Red Rocks Park Bird Watching

I went to Red Rocks Park on Sunday April 17th to check out some birds. I went there around 10am and it was clear skies and fairly warm (around 50 degrees). There was no wind and the lake was very calm, a perfect day to easily see some birds.
I walked along the main path of red rocks and heard a mourning dove but did not see it. This is a bird that I have heard on various occasions but have been unable to ever see it in person. They must be well concealed and blend into the environment well. I also heard and saw a couple of song sparrows, which I was easily able to identify because of their distinct song. I walked off trail to an opening on a rocky cliff area to watch some of the birds on the water. I could hear loons calling; it sounded like two calling back and forth to each other, but I could only see one from a distance that was on the water. After doing some reading I found that often only one pair of mating loons occupies a single lake when it is small but in larger lakes, one pair of loons may occupy a bay of that lake. This made me believe that the pair I heard was mating and their territory was that of Shelburne Bay.
There weren’t a ton of birds on the water but soon I saw a couple of mergansers flying over head and then landing on the water of the bay. I also saw a flock of Canadian Geese overhead and two Black Ducks swimming around near the shore.
Back in the woods I saw a few chickadees singing and hoping around branched and also heard a few Robins singing. As I was walking out I saw two starlings on the ground, one which I believe was a male, making very loud calling sounds and the other (female) walking around the male. I feel very confident in being able to identify and point out birds that we have reviewed in class but still struggle to identify birds that we have not been quizzed on, even when I have my bird book with me.

Publicado el abril 22, 2016 03:48 TARDE por williamsmaggie3