Chester Route
Major
County
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From the 1986 edition of A Guide to Birding in
Oklahoma published by the Tulsa Audubon Society. This account was partially reviewed and updated in 2007.
Seiling is between
Oklahoma City and Woodward. Begin the route on SH 281 about 3 miles
north of Seiling. Turn off SH 281 on the first road to the right after
crossing the North Canadian River bridge. The 25-mile route follows
country roads north to near the Cimarron River. There are sage covered
sandhills at the beginning of the route and "gyp hills canyon country"
in the central and northern parts. From Seiling the first 11 miles
follow section lines. Birds are Field and Lark Sparrows and other
species of woodland and open country. From mile 9 through 11 the wooded
hills get steeper and bird species seen and heard drop rapidly.
The next 7 miles wind
through ranch land where canyons make straight roads impossible. The
last 2.5 miles are blacktopped. Turn right off the blacktop after
passing oil tanks on the right. Species common to the sandhills and
wooded areas are no longer seen or heard, though many live in the
scantily wooded canyons. Birds seen include Eastern and Western
kingbirds, Lark and Grasshopper sparrows, Turkey Vultures, Eastern and
Western meadowlarks, Mississippi Kites, with Painted Buntings, Eastern
Phoebes, Mockingbirds, and Cardinals in the canyons. In this area listen
for Cassin's Sparrows and Rufous-crowned Sparrows, and hybrid
Lazuli-Indigo buntings may be seen.
The last 8 miles follow
section lines for 3 miles; then the road veers to the right slightly,
passing through ranches, with a canyon on the left. Mesquite is the tree
found here, with cottonwoods in the valley. The shortgrass lands level
off giving way to wheat fields on the right, and, for the last 2 miles,
wheat on both sides. Birds here are Western Meadowlarks, both kingbirds,
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Barn Swallows, Lark Sparrows, Mississippi
Kites, and if the wheat has been harvested there are many doves.
Turn south at SH 281 to
see Cliff Swallows as the road passes through real "gyp canyon country"
or turn north on SH 281 to reach the Little Sahara Recreation Area.
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