ACES Morning Birding at Hallam Lake 04/01/25

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Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 8:00-11:00am
Weather: Heavy snowfall
Location: Hallam Lake, Aspen, CO

Heavy snowfall throughout the morning made the Hallam Lake Preserve and surrounding area a true winter wonderland! We stood under a trio of large spruce trees to experience the shelter birds use during winter storms and observed birds above us in the branches where they were well-protected from the snow. The ospreys are back as of a week ago, and it was a thrill to see one of the adults perched in the dead snag over the lake. The osprey regularly shook snow off its head, perfectly adapted to deal with the weather. Other highlights included an up-close experience with ACES’ resident great horned owl, a mid-molt American goldfinch starting to grow in its bright yellow summer plumage, a male Cassin’s finch, excellent views of a song sparrow and its subtle field marks, and the calls of a brown creeper that remained out of view. At the Roaring Fork River, we were delighted to find three American dippers, visible from two bridges as they foraged in the river. We were able to see them grab and eat food items. A question that came up, was whether American tree creeper and brown creeper are the same species – and the answer is yes, they are synonyms for Certhia americana. English names for birds can vary according to which governing body manages the list you reference; the American Ornithological Society is generally the last word on English bird names in North America, and they currently use brown creeper for this bird. Join us on May 6th for the next Morning Birding outing!

Species List:

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide

Featured Photo: osprey