ACES Pitkin County Open Space Birding at North Star Nature Preserve 8/16/23

While today’s species list is on the short side, our observations and conversations were rich. Migration season is bringing certain species into flocks of increasing size, and individual birds are seen in various states of molt, including adults changing into non-breeding appearance and hatch-year birds transitioning through juvenile appearances. We enjoyed seeing Chipping Sparrows in some of these molt stages, Mallards in eclipse plumage, and swallows gathering into large flocks. We enjoyed the morning calm and quietude of the preserve where deer waded across the river to forage on the opposite bank, and swallows swooped low over the river to drink water after preening in the cottonwood canopy. Food-begging juvenile birds chased adults and Flickers investigated crannies in the cottonwood trunks. Join us next week for Morning Birding at Hallam Lake!

Canada Goose

Mallard

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Great Blue Heron

Northern Flicker

Red-naped Sapsucker

Black-billed Magpie

American Crow

Violet-green Swallow

Mountain Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

House Wren

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black-headed Grosbeak