Birding On a Shoestring: Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve

Female Dickcissel 

                                                                    Male Dickcissel

                                                                 Bank Swallows

                                                          Grasshopper Sparrow 1

                                                              Grasshopper Sparrow 2



072819 early to late morning

The following morning we took a jaunt to the Nature Conservancy's Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve, which was a prelude to Cheyenne Bottoms.

The Preserve includes 7700 acres, which has some shallow marshes less than a foot deep, deeper marshes up to several feet, and some priceless tall grass habitat.

Many of the birds observed were the Red-winged Blackbird, Dickcissel, Western Meadowlark, Blue-winged Teal, Red-tailed Hawk, and the ubiquitous White-faced Ibis.  Around the reservoir were large numbers of Bank Swallows and Great-tailed Grackles, all seeking insects.

Many areas like these are usually closed to the public, so this wonderful find was a treasure to traverse for the morning.

for more on the adventure:

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2019/08/birding-on-shoestring-quivira-national.html

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2019/08/birding-on-shoestring-cheyenne-bottoms_5.html