Bald Eagle Boxley Mill Pond 12/31

This eagle is pretty cooperative. He has been hunting the mill pond for a while now. The mill pond has more fish than the river and I think the hunting is easier. I had the impression this morning he was watching the otter to see if they might miss an injured fish.

Bald Eagle at the Mill Pond

12/31/13 Elk Herd Locations -- Otter in Mill Pond

Elk end the year in remote locations.  The bull herd that has been about a half mile north of the mill pond was visible today, but back against the cane line.

In the deep south end, the herd has shifted to the southernmost field south of the trail head. They have been moving around from the Smith Creek field, so I would expect they might be back there in a day or two.

The big news this morning was 3 feeding in the mill pond. I am pretty sure this is the juvenile group I photographed earlier in the year. This was about 8:30 AM if you are trying to get some otter shots, though otter are never very predicable.

There is also a bald eagle hunting the mill pond. This morning he was there for over 40 minutes rotating between different perch locations. All of them were close to the road.

Boxley Valley Eagle

We are in eagle season now. Locals will tell you it is from Thanksgiving to Valentines Day. We do have a year round population of eagles, but there are clearly more now. 

The two best places to see eagles in Boxley Valley are the low water bridge at the Ponca Access, and at the Mill Pond. 

The picture below is not the best on a foggy day, but you get the idea. I spotted this eagle by looking for the bright white of his head.  

Eagle viewing is stronger in the lower reaches of the Buffalo River because there are more fish and it is a bigger river.  

December Bald Eagle, Boxley Valley

2/8/13 Elk Viewing Great -- Best Bull Viewing So Far

This morning was exceptional for bull elk viewing and photography. The big guys were mid-valley and close to the road.  Prince and another big bull did some spirited sparring that required me to dial back to 300 mm to photograph.

Otherwise there is a good sized herd with a bull in the Ponca fields, and another good sized herd hanging around Smith Creek. The bulls are just north of the mill pond in mid-valley so there is viewing from end to end in Boxley Valley.

The big news is the early arrival of the wildflower season. Recent rains and warm weather have stimulated an early bloom. I will be blogging on this later. What we are witnessing is global warming.

The February 8, 2013 elk herd map is below:

2/3/13 Elk & Other Wildlife Watching Update

This is an update of my last map.

Elk viewing was very good this morning, probably over 100 animals in 4 herds. The very best opportunities were at the opposite ends of Boxley Valley.  There is a herd hanging around the fields closest to Ponca, and 2 more herds in the south end of the valley near the Buffalo River.

2 bald eagles were on the Boxley Mill Pond, along with hunting otter early, a flock of at least 30 ducks and of course the 2 trumpeter swans.

Today is a perfect day to hike, a perfect activity to combine with your wildlife watching.

12/14/12 Elk Map & Weekend Outlook

Elk viewing is very good now and roughly about as good as it gets. I would estimate there are over 100 elk in 4 herds in Boxley Valley now -- a 25% increase over last week.

Weekend viewing should be very good. Elk like rain and cloudy weather. Remember to get out early to see the all-bull herd in mid-valley.

This morning I saw a bald eagle hunting the river down by the Ponca Access. Visitors should be looking for eagles now, especially near the mill pond.

Be careful driving along the stretch of 21 down by Cave Mountain Road. A big herd is there now and it is grazing right on the roadside.

12/3/12 New Month & New Herd Pattern

As I predicted a while back, a decent herd has arrived in the south end. The herd that has been in the Ponca fields has gone south to the mid-valley area, and it remains to be seen if they will head further south. For now, the all bull herd is not visible.

This week marks the end of deer season. I am pretty sure the deer hunters kept the elk pushed forward a bit.

I was pleased to see at least 3 cars watching the elk this morning. Good elk viewing will continue until after the the holidays. It seems like the message is getting out great elk viewing continues until around April 1.

Keep your eyes out for bald eagles. There are not a lot of them in Boxley Valley, but we are in eagle season now. Usually the best place to see them is around the mill pond. It is hard to predict when you might see them. Look for bright white patches in the trees.

Today's map is below:

1/21/12 I Elk Herd, Bald Eagle at Mill Pond

Only about 35 elk in the valley this morning, all focused down on the south end. A late rutting bull is with a number of cow elk down by Cave Mountain Road, south of the river. A small bull herd is south of the 43/21 intersection on the east side of the road.

Like most days, none of the elk were on grazing land. This is pretty standard in Boxley Valley. Talk of elk and cattle is nonsense, elk hate cattle and avoid them. Resting fields have no grass and the elk go elsewhere. 50% of the time they forage in the cane line and in the woods. Let's get the facts straight. There is no farmer elk problem.

Yesterday there were 2 bald eagles at the mill pond, but today only 1.  Still they do roost on snags just behind the pond and are an easy shot with a long lens.

Today's elk map:

January 21, 2012 Elk Herd Map, Ponca, Arkansas 

1/20/12 Fog, But 30 Elk, 2 Otter and 2 Bald Eagles

Typical Post-Rut Bull Herd, Prince and the Boys

Today there was only one herd in the valley and it was in the field adjacent to the Ponca Access. Because of the weather, I think the elk around the 43/21 intersection were holed up.

The high point this morning was otter feeding in the Boxley Mill Pond. I watched them for about a half hour swimming in the north end of the pond under the watchful gaze of two bald eagles. I have seen otter in the mill pond recently a few times. If you visit keep your eyes peeled for them.

This weekend should be excellent for all kinds of photography. These frontal changes and somewhat stormy weather generally provide diffuse light and nice cloud formations. If you like to take landscape photos, partly cloudy weather definitely beats a cloudless blue sky.

Updated map is below. There are now about 30 elk visible in the valley.

11/4/11 4 Herds Continue 2011 Rut in Boxley Valley

The Prince of Boxley Valley 11/4/11

Cold weather has 4 elk herds returning to Boxley Valley in the 2011 rut. Action is loaded in the south end from the observation pullout to the fields in the South end of Boxley Valley around Smith Creek. There was quite a bit of bugling this morning complete with steamy breaths. Definitely the action that any serious photographer or wildlife watcher would want to witness.

If you are thinking that elk viewing is over for 2011, you would be dead wrong. If past experience is any guide, the best is still ahead. We have the remnants of good fall color, bald eagles here and there, and the last third of the elk rut.

Great weekend weather for elk viewing is ahead. Expect the elk to be close to the morning viewing locations throughout the weekend.

This morning's herd location map is below:

11/1/11 Elk Herd Map & A Look Ahead

This morning the elk herd that has been hanging out in the first Ponca field was there again. They were up pretty close to the road, possibly preparing to cross. The Ponca field is about the best field for viewing for the last few days. 

A second herd was behind the Mill Pond, and a third down at the south end near Smith Creek. 

November is a great month to view elk. Later this week we head back into cooler weather. This should translate into more herds coming into Boxley Valley to graze, and longer viewing times. 

Bald eagles seem to be arriving early this year. The normal season is from Thanksgiving until Valentine's Day. Cold weather in the north seems to be pushing them down. The best place to see bald eagles in Boxley Valley are around the mill pond and in the middle valley area, but they do fly all along the river.                                      

10/30/11 Ponca Field, Smith Creek Field -- Elk At Both Ends

Elk are at the opposite ends of Boxley Valley now. There is a herd in the very first Ponca field, and a second at the south end in the field north of Smith Creek.

Absolutely wonderful weather and peak fall color.

Bald eagles have started arriving a few weeks early due to cold blast in the north.  The customary eagle viewing season is from Thanksgiving until Valentine's Day. A good place to see the eagles when they arrive is the Mill Pond area.

Thanks to those who came to my workshops and visited us in the annual Color Fest.