Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  This week, for Serene Scenery Sunday, Maggie and I thought we'd share photos from our most recent trip down to Quivira NWR.  Rather than stretch this out, we're just going to jump into it all and  get this over with  present the photos in one post.

This is a shot of us on the way home:

"We aren't posting all 87,000 photos, are we?"
"No, Cam.  Promise."
"Soooooo many birdies.  So, so mannnnny birdies!"

OK.  Back up, and into the refuge!  The first birdie we saw was this guy:

"Hello!"

He's a young Snowy Egret.  He seemed to like Mom and kept trying to get her to follow him.  He'd walk down the canal, then wait for her.  If she didn't come after him (Mom does NOT like to scare the birds off!), he'd come back for her.

"Right this way, Camera Lady!"
"Um... OK."

We think maybe because he's a youngster.  Anyway, he led Mom to where a congregation of more Snowy Egrets was gathering.

"Oh.  Did Junior bring you?"
"Just ignore her; she'll go away."

Check out the legs on that guy on the right in the photo above.  Maybe that's the Egret version of the Paw Tuck?  Crazy!

There was more to the gathering - let's pan out!

Snowy Egrets, Least Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, and an American Avocet

That Avocet still has a bit of the breeding plumage -- the pretty orange head.  This next guy has pretty much transitioned into Winter mode:

American Avocet

It would seem we're not the only ones ready for Winter!

Anyway ... here's another group of birdies:

American Avocets, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, and an Ibis

The Ibis is either a juvenile White-Faced Ibis or a Glossy Ibis.  Mom can't really tell, nor can her birdie friends.

In addition to the Snowy Egret, we also saw a Great Egret ...

Great Egret

... and a Cattle Egret tucked in with a small flock of Avocets:

Cattle Egret and American Avocets

Mom was pretty thrilled to see all three of our Egrets!  If you look closely at the Avocets, you can tell we were fighting some wind gusts - the guys on the left are squinting and the ones on the right are hunkered down.  30mph isn't too bad - unless you're a little birdie or unless you're toting a 600mm lens around.  Moving right along ...

Mom was even more thrilled to get close to a group of Long-Billed Dowitchers!  She was within 20-30 feet, which is the closest she's ever been to them.  The guy posed nicely, as he splashed into the surf:

Long-Billed Dowitcher - angel wings display

The Dowitchers were hanging out with Avocets and Sandpipers.

Long-Billed Dowitchers and Stilt Sandpipers

Fall not only means "migration time", it also means "sunflower time"!  They were popping out all over the refuge:

Sunflowers at the Big Salt Marsh

One more birdie shot:

American Avocets fishing

It was a very successful birding adventure!  On the way home, we stopped to stretch our legs in Ellinwood again.  Here is a shot of Maggie and me checking out the park and bandshell:

"So that's an example of the Art Deco style, huh, Cam?"
"That's what they say. Built in the 1930s."

We wandered around that park a bit and found this beautiful bell:

The plaque reads:
"Ellinwood Volunteer
Fire Department
Fire Alarm Bell 1900
Dedicated to all past, present and
future firefighters
for their service to the community."

Very special!

That about brings us back to where we started this post.

"That's about it, right, Mom?"
"Almost!"
"Wait.  I smell burgers."

When we pulled into the truck stop, Mom spotted a small cabin that she wanted to photograph.

A little something we're calling The Sunflower Shack

Maggie and I really think we should have gotten a burger out of the deal, but no.  I need to file a grievance with someone.

Anyway - we hope you enjoyed our photos and that they added some serenity to your day!  To view the complete set, please click here to visit our FlickR album.  Have a wonderful Sunday!

Cammie!