Wichita ? A group of birds commonly found along the Gulf Coast and in the Florida Everglades is making a rare appearance this summer in south-central Kansas wetland refuges.

“It’s an odd year for us, to be truthful,” Quivira National Wildlife Refuge manager Dave Hilley said.

Both Quivira and Cheyenne Bottoms, the state-run refuge nearby, have had unexpected guests — the wood stork, reddish egret and roseate spoonbills.

In the past century, the spoonbills have made only occasional appearances in Kansas. Three years ago, six spoonbills were spotted in western Kansas near Garden City.

Hilley said a spoonbill was spotted south of Medicine Lodge last month; a pair was also spotted at Quivira. The pair went on to Cheyenne Bottoms and returned this past weekend to Quivira.

Last month, a wood stork and reddish egret were also spotted at Quivira.