Labor Day at Kings River

Rod and I spent last weekend with his dad, Robert, and the dogs, Haley and Scooter, at the Kings River and Lake Leatherwood outside of Eureka Springs. After an early supper at Penguin Ed's BBQ, we headed east into the Ozarks. Driving north on Hwy. 23, we passed HUNDREDS of Common Nighthawks heading south over some farm fields and chicken houses. It was quite a spectacle! We arrived at Kings River Retreat about dusk, and set up camp while listening to the emphatic whinnies of an Eastern Screech Owl. Scooter couldn't get enough of the river,and spent most of his evening swimming while we enjoyed each other's company fireside.

The next morning I awoke early to find the river shrouded in a blanket of fog. It was quite beautiful!



Robert was up next, and we sat by the river for a while, until we decided the cold wet chill could be easily overcome by a trip into Eureka Springs for a hot breakfast of eggs and coffee. We drug Rod from the tent and headed into town, dogs in tow.



After a satisfying breakfast, we decided to make a foray to Lake Leatherwood, where apparently a population of Collared Lizards still proliferates in its remnant glade habitat. We set off on the four mile hike around the lake, and about 3/4 of a mile in Rod discovered this pygmy rattlesnake (which the dogs and I had already walked past).



As I was getting artistic with my camera on the bridge over the lake's spillway...





... Rod found two more pygmy rattlesnakes coiled together, post-copulation?



We didn't find a single collared lizard, but did find some ground skinks, fence lizards and a northern water snake. As far as birds go, it was pretty quiet - still too early for migrants?





After we were hot and sweaty and pretty tuckered out, we headed back to the river for a cool dip. We weren't back for half an hour and Rod discovered a northern water snake that he had to get his hands on:





We headed into Eureka once more for a good Mexican dinner, then built the most perfect fire to wind down the evening. Monday morning we headed back to Fayetteville before seeing Robert off. What a great weekend!

Ninestone Land Trust

Photos by Roberta Ress

Fifteen years ago Judy Griffith and Don Matt fulfilled a life-long dream to protect a piece of this Earth that we have inherited when they purchased approximately 400 acres of pristine land in the Ozarks halfway between Beaver Lake and the Buffalo National River. The original property owner built a log cabin in the 1940s, and had a dream to one day preserve the land; however, the following series of owners were mostly out-of-towners (visited on weekends/summers) until the land fell into the hands of Judy and Don, who decided to afford the land permanent protection by entering into an agreement with the Ozark Regional Land Trust (and thus fulfilling the original owner's dream, unbeknownst to them at the time). As nine people played a role in initially obtaining the property, this beautiful place earned its name: Ninestone. The small cabin on the property was in disrepair, and Judy and Don have restored it to mint condition- cedar posts from the property and beautiful wood floors complement the log exterior; the cool breeze wafted through the screen doors on either side of the house, which is filled with field guides and artifacts representative of the area they love so very much. A rich collection of native plants flanks the cabin, as well as a small pond. A garden containing vegetables and fruit trees is in the yard, as well as an artistically decorated chicken-coop. But the best part is the porch- on the back of the house is a large wooden deck that overlooks what must be one of the most scenic views in all of Arkansas, a beautiful multi-tiered waterfall flanked by colorful wildflowers in which otters play. It takes your breath away! Don and Judy are privy to this beautiful view whenever they please, and rightfully so, considering they have poured their hearts and souls into its preservation. It is truly remarkable what they are doing.

Judy grabbed her binoculars and took us on a hike around Ninestone. I was on a mission- a mission to find the Blue-winged Warbler, which she says is a regular on their land. First she showed us the empty nest of an Eastern Towhee. Recently one day she stood by, quietly so as not to disturb, and watched the mother Towhee sitting on her nest of eggs; the next day, the mother was no where to be found and the nest empty, possibly predated by a snake or mammalian predator. We did, however, see a female Towhee busily gathering nesting material- perhaps she was going to give it another go? From here we traveled over a large cedar glade, hosting many species of wildflowers, one (Barbara’s Button: Marshallia caespitosa) particularly rare. Red-eyed Vireos, Northern Parulas and Blue-grey Gnatcatchers flitted about as we traversed the diverse habitat, through the oak-hickory forest, and out onto a bluff overlooking Piney Creek and a spectacular view of the valley below. WOW- this place is something special. They have preserved a section of Piney Creek, which eventually flows into the Kings River, one of Arkansas’ more beautiful rivers. After taking in the magnificent view, we wound back around to the cabin, when suddenly Judy stopped- “Did you hear it?” she asks. The Blue-winged Warbler! After a bit of searching, we were rewarded with views of the small yellow insectivore with blue wings as it flitted in and out of a grove of small walnut trees. Success! Not that the day wouldn’t have been considered one without this treat – the place is absolutely one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in Arkansas, and I couldn’t have imagined a better way to spend the day.

After obtaining satisfying views of the warbler, we made our way back to the house, when Don was kind enough to load us into his truck and drive us across Piney Creek (so as not to get our feet wet) and to the beautiful waterfall we’d been admiring from their deck. We spent a while exploring the waterfall, which Don has swam in during all 12 months of the year (though we chose to pass, as apparently it is quite cold regardless of the month!), before being trucked back to the house and retiring on the back deck to relax; our wonderful hosts offered us chips and salsa while we enjoyed the rain and birds eating from their smattering of feeders. Over a dozen Indigo Buntings foraged on the ground, while a Summer Tanager and two Red-Bellied Woodpeckers ate from the oranges they had put out for them. In addition to numerous reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and plants, Don and Judy have documented 154 bird species on Ninestone. I know these species that call Ninestone home are greatful for Judy and Don, as are we – the planet we all call home needs more stewards like this wonderful couple!