Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
In eastern Arkansas, near Manila, Big Lake consists primarily of wooded swamps and open water. Over 227 species of birds have been observed here. Migratory birds frequent the area, including various songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors. Big Lake Refuge provides habitat for many species of migratory waterfowl including mallards, gadwalls, wigeon, green-winged teal, wood ducks, ring-necks and canvasback. The peak populations generally occur December - January with an average population of 70,000 ducks.
Birding around Little Rock
Boyle Park is good for spring migrating birds with good numbers of flycatchers, vireos and warblers passing through. Rock Creek is one of the best areas to check out. Yellow-crowned Night-herons, Wood Duck, Mississippi Kite,are regularly seen and Fish Crow, Belted Kingfisher, and Downy, Red-bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers are common. Cook's Landing is on the banks of the Arkansas River. On entering the park pull into the parking lot on the right and the backwater faces you. This is good in winter for ducks, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Hooded Mergansers and Pied-billed Grebes. In passage, the wooded area behind the parking lot is a good place to observe migrant warblers and sometimes an American Woodcock. In winter look for Fox, Field, Song and Swamp sparrows, Rufous-sided Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warbler and American Goldfinch. Murray Park on Rebsamen Park Road, is the best site in the area for fall migrants. Walk back toward the golf course along the riverbank, and follow a path into an area of trees and bushes around a backwater of the river. This is the place to see fall migrants, particularly the warblers. To find Murray Park take highway 10 (called Cantrell Road in town ) from it's intersection with I-430 and go east into town, 4.5 miles will bring you to the top of a steep hill ( Cantrell hill ) on a curve. Go down the hill and take the second left turn into Old Cantrell Road. Take second left again into Rebsamen Park Road. Follow this road and you will see Rebsamen Golf Course and the Arkansas River on your right. Murray Park is just past the golf course.
olla Bend National Wildlife Refuge. Dardanelle.
14 different species of ducks and four types of geese may over winter in the refuge when populations of over 30,000 ducks and 30,000 geese are not unusual. A dozen or more bald eagles may be found on the refuge from December through February.
During spring and fall, shorebirds and passerines pass through in migration. Scissor-tailed flycatchers can be seen throughout the refuge.