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Scenes from our search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the White River area of Arkansas (3/25 to 4/8). Come back soon for a more detailed textual account of the trip. Last updated: 4/9/2006
Below: Ivory-billed Country along the Cache River.
Below four: Northern Cottonmouths were a common sight on all but the coolest days. After the first week, I hardly felt awake in the morning until I'd seen my first venomous snake!
Below: Quiz photo... Answer below.
Below: A Broad-banded Water Snake dining on an American Bullfrog.
Below: A male Northern Parula singing his heart out. This species was absolutely abundant around the White River.
Listen to audio by Nathan Pieplow
Below: A Western Ratsnake in the White River area.
Below two: Red-cockaded Woodpeckers near Pine City, Arkansas.
Below: A very large Northern Diamondback Watersnake.
Below: Swamp Sparrows were common and widespread in the area.
Below three: A beautiful Rough Greensnake. This was probably my moment of greatest childlike elation during the trip, as I've wanted to see one since I was five years old with my Golden Guides.
Below: Hermit Thrushes were very common at the beginning of our trip, gradually heading north and being replaced by arriving Swainson's Thrushes. (There were still decent numbers as of 4/7, though.)
Below: A Western Ribbonsnake (Orange-striped Ribbonsnake). Did I mention there were a lot of snakes?
Below: Barred Owl. During a dawn-to-dusk hike, one is likely to see and hear up to 20 of these beautiful owls.
Listen to audio by Nathan Pieplow
Below: Red-eared Turtle (aka Red-eared Slider).
Below: An Eastern Meadowlark at the Stuttgart Airport.
Listen to audio by Nathan Pieplow
Below: A Green Treefrog feasting on insects drawn to the substation's lights.
Below: Pied-billed Grebe.
Below: More scenes from around the White River.
Below: A Common Raccoon attempts to hide from me and my teammate Greg as we hiked to a rendezvous point after dark.
Below two: American Bullfrogs
Below: A Savannah Sparrow at the Stuttgart Airport. We also observed Le Conte's Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Sprague's Pipit, Lapland Longspur, and American Golden-Plovers here. The previous week I'd picked out a single Smith's Longspur.
Below: A nice example of the habitat we explored from pre-dawn to post-dusk.
Below: A Wilson's Snipe foraging in an open field. Abundant in the area.
Below: Fowler's Toad
Below two: The answer to the quiz photo above, which featured this species' reflection. (It's almost too beautiful to observe directly.) Prothonotary Warblers suddenly arrived in droves halfway through our trip.
Below: An Arkansas dragonfly I'll identify when I catch up here at home!
Below: We awoke one morning to find the White River flooded with Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. I love Spring.
Below: A pair of Blue-winged Teal.
Below two: The well-camouflaged Goatweed Leafwing... at least until it spreads its wings.
Below: Another warm morning, the Blanchard's Cricket Frogs awoke and began their clicking chorus.
Below: A Red-shouldered Hawk vocalizing and performing a courtship flight.
Below: An American Bird Grasshopper in a bayou near the White River.
Below: A real highlight (and huge surprise) was spotting and photographing the famous white Pileated Woodpecker.
Below: Team members David and Greg goofing off at the Stuttgart Airport.
Below: The infamous Cottonmouth Gang is respected and feared along the White River. Tom Snetsinger and I show off our gang sign. (Photo by Greg Keller)
Below: The rest of the Cottonmouth Gang (left to right) - Scott Severs, Greg Keller, David Vander Pluym, Chris Paige, Nathan Pieplow, Jason Luscier, and Tom Snetsinger.
Below: And at last we met with success! I found the Ivory-billed Woodpecker!!!
(Photo by David Vander Pluym)
Featured Conservation Project: The Junín Grebe