Morning Birding | August 30, 2016

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Tuesday, August 30, 2016, 7:00AM – 10:00AM
Weather: mostly sunny
Location: Hallam Lake and Aspen Community Garden

Species Identified
Mallard Broad-tailed Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Western Woodpeewee Steller’s Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Black-capped Chickadee House Wren American Robin (pictured above)		Cedar Waxwing Green-tailed Towhee Song Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird House Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch

Comments: At Hallam Lake, highlights were eclipse male mallards with female mallards affording a side-by-side comparison of their plumages and bills, a family of kingfishers with a begging juvenile, and many adult and female cedar waxwings. A beaver in the lake and a young black bear in a tree next to the marsh viewing platform were exciting mammal sightings. The community garden turned out to be an excellent sparrow study, including the species identified on the list and a couple of sparrows that were stumpers! One birder brought some photos that were an excellent group discussion and learning opportunity as we went through the I.D. process (western woodpeewee, and a possible Swainson’s hawk).

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide

Photo by Luka, age 8, taken in an ACES Naturalist Field School camp.