ACES Morning Birding at Rock Bottom Ranch 8/15/23

Gray Catbirds were active in the shrubland on the hillside above the Rio Grande Trail, with Song Sparrows and Chickadees among the trees and willows closer to our group on the trail. We discussed the differences between Crows and Ravens and observed both field marks and vocalizations of a group of Crows in an adjacent pasture. Say’s Phoebes were still present at the ranch, foraging from the fences and hay manger, and Killdeer were feeding in the vegetable fields. We observed Lewis’s Woodpeckers in many places, seeing them in all kinds of light conditions and at various angles for a thorough study of this unique species. We were fascinated by a flock of Cedar Waxwings that were hawking insects in a swarm above a Russian olive tree in the pasture. Along an irrigation canal, Yellow Warblers were feeding in the willows, and beneath cottonwoods in the far end of the pasture, hummingbirds hawked insects and hovered in place. We were treated to views of the Black-chinned’s purple gorget and a sub-adult male Rufous’s orange dot where its gorget will eventually develop. Fall is in the air as Scrub Jays are caching acorns and Geese are flying in formation. Join us next week for Morning Birding at Hallam Lake!

Mallard

Wild Turkey

Rock Pigeon

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Killdeer

Osprey

Lewis’s Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Downy/Hairy Woodpecker

Say’s Phoebe

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

Black-billed Magpie

American Crow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

American Robin

Gray Catbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Song Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Yellow Warbler