Spring Migration continues to ramp up!

Bird sightings continue to change quite frequently right now at Cheyenne Bottoms.   Plan to make multiple trips to the wetlands this Spring, as it is fun to see the bird diversity change from day to day as new birds arrive throughout the next couple months.

Several “First of Season” birds were reported this past week, including: Great Egret and Eastern Phoebe.

Other common birds to see right now include: Excellent duck diversity and numbers, American coots, Sandhill cranes, Pelicans, Gulls,  various shorebirds (mostly Killdeer, Yellowlegs, Dowitchers, and Baird’s sandpipers), various raptors (Northern Harriers and Red-tailed Hawks), a few geese, Great Blue Herons, and black-birds.

Water levels at Cheyenne Bottoms remain fair, with water in most pools.  KDWPT staff continue to dewater Pool 3a, by pumping water into Pool 1c.  Staff hope to be able to burn off residual vegetation in Pool 3a this spring in order to control cattails.  Pool depths and water fowl reports are updated weekly and can be followed on the KDWPT website at:   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:

• Snow Goose–still a fair sized flock able to be seen most days in various locations across the Wildlife Area and surrounding fields
• Canada Goose
• Gadwall–excellent numbers throughout
• American Wigeon–excellent numbers throughout
• Mallard
• Blue-winged Teal–increasing numbers
• Cinnamon Teal–drakes being observed quite consistently
• Northern Shoveler–excellent numbers throughout
• Northern Pintail–excellent numbers throughout
• Green-winged Teal–excellent numbers throughout
• Canvasback
• Redhead
• Ring-necked Duck
• Lesser Scaup
• Bufflehead
• Common Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser
• Common Merganser
• Ruddy Duck
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Wild Turkey
• Mourning Dove
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane
• Killdeer
• Baird’s Sandpiper
• Pectoral Sandpiper
• Long-billed Dowitcher
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Lesser Yellowlegs
• Ring-billed Gull
• Double-crested Cormorant
• American White Pelican–some days as many as 500 pelicans can be viewed on the area
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret-single individual seen in water hole along K-156 Hwy
• Northern Harrier–quite numerous area-wide
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Snowy Owl–one individual observed several times over the last week around Pool 1c and 1b
• Downy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• American Kestrel
• Eastern Phoebe
• Horned Lark
• American Robin
• European Starling
• House Sparrow
• American Goldfinch
• Northern Cardinal
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Western Meadowlark
• Common Grackle
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Brown-headed Cowbird