ACES Morning Birding at Hallam Lake 7/25/23

It was exciting to check on the osprey nest and see both chicks being fed. The chicks are quite big and their plumage has the classic juvenile appearance with the buffy-edged feathers giving them a “houndstooth” look. We enjoyed seeing a kingfisher hunting and hearing western flycatchers. We learned a call for Swainson’s thrush which we heard on the hillside above the lake and confirmed by comparing it with calls in the list on the Sibley guide app. The Swainson’s thrush’s song is distinctive, but the call is tricky and it was exciting to learn this. A dipper sat on a rock in the river, allowing us to thoroughly view it. We ended with a great horned owl that was being mobbed by robins, hummingbirds, and kinglets while trying to roost in the cottonwoods. The owl eventually flew to another tree where it was in excellent view again, with the same birds following it to keep mobbing. We were impressed with the small birds (especially the hummingbirds) that boldly flew very close to harass the owl. These behaviors were fascinating and memorable – which is an important goal of bird watching: to learn how to observe and appreciate birds in their natural settings, and to develop a sense of belonging and understanding where we live and visit. Join us tomorrow for a Birding By Habitat field trip to Woody Creek and Lenado!