Saturday Morning at Milford Lake

On Saturday morning I went to Milford Lake which is about an hour's drive from my home to do some birding with friends. The weather was somewhat cool early but turned very pleasant as the morning progressed with not much wind (for Kansas) it was sunny at times but did cloud over toward noon. Though we didn't manage to see too many species of birds we had a very enjoyable time.


Some of our birding group...From left to right Bob Kruger, Lindsborg; Doris Burnett, Manhattan; and Chuck Otte, Junction City, the Geary County Extension Agent and leader of the monthly bird walks.


Intake tower Milford Lake Dam


A scene in the pond area below the dam


Another view in the pond area


The dam is along the horizon


Great Blue Heron


Scene along the southeast side of the lake


Crystal clear lake water


Limestone cliffs along the lake shore


Cove and boat landing


Pleasant View School, District No. 3
One room school houses were once common in rural Kansas but most were closed by 1960.


Sumac adds color to a November day


Red-tailed Hawk in the top of a cedar tree


A few hedge apples remain on the Osage-orange Trees....also called Bois d'arc (meaning wood of the bow in French) or Bodark. The Osage-orange trees are native to Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. The trees were widely planted in Kansas in the 19th Century and used as hedge that served as a fence for cattle and other livestock. The Native Americans used the branches to make bows, the wood is used by farmers and ranchers as fence posts since it extremely strong and rot resistant.


Hedge apples on the ground


Seed pods on a Locust Tree


Eastern Red Cedar with seeds


Seed pods on a Golden-rain Tree planted in the State Park


Buckbrush berries


Many roads had to be abandoned when the lake was built including this one.


Waves crash on a sand beach


Wetland Area


Thistle


Road leading down to the Weststar/Martin Wetland Area