Bona Dea Update

Bona Dea was cloudy and cold today. On the way by the sanctuary, I saw an unusual sight. There were 3 Double Crested Cormorants sitting on a piece of a old tree in Lake Dardanelle right across the dike from the park. See photos. Also a close up of a single bird. Bird descriptions shows this bird not known in this area at any time. But this year I have seen a single one on Waldon Pond at Bona Dea and then more than once in this location on Lake Dardanelle. The Turkey Vulchers were flying around and on their usual roosting spot. See photo of them in the trees. Ducks of various types were flying in to their night spot in Black Water Swamp. Unusual not to see a Great Blue Heron at the places I visited today.

Bona Dea Update

I did not think I was going to the Park today, Saturday, but they canceled a ballgame I was going to so I went out there. Did not spend too much time. I walked around without my camera and noticed the Robins around the east end of the park. I heard a funny sounding bird and spent a while trying to locate it. Then in the top of a tree I saw it. I knew it was a woodpecker type of bird right away but could not remember the name. I looked it up and got the info. to I.D. it and saw it was a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker. What a name. It stays here in the winter and not all year round nor breeds here. Below is a link to a picture of it. It really is a pretty bird and what I noticed first was the red on its head the the white streaks on the body with a black background. Also around were the dreaded Starlings. Also a link to them here too. They are all black with shot tails and eat everything in sight.

http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/photos/yellow_bellied_sapsucker_1.jpg

http://www.parishchurch-inf.croydon.sch.uk/Classes/Starlings/bird.png

Bona Dea Update

Bona Dea was cloudy and windy today. It had rained 1.44in.in the past 48 hours. The spillway was really running. The Great Blue Heron soul mate was there trying to find dinner. He flew off a few feet but some time later he flew back close to me to wait me out before resuming his hunt for fish. Photo. Also just a note to say that this picture of Mr. and Mrs. Snowman just married at the park was published in the local newspaper. Wow!!! I am getting famous. I actually sent them the photo as they requested such from folks in the area. I did not see any Turkey Vulchers when I first arrived and that was unusual. But later on they came in droves flying over their late afternoon roosting spot but never landed. Just kept flying. Mallard and Teal ducks flew over to Black Water Swamp from Prarie Creek where they like to go during the day and fly to the swamp to spend the night. I may not get to go to the park tomorrow but will post something about nuisance birds in this area in that spot. I have also posted some new links to this blog at the right showing what Arkansas the natural state has to offer. Also some links that might help in identifying and describing the wildlife.

Bona Dea Update

It has been raining at Bona Dea all day and night. Not hard but a light and steady rain. I did not venture out in the backwoods but stayed close to the parking area and ajoining woods. There were flocks of Robins and black Grackels taking their shower. I suppose they have to eat rain or shine. For the first time in a long time I was the only one there. Seemed kinda odd. Stayed in the gazebo most of the time and let the birds come to me. I took a recent photo of a Goundhog den at the sanctuary. Photos of a Robin, black Grackel and Groundhog and den.

Bona Dea Update

Bona Dea started out in the afternoon as mostly sunny and cold and turned to cloudy and cold and a little windy. Rain expected in next 24 hours. I went to a Arkansas Tech University Softball game and saw them win both games of a doubleheader.Just had to put a photo of the game in. A wildlife event occured when I noticed several hundred Gulls on the ground in a field behind the ballpark. They were close to cattle in a field near by. They were all over the place on Tech's farm on the ground. Photos here. One interesting thing happened was that a Tern like bird, like a Gull but smaller, was flying overhead and a Gull saw it and started chasing it all over the place. After the game I went over the Bona Dea. A Great Blue Heron was flying down alligator ally. There were not many small birds out as usual but did see a pretty male Cardinal and some woodland Sparrows, mostly the White Throated variety. Flocks of Canadian Geese flew to Blackwater Swamp. Also the Corps of Engineers brought their crain in to clean out the pumping station. They do this once or twice a year. Photo here. Also a photo of what they are cleaning out. The Turkey Vulchers were at their usual afternoon roosting spot. The local running club had posted signs that they were having a valentine sweetheart run there later this month. So you can bring your sweethearts and get all sweaty together.

Bona Dea Update

Bona Dea was sunny today. Walking down Swinging Bridge Trail I saw a new roosting spot for some Turkey Vulchers. Never saw them there at the south end of Goose Pond. I spooked at Great Blue Heron which then few up with the vulchers. They must know each other. Late in the evening just before dark, several flocks of Canadian Geese flew in V formation to Black Water Swamp. Also there were flocks of Blue Wing Teal ducks flying there also. One of the photo links below shows a similiar flock. They fly more irradic than the Mallard ducks and more rapid wing beats. Also a photo link shows a pair of them as similiar to the ones I see in Prarie Creek by the Big Bridge. Also a link to Canadian Geese since I mention them a lot. The snow at the park is melting more each day and rain is expected in 48 hours so that my take care of the rest of it.

http://www.huntingnet.com/ftb_images/Sporting%20Dog/blue_wingteal_3.jpg

http://www.wildeyesimages.com/Images/Blue-wing-Teal-1.jpg

http://www.riversidezoo.org/animals/geese.jpg

Bona Dea Update

Bona Dea was thawing out more today. Late in the afternoon there was a beautiful sunset with the sun behind the white and gray clouds and in the cloud breaks there were shades of pink here and there. Should have taken my camera along. On Goose Pond there was a small group of Northern Shoveler ducks and Mallard Ducks. In past years there have been more Shovelers in that area. It is noted here that since the winter of 04/05 there have been less and less ducks and geese at the sanctuary. Also the same with the mammal and reptiles. My theory is that climate change has an effect but also this sanctuary is also a drainage for the City of Russellville. The last 2 years have seen this area flood several times a year. When this happens I believe the turtles and snakes in particular get drowned in their hibernation. The snakes usually take to higher ground but these recent floods have had a very high water mark. Also during the spring and summer months these creatures have their young and they just don't survive that kind of destruction. We'll see this year if it is dryer and more productive. Actually today, the most wildlife activity was at my home. I recently put out sunflower seeds, I should have more throughout the winter, and the Fox Squirrels and Eastern Wrens and American Goldfinches and House Finches had a feast. I had to keep going out to run the squirrels away. They get all kinds of food around here including other birdfeeders and acorns anyway. Look at a recent post to see the difference between a Winter Wren and the Carolina Wren. The Carolina Wrens here today were just singing away. They did not like to wait on the squirrel at the feeder. I'm going to have squirrel for dinner one of these days. Kidding!!! Also the American Goldfinch is in winter dress. This means his bright yellow color has faded to an olive green. Just wait in about a month. To see good photos of these creatures I mentioned above click on these links then click back to this page: http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/kpitts3/pennwild/mallard.jpg

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/carolina-wren.jpg

http://www.birdsamore.com/_images/goldfinch-american-female_250.jpg

http://www.coveside.biz/house_finch.jpg

http://www.physicsdaily.com/physics/upload/thumb/f/fd/200px-Squirrel_on_fence.jpg

http://www.wildeyesimages.com/Images/Northern-Shoveler-1.jpg