Listing Through Life

ictinia (kite) mississippiensis (of Mississippi)

Wednesday, May 4, 1983 — 3:00 pm

Little Rock, Arkansas — Boyle Park

I watched the Mississippi Kites for 15 minutes, and I have no doubt of their identity, but I have no idea what they look like. They were soaring and circling high above the wooded valley. They rarely flapped their wings but occasionally folded them part way. I noticed their feet dangling below their bodies a few times.

They were trim gray birds with dark, narrow, pointed wings and dark, narrow tails. Their heads were pale, and a pale area was visible on the trailing edge of the upper wing when they banked to turn. I only saw them from underneath and didn’t get a very good feel for the bird.

wilsonia (for Alexander Wilson) citrina (lemon-colored)

Wednesday, May 4, 1983 — 2:40 pm

Little Rock, Arkansas — Boyle Park

I wandered along the path near the pond, then headed back to the tangle where I saw the Kentucky Warbler, hoping to get another look at it. I checked out the spot, and there it wa… nope. Perched in the same spot was a Hooded Warbler. It foraged around in the briar tangle, never moving more than five feet off the ground. I stayed in the area for a while but didn’t see either bird again.

oporornis (from opora, autumnal, and ornis, bird) formosus (beautiful)

Wednesday, May 4, 1983 — 2:30 pm

Little Rock, Arkansas — Boyle Park

After I saw the White-eyed Vireo, I continued through the thick woods along the creek near a tiny pond. The Kentucky Warbler was sitting in a brier tangle along the path about twenty feet from the creek, approximately three feet off the ground. I had a good, but frustratingly-short look at it.

vireo (bird) griseus (gray, grizzly)

Wednesday, May 4, 1983 — 2:25 pm

Little Rock, Arkansas — Boyle Park

Boyle Park sits in a valley in the center of town. It is heavily wooded with deciduous trees and pines. A creek cuts through the park and a dam creates a small pond. I was walking down one of the paths near the pond when I spotted the White-eyed Vireo. It was moving fairly quickly, usually about five feet off the ground. It came within fifteen feet of where I stood.

tyrannus (king) forficatus (scissors)

Tuesday, May 3, 1983 — 7:30 pm

Conway, Arkansas — Happy Valley Road

On a beautiful evening, and my wife and I took a walk after supper. The flycatchers were sitting on a wire fence along the road. They flew out into a nearby pasture and landed on the ground on a small rise. One landed on a pile of cow manure, then flew to another fence. When they sat, their tails were folded. When they flew, their tails fanned open. They were as awesome-looking as I had anticipated.