Fall migration continues, and we wait for the next wave of migrating birds to arrive as weather fronts from the north push the birds to the wetlands.  Several species of birds have already passed through (e.g. most shorebird species) and some of the summer residents have exited the area (e.g. orioles, kingbirds, many swallows, etc.).  Other species of birds have greatly increased in the last week or so (e.g. Northern harriers, American coots, Pied-billed grebes, etc.).  Still egrets, herons, gulls, pelicans, and ducks seem to be the dominant birds right now.

Water levels remain good area wide.  Not many mudflat areas exist, so shorebird habitat is minimal.  Storage pools remain relatively full, despite KDWPT having flooded Pools 3a, 4a, and 4b in August.  Water levels and waterfowl reports are updated weekly on the KDWPT website:  http://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Southwest/Cheyenne-Bottoms  

Give us your reports.  We rely heavily on other birders to know what is being seen at Cheyenne Bottoms.  Submit reports to Ebird, or email your observations to wetlandscenter@fhsu.edu.

Here is a list birds that have been reported over the last couple weeks:

• Canada Goose
• Wood Duck-remain quite abundant over the last week area-wide
• Gadwall
• Mallard
• Blue-winged Teal-most abundant duck species right now
• Northern Shoveler
• Northern Pintail
• Green-winged Teal
• Redhead
• Ruddy Duck
• Ring-necked Pheasant 
• Pied-billed Grebe–we’ve seen an influx of these area-wide in the last week
• Western Grebe
• Double-crested Cormorant
• American White Pelican–relatively large groups can be seen in various locations on the area and soaring in flocks during the day
• American Bittern
• Least Bittern
• Great Blue Heron-impressive numbers area-wide
• Great Egret
• Snowy Egret
• Little Blue Heron
• Tri-colored Heron-one bird has been reported several times over the last 3 weeks
• Cattle Egret-we’ve had 5-6 hanging around the KWEC parking lot most days
• Green Heron
• Black-crowned Night Heron
• Yellow-crowned Night Heron
• White-faced Ibis-seemed to have decreased in the last week.
• Turkey Vulture–still seeing several birds, but will be leaving soon 
• Northern Harrier–numbers have increased dramatically in the last week
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Sora-quite a few reported by hunters flushing them as they’ve walked through the marsh
• American Coot–large numbers in most pools
• Killdeer–Many area-wide
• American Avocet-have decreased in number
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Least sandpiper 
• Long-billed Dowitcher
• Wilson’s Snipe
• Franklin’s Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Lesser black-backed Gull–one observed several times over the last few weeks
• Mourning Dove
• Great Horned Owl  
• Belted Kingfisher
• Northern Flicker   
• American Kestrel
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Bluejay
• Horned Lark
• Cliff Swallow-decreasing but some seem to be staging 
• Barn Swallow
• Marsh Wren
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Western Meadowlark 
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Yellow-headed Blackbird
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Common Grackle