Lake ouachita bird island

[dan valovich]

Hello to all!
There is a major rookery for cattle egrets on the south end of bird island. Babies are almost ready to fly. I am talking hundreds of egrets!
On the north end the purple martins roost by the thousands. They leave at daybreak and return at sunset and I can only describe it as awesome and definitely worth the time spent to see.
Here are a few photos. Enjoy!

[vtsquid]

great photos!!!
remember to keep that mouth closed when looking up
really those photos are wonderful!

[Jim Krueger]

Dan, Those are so very nice! From the close up shots to the very late evening exposures, you always make the effort required! I'll look forward to the next trip we make together!

[Karla]

Love the pictures as always. What are the thousands of birds in the one photo?
When it cools off would love to paddle with you in that area someday.

Karla

[Richard]

Great pictures Dan.
Dan is most likely correct when he identified the birds on the north side as purple martins. I said they were barn swallows . . . I wish I was a birder . . . but I am getting better. I am now seeing more vultures and less eagles :shock:

[dan valovich]

Thanks all,
The majority of the small birds are purple martins. I also saw some swallows and red winged blackbirds. The photo does not show the amount of birds that arrive when low light makes pictures tough to get. I would say what is in the photo x 5+

[c8mb]

Awesome pictures! What is the grey and white bird in the 3rd pic? I saw one sunday and was wondering.

[Richard]

Here is an article I wrote for an e-magazine a few years ago. It shows the purple martins flying.
Ariticle: http://www.quietwaterfilms.com/newslett ... achita.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Video: http://good-times.webshots.com/slidesho ... 5224GaalkH" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
At the time I thought they were migrating and we just happened to be there at the right time. Dan, when do they arrive and when do they leave?

[dan valovich]

The martins arrive in june and are here until august.
The B&W bird is a juvenile great blue heron

[MikeBeebe]

Great pictures Dan. Look forward to crossing paths soon! Thanks for sharing

Mike

[Birdyb]

Nice Pictures.

Bird Island was recently selected by the Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. Bird Island is Arkansas’s largest known Purple Martin roost.

Lake Ouachita State Park started Purple Martin boat tours from July through August every Thursday evening through Labor Day with two tours set up for Saturdays, one on Aug. 21 and the second on Aug. 28. The tours will continue as long as the roost is active and go from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Last year, it was estimated around 30,000 to 50,000 martins made up the roost during it's peak in August. see. http://www.lakeouachita.org/lake-ouachi ... -tours.htm for more info.

Birdy