Kansas
Birding
Trails
SOUTHERN FLINT HILLS / CROSS TIMBERS BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
This area is 947 acres, of which 240 acres are wetlands. The remainder is grassland, woody streamside vegetation, and food plots. The wetlands are not visible from the road, so you must walk out on the mowed levees to look for birds. Usually, the best pool for birding is Pool 5.
Parking lots can be found along E. 80th Street, which forms the southern boundary of the property, and at the corner of E. 70th and Greenwich along the northeast boundary of the wetlands. At this parking lot, a small observation tower provides views of the area. From here you can walk in and explore the wetlands or continue to drive the perimeter roads to other parking and walk in areas.
This site is primarily managed for waterfowl hunting, so as you would expect, geese and ducks abound here during migration. When mudflats exist, this is one of the best places to find migrating shorebirds in this part of the state. More than 30 species of shorebirds have been seen here. In spring, listen for calling King, Virginia and Sora rails. If you are lucky, you might see them feeding along the margins of the vegetation. Away from the wet areas, you are likely to encounter Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Ring-necked Pheasant and songbirds such as Indigo and Painted Buntings, Eastern and Western Kingbirds and Yellow-billed Cuckoos. This area is notable as a good location to look for colorful LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows in October and November.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
WESTERN TRAILHEAD:
Driving Directions: Slate Creek Wetlands Wildlife Area is located 7 miles south and 1.5 miles west of Oxford and 4 miles north of Gueda Springs. From Oxford go south for 5 miles on S. Oxford Rd. At 60th St. turn right and go west for 2 miles to Greenwich Rd. Then turn left and go south for 1 mile.
SOUTHERN FLINT HILLS / CROSS TIMBERS BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
The Chaplin Nature Center is a 230-acre nature preserve owned and operated by the Wichita Audubon Society. This site has a 3000-square foot Visitor Center and over four miles of trails for birding. These trails lead through prairies, a floodplain forest, along a spring-fed creek and down to the beaches and wide-sandbars of the Arkansas River. Belted Kingfishers and Bald Eagles are regularly seen along the river. The woodlands are home to all the expected Kansas forest birds. All six species of eastern woodpeckers, including majestic and boisterous Pileated Woodpeckers, can be found. These six are joined by a seventh woodpecker species, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, during fall, winter and early spring. Flycatchers also are well-represented with six nesting species and several other species which occur in migration. Graceful and dapper Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are especially enjoyable to watch. During migration both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets are possible, and you may find a nice assortment of migrating warblers.
driving directions:
From Geuda Springs go south on Geuda Springs Road for 2 miles. Then go east on 272nd Road for 3 miles to the entrance. From Arkansas City go west on US 166. About 3 miles outside of town turn right (north) on 31st Road. Go north until the road bends west and becomes 272nd Road. The entrance will be on your right.
SOUTHERN FLINT HILLS / CROSS TIMBERS BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
This site consists of an 84-acre lake and 113 acres of Flint Hills prairie and woodlands. You can definitely “color your world” by birding these surrounding lands during summer when they host Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Summer Tanagers, Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and Painted Buntings. In the prairie areas you can find Eastern Meadowlarks and Dickcissels. In winter, these birds are replaced with a good assortment of wintering sparrows. During migration, it is worth checking the lake for waterfowl. And while you are birding here, be sure to check out the waterfall at the northwest corner of the property. In 2014 it was named one of the Top 12 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in America by Yahoo Travel. During dry periods, however, the waterfall can be reduced to a trickle, so it is best to go after recent rains. Even if the waterfall is dry, you can still find a variety of woodland birds as you hike down to the falls.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Cowley State Fishing Lake is located 16 miles east of Arkansas City, immediately adjacent to Highway 166.
SOUTHERN FLINT HILLS / CROSS TIMBERS BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
If you are traveling past Cedar Vale on US 166 during spring or fall migration, you might want to check out Hewins Park on the south side of town. Hewins Park is a nice place for a quick stop to stretch your legs where you might find migrating songbirds on the lawns and in scattered trees. Be sure to check the adjacent water treatment ponds for migrating ducks, geese, shorebirds, terns and gulls. Water birds often seek out these nutrient-rich environments during migration. In fact, fifteen species of waterfowl have been reported from these lagoons.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From the intersection of US 166 and Rd 2 on the north edge of Cedar Vale, go south on Ave C to Walnut Street. Then turn left (southeast) and drive about 2 miles to the park entrance on Sale Barn Road.
SOUTHERN FLINT HILLS / CROSS TIMBERS BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
Although small, these two lakes are pleasant places to bird. The Old City Lake is a 55-acre lake constructed by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. The New City Lake is 70 acres and was constructed in 1964. Amenities at New City Lake include a wooden pier, vault toilet, and picnic area. The lakes are surrounded by 600 acres of city-owned and managed property. This land is on the western edge of the unique Chautauqua Hills region in Southeast Kansas. The area around the lakes is characterized by sandstone covered hills, the tops of which are covered with Blackjack Oak trees. A two-mile-long nature trail connects these two lakes. Birding along this scenic trail can be productive in all seasons. During summer you can expect Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Indigo and Painted Buntings, and both Field and Lark Sparrows. During migration and winter, it is worth checking the lakes for waterfowl. Depending on water levels you may find some mudflats that should be checked for shorebirds during April-May and August-September.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
The New City Lake is located 2.5 miles north of Sedan on State Hwy 99 and the Old City Lake is 4 miles north of Sedan also on State Hwy 99.
SOUTHERN FLINT HILLS / CROSS TIMBERS BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
This scenic 857-acre State Park is located on the east shore of the 4,500-acre Elk City Reservoir. Here oak and hickory woodlands meet rolling meadows of big bluestem and Indian grass. Birders will find picturesque views of prairies, forests, and limestone bluffs. The area is well-known for its trails. Four miles of trails stretch across the State Park and the 15-mile-long Elk River Hiking Trail, leads from the west end of the dam to the US-160 bridge over the Elk River, south of Elk City. These trails provide excellent year-round birding opportunities. Pileated Woodpeckers are regular in any season in the mature trees along the Elk River, as are Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice. During summer listen for Northern Parulas and Summer Tanagers singing from the treetops, as well as the nasal two-note calls of Fish Crows flying over. In open areas look for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Painted and Indigo Buntings and Dickcissels. During spring and fall you can find migrating warblers, vireos and sparrows. From late October to March, check the lake for geese and ducks. Large numbers of Snow and Greater White-fronted Geese spend the winter here.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Located about 5 miles northwest of Independence, one mile north of US-160.
SOUTHERN FLINT HILLS / CROSS TIMBERS BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
This region is known as Kansas’ “Little Ozarks” and indeed the rolling wooded landscape is superficially like the Ozarks. But more accurately, Big Hill Lake is in the Cross Timbers region, an area dominated by oak forests interspersed with bluestem prairie. Acorns from blackjack, post, red, and chinquapin oaks provide food for Wild Turkeys, Blue Jays, Red-headed Woodpeckers and other birds and Eastern Bluebirds nest in the oak cavities.
Each of the five park areas around the 1,240-acre lake are good for birding. The one-mile-long Ruth Nixon Memorial Trail meanders along the lake’s western shoreline, linking the Overlook and Cherryvale recreation areas. The trail has benches where birders can enjoy the scenic views. Another birding option is the 17-mile long Big Hill Lake Horse Trail that provides a variety of terrain and nice views for birders to enjoy. Maps are available at the US Army Corps of Engineers office west of the dam.
In the woodlands, you are likely to hear the wispy notes of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and energetic and repetitive cherry cherry cherry song of the secretive Kentucky Warblers. On spring and summer evenings you can hear both Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-wills-windows. Five species of swallows nest in the area, including Tree Swallows that nest out over the water in dead trees. Wood Ducks and Prothonotary Warblers also nest in dead, standing timber. As with all Kansas lakes, be sure to check the lake for gulls, ducks and geese from October through March.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From Hwy 169 and Main Street on the west side of Cherryvale, go east on Main St. until it ends. Then go south to 5th Street and turn left on what becomes County Road 5000 and then County Road 19000. About 4 miles east of Cherryvale the dam will be on the left.
SOUTHERN FLINT HILLS / CROSS TIMBERS BIRDING TRAIL
About The Area
Winfield City Lake is an excellent place to see waterfowl from October through March. Five species of geese regularly winter here including large numbers of Ross’s and Cackling Geese. During migration, all the typical Central Flyway ducks can be found, and occasionally rare species like White-winged and Black Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks have been observed. A variety of grebes, loons and gulls can also occur here. Recreation areas are located on both the north and south shores of the lake, providing numerous points from which you can scan the lake. But perhaps the best lake viewing is from the bluffs along the lake’s north shoreline. During spring and summer, you may want to turn your attention to the surrounding landscape. A great mix of habitats including tallgrass prairie, woodlands, and brushy areas attract migrating birds and nesting species. The Timber Creek Nature Trail at the east end of the lake provides good opportunities for birding in all seasons. In summer, you can find Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Carolina Chickadees, Northern and Orchard Orioles, Warbling Vireos and other nesting species. In winter, these birds are replaced by large numbers of Harris’s and American Tree Sparrows.
NOTE: A city permit is required. Winfield City Lake is not a State Park, so State Park passes DO NOT permit access to Winfield City Lake.”
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From Winfield, go north on US 77 for about 8 miles to 82nd Road. Then drive east for 6 miles on 82nd Road. From the north go 2 miles south of the US-77/KS-15 junction to 82nd Road and then go east.
