Morning Birding at Hallam Lake Species List

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Monday, November 2, 2020 8:00AM – 11AM
Weather:  Partly clear 
Location: Hallam Lake

Species Identified:

Comments:

 

American dippers were actively foraging in the margins of Hallam Lake as well as on the Roaring Fork River, giving us many opportunities to observe their field marks and behaviors, including one that was actively singing. We also watched three wood ducks across the main lake and a few mallards nearby; this gave us a great chance to learn about the value of white in plumage patterns for identifying ducks at a distance and in difficult light where other colors are hard to discern.  Other highlights included brown creepers foraging in a conifer, a downy woodpecker on a snag, and a Wilson’s snipe that flushed from a wet willow meadow near the far viewing platform where beavers have recently flooded the area.  At the conclusion of the session, a hermit thrush, white-breasted nuthatch, and more brown creepers were observed near the fire ring.  Today’s take aways included the value of letting birds come to you, gaining understanding of birds and useful ID tips from observing behaviors, and using auditory cues to locate more birds.  Non-avian highlights included a pine marten and four bears, for an excellent morning all around!  Join us on December 2nd at Hallam Lake, and keep tuned for a possible outing at Rock Bottom Ranch in mid-November pending conditions.

 

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide

Photo by Mark Fuller