June 12
one of the 2 bridges across the lakes
Prairie
Eastern Bluebird
Yellow-breasted Chat
Indigo Bunting
The Elk & Bison Prairie offers a native grassland
habitat common in Kentucky more than a century ago. Elk and bison roam free
within this 700-acre enclosure. Visitors travel in their enclosed vehicle via a
3.5-mile paved loop road. Numerous other wildlife species also thrive in the
prairie. Wild turkeys, a variety of birds, small game, butterflies, and prairie
mammals find sanctuary in the Elk & Bison Prairie.
We were quite lucky that we came upon some very fresh Bison
poo in the road and around the corner there were around 30 of them with at
least 6 to 8 young ones. Once big guy was in the road and we couldn’t pass
until he decided to move. During that time another large male joined him in the
road. The little ones must have been tired because they were barely off the
road and they were laying down. We sat and watched them a long time.
We were not so lucky finding any elk. We did see a ton of
Indigo Buntings, Cowbirds, Red-headed Woodpeckers and other birds. Lots of male
turkeys and we did come across a hen with around a dozen young ones. We did see
one large lone buffalo way back in the woods.
Snapping Turtle
male wild turkey
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Kingbird
male Orchard Oriole
Cowbird
turkey
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Bluebird
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Bluebird
We stopped at the Visitor’s center and we also hiked a bit
around some of the trails there.
Song Sparrow
immature Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
lizard
trail
Ginseng plant
Visitor's Center
We stopped to find lunch which wasn’t as easy as one would
think. We found the one restaurant “the Pond”, but it wasn’t open for lunch. We
stopped at a Country store, that had ice cream, but no food. They had a couple
of menus for places in the area and we headed for Cindy’s on the Barge that had
a nice view of Kenlake. Food was good. Our server was new and she had a hard
time taking our order. I ordered a pork tenderloin and being from Iowa I was
expecting a big flattened piece breaded and fried, but it was a grilled piece
of pork on a bun. (despite her asking what kind of bread I wanted it on and I
said whole wheat.) Greg had a catfish sandwich which did come on the sourdough
he ordered. All was good and we enjoyed them with sweet potato fries.
Country Store
Cindy's on the Barge Restaurant
Canada Geese & Goslings
view from the marina
We visited a couple of other areas of the park and then went
back and got some of the homemade ice cream at the Country Store. Very yummy!
going over the other bridge (they are identical)
another nature station
Purple Martin houses
Purple Martin
Purple Martin
Cowbird
White-breated Nuthatch
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
Center Furnace - iron furnace from the 1840's to 1912
ice cream stop
We took another drive through the Prairie and only saw the
one large bison. (turkeys and other birds as well)
Red-headed Woodpecker
female turkey with young (about 12 of them)
Indigo Bunting
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Kingbird
Cowbird
Cowbird
Then, we called it a day and drove the hour back home with a
grocery store stop on the way.
We went to bed early since we had a 5:00 get up time since
the drive to Mammoth Cave was 2 hours (not the one hour we saw earlier on some
site). We have a 9:00 tour with an 8:30 check in, so early to bed and early to
rise……
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