ACES City of Aspen Open Space Birding at Marolt Open Space 08/24/26

Evening grosbeaks grabbed our attention as we gathered to start this outing. They were feasting on serviceberries in great morning light for excellent views of their field marks. We noted individuals that appeared to be molting, with very patchy, variable colors on underparts and face. Lewis’s woodpeckers were actively caching food items and were present throughout the morning. Overall, there was a wonderful abundance of birds, with just a few that were missing from the array: vireos, swallows, and American goldfinches. And a few that were barely present: warblers and kinglets. The severe drought has left grasslands and shrublands dried up with little to no green foliage for the aphids that attract warblers and vireos, while the high cottonwood/aspen canopy is still green and may be where these birds are right now. Within the garden and around its perimeter, it teemed with birds, especially hummingbirds, tanagers, and sparrows. With its water, lush foliage, seeds, insects, and flowers, the garden is a small oasis that is especially important this year with the surrounding landscape being much more dry than usual. We loved seeing the birds so many times and close by for comparing field marks, focusing on the various sparrows and hummingbirds. We observed hummingbirds feeding at flowers and showing yellow pollen-dusted faces. A Bullock’s oriole and a flock of lesser goldfinches were fun highlights. It was a very productive day for learning and appreciating the flocking and feeding of birds during this season of early migration. Join us on Friday for Birding by Habitat at Snowmass Village!