[bsg] Fwd: [LABIRD-L] Alexandria Area Birding - Lost Bayou Bottoms, Sep 3, 2014
- From: Jay V Huner <jvh0660@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: bsg <bsg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 13:22:53 -0500 (CDT)
BIRD STUDY GROUP
For BSG members who do not belong to LABIRD.
Jay H.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Jay V Huner" <jvh0660@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: LABIRD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 1:21:53 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] Alexandria Area Birding - Lost Bayou Bottoms, Sep 3, 2014
Not mentioned below - there is a cypress/tupelo slough at the base of the
escarpment. I find it especially impressive and well worth the regular visits I
make to the area. I was surprised to not find good numbers and diversity of
water birds in the main 40 acre slough. Two passing White Ibis were the only
water birds I found. Usually, the slough has 5-6 species of water birds.
Walking on the levee was difficult because the vegetation was waist high and
reasonably thick. But, the only snake I found - a 3' moccasin - was on the
trail under the canopy before I got to the levee! There were many large spider
webs along the trail but most were fairly high so they did not block the trail.
By the way, bow season for deer starts October 1st in Kisatchie and Lost Bayou
Bottoms is part of that unit. So, wear some hunter orange if you visit on that
date or afterwards.
Also, there is a big sign at the entrance to the access road at Messina Road.
It lists the "partners" who are responsible for Lost Bayou Bottoms including
Ducks Unlimited.
Jay Huner
> Lost Bayou Bottoms, Rapides, US-LA
> Sep 3, 2014 7:55 AM - 10:25 AM
> Protocol: Traveling
> 1.2 mile(s)
> Comments: Site is located off Messina Road about 3 miles easterly from LA
> 28 W. The bottoms themselves are at the base of the highlands adjacent to the
> Red River Valley. However, the road to the trail head at the edge of the
> escarpment is about a mile long. It has been pretty much impassable for
> anything except high wheel base 4-wheel drive vehicles for about 5 years. The
> road was recently re-worked. This morning the road was wet and there were at
> least 4 dicey places where the wheels on my 2-wheel drives Tacoma started to
> spin. Once the road dries, it will be bumpy in those areas but more easily
> passed. A major problem is that Bozos with off road vehicles are sure to make
> it a point to wallow their vehicles in soft spots during wet weather. But,
> unless enforcement people catch them in the act, not much can be done. So, if
> you want to go to the Bottoms, now is the time to do it.
> Of course, I have been in the habit of parking near Messina Road and
> walking back to the Bottoms and back. It's a nice walk for those with the
> time. One goes from the western highlands in mixed but mostly pine forest to
> the escarpment and then down into the Red River Valley.
> It was especially odd to not find many cardinals in habitat that was
> ideal for that species. Guess they are going through a molt and not
> responding to screech-owl play back and/or have moved into a more desirable
> area.
> 29 species (+1 other taxa)
>
> White Ibis 2
> Red-shouldered Hawk 1
> Mourning Dove 3
> Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3
> Eastern Screech-Owl 1
> Barred Owl 2
> Chimney Swift 2
> Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
> Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
> Downy Woodpecker 2
> Pileated Woodpecker 3
> Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
> Acadian Flycatcher 1
> Great Crested Flycatcher 4
> White-eyed Vireo 7
> Yellow-throated Vireo 1
> Red-eyed Vireo 1
> Blue Jay 4
> American Crow 6
> Fish Crow 1
> swallow sp. 2
> Carolina Chickadee 5
> Tufted Titmouse 6
> Carolina Wren 14
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
> Hooded Warbler 2
> Northern Parula 1
> Pine Warbler 2
> Summer Tanager 3
> Northern Cardinal 3
>
> View this checklist online at
> http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19657932
>
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Other related posts:
- » [bsg] Fwd: [LABIRD-L] Alexandria Area Birding - Lost Bayou Bottoms, Sep 3, 2014 - Jay V Huner