ACES Birding by Habitat: Snowmass Village 8/28/24

Bird activity was abundant at the Rodeo Pond and Wetlands where we started birding this morning. Cedar waxwings were everywhere we looked, in flocks of adults and immature birds that were feeding on fruits and hawking insects. We were delighted to see a few tree swallows and a spotted sandpiper at the pond, as well as a flock of gadwall ducklings with two adult gadwalls amongst the mallards. Yellow warblers were also numerous, and a warbling vireo, catbird, and red-naped sapsucker were additional highlights. We then went to the Nature Trail where we saw a western tanager, yellow-rumped warblers, and many of both chickadee species. A singing fox sparrow was a fun surprise in the willows, and white- and red-breasted nuthatches called from the conifers – all of these birds were detected and identified solely by ear. As we wrapped up our walk, two bald eagles soared high overhead, circling on a rising thermal column. One eagle was a mature adult and the other was a younger bird in dark, mottled plumage. We noted the plank-like wings of these large birds and the deeply slotted “fingers” of the primary feathers at the wingtips. Join us next week for birding outings at the Marolt and Jaffee Park Open Space parcels!