Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie – Part 1

Reference my earlier post Tallgrass Prairie. We started our Flint Hills National Scenic Byway tour at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve’s Visitor Center. Here we toured the Spring Hill Ranch buildings and sat in on a wild bird demonstration.

Among other raptors, we were introduced to an American Kestral. I’ve never seen one up close and personal before, so I was pretty impressed. Such beautiful colors. Nor had I ever seen a Swallow-Tailed Kite before. What unusual markings and that very special tail.

Next came the best part, touring the countryside and looking at all the wildflowers. We stopped at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Bottomland Trail.  There were butterflies and pollinators everywhere.