New bird for the day was Lesser Prairie Chicken.
We were picked up at 5.15am and, after a swift detour to collect two other viewers, made the most of the central heating as we were driven towards the site. On arrival we left the warmth the vehicle and began to follow our guide, through the pitch black, with rain stinging our faces and the wind tearing at our clothes. We stumbled after the flashlight and missed the blind. It was quite nerve racking in such atrocious conditions, horizontal rain, intermittent hail and winds gusting to 50mph. Our guide found the hide at the second attempt to our relief. The box on wheels had been built by inmates from a local prison and rocked back and forth as the prevailing wind blew in the direction of the viewing flaps. As the hail accumulated around the glass pains we joked about the appalling weather and shared a visual image of our modest little shelter rolling across the field, decimating the local population of Lesser Prairie Chickens. We discovered that one of our co-occupants was a survivalist and strangely, the other worked in the conservation department with her post paid for by hunting permit fees. We also discovered that the chickens seem to be doing well and are on the permitted hunting list with each hunter allowed to take two per season. It seems that there is a twitchy element, even amongst hunters as it is not unknown for some to aspire to bag one of every North American Grouse species in their lifetime.
The increasing light levels revealed the sky to be completely blotted out with clouds scudding swiftly above us. Through the pouring rain dim shapes were seen moving some 25 feet away. We heard booming for a while and could see the lads making a half hearted effort with brief spells of bowing and fancy footwork but they soon hunkered down and took cover behind some grassy tufts. The girls had clearly failed to turn up and amorous efforts were to no avail. We left the blind just after 8am and confirmed seven birds present as they flew a short distance from the lek.
Viewing blind
There was no opportunity to bird for the rest of the day. The foul weather continued as we drove back to Lawrence. This storm system spawned a rash of tornadoes across the mid west that killed and injured people across several states including 45 in Oklahoma.
16 April - 5 species for the trip
Topeka - Museum of History nature trail produce a new bird in the form of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and also Northern Parula and White-throated Sparrow. We also saw our first Fox Squirrels here.
Butterflies seen were Eastern-tailed Blue, Spring Azure and Wild Indigo Dustywing.
Spring Azure
Wild Indigo Dustywing
As we drove to Manhattan we glimpsed a Coyote as we drove along I-70.