Salt Plains NWR

A sweet little deer to welcome us to the wildlife refuge.

This refuge is about an hour and a half from home.  

We (my husband, Ken & I) finally marked out some

time for a visit.  It was very hot and very windy that

day so we were thankful they had auto tour roads, too.

This refuge is located in North Central Oklahoma.

The wheat harvest was going on as well and we enjoyed

viewing the vast, golden fields being harvested, too.  Kansas 

and Oklahoma are definitely the bread-basket of America!

A woodland hiking trail through the refuge

Trumpet Vines were in bloom

American Avocet  (lifer)

Wild Buttonbush

Dragonfly

Small creek running through the refuge.

The Marsh

Small inlet of the Great Salt Plains Lake

Great Salt Plains Lake

Sunset after the first day.

Wildflower:  Indian Blanket Flower

This was my most treasured find :-)

Lark Sparrow  (lifer)

I was thrilled to see several Lark Sparrows!

They make a beautiful song...this one was perched

on this post singing away.

Wildflower:  Arkansas Rose

I am guessing here.

Wildflower:  Fleabane

Wildflower: Hairy Vetch

Hedge Parsley  (another guess)

Great Salt Plains Lake

shoreline

Great Egret

There were lots of Great Egrets.

I am just guessing at this...a Skink

Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

Snowy Plover

The Snowy Plover likes to nest here. 

Also, the American Avocet and Interior Least Terns.

Salt Plains

This wide expanse of mud flats is covered with a thin layer

of salt.  You can dig for Selenite Crystals here.  It was too

hot and windy for us.  We will need to save that activity

for another day.