Perry State Park – Ozawkie, Kansas

September 2

Today we checked out Perry State Park for some hiking and birding. There is a nice lake there and lots of campsites that were jam-packed this holiday weekend. They also have a lot of biking, hiking and horse trails.

We hiked the Skyline trail which is a 3.5 mile loop and we also did a couple of off shoots of the trail. The terrain wasn’t too bad, some rocky and hilly areas, but mostly just packed ground. We have never heard/seen so many Woodpeckers all in one place. We came across Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpeckers as well as White-bellied Nuthatches and Northern Flickers. None were anxious to have their photos taken. There was a bright pink plastic tape blocking off a section and some poor misguided hummingbird came flying in thinking it was a flower. (right next to me) Greg saw a deer briefly before it took off. There were a few other birds around as well, but most were elusive. We also found this big hairy spider on a tree trunk. It appears to me to be a Wolf Spider. 

 there were around 20 turkeys before most scurried into the woods

 Red-bellied Woodpecker with an insect

 White-bellied Nuthatch

 immature Red-headed Woodpecker

 uphill rocky part of the trail

 fungi growing inside the tree trunk

 Wolf Spider

 Great Egret

We took a break and went to the marina for lunch at Mulligan's on the Water. 

 Mallard Ducks and Carp were in the water next to the restaurant

 the carp must be used to being fed as they all came to the surface; mouths wide open

 pork tenderloin - as we head south I know the midwestern food won't be found

Fish basket

After lunch we went back and hiked the other area of the trail. Greg saw another deer and we saw a few birds, but mostly it was just a hike since the mosquitos were pesky and we kept moving.

 easy part of the trail

We grabbed some ice cream and headed home.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xGNU6BuoGn1AbSUk6

Tomorrow, if the weather holds out we plan to walk around Shawnee Lake. We have been lucky here as all around us neighborhoods have been evacuated due to flooding.