Tag: WMA

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April Field Trip

Bell Slough South AGFC Wildlife Management Area

Mayflower, Faulkner Co.

    Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the main entrance (boardwalk) to the Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area (WMA) off Hwy. 365.  Our target birds will be spring migrants.  Bell Slough is a mix of ecosystems consisting of 2,040 acres of woodlands and wetlands situated between Little Rock and the Mayflower/Conway region.  There are 117 species of birds documented for the area, including the adjacent waterfowl resting habitat.  

   The Bell Slough Kenny Vernon Nature Trail consists of three connecting trails, each ranging in length from about a half-mile to 2 1/4 miles.  The WMA has a nice mix of wildflowers that attract numerous butterflies.  

Wear study walking shoes.  This will be a morning trip.  

  Directions–From Little Rock, go west on I-40.  Exit I-40 at Mayflower (Exit 135) and turn east (right) at the light onto Hwy. 89.  Then turn south (right) just past the commuter parking lot onto the service road.  Follow the service road paralleling I-40, then veer right at the fork.  Follow this road until you cross the Palarm Creek bridge.  Turn left into the WMA parking lot. GPS: 34.946164, -92.407896

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Field Trip – January 18, 2025 🗓

Lake Dardanelle-Delaware Park and Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge

Join us for our first field trip of the year!

Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Mayflower commuter lot off I-40 West at Exit 135.  We’ll carpool to Delaware Park, located on the southwest side of Lake Dardanelle.  We should arrive at the Delaware Park boat ramp around 8:45 a.m. for anyone who wants to meet us there.  We’ll scan the lake for gulls, pelicans, loons, mergansers, ducks, grebes, and eagles.  A rare gull or duck is a possibility.  The lake can be very cold and windy.  Dress in layers, including gloves and hats.  

Next, we’ll caravan to the Holla Bend NWR headquarters’ parking lot.  There is a $4.00 entrance fee per vehicle.  A duck stamp or a National Parks pass will get a vehicle in for free.  Our target birds will be raptors, including nesting Bald Eagles and owls, plus swans, ducks, geese, and sparrows.  At Holla Bend, there will be some walking in tall grass, so boots are recommended.  Bring snacks, lunch, and plenty of water.  We’ll return to Little Rock late afternoon.

Directions from the town of Dardanelle to Delaware Park:  At the junction at Hwy. 7 and Hwy. 22, go west on Hwy 22 approximately 10 miles.  Turn right onto Hwy. 393, which is the first road on your right after you cross the long causeway at the west end of the lake.  Hwy. 393 dead ends at Delaware Park.  GPS coordinates:  35.295749, -93.271458.  For more information about the Holla Bend NWR, go to http://www.fws.gov/hollabend/.  The headquarters is located at 10448 Holla Bend Road, Dardanelle, AR 72834.  GPS coordinates: 35.163222, -93.093477.