GOING BACK IN TIME…
4/7 to 4/18/2034 We were in Hays, Kansas, and Kearney, Nebraska, and the surrounding areas seeing the breeding Leks of Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Prairie-Chicken, and Lesser Prairie-Chicken among other great birds:
4/17/24 On the road back to Kansas: Burrowing Owl .
4/16 and 4/17/2024 Kearney, Nebraska: Greater Prairie-Chicken (m,f, mating). We were so impressed with Prairie Wind Bird Tours run by Kent and Robyn Hubbert out of Kearney. They have a luxurious blind set up and offer hot drinks and homemade pastries afterwards – they were exceptional hosts and we thank them profusely for sharing their wonderful Lek with us! We had two mornings with their incredible set-up and really enjoyed their hospitality. Thanks again! Also: Harris’s Sparrow at their house.
4/7/2024 -4/14/2024 We headed to Hays, Kansas, for the Audubon of Kansas Prairie-Chicken Festival run by Dr. Jackie Augustine. What an amazing experience to see Sharp-tailed Grouse , Greater Prairie-Chicken , and the endangered Lesser Prairie-Chicken all at their Leks (breeding grounds), with males preforming displays. A big big thanks to Jackie and all the workers and volunteers who made it possible. Below is just a few of the images we captured. We were awed! More Lesser Prairie-Chicken images coming soon…
4/7/2024 – 4/14/2024 Leks around to Hays, Kansas: A big thanks to Tony and Sonja and Rachael! You all made it really special! Lesser Prairie-Chicken (m,f, mating). 1st image shows males of both species facing off at one of the Leks.
4/7/2024 – 4/14/2024 Leks around Hays, Kansas: A big thanks to Tony and Sonja and Rachael! You all made it really special! Greater Prairie-Chicken (m,f). (Mostly side-lit, unfortunately, due to the blind situation. The birds were front-lit at another Lek with Prairie Wind Birding Tours (Kent and Robynn in Nebraska) See above for those images coming soon. )
4/7/2024 – 4/14/2024 Lek trip to AOK Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, Nebraska: A big thanks to Amy, Kevin, and Tom! You were terrific! Sharp-tailed Grouse (m, f). Also: Northern Shrike and Pine Siskin .
4/7/2024 – 4/18/2024 near Hays, KS: From Cheyanne Bottoms NWR, Scott’s Lake SP, and Kirwin NWR (on our own) : A rarer lower 48 migrant: American Golden-Plover, and the much more common American White Pelican (Note the variation in the breeding plumage bills.) Also: Black-necked Stilt , Double-crested Cormorant , Greater Yellowlegs , Northern Pintail , Lesser Yellowlegs , Ring-necked Pheasant , Horned Lark , Pectoral Sandpiper , Ross’s Goose , Ruddy Duck , Solitary Sandpiper , and Snow Goose . Then: Common Grackle (m), Bonaparte’s Gull (breeding and non-breeding), Brown Thrasher , Harris’s Sparrow , Kildeer , Lark Sparrow , Pine Siskin , Rough-winged Swallow , Spotted Towhee , and a Wilson’s Phalarope flock.
4/7/2024 – 4/14/2024 near Hays, KS: From Cheyanne Bottoms NWR (on our own) : Baird’s Sandpiper . Over the years, the Baird’s Sandpiper has been a difficult bird for us to find and photograph. We were thrilled to see so many on migration here!
4/7/2024 – 4/14/2024 near Hays, KS: From Cheyanne Bottoms NWR (on our own) : Swaison’s Hawk in flowers , Wilson’s Snipe , Kildeer , Barn Swallow , molting Bufflehead , Great Blue Heron , and Snow Goose .
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