Kansas
Birding
Trails
CIMARRON BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
With its restaurants and motels, Hugoton serves as a good jumping off point for travelers accessing the Cimarron Trail from the north or east. Most birders spend at least a few minutes birding Hugoton on their way down to the Cimarron National Grasslands. The neighborhoods south of K- 51 Highway and east of U.S. 56 Highway (due east of Hugoton High School) can be good for hummingbirds in the fall, migrant songbirds, and winter finches. The city cemetery, located in the southeast part of town, south of K-51 has been a reliable location for Curve-billed Thrasher. They are most often seen in the southeast corner of the cemetery. Going north 1 mile from the city cemetery on Cemetery Road will bring you to the Hugoton Storm Run-off Ponds on the west side of the road. This can be a good location for shorebirds, dabbling ducks, and migrant warblers and sparrows in the trees and shrubs surrounding the ponds. The city water treatment plant is northwest of the stormwater runoff ponds, just off the south side of US 56 highway. Some of the ponds are visible from the road on the west side and has been another good area to observe waterfowl and shorebirds in migration. As with most other sewer pond setups across the state, it is not legal to enter the properties without prior permission.
Driving directions:
Take US 56 Highway southwest from Dodge City for 88 miles or take K-25 Highway south for 29 miles from Ulysses
CIMARRON BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
As you enter town from the northwest on US 56, the sewer ponds will be on the left. You can pull in and view them from a gravel lane near the corral. These ponds can be excellent for ducks, shorebirds, terns and gulls. Around the ponds you may see flocks of blackbirds including Yellow-headed, Brewer’s, and Great-tailed Grackles. Spilled grain here attracts flocks of doves. White-winged Doves are sometimes seen among the Eurasian Collared and Mourning Doves. Just to the west along US 56 you will see the Rolla city park with large trees, picnic tables and restrooms. It might be worth a quick stop during migration to check for migrant songbirds.
driving directions:
Take US 56 Highway southwest 16.5 miles.
CIMARRON BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
The town of Elkhart is a mecca for Kansas birders, especially those seeking unusual species for their Kansas lists. Many birders make it a point to visit Elkhart annually during migration, if not more often. Interesting birds can be found in any of the neighborhoods or city parks. Birders often walk the streets and alleys looking for exciting rarities. The best areas of public access are listed below.
driving directions:
Take US 56 Highway southwest 34 miles from Hugoton.
CIMARRON BIRDING TRAIL
About the Area
Over 320 species of birds have been seen in the contiguous area of the Elkhart cemetery, shelterbelt and the adjacent sewage lagoons. The cemetery is a good place to look for birds during migration and in the winter. Red-naped Sapsuckers, Pygmy Nuthatches, and Mountain Chickadees have all been re-corded here. Eastern warblers such Bay-breasted and Yellow-throated, and western migrants such as Townsend’s Warbler and Plumbeous Vireo may be found during migration. The shelterbelt across the street to the north is also on city property. A nesting colony of Black-crowned Night Herons can currently be found here. Barn and Great Horned Owls are often present in the juniper trees. This shelterbelt has produced a long list of rarities including Pyrrhuloxia, Hepatic Tanager, Varied Thrush, and Gray Vireo. Black-chinned Hummingbirds have been somewhat reliable here in the last few years. A tremendous diversity of flycatchers, thrushes, warblers, and sparrows has been recorded here-everything from Virginia Rail to Virginia’s Warbler. Often during migration, you can get an accurate indication of whether there will be migrants around by checking the shelterbelt first thing in the morning.
Driving Directions:
The Elkhart Cemetery is on the north edge of town along the northern-most street that connects K-27 and U.S. highway 56. It is visible to the northwest from U.S. highway 56.
CIMARRON BIRDING TRAIL
Driving the dikes of this municipal water treatment facility is NO LONGER PERMITTED. These cement-lined evaporation ponds are the largest bodies of water for many miles in every direction. They act like a magnet for migrating waterbirds. The waterfowl, shorebird, and gull lists are impressive. Arctic Tern, Little Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Wigeon, and several Red Phalaropes, Glossy Ibis and California and Sabine’s Gulls have been recorded here. You can check the wooded pond ahead and to the east of the sewer ponds, accessible by foot from the south along the wooded areas north of the shelterbelt. A pair of Swainson’s Hawks and Black-crowned Night Herons have nested around the pond. Migrant warblers, vireos, and flycatchers can often be found by scanning the trees and shrubs near the dike. When water is present, teal and Wood Ducks will use this pond. During migration check the margins for shorebirds and Northern Waterthrushes. Interesting sparrows, including Brewer’s Sparrows, sometimes can be seen on the boundary. There is a small parking lot on the west side of the boundary fence for the ponds and some of the water can be viewed from that location, but DO NOT enter the fenced area as this would be considered trespassing.
Driving Directions:
The sewer ponds are north of the Elkhart Cemetery and Shelterbelt. To get there, turn north on the dirt road just west of the cemetery and park at the lot on the west side. Some of the ponds can be viewed by standing in the bed of a pickup, but access is no longer allowed inside the fenced area.
CIMARRON BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
Cimarron National Grassland is the only land managed by the U.S. Forest Service in Kansas. You can find the Forest Service office along the south side of US. 56 just as you are entering Elkhart. There you can pick up literature and maps. At 108,175 acres it is the State’s largest public lands. This birding area is also historically rich. Twenty-three miles of the Santa Fe Trail cut across the grassland. Habitats here include riparian woodlands along the Cimarron River, sagebrush-yucca prairie mostly south of the river, shortgrass prairie mostly north of the river, and parcels of cropland throughout the expansive property. Additionally, rock cliffs and canyons can be found on the north side of the river. During fall and winter months, raptors are usually abundant, with a good mix of Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcons, and occasionally a Merlin, Peregrine, or Golden Eagle. Nesting birds include Cassin’s Sparrows in good stands of yucca and Brewer’s Sparrows which are occasionally found in areas with mature sagebrush. Other nesting “western” species that you might encounter on the Grasslands include Lark Buntings, Scaled Quail, Bullock’s Orioles, and most-notably Lesser Prairie Chickens. Prairie chicken booming grounds are generally south of the river in the sagebrush-yucca areas. Blinds at the booming ground may be available, but numbers of the birds have dwindled in recent years, making them a challenge to find. Call or visit the Forest Service office to learn about how to best see Lesser Prairie Chickens. The most popular birding sites on the National Grassland are described below
