Something more resembling winter in Kansas has finally hit Cheyenne Bottoms.  Until a couple weeks ago, weather patterns had been extremely mild from the Fall into early Winter.  Consequently, the bird communities had reflected this.  Large groups of waterfowl were relatively late arriving at Cheyenne Bottoms.  Shorebirds have remained in the area much later than normal.  And, a group of Whooping Cranes (from 2 birds up to 15 birds) stayed on Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area from November 4 through December 17.  The Whooping Cranes finally left as we received a couple days of more normal winter temperatures.  It was a great Whooping Crane Fall at both Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira NWR, with numerous reports of birds observed.

It looks like we are approaching more of a normal Winter birding cycle.  However, there still are some unseasonable birds present as of now.  Snow geese have grouped up in some large flocks.  They can be seen flying out of Cheyenne Bottoms in the mornings to feed in fields and returning to sit in Pool 1 midday.  Duck numbers have fluctuated widely over the last couple weeks.  Northern Pintails, Mallards, Northern Shovelers, and Green-winged Teal dominate.  Raptor numbers have been excellent with numerous Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, and Rough-legged Hawks present.  Great Blue Herons are also being seen.  Several species with strong numbers that are not typical for this time of year include American White Pelicans, Gulls (Ring-billed and Herring, but a few other species too), and shorebirds (Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, and Dunlin).  We also have reported several Snowy Owls.  It appears that Snowy Owls are experiencing an irruption year, with numerous birds being reported in Kansas over the last few weeks.

All roads are currently open through Cheyenne Bottoms.

Only one pool is currently dry in Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (Pool 3b).  All other pools have water in them, but water depths in these pools are lower than most years.  Several construction projects on the Wildlife Area continue.  The permanent marshes on the Nature Conservancy property have been holding many birds as well and is worth a drive through Crooked Rd (NE 100 Rd and NE 90 Rd).

The regular Duck Season is currently open in the Low Plains Early Zone, which includes Cheyenne Bottoms, but not Quivira NWR.  That season remains open through January 2.  The Duck season in the Low Plains Late Zone, which includes Quivira NWR, is also open until January 2.  Goose seasons are also open statewide.

There have been good birding reports from Quivira NWR over the last couple weeks.  The most activity has been on the north end of the refuge around NE 170^th St and the Wildlife Driving Loop.  Check out http://fws.gov/refuge/Quivira.

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
• Ross’s Goose
• Greater White-fronted Goose
• Cackling Goose
• Canada Goose
• Trumpeter Swan
• Northern Shoveler
• Gadwall
• Mallard
• Northern Pintail
• Green-winged Teal
• Lesser Scaup
• Bufflehead
• Northern Bobwhite
• Wild Turkey
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Mourning Dove
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane
• Whooping Crane
• Killdeer
• Dunlin
• Least Sandpiper
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Ring-billed Gull
• California Gull
• Herring Gull
• Iceland Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Double-crested Cormorant
• American White Pelican
• Great Blue Heron
• White-faced Ibis
• Northern Harrier
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Bald Eagle
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Great Horned Owl
• Snowy Owl
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• American Kestrel
• Prairie Falcon
• Blue Jay
• American Crow
• Horned Lark
• Marsh Wren
• European Starling
• American Robin
• House Sparrow
• American Goldfinch
• Lapland Longspur
• American Tree Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Harris’s Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Meadowlark Sp.
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Common Grackle
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Northern Cardinal