Quivera Critters
A killdeer on the hunt
More from Quivera National Wildlife Refuge. After spending the first part of the morning on the Wildlife Drive, I started touring around the reserve a bit more. This is a big place, and it takes some time to see much of it. The salt marshes are an important part of the refuge, but there is a lot of other environment there as well.
This eagle was coming in for a pounce on something down in the tall grass.
Bald Eagles generally like to eat fish, but they will also dine on carrion and they are capable hunters on the prairie as well. As more and more of them show up in Kansas as year around residents, I see more of them scanning the prairies and fields. Last year I had seen a report that there were 125 breeding pairs in Kansas. They will generally nest close to a source of fish, but they are not at all shy about hunting elsewhere.
A lineup in the road.
As I was on my way to the prairie dog town, I encountered a couple of places where the birds were lined up across the road eating something. Of course they flew off as I approached so it was really hard to tell exactly where they were. Since they were in such a straight line like this, I suspect that there was an ant trail going across the road with plenty of the little guys to munch on. I could be wrong on that!
Prairie Dog
Prairie Dog
Prairie Dogs
Not the best picture, but found this hawk munching a snake.
I believe this is a lark sparrow.
A mixed group of ducks.
Another pic of my favorite windmill.
A slightly different view of my favorite windmill taken before dawn.
A rough legged hawk trying to land on a very thin branch.
When the first branch didn’t hold up, it had to drop to a lower one.
A few minutes later the hawk flew off and spent some time hunting. It saw something for sure.
One of several very large nest platforms I saw on the refuge.
A smaller nest with I think a harrier looking back at me.
A tree full of starlings.
I think this is a leftover from last year.
Another rough legged hawk. This is a lighter plumage.
It spotted something from the pole, and they took off and had a successful hunt.
