Grant County
County Seat: Ulysses
County Size: 575 square miles
County
Checklist: 268 species
DeLorme pages 54, 55, 67 & 68
Best Birds: Red-necked Grebe (2007), White-winged Dove, Clark’s Nutcracker (1997), Pine Grosbeak (2004), Cassin’s Finch
Grant County is located in the southwest corner of the state. It is mainly treeless, except for some farmsteads and a few shelterbelts. Agriculture, gas, feedlots, and hog farms are its main industries. The Cimarron River crosses the county in the south. Along the north county line are sand hills and sagebrush where Lesser Prairie Chicken and Scaled Quail have been reported.
Birding Locations:
1. Frazier Park
consists of about 100 acres and is located on the
southeastern side of Ulysses just south of Bentwood Golf Course. Entry to park
is 7/10 mile south of US160 on Stubbs Street. Within the park is Frazier Lake
that covers about ten acres and attracts waterfowl and shorebirds. At the south
end of the lake is a small marshy area that attracts Marsh Wrens and some
sparrow species. Encircling the lake is a one-mile paved walking trail with
offshoots of three to four miles of dirt trails that meander through the
deciduous trees and tamarisks. Several species of warblers and flycatchers
inhabit the area during migration. For those interested, there are nine
camping stalls with water, electricity hook-ups, and restrooms.
2. Welcome Home B&B (620-356-5025) is located at the northwest edge of Ulysses and is accessible from Road I north 7/10 mile from intersection with US160. There are twenty acres with cedars encircling the entire area. Just inside the cedars are pines and, inside the pines, are deciduous trees and shrubs. Inside these belts are open areas of native grasses and wildflowers. Birding this area has been good at times with an overlap of eastern and western birds and irruptive species such as Mountain Chickadee, Western Scrub Jay, Red Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak, and Cassin’s Finch. Please contact them ahead of time before entering the property to bird.
3. Ulysses Cemetery is about two miles east of the city on US160 and consists of 15 acres. A row of pines on the west side attracts some birds. The cemetery and nearby areas attract Scissor-tailed Flycatchers each summer.
4. Memorial Park is located at 400 North Main Street across from Bob Wilson Memorial Grant County Hospital and encompasses one half of a city block. Some two dozen trees grace the park grounds, including giant elm trees, blue spruce, and oak. The park attracts some migrants such as vireos in spring and fall.
5. Wildlife Habitat Restoration Project is eight miles south of Ulysses on Highway K25 next to a gas facility. This twelve-acre tract has mix of conifers and deciduous trees plus open areas. Since it has not received any restoration attention for years, many of trees have died but are still standing. Some species of warblers and flycatchers stop during migration.
6. Lakin Draw lies just east of Ulysses and attracts waterfowl and shorebirds during wet years. Red-necked Grebe and Cinnamon Teal were seen here. Since it is private, the best spot for viewing is from Hampton Road, 7/10 mile east of the intersection with Stubbs Street.
7. County roads are best for seeing raptors, pheasants, meadowlarks, Lark Buntings, and Burrowing Owls. During migration, Long-billed Curlews and Mountain Plovers have been seen in northern parts of the county.
Updated March 2017 - KH