Date: 3/24/26 12:15 pm From: Joe Tucker <000001df0ca37a3b-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Bald Knob Update
Glenn and I were there at sunrise this morning and photographed one of the two American Bitterns at Ditch 13 and Huntsman. There were 3 other birders in one vehicle there from Hot Springs Village. Cells 4 and 5 are now completely drained and drying up. There are HUNDREDS of Wilson Snipe all over the Refuge. Pecs, Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Least Sandpipers and lots and lots of ducks (Teals and Shovelers mostly). There are two, nearly ready to fledge, Eagles in the nest at Birch Pond.
Joe
On Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 09:09:00 AM CDT, Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
We heard from the manager, Paul Provence, that they are draining Cells 4 and 5 in preparation for farmers to plant rice. But the good news is they will leave Cells 1-3 this year -- for the birds. There are also some good fields to explore on Huntsman Rd, including the eastern portion that heads towards Ditch 13.
For those not closely familiar with the refuge, here's information on how to bird there and a map of the entire refuge plus one of Cells 1-5 (attached separately). https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L218758 On another note, people are asking about whether the Black-necked Stilts have shown up yet. People have reported them recently but none of us regulars have seen them. However, it's time and they should show up soon en masse. Hopefully they will breed here again and we can enjoy watching their chicks grow up.
Patty McLean Conway AR
