNR 111319.JPG

Red-tailed Hawk Holla Bend WNR 111319.JPG — Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Shoveler Holla Bend WNR 111319.JPG — Northern Shovelers

Semipalmated Plover

September 2, 2019

semipalmated plover 090119 BKNWR.JPG

I recently discovered the above Semipalmated Plover at Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge. Here’s a few other birds found:

Great Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Just a little rain

May 13, 2019

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks1 051119 BKNWR.JPG

It seems Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (above) are the ducks this year. They were among the birds found during a recent rainy trip to Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge. My most exciting find, though: Bobolinks.

Bobolinks

Cliff Swallows

Coyote

Dickcissel

Great Blue Heron

Great Crested Flycatcher

Killdeer

Purple Martin

Wood Ducks

Wood Ducks (babies)

(Click on the photo to see name of bird)

Wapanocca NWR II

July 9, 2013

My trek to Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge was a complete success in bird-terms. I have always wanted to see a Painted Bunting to see if they were as gorgeous as the Indigo Buntings. They are.

We started at the visitor’s center where an Indigo Bunting and a Prothonotary Warbler greeted us separately and walked down the gravel road for about a mile before half of us went back to get our cars. We ended up driving the rest of the way with plenty of stops to see the Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Palm Warblers, and a Pied-billed Grebe as we heard/saw the birds.

We ended up in an open field with a lot of tall grass and shrubbery where we saw the Painted Buntings and eventually at the observatory outlook to look at a Western Grebe through a scope. Not bad for a morning tour.

I ended up leaving at lunch to race back for a family function. Here’s another picture of the Indigo Bunting as well as pictures of other birds we saw:

Western Grebe (a crappy picture, I know)

Wapanocca NWR I (memosforme.wordpress.com)

Wapanocca NWR I

July 9, 2013

My aunt has lived in Marion since I was a little girl. My sister and I would stay with her to make cookies at Christmastime and to visit the Memphis Zoo. I have tons of memories of visiting her house, however, none of them include Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge in Turrell.

Wapanocca is about 15 minutes north of her house and, apparently has a long history with my family. My grandmother and dad both visited the refuge from time to time. I was just introduced this year.

Previously the site of the Wapanocca Outing Club (a hunting club), the 5,485-acre refuge was established in 1961 to provide habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl and consists of mainly agricultural land, bottomland hardwood forest, reforested hardwoods, open water and flooded cypress/willow swamp.

My first visit there was with fellow birders. I spent the night with my aunt and slowly made my way to the refuge to meet the others. I knew it was going to be a great trip when I spotted the below coyotes (oddly, my first viewing) just outside of the refuge.

Here’s some more of my non-bird sighting:

Photo essay: 1st CBC

January 6, 2013

I participated in my very first Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Saturday. It was pretty fun, especially since it allowed me to tour the restricted areas of the White River National Wildlife Refuge.

My group did not discover any rare or unusual birds, however, I was able to view two firsts for me: The Golden-Crowned Kinglet and Wild Turkeys. We also viewed thousands of Mallards, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy ducks, and geese in the refuge’s sanctuary.

Here’s some more pictures from the day:

1-5 (3) Bamboo — Bamboo, an invasive species that is spreading on the refuge.

1-5 (4) Mallards, Ross, Snow and Speckled Bellies Geese2 — There were plenty of Mallards as well as Ross, Snow and Speckled Bellied Geese.

1-5 (5) Mallards, Ross, Snow and Speckled Bellies Geese1 — There were plenty of Mallards as well as Ross, Snow and Speckled Bellied Geese.

Song Sparrow — I saw plenty at the refuge, however, this particular one was at the Stuttgart airport late Saturday afternoon.

Photo essay: Enjoying fall.

September 1, 2012

I traveled to Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge earlier today to see how it looks in the fall before ending up at a nearby park’s swimming hole. Here’s some photos.