Morning Birding at Rock Bottom Ranch | August 11, 2015

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Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 7AM – 10AM
Weather: cloudy, light rain
Location: Rock Bottom Ranch

Species Identified
Canada Goose Mallard Great Blue Heron (pictured above) Turkey Vulture Sora Eurasian Collared-dove Mourning Dove Broad-tailed Hummingbird Northern Flicker American Kestrel Western Wood-peewee Black-billed Magpie		American Crow Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Gray Catbird Yellow Warbler Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird

Comments:

 

Bird activity was subtle on this lightly drizzly morning, with a small burst in activity at one point when the rain paused. It was interesting to note this direct connection to the weather. The sora was a highlight as it foraged at the edge of the cattails in the pond adjacent to the Rio Grande Trail where we duck through the fence on our birding route. Normally very secretive, this sora gave us some good looks, including one long bound completely in the open. We noted the lack of birdsong as birds transition from breeding activities to migration and fall preparation. This, along with plumages starting to change, keeps birders on our toes, giving us fun and challenging identifications. The outing ended with a great look at a perched turkey vulture, which we studied for its unique field marks.

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide