Morning Birding Species List | March 5, 2019

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Tuesday, March 5, 2019, 8AM – 11AM
Weather: Sunny
Location: Hallam Lake, Rio Grande Trail, and West End
 

Species Identified

Canada Goose Mallard Ring-necked Duck Hooded Merganser Bald Eagle Steller’s Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch American Robin House Finch Pine Siskin Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird

Comments:

Bird activity was a little less than expected for the first sunny day following a major winter snow storm, but the behaviors and close-up observations made this outing a rich experience. We observed the three species of nuthatches, taking in their subtly different foraging methods and contact calls. The pygmy nuthatches had a bout of intense vocalizing which helped us all memorize their ‘squeaky toy’ voice. A bald eagle did a circular flyover, with a smaller, mobbing bird in pursuit. We saw red-winged blackbirds perched in treetops singing – a sign of breeding season on the way. The first sign of nesting observed on a Morning Birding outing was seen today: black-billed magpies bringing sticks to the top of a multi-crown fir tree in the West End, clearly constructing a nest. We also heard the first clear song sparrow singing as well. It is exciting to note these subtle changes in behavior as days lengthen toward the equinox, signaling birds that spring is approaching. Join us on April 2nd at 8AM at Hallam Lake for the next birding outing!

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide 

 

Photo by Dale Armstrong