Arkansas Wildlife Blog and Gallery
Buffalo National River and NW Arkansas
We went down to Boxley Valley this evening expecting a lot, and came away with very little. The recent snap of cool weather would lead one to believe the elk might be really concentrated in the valley as they do doing cooler months, but tonight was not one of them.
We did see a nice group of 9 cow elk with about 6 calves in the first field south of the observation pullout. It was interesting to see their group behavior clearly in the freshly mowed field.
Cow elk with calves work together to care for their young. Often the calves will group up and be watched by a few of the mothers, while the others roam and graze freely. This can be a bit difficult to observe unless the elk are moving. The reason is that elk calves really lay down flat. In even normal unmowed grass you will not see them other than perhaps the occasional set of ears faintly visible in the whispy grass.
I got a few pictures of this behavior tonight. Even in a mowed field, when those little guys lay down, they lay down flat. It is really a pretty crummy picture, but it is educational. It was entertaining to watch the cows graze and move. Three always stayed close to the calves who were all lying together, while the other cows ranged more widely.
The field by the intersection of 43 and 21 was vacant tonight. We decided to stop at the mill pond. I got some quick shots of the trumpeter swans, but basically the smell was unbearable (in 70 degree weather). Not sure what died there, but from the stench it seemed huge and pretty well ripened. My wife Mandy could not bear it so we moved on.
At the Ponca low water bridge I did get a shot of a white winged crow. This was not an outstanding specimen by any means, but it has clear white feathers on its wings. More on the white winged crows later.
Of course when we drove home to Compton, the whitetails were everywhere in perfect evening light. The final blow was seeing one dining on my pole beans. I don't mind, but honestly, was that necessary?
Tomorrow is another day and I am out on the early shift to the Valley. Mornings seem best to see bulls, even though the shooting conditions are very tough. It is too early for huge bulls unless I get lucky. I am starting to look forward to the rut like a kid to Christmas. The early is only a month off and already I am getting really anxious for it to start. See my entry on real bull fights to understand what I am talking about.
MD
We did see a nice group of 9 cow elk with about 6 calves in the first field south of the observation pullout. It was interesting to see their group behavior clearly in the freshly mowed field.
Cow elk with calves work together to care for their young. Often the calves will group up and be watched by a few of the mothers, while the others roam and graze freely. This can be a bit difficult to observe unless the elk are moving. The reason is that elk calves really lay down flat. In even normal unmowed grass you will not see them other than perhaps the occasional set of ears faintly visible in the whispy grass.
I got a few pictures of this behavior tonight. Even in a mowed field, when those little guys lay down, they lay down flat. It is really a pretty crummy picture, but it is educational. It was entertaining to watch the cows graze and move. Three always stayed close to the calves who were all lying together, while the other cows ranged more widely.
The field by the intersection of 43 and 21 was vacant tonight. We decided to stop at the mill pond. I got some quick shots of the trumpeter swans, but basically the smell was unbearable (in 70 degree weather). Not sure what died there, but from the stench it seemed huge and pretty well ripened. My wife Mandy could not bear it so we moved on.
At the Ponca low water bridge I did get a shot of a white winged crow. This was not an outstanding specimen by any means, but it has clear white feathers on its wings. More on the white winged crows later.
Of course when we drove home to Compton, the whitetails were everywhere in perfect evening light. The final blow was seeing one dining on my pole beans. I don't mind, but honestly, was that necessary?
Tomorrow is another day and I am out on the early shift to the Valley. Mornings seem best to see bulls, even though the shooting conditions are very tough. It is too early for huge bulls unless I get lucky. I am starting to look forward to the rut like a kid to Christmas. The early is only a month off and already I am getting really anxious for it to start. See my entry on real bull fights to understand what I am talking about.
MD
Shameless Self-Promotion Department
My framed wildlife prints are on display and for sale at a number of locations:
Jasper
Boardwalk Cafe/Arkansas House
Cliff House Inn
Point of View Restaurant
Jasper Chamber Gift Shop
Ponca
Lost Valley Canoe Store
Villines Store (Boxley Valley)
Low Gap
Low Gap Store
Compton
Compton One Stop
Harrison
Uncommon Grounds Coffee Shop
My framed wildlife prints are on display and for sale at a number of locations:
Jasper
Boardwalk Cafe/Arkansas House
Cliff House Inn
Point of View Restaurant
Jasper Chamber Gift Shop
Ponca
Lost Valley Canoe Store
Villines Store (Boxley Valley)
Low Gap
Low Gap Store
Compton
Compton One Stop
Harrison
Uncommon Grounds Coffee Shop
Notes & Pictures:
Boxley Valley Update -- 8/16/08
Here two elk guard a group of calves while other cows ventured off to graze.
This guy seems kind of hung up with that foot stuck out. His partner is trying to hide.
This is a white-winged crow, but just barely. More on these later. They are a local oddity.