ACES Birding Field Trip: Wildcat Ranch 05/15/25

---

Thursday, May 15, 2025, 6:45-11:00 am
Weather: Mostly cloudy, cold
Location: Wildcat Ranch, Snowmass, CO

The extensive habitats of Wildcat Ranch are filled with birds that benefit from the expanses of unbroken native vegetation communities. The variety of habitats and many bodies of water support a long list of bird species found at this 7,000-acre property. We began with a Virginia’s warbler singing from a serviceberry shrub right next to the road, giving us excellent views of this reclusive species that is often challenging to see. Next, we enjoyed views of an orange-crowned warbler, also singing, in excellent light. It was a treat to compare field marks of these distinctive species, and to observe the other bird species that shared their territories. Ravens were abundant and very vocal, their presence being tied in large part to the county landfill just over the ridge. At stock ponds with cattail wetlands, we saw red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, gadwalls, green-winged teal, mallards, and a heron. We found a Brewer’s sparrow singing on territory in the sagebrush, an excellent comparison with the other sparrows we saw. Vesper sparrows were also present and singing, but kept out of view. We found nests of Bullock’s orioles and checked nest boxes that were occupied by mountain bluebirds. At the reservoir, tree, violet-green, and northern rough-winged swallows foraged over the water in a mixed flock. Join us next at Rock Bottom Ranch on May 27th!

Species List:

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide