Growing Goslings

Posted on May 30, 2021 by admin

Goslings!

Posted on May 5, 2021 by admin

It was wonderful to see all the geese parents and goslings hanging out together this morning! I love how they group up so there are more adults watching the young ones.

I also spotted a beaver, a couple of hooded mergansers, and a young bald eagle flew over looking for breakfast.

April Snow

Posted on April 20, 2021 by admin

No surprise in Kansas. Our weather at best is unpredictable. The biggest snow storm I remember from childhood was late April. School was closed for a week! This morning, I rushed to get out to the wetlands because I haven’t been out there this winter when it was snowing. I was sure I was going to miss a snowy wetlands this year, so thank you, universe!

New Arrivals

Posted on April 15, 2021 by admin

It was a terrific morning for walking in the wetlands. The sunrise was spectacular, and I loved watching the coots eagerly flying across the path and diving into the open water.

I had it mostly to myself and got to see my first of the spring little green herons and an American bittern. The bittern pic is not great, but it’s so good to see them again. There have been so many times I have been standing right next to one and didn’t realize it until they flew away. Such good camouflage!

A great blue heron made some geese very unhappy by standing on their muskrat lodge, but eventually left them to it. I see geese nesting on top of the lodges fairly often. That seems like prime real estate! I’m hoping I will get to see some goslings soon!

I’m still stalking the same area looking for river otters. I didn’t have any luck today, but I did get to see a super cute muskrat having breakfast.

Geese

Posted on March 20, 2021 by admin

While I have been hearing snow geese overhead, I haven’t witnessed any large groups at the wetlands. But, there are still plenty of geese! I did see some greater white-fronted geese in this mix.

Busy Wetlands

Posted on May 3, 2016 by admin

It has been a busy few days at the Wakarusa Wetlands. The wet, cool weather has been especially good for early morning walks. Shorebirds are arriving in abundance and year-round residents are busy staking out territory, courting, and gathering nest materials. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Wakarusa Wetlands Reopens

Posted on February 21, 2016 by admin

The area I used to visit three or four times a week at the Wakarusa Wetlands is open again. While I did not venture north to areas most affected by the construction, I was overjoyed to go back in to my usual spots. The mitigation areas looked very good from what I could see. The newer Maple Marsh, Ibis Swale, Duck Lake, and Shorebird Shallows were all busy with geese, grebes, gulls, and assorted ducks (many mallards, Northern shovelers, and teal). Killdeer were all along the edges. I did not get a lot of pictures this morning, but I saw a beaver, mink, and muskrat from a distance as well as a big group of deer. I am trying to stay positive, but do worry about how all of the proposed development along 31st is going to affect this area. It looks like there is one path that goes under the highway where Louisiana Street was. I hope that once the highway is finished and heavily traveled that animals use that. I could not see from where I was how that all works, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. An updated map can be found, here: http://www.bakeru.edu/images/pdf/About/Wetlands/Wetlands_Area_Mapweb.pdf

Wakarusa Wetlands Winter 2009

Posted on May 4, 2014 by admin

The places where the marsh wren and muskrat photos were taken have been bulldozed. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Winter is not quite done with us

Posted on May 3, 2013 by admin

I ventured out to the Wakarusa Wetlands yesterday morning and took in the cold rain/sleet/snow and wind. All I could think about was how privileged I am to get to warm up. Geese were diligently incubating while their partners guarded nearby; the coyotes seemed to be everywhere looking for a meal; new arrivals like the yellow-throated warbler, Baltimore oriole, and indigo bunting stayed deep within the brush. I could make out their colors as I walked by. I didn’t stay long as I felt my presence there was just one more thing they all had to worry about when conserving energy was so very important. Click on pictures to enlarge.