Lake Barkley Naturalist and Recreation Blog

Participants in Warbler Weekend look for birds at Long Creek Wildlife Refuge

This Saturday was a day dedicated to birding. We had some brave participants that came out early on a chilly morning, but they were rewarded with highlights including a Caspian Tern, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Orchard Orioles, Cedar Waxwings and Red-headed Woodpeckers. Later in the afternoon we trekked over to Land Between The Lakes to bird the Long Creek Wildlife Refuge. We saw 60 different species of birds, and highlights were Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, American White Pelicans, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Cliff Swallows, Tree Swallows, Osprey, Bald Eagle, White-eyed vireos, Red-eyed Vireos, Yellow-throated Vireos, Summer Tanager and Indigo Buntings. We were able to see or hear eight different species of warblers: Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Prothonatary Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat.
It's the perfect time to get out and hear the newly arriving birds at Lake Barkley SRP.

Lots of returning migrants were seen or heard this week. New this week include Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Summer Tanagers, Gray Catbird, Black-crowned Night-herons and Wood Thrushes. If you've never heard the flute like song of a Wood Thrush, it is worth the trip to Lake Barkley SRP. They can be heard throughout the park and in abundance at the campground. This Saturday we are celebrating the return of such birds by offering birding hikes at 7a.m. and 10a.m., a driving tour at 2p.m. and a Chautauqua performance Lucy Bakewell Audubon; Audubon's Leading Lady at 7p.m. All the events are free and open to the public.

In addition to the new birds seen or heard this week, still singing or seen at the park includes: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warblers, Black and White Warblers, Northern Parulas, Red-eyed Vireos, Yellow-throated Vireos, Eastern Phoebes, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Some Eastern Bluebirds and Carolina Wrens already have young with feathers and Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, and Bluejays have been spotted carrying nesting material.

A few cool nights didn’t seem to bother the birds and blooms at Lake Barkley State Resort Park this week. Eastern bluebirds nesting in our bluebird cam box hatched out 5 young and the adults are constantly returning to the nest box with insects. Purple Martins have also retuned and a small group can be spotted on the crossbars of the gourd colony at the marina. Barn, Tree, Cliff, and Northern Rough-winged swallows are all present at the park this week too. Red-eyed and Yellow-throated vireos, Yellow-throated Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, Eastern Phoebes, and Northern Parulas can be heard singing in the forest. April 9th welcomed the return of our first of the season hummingbird.


Wild Columbine is at its peak bloom in the native wildflower garden, and trilliums, Fire Pink, Violet Wood Sorrell, and Lyre-Leaved Sage continue to bloom around the park.


If you are interested in staying up to date on what's blooming and singing around Kentucky check out: KENTUCKY UNBRIDLED SPRING PROGRAM COMPLIMENTS OF THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM


Wild Columbine


Buds are bursting out all over. Spring is here and Kentucky is radiating with many species of wildflowers. Find your favorite outdoor location to enjoy everything Kentucky has to offer. Please click this LINK to review some of the wildflower reports from naturalists across the Commonwealth.



For additional information about Kentucky State Parks and some of the upcoming Spring and Wildflower Events, please view this SITE.

If you haven't made it to Lake Barkley Lodge to see the Bluebird cam now is the time. On Friday, April 6th the eggs have hatched. It is hard to tell at this point how many have hatched, but at least three nestlings can be seen on the camera. Carolina Wrens (not on a nest camera) also hatched out eggs this week. Both Carolina Wrens and Bluebirds can have multiple broods per season, this year it could be a three brood season.

In other areas of the park, Black Locust tree are blooming and many of our other trees are budding and filling with green leaves. Dwarf Larkspur, Crossvine, violets, and trillums are also continuing to bloom. The forests are filled with the sounds of singing birds including Northern Parulas, Black-and-white Warblers, Yellow-throated warblers, Chipping Sparrows and Eastern Phoebes. New this week was a single singing Red-eyed vireo.

Each day seems to bring new arrivals, so take some time to hike the trails at Lake Barkley State Resort Park.