ACES Morning Birding at Hallam Lake 7/2/2024

Tuesday, July 2, 2024, 7:00-10:00am
Weather: Mostly sunny
Location: Hallam Lake, Aspen, CO

Recently fledged great blue herons foraged at the shores of Hallam Lake, one eyeing a flock of ten mallard ducklings as they paddled by with their mother, and the other making strikes at potential prey in the emergent wetland plants across the lake. Both young herons were fascinating to watch as they practiced learning the ways of heron life. At the bridge over the Roaring Fork River on the Rio Grande Trail, two nestling American dippers peered out of the opening to their ball-shaped moss nest on a crosspiece of the bridge’s support timbers. We enjoyed watching the parents make food deliveries to these birds that looked very close to fledging. Other highlights included seeing yellow warblers in excellent light, spotted sandpipers calling and foraging on the lake shore, and a pine marten hunting in the riparian willows. Join us on July 9th for Morning Birding at Rock Bottom Ranch and on July 11th for a birding field trip in Mountain Boy Basin on Independence Pass!

Species List:

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide

Featured photo: Belted Kingfisher