Jayhawk Audubon Field Trips

Contact Roger Boyd at rboydbird69@gmail.com or 785-424-0595 for more information.

All trips are subject to change due to weather or scheduling conflicts.

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April Field Trips:

April 10 (Wed.) | Lawrence Water Treatment Plant and East of Baker Wetlands | 8:00 am 

Meet at the intersection of N. 1175 and E. 1660 Rd. (GPS N. 38.909918, W -095.205105) There are usually several pools and/or strips of water that attract shorebirds. After 30-45 minutes we will travel back west and north to N. 1250 Rd. We will turn right and travel along N. 1250 making several stops as needed. We will most likely continue east on N. 1250 Rd to O’Connell road with the hopes of late waterfowl, waders, shorebirds, Horned Larks, and longspurs or pipits in the fields on either side of the road. 

 

April 20 (Sat.) | Burcham Park (2nd and Indiana) | 8:00 am 

Meet in the main parking lot near the river. We will walk the road and trails in the park south and north. Should be a variety of early warblers, vireos, thrushes and other spring migrants. The river may have some waterfowl and gulls present and possibly some early swallows over the water.  It is a little early for the bulk of the warblers but easier to view as most leaves won’t be out yet. Bring layers in case there is a chilly breeze. 

April 27 (Sat.) | Baker Wetlands (Joint trip with Lawrence Public Library) | 8:00 am 

Meet at the west parking lot at the Discovery Center. Spring migration should be close to full swing so many species of birds will likely be present. We will walk the diagonal trail down to the low water crossing. Then we will walk the center trail east along the old N. 1250 Rd alignment to the Naismith Canal, cross on the bridge and continue east. Our intent is to walk to the center intersection and Grebe Pond blind which is 1.5 miles round trip. Warblers, vireos, buntings should be in full migration mode as well as several rail and wader species. This is the height of migration for the next 10 days. Weather will be a major factor in what we look for and how far east we go. We will probably be there 2-3 hours but you would be able to return to the parking lot at any time. You can usually anticipate some of the trails will be wet or muddy.  

 

May Field Trips:

May 1 (Wed.) & May 11 (Sat.) | Fitch Natural History Reservation | 8:00 am

Park at Roth Trailhead and cross the road to the east to meet at Fitch. (See KU Field Station for directions or GPS is 39.038524, -95.206304). We will walk on the established trails. Easy walking along the woods. Early portion is gravel turning to well worn dirt or mowed grassy paths.  Expect thrushes, vireos, warblers, tanagers, flycatchers, all the migrants and residents from the tropics. It could be wild, depending on movement of fronts and current weather. If we hit a good day of migration we could have over 15 species of warblers. Chiggers shouldn’t be an issue but plan to use spray on clothing for ticks. We will plan to frequently rotate positions on the trail so that everyone has a chance to be at the front. We will probably be on the trails for several hours and walk up to 2 miles. This is one of the premier woods that are available to the public for birding. That is why we are doing multiple field trips during migration.

 

May 8 (Wed.) | Baker Wetlands, East Gate | 8:00 am 

Meet at the east parking lot off of Haskell Ave. We will walk west along N. 1250 Rd. We will focus on a variety of warblers, chat, wrens, vireos, and flycatchers. There may be a few nesting waterfowl as well as waders in the area. Distance we walk will largely depend on weather and bird activity. Our goal will be to reach the center intersection and Grebe Pond. For those interested, we will conclude the field trip by driving east along N 1250 Rd past O’Connell road primarily looking for birds in pools and fields to the east.  

 

May 15 (Wed.) | Rice Woods | 8:00 am 

Park at intersection of N 500 and E 1750 Rd. Easy walking on compacted gravel road through the woods. Expect a variety of woodpeckers (Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated and Flicker), Carolina Wren, possibly Red-tailed, Cooper’s, and Red-shouldered Hawks.  Some migrant flycatchers, warblers, and thrushes likely.  Our main targets, however, will be Chuck-will’s-widow and Whip-poor-will.  We will arrive before sundown so other birds will be active.  At dusk is when we can expect the nightjars to sing. These birds could be close and with (amazing) luck, could come out on the road! Might want to spray for mosquitoes, or stand next to someone else they like better! 

 

May 18 (Sat.) | Rice Woods and Douglas State Lake | 8:00 am  

Park at intersection of N 500 and E 1750 Rd. Easy walking on compacted gravel roads along the woods. Expect a variety of woodpeckers (Red-headed, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated and Flicker), Carolina Wren, creeper, nuthatch, kinglets, possibly Red-tailed, Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned, and Red-shouldered Hawks. Some migrant flycatchers, warblers, tanagers and thrushes are likely. We will then travel to Douglas State Lake less than 2 miles east. Here we should expect various waterfowl and waders and possibly kingfishers, ospreys or eagles. 

 

June Field Trips:

June 5 (Wed.) | Baker Wetlands, East Gate | 7:30 am

Meet at the east parking lot off of Haskell Ave. We will walk west along N. 1250 Rd. We will focus on a variety of warblers, chat, wrens, vireos, and flycatchers. There may be a few nesting waterfowl as well as waders in the area. Distance we walk will largely depend on weather and bird activity. Our goal will be to reach the center intersection and Grebe Pond. For those interested, we will conclude the field trip by driving east along N 1250 Rd past O’Connell road primarily looking for birds in pools and fields to the east. 

 

June 8 (Sat.) | Clinton Lake, Overlook Park | 7:30 am

We will meet on the turn off north to Sesquicentennial Park just west of the Dog Park at 7:30 am. Look for people without dogs and with binoculars! Our main target will be Painted Bunting. Many other birds are in the area as well. Dickcissel, Field Sparrow, several orioles, and Indigo Buntings. We will walk the roads and then head north to Sesquicentennial Park up the hill. Our main target there will be Blue Grosbeak. 

 

June 19 (Wed.) | Lone Star Lake with Globe Prairie Area (optional) | 7:30 am

Meet at the east end of Lone Star Lake dam. We will plan to drive the perimeter road to the east with periodic stops with possible short walks at some of the stops. A variety of waterfowl are to be expected. Raptors should include Bald Eagles, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, Cooper’s, and perhaps Sharp-shinned Hawks. Most bird activity will be in the woods around the lake with woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, kinglets, creepers, and sparrows, as well as some late warblers or towhees possible. About 9:30 we will depart for the Globe area to the south and west. Here we hope to find meadowlarks, Horned Larks, perhaps longspurs, and a variety of sparrows. In recent years there have been Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks as well as Prairie and Peregrine Falcons seen in the area. This is the best expanse of prairie that remains in Douglas County.  

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JULY Field Trips:

July 6 (Sat.) | Baker Wetlands | 7:30 am

Meet at the Southwest Parking lot which is down by the river, south of the Discovery Center, just east of E 1400 Rd. We will start at 7:30 am to get ahead of the heat. We will walk the River Trail to the center road. If it is good birding we will walk north to center road and back west. Indigo Buntings and Common Yellowthroats should be common as well as Dickcissels. We will also be looking for Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Pileated Woodpeckers, Willow Flycatcher and Eastern Wood Pewee. Both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles should be around as well as Blue Grosbeak and Bell’s Vireo. If we go north to Grebe Pond we will look for Common Gallinule, King Rail, Pied-billed Grebe, and Least Bittern. 

 

July 17 (Wed.) | Chicken Creek Bridge (approx. 770 E. 850 Rd – south of Clinton Dam) | 7:30 am Meet at 7:30 am (early start).
We will focus on warblers that nest in the area such as Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow Warbler and in recent years, Yellow-throated Warbler.  We will then drive on up the valley with several stops and then over to the south end of Lone Star Lake. We will either end there or meander round the lake to the dam and depart from there. 

 

August Field Trips:

Aug. 7 (Wed.) | Clinton Lake, East Bloomington | 7:30 am

Meet at the parking lot east of the Wakarusa Museum, not the swim beach. We will take an easy walk around the parking lot and edge of the lake primarily for swallows. Also a good chance for Scissortail Flycatchers and a host of other flycatchers and kingbirds in the area. Along the beach we should find several species of gulls, and early shorebirds returning from breeding in Canada. Forster’s, Black and Caspian terns are often here. Buntings, grosbeaks, orioles, even warblers and tanagers are possible as fall migration is underway. 

 

Aug. 13 (Tues.) | Sunrise Project | 8:00 pm | “Chimney Swift Send-off!”

Meet in the parking lot of the Sunrise Project. Bring your own lawn chair. We will start at 8:00 pm. We will start with info about the Sunrise Project and then some facts about Chimney Swifts. The birds should start circling the chimney about 8:20 or so and then descend into the chimney around late dusk. Much depends on weather and timing of their migration. 100+ swifts are likely to roost in the chimney overnight.

 

Aug. 17 (Sat.) Clinton Lake, East Bloomington | 7:30 am

Meet at the parking lot east of the Wakarusa Museum, not the swim beach. We will start at 7:30 am to beat the heat. We will take an easy walk around the parking lot and edge of the lake primarily for swallows. Also a good chance for Scissortail Flycatchers and a host of other flycatchers and kingbirds in the area. We will then walk to the beach where we should find several species of gulls and early shorebirds returning from breeding in Canada. Forster’s, Black and Caspian terns are often here. Buntings, grosbeaks, orioles, even warblers and tanagers are possible as fall migration is underway. 

 

September Field Trips:

Sept. 7 (Sat.) Fitch Natural History Reservation | 8:00 am

Meet at 8:00 am. Park at Roth Trailhead and cross the road to east to meet at Fitch. (See KU Field Station for directions or GPS is 39.038524, -95.206304). We will walk on the established trails. Easy walking along the woods. Early portion is gravel turning to well worn dirt paths. Expect thrushes, vireos, warblers, tanagers, flycatchers, all the migrants moving through on their way to the tropics as well as residents. It won’t be as wild as spring but fall migrants and juveniles can be a challenge to ID. Chiggers shouldn’t be an issue but still plan to use spray on clothing for ticks. 

 

Sept. 11 (Wed.) | Rice Woods and Douglas State Lake | 8:00 am

Park at intersection of N 500 and E 1750 Rd. Easy walking on county roads along the woods. Expect a variety of woodpeckers (Red-headed, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated and Flicker), Carolina Wren, creeper, nuthatch, kinglets, possibly Red-tailed, Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned, and Red-shouldered Hawks. Some migrant flycatchers, warblers, and thrushes likely. We will then travel to Douglas State Lake less than 2 miles east. Here we should expect various waterfowl and possibly kingfishers, ospreys or eagles. 

 

October Field Trips:

Oct. 5 (Sat.) | Burcham Park | 8:00 am

Meet at 8:00 am in the main parking lot near the river. We will walk the road and trails in the park and to the north. Should be a variety of late warblers and flycatchers and perhaps early winter migrants. This area is also good for a variety of resident birds as well. We usually can see a variety of waterfowl and gulls along the river during this time. Since it is late in fall migration it is difficult to predict what we might find. Bring layers in case there is a chilly breeze.  

 

Oct. 16 (Wed.) | Clinton Lake Dam and Model Airplane Field | 8:00 am

Meet on the dam at the pullout by outlet tower. Focus will be on the identification of numerous waterfowl (geese, ducks, grebes, & loons) and gulls potentially available. Once we have seen what we can we will travel to the south end of the dam and scope that area of the lake. Depending on cloud cover and wind the species diversity and abundance can vary greatly from one day to the next. From there we will go below the dam to the model airplane field and those wetlands. We will look primarily for a variety of sparrows and wrens. This is often a good time and location for LeConte’s, Nelson’s, Savannah and Swamp Sparrows and possible American and Sprague’s Pipits. Both Marsh and Sedge Wrens should be present as well as Sora and Virginia Rails.

 

November Field Trips:

Nov. 2 (Sat.) | Lone Star Lake | 8:00 am

Meet at the east end of Lone Star Lake dam. We will plan to drive the perimeter road to the east with periodic stops and possible short walks at some of the stops. A variety of waterfowl are to be expected. Raptors should include Bald Eagles, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, Cooper’s, and perhaps Sharp-shinned Hawks. Most bird activity will be in the woods around the lake with woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, kinglets, creepers, and sparrows, as well as some late warblers or towhees possible. 

 

Nov. 9 (Sat.) | Globe Prairie Area | 8:00 am

Meet at 8:00 am north of US Hwy. 56 on E. 400 Rd. We will plan to drive the gravel roads. We will be looking for sparrows, shrikes (Northern on rare occasions), finches, Horned Larks with the possibility of longspurs. Often raptors are common with the occasional Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks.  Short-eared Owls are here but usually active at dusk. Four species of falcons have been seen in the area (Peregrine, Prairie, Merlin, Kestrel.) There are several draws with trees where other species like woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, kinglets, creepers, and brushy sparrows, as well as towhees are possible. This is the best expanse of prairie that remains in Douglas County. Bring/wear layers as it is always windy. 

 

Nov. 27 (Wed.) | Baker Wetlands | 8:00 am

Meet at the Southwest Parking lot which is down by the river, south of the Discovery Center. (Entrance GPS is 38.913175, -95.241755) We will walk the River Trail to the center road. If it is good birding we will walk north to center road and back west. Our main focus will be on a variety of sparrows and finches. It’s possible that several blackbird species and Common Yellowthroats could be present. We will also be looking for a variety of resident woodland birds along the river.  If we have time to walk north to Grebe Pond we will look for any waterfowl and late waders. There could be a Yellow-headed Blackbird hiding out with the Red-wings.

 

December Field Trips:

Dec. 7 (Sat.) | Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge | 8:00 am

We will meet at the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center Parking lot. Please car poo. Our main targets this trip will be Trumpeter Swans and Bald Eagles. We could see over 20 species of waterfowl. Grebes are usually abundant now as well. Among the hundreds of Trumpeter Swans will likely be a few Tundra Swans, we just have to find them! On arrival we will be viewing the throng of birds from the main lookout then driving the 10 mile loop drive around the main water body. I will have a telescope for the group. In some places other species will be seen such as several species of blackbirds, sparrows and possibly wrens could be present. Woodland species are also possible at several stops.  

 

Dec. 14 (Sat.) | Lawrence Christmas Bird Count | All Day 

Contact Galen Pittman:
785-760-3572 galenpitt@gmail.com 

 

Dec. 15 (Sun.) | Baldwin Christmas Bird Count | All Day

Contact Calvin Cink:
785-594-6546  ccinkbird76@gmail.com 

 

Dec. 17 (Tues.) | Linn County Christmas Bird Count | All Day 

Contact Roger Boyd:
785-424-0595 rboydbird69@gmail.com