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.
