Nature shots

The Eagle Watch Nature Trail is a magical place for Terry Stanfill.

Stanfill, who lives outside of Gentry, was a moving force in creation of the project that sits on SWEPCO Lake, which provides water to the cooling system of the nearby coalfired generation plant west of Gentry. Stanfill retired from SWEPCO after a career as the plant’s chemist.

He’d kept a camera with him during work. On retirement, the camera took on a whole new purpose.

Nearly every day of the week, Stanfill makes an early-morning circuit of his favorite photograph spots, the main one being Eagle Watch.

While he’s got a new camera body (he wore out the old one) he still uses the old lenses he’s had for years. Much larger lenses are available, but he’s content to use what’s familiar.

Eagle Watch is a favorite for bird watchers, animal watchers, and butterfly watchers. The environment attracts all manner of critter, as his photos reflect.

To get to Eagle Watch from Bella Vista, head west to Arkansas Highway 59. From Town Center, head west on Arkansas 340. At the Highlands, turn left onto Arkansas 279, following it to Hiwasse. Turn right onto Arkansas 72.

At Gravette, turn right to head south on Arkansas 59 until you get to Gentry. Turn right onto Arkansas 12. Follow the highway for 2.2 miles. Eagle Watch parking lot is on the left. The parking lot does not have an address.

Photo by Terry Stanfill Steam rose from the water at SWEPCO Lake on a cool morning at the Eagle Watch Nature Area earlier this month. White egrets can be seen in the trees in the background.

Photo by Terry Stanfill A solitary sandpiper looked for food along the muddy shoreline of SWEPCO Lake at the Eagle Watch Nature Area.

Photo by Terry Stanfill A cuckoo eyes the photographer at the Eagle Watch Nature Area.

Photo by Terry Stanfill A juvenile scissor-tailed flycatcher perched on a barbedwire fence near Gentry. The younger birds do not yet have the long tail feathers which make the adult birds unique and easily identifiable.

Photo by Terry Stanfill A spotted sandpiper appears to be taking a look at its own reflection in the waters of SWEPCO Lake at the Eagle Watch Nature Area. The spots on a spotted sandpiper only appear at breeding times.

Photo by Terry Stanfill A female tiger swallowtail (the female is recognizable by the blue in its tail) visited the flowers at the Eagle Watch Nature Area.

Photo by Terry Stanfill A passion flower blooms at the Eagle Watch Nature Area.

Photo by Terry Stanfill A monarch butterfly was among the colorful visitors at the Eagle Watch Nature Area.