It may take quite a bit of looking to find Red-cockaded Woodpecker, as they range widely to feed. One place to find these birds is at a site in the Ouachita National Forest, reached by turning west onto a forest road off Highway 71 nine miles south of the town of Waldron.ĭrive about three miles into the national forest and look for the kind of open pinewoods these birds prefer. The nuthatch is fairly common in many kinds of pinewoods, while the sparrow prefers open woods with a grassy understory. Modern forestry practices have made such a habitat rare. The woodpecker is an endangered species, primarily because it needs old-growth pine trees for nesting, as well as an open understory. Three of the sought-after birds of southern pine forests are Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Bachman’s Sparrow. A long levee here has hosted Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Say’s Phoebe, Couch’s Kingbird, Sprague’s Pipit, Chestnut-collared Longspur, McCown’s Longspur, and Snow Bunting, to list a few rarities. Bald Eagles have nested at spots around the lake, and Rock Wrens appear with some regularity in winter along the dam.Ī few miles northeast, the Okay Landing area of the lake can be productive also. Roads lead to the river just below the dam, which can be worth checking for gulls. Though there are no guarantees, rarities such as Magnificent Frigatebird, jaegers, Little Gull, and Sooty Tern have appeared at Millwood. At times, the lake can be full of dabbling and diving ducks, loons, grebes, American White Pelicans, gulls, and terns. A spotting scope is practically a necessity here. There’s a state park at the western edge of the huge dam, but the Beards Bluff area at the eastern end is usually a better viewpoint. Millwood is a very large reservoir, and covering it requires visiting various lookout points. It’s at its best from fall through spring for waterfowl and gulls, and in spring and fall migration for unusual songbirds. In southwestern Arkansas, the large reservoir called Millwood Lake has long been a hotspot for waterbirds, as well as for an extensive list of rare species of all types.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |