Sunday 8 May 2011

Kansas, US 10 to 23 April 2011 - part 4

18 April - 8 new species for the trip.
Cimarron National Grasslands produced five new birds for us, Rock Wren, Western Meadowlark, Sage Thrasher, Say's Phoebe and Chihuanhuan Raven. Sadly a number of other species we wished to see were not in evidence, some probably had not arrived for the summer, others were possibly just missed, including the recently split Black-billed Magpie. Elkhart before heading to Cimarron National Grasslands had produced the only Broad-winged Hawk of the trip.


Cimarron National Grasslands




19 April - nothing new

The day was spent doing touristy type things at Dodge City and Fort Larned.

Fort Larned

20 April - 9 new species for the trip.
Visit to Lake Clinton produced Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey and Eastern Kingbird

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Eastern Bluebird

Canada Geese

21 April - 8 new species for the trip
A visit to Baker Wetlands to the south the of Lawrence give us a new bird in the form of an Orange-crowned Warbler, and birds of interest were Green and Little Blue Heron and Swamp Sparrow.

Baker Wetlands

22 April - 11 new birds for the trip
A morning visit to the river front at Lawrence produced another new warbler for us in the form of a Lousianna Waterthrush, with support from Swainson's Thrush, Tennessee Warbler and Warbling Vireo. We also managed a brief view of a Bald Eagle, one of the nesting pairs further down river. An afternoon visit back to Baker Wetlands produced another new bird for us in the form of a Cinnamon Teal. We also added another couple of waders for the trip, Semi-palmated and Grey Plover, and Dunlin. A Shorted-eared Owl was also on the marsh.

Red Admiral (the same species as the ones in the UK!)

We retuned home the next day.