Morning Birding at Rock Bottom Ranch 8/23/22

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Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 7:30am-10:30am
Weather: Mostly sunny
Location: Rock Bottom Ranch, Basalt, CO

 

Activity in the mountain shrubland habitats along the Rio Grande Trail this morning was fantastic! The abundance of different types of foods attracts many birds, including scrub-jays, warblers, orioles, tanagers, waxwings, and flycatchers. After taking in this flurry of bird activity, we watched hummingbirds at the feeders on the field center, discussed eclipse plumage in waterfowl, and observed cedar waxwings using hawking foraging techniques over the pond. Lewis’s woodpeckers were very active, providing excellent views of both adults and juveniles. We ended with a sora vocalizing in the cattails at the far pond. Fall dispersal and migration are underway! Please check out our upcoming birding progams.

Species List: 

Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Durasian Collared-Dove
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Sora
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Warbling Vireo
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Swallow sp.
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Bullock’s Oriole
Yellow Warbler
Western Tanager

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide

Featured photo: Western tanager