Late Summer Birding

As summer has continued here in Arkansas, it's stayed cool. What's been a tree-frying upper 90s and 100s the past few summers has taken a turn for the better this year, with highs just in the mid-80s and low 90s. It's been pleasant to say the least. The birds have really picked up late this summer, an uncommon occurrence and probably attributed to several cold fronts in from the north; my hiking has picked up too. Sometimes I'm a little nature crazy, but even I tend to stray from that activity during the heat and humidity of an Arkansas summer. But back to the birds.

For starters, due to several cold fronts in late July, migration in some bird groups seems to have started earlier than usual. The first point in that direction was a 2nd cycle California Gull that showed up on Lake Dardanelle around July 23. For those who know the ins-and-outs of birding in Arkansas, you know that Lake Dardanelle is a rare gull magnet in the winter, but not so much the summer. On the 27th, I went in search of the Cali Gull. I didn't have any luck and there were no other birds on the lake, aside from a pair of Osprey. On the 28th, I tried for the gull again after one of the cold fronts was well on its way. Not only was the California Gull present this time, but so were 4 Ring-billed Gulls, one Herring Gull, and a plethora of terns; all fresh in from up north. ALMOST unheard of for late July, especially the gulls. As a note, the California Gull is still present as I write this on August 11th.

The next weekend, I again found myself in Logan County, this time with friends (and birders) at Mt. Magazine State Park. We hiked the North Rim and Signal Hill Trails, out and back, for a total of about 5 miles. Our only real target for the day was to get out, enjoy the cool weather, and see whatever there was to see. We ended the day with 16 species of birds, not a great count, but considering that things had started to get quiet now that breeding is done, I thought we did pretty well. No spectacular birds, but we really enjoyed the leather flower lining the trail in several spots. Some of the tough, pink flowers were still around; most had turned into the feathery seed heads.

Leather Flower (Clematis sp.)

We couldn't leave without checking the hang-glide launch and south rim for Rufous-crowned Sparrows. These sparrows have been calling the cliffs of Mt. Magazine home since at least the early 1980s. Last winter was a rough one, though, and only one has been seen since. Unfortunately, August 3rd was no exception to their disappearance. From Magazine, I started the four-hour drive home.

Crab Spider with Breakfast, Mt. Magazine SP

From Magazine, I started the four-hour drive home. With an early start to fall migration on my mind, I couldn't help but stop at Bald Knob NWR on the way past. It's not far off the interstate and is a shorebird magnet in the spring and fall. There was only one field with appropriate mud for shorebirds and it didn't disappoint. Almost immediately I had Semipalmated Plovers, Buff-breastd Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpipers, and a surprise fresh off the tundra: a Ruddy Turnstone. The Ruddy Turnstone is a bird I've seen a lot of along the Gulf Coast, but never in Arkansas. It's a rare migrant and one that I've chased several times without success. This individual was still in full breeding plumage and couldn't have made me happier! Even in the afternoon heat shimmers, it's stark black, white, and ruddy coloration stood out.

Congregation of Black-necked Stilts, Bald Knob NWR 

What a week! The California Gull and Ruddy Turnstone marked my 323rd and 324th species for Arkansas. California Gull was also life bird number 365 for North America.

As fall migration really gets going, I'll be off again!