Date: 12/11/24 6:12 pm From: Daniel Kerr <dkerr...> Subject: Prairie Falcon, Merlin & a few questions for the board...
Good evening all,
Reporting here tonight from Bourbon County. A late afternoon drive around the circuit of Lake Fort Scott, Hollister and Elm Creek Lake yielded a Prairie Falcon and two Merlins per the following eBird report: https://ebird.org/checklist/S205119604
Two things have recently happened here: 1) the birding bug has re-infected me in a delightful way and 2) I have acquired a decent telescopic-lens camera. I'm an amateur so the photos aren't great but it has at very least given me a bit of confidence to report some birds whereas in the past I have been plagued by doubt (i.e. did I really see what I thought I saw?!).
I have a couple of questions I hope my far more seasoned compatriots across the Kansas birding sphere can help me with:
1. Does anyone have recommendations on how I should approach the Neosho Wildlife area around St. Paul? I went down there a week ago and was overwhelmed by the size and scope of the place. Birds everywhere. A lot of duck hunters and I felt a bit sheepish plunging into any one area because of the abundance of hunters. 2. My top life-list bird is the Ferruginous Hawk. I would like to plan a trip out west and I'd love to hear from you all about where I should go. I'm getting the hang of eBird and it seems like the Cimarron Grasslands area near Elkhart is a prime spot. Where else?
Thank you all, I hope and plan to be much more active in reporting birds here in SE Kansas in the months and years ahead.
Duc in altum,
*Daniel Kerr* President, St. Martin's Academy c: 620.224.8110 www.saintmartinsacademy.org
