ACES Morning Birding at Hallam Lake 09/23/25

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Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 7:30am-10:30am

Weather: Low cloud ceiling, chilly, new dusting of snow on Bell Mountain

Location: Hallam Lake, Aspen CO

 

Following heavy rain during the night and early morning, bird activity was fairly quiet at Hallam Lake until later in the morning. We enjoyed a beautifully quiet and picturesque morning, beginning with a pair of Common Ravens sitting together in some high, dead branches, followed by a dipper actively “snorkeling” while feeding in the second pond of the Hallam Lake spring-fed system. This dipper then worked its way into the spawning channel where it foraged in the classic dipper style while walking on the rocks in the shallow, flowing water. We noted this bird’s pale, almost yellowish bill, which indicated it was a hatch-year bird (as compared to full adults have dark bills). We watched a kingfisher actively hunting and mallards resting on logs across the lake. Further back in the preserve, red-winged blackbirds called and sang, while chickadees called nearby. In Jennie Adair Park, we encountered a mixed flock of Wilson’s warblers, chickadees, ruby-crowned kinglets, a western wood-pewee, and a downy woodpecker – a classic mix of fall birds sharing food-finding information and group vigilance for any hazards such as a Cooper’s hawk. It was wonderful to watch as this pocket of birds busily foraged in the cottonwoods and understory shrubs. We had many excellent views at close range. At the river, we peeked at the old dipper nest under the bridge. The morning concluded with a hairy woodpecker back at ACES’ driveway. Join us next Tuesday at Rock Bottom Ranch for more exciting fall migration birding!

 

Species List:

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide

Featured Photo: Downy Woodpecker