Morning Birding at Hallam Lake Species List

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Tuesday, August 25, 2020 7:30AM – 10:30AM
Weather: Mostly clear.
Location: Hallam Lake

 

Species Identified:

Canada Goose
Mallard
Wood Duck
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Belted Kingfisher
Red-naped Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Empidonax Flycatcher sp.
Western Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Pine Siskin
House Finch
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow Warbler
Western Tanager

 

Comments:

 

Loose, mixed flocks of songbirds were very active in shrubs, open areas, and trees as birds gorge on abundant foods such as insects and fruits in preparation for migration.  We enjoyed having so many birds to look at all at once!  Our “birder’s pace” kept us busy for the full three hours as we covered the preserve’s little trail system and viewing platforms.  Large flocks of cedar waxwings provided a highlight, in addition to a male wood duck in eclipse plumage, an osprey, and a Red-naped sapsucker.  We discussed field marks of mallards as we watched two ducks sleeping in the grasses on the shore.  One was an adult female and the other turned out to be a juvenile mallard, likely her offspring.  Adult mallards have bright orange legs and feet, while juvenile mallards have a variable, dusky to yellowish leg/feet color.  This matches what we observed with the two ducks this morning.  Join us for more exciting fall migration birding this Thursday at North Star Nature Preserve and next Tuesday at Rock Bottom Ranch!

 

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide

Photo by Dale Armstrong