Date: 3/3/26 5:15 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Lost Bridge to dam, some observations on Beaver Lake
Yesterday, March 2, was a good day for a Beaver Lake trip. Low wind meant the lake would be “flat,” increasing chances of seeing waterfowl at distance. It was overcast, meaning less glare. Also warm!
I started at the dam site, then went to several spots near Lost Bridge, including old Glade cove off Slate Gap Road, plus the two Army Corps of Engineer parks, Lost Bridge South and Lost Bridge North. These stops provide a decent way to sample waterfowl presence. The word sample is important.
If you look closely at a Beaver Lake map, notice how it looks like “some old dragon snake” (to quote my birder/musician friends Kelly and Donna Mulhollan), twisting and turning, with numerous little islands and hidden coves. Very numerous are hiding places far from the prying eyes of birders.
BEAVER DAM
Almost immediately upon arriving at the day use area I saw a flock of ducks far out (1/2 mile +). When I got the scope on it, a second flock arrived, remained briefly, then moved on. My photos of both are horrors to behold (no sunlight, still some fog, and distance), but when I got home and worked with the photos I realized the first flock involved GREEN-WINGED TEAL (at least 51). Second flock were mostly female COMMON GOLDENEYES (~40), with a few BUFFLEHEADS.
I spent time parked near the gate at the peninsula camping area. I had views of a BALD EAGLE NEST with an adult on the nest and a second adult that flew over me. I also had long distance views of COMMON GOLDENEYES (54), but these were all males.
Other waterfowl in the dam pools included HORNED GREBEs (11), a few PIED-BILLED GREBEs, and just a few RING-BILLED GULLS. Overall, I saw very few gulls on Beaver yesterday.
LOST BRIDGE parks
I picked a few additional BUFFLEHEADS and COMMON GOLDENEYES in the two parks. Also FISH CROWS.
SLATE GAP AT OLD GLADE COVE
This was most vexing. Duck numbers relatively high (~500). But they were so far out I was not able to determine species composition. They were rafting in the current of old White River, as is often the case for birding migrating through Beaver Lake. I was eventually able to tease out some of what was there and in the part of the cove I was able to see clearly. This included NORTHERN SHOVELER, HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and GREEN-WINGED TEAL.
An adult BALD EAGLE perched in a picture-perfect, leafless Post Oak was keeping a close eye on the big spread out raft of ducks. The number of HORNED GREBES came to a surprising low (12).
I suspected most in the big raft were dabbling ducks. At times like this I wish for the magic scope and better personal ability. But I have spent 40+ years at this and have a very good scope. Time to appreciate the opportunity, rather than gnawing at the what could be …
