ACES x Pitkin County Open Space: Birding at the Gorge of the Roaring Fork 8/28/23

Surprises are around many corners lately as fall migration and dispersal continues. Our biggest surprises today were a Rock Wren and a Cassin’s Vireo. Rock Wrens are fairly common in their specific breeding habitat in the valley, but this one was a surprise away from its preferred talus field environment and because it landed on a rock in clear view just eight feet away from the group. The Cassin’s Vireo is seen uncommonly in migration locally, and only in fall. The swallows were gathered on power lines by the hundreds, a mixed flock containing mainly Violet-green, a few Cliff, and likely other swallow species. Tanagers were in small flocks of three to seven birds, possibly a mix of females and immature birds which are difficult to distinguish. An American Dipper preened on a rock in the river, chickadees were abundant in the riparian cottonwood forest, and many birds were flycatching to feast on the insect swarms and hatches in the river gorge. Join us for Morning Birding tomorrow and for birding at the Moore Open Space on Thursday!