ACES Birding by Habitat: Snowmass Village 8/2/23

The rodeo wetlands area was our first location on this field trip, where we spent time in the riparian zone along the shores of the wetlands and among the adjacent stands of trees and open grassy areas. We identified Tree, Violet-green, and Cliff Swallows foraging over the lake, as well as Yellow Warblers, Chickadees, and Hummingbirds foraging in small trees near flower- and fruit-laden shrubs. We studied the eclipse-plumaged Mallards, some of whom had ducklings, and the Red-winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows in the marsh. From here, we went to the Nature Trail to explore high montane and low subalpine habitats. We started with a House Wren, Yellow Warblers, and Yellow-rumped Warblers in the vegetation surrounding the parking lot. On the trail, it was a fairly quiet day, but we found pockets of activity and had excellent views of several Orange-crowned, MacGillivray’s, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as Western Wood-pewees, Warbling Vireos, Flickers, and Red Crossbills. Raptor highlights included a Red-tailed Hawk and a fleeting look at a Cooper’s/Sharp-shinned hawk. Join us next week for Morning Birding at Hallam Lake!

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Red-tailed Hawk

Cooper’s/Sharp-shinned Hawk

Northern Flicker

Western Wood-Pewee

Western Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Black-billed Magpie

American Crow

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Mountain Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Pine Siskin

Red Crossbill

Lincoln’s Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Orange-crowned Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler