ACES Morning Birding at Hallam Lake 10/08/24

With a large group of mostly new birders today, we enjoyed getting in depth with the relatively short list of species we saw. From the Post Office Trail, we had a good line of sight to the tops of two massive spruce trees where evening grosbeaks were feasting on seeds in the cones. Through the scope, we noted plumage traits of males and females as well as their massive conical bill that can exert serious crushing power enabling these birds to eat cherry pits and other hard seeds such as maple and ash. Evening grosbeak is one of a handful of local breeding species undergoing a steep decline in numbers, so seeing this flock was exciting and encouraging. We also spent time with mallards and a green-winged teal, observing their distinctive feeding styles as well as their different body proportions and iridescent wing patches. Red-winged blackbirds were present in large numbers as several flocks moved about between taller trees, cattails, and alders around the preserve. On the crowns of spruce trees, these birds appeared to be eating seeds out of the cones, which seemed unusual for this species. Research shows that red-winged blackbirds are omnivorous and that their diet is largely plant material, including the seeds of trees; a couple of sources specifically mention the seeds of pines. This leaves us wondering if some of their important primary foods for this time of year are not available for whatever reason, and these birds are shifting to other foods, such as conifer seeds, that they do not typically consume. This experience underscores the rich, ongoing learning that birding continues to inspire – another reason to take time in the field, even with common, familiar species like the red-blackbird. Join us next week for more exciting fall birding at Rock Bottom Ranch!

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Steller’s Jay

Black-billed Magpie

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Mountain Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

Pygmy Nuthatch

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Evening Grosbeak

House Finch

Red-winged Blackbird

House Sparrow