Date: 2/26/26 8:28 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Apparent migration underway at Beaver Lake
Modest south wind, sunshine, and being middle-of-week (so few boats on lake) made yesterday a good day to visit several places on the south shoreline of Beaver Lake, east of Rogers. Big news from the day was for Beaver Lake high numbers of both gull species typically present in winter and way more than usual number of Double-crested Cormorants.
Pine Warblers were singing in several of the stands of native Shortleaf Pines. This is another good sign of spring in Northwest Arkansas City.
HIGHWAY 12 BOAT LAUNCH AND “REDNECK RIVERIA”:
Ring-billed Gull (52), Bonaparte’s Gull (15), Double-crested Cormorant (1)
COPPERMINE:
Common Goldeneye (15), Ring-billed Gull (54), Bonaparte’s Gull (104), Bufflehead (8), Double-crested Cormorant (34)
LARUE COVE AND ROCKY BRANCH PARK:
Common Goldeneye (2), Ring-billed Gull (10), Bonaparte’s Gull (40)
AND:
The water was flat enough that with my spotting scope I could see all the way across Beaver to Lost Bridge. I should have been able to see Horned Grebes, but didn’t. However, I saw 38 below Lost Bridge during a trip February 20. I’ll bet they are still there. This illustrates a Beaver truism: birds have plenty of places to hide because the shoreline twists back and forth like some old dragon snake (descriptive phrase from Still on the Hill’s “Once a river” CD).
I also stopped at TWIN COVES. Nothing special to report. Always a wonderful spot to enjoy Buttonbushes.
