ACES Morning Birding at Rock Bottom Ranch 9/17/2024

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Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 7:30-10:30 am
Weather: Cloudy
Location: Rock Bottom Ranch, Aspen, CO

Bird activity was sporadic as we walked around the Ranch this morning, with low clouds hanging over Basalt Mountain and fall colors highlighted by shafts of sunlight on the lower slopes of the Crown. Wild turkeys foraged near the vegetable plots, adjacent to the farm turkeys’ pen, and in the pasture. A very large flock of rock pigeons flew in divisions over the main compound, and red-winged blackbirds moved about in small numbers. We saw flickers feeding in the Russian olive trees, but we weren’t able to see exactly what they were eating – apparently they do not eat the fruits. At the pond, a Virginia rail lurked in the grasses and cattails about 6 feet from our group, and was spotted by a birder by sheer chance. What a find! Most of the people in our group were able to catch at least a very fleeting glimpse of this secretive bird with a lot of effort. After the rail disappeared into the wetland vegetation, we heard it give its grunting call – a thrill to hear! Join us next week for a special point-to-point birding hike on the Rio Grande Trail between Rock Bottom Ranch and Catherine Store Bridge!

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