Click to Join Our Bird Walk List or Newsletter List!

(1) You can Sign Up for our "Saturday Bird Walks List" to receive information and results from our Bird Walks, or (2) Sign Up to receive our regular eNewsletters.

Note: The "Bird Walk" list is separate from our "Monthly eNewsletter" list. You can indicate your preferences if you would like to receive one or both. See the "Every Saturday Morning" article below for details on participating in our Bird Walks.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Partly cloudy and warm. 75�F. 2-6 mph. 13 participants.

I wanted to see snowy egrets this morning so we headed to Walden Ponds. As we were driving in I could see them on the other side of Cottonwood Marsh. It was fun to watch them wading, stalking, chasing prey, and flying. Another species that put on a show was the osprey. We got to watch them successfully dive and catch fish on several occasions. We had a good late summer walk. We had so many wonderful events on the walk which you can view with this week's many slides.

View our Regular Saturday, August 23, 2014 Bird Walk

Slide Show

Walden & Sawhill Ponds:
Aug 23, 2014 7:45 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
43 species (+1 other taxa)

Pied-Billed Grebe 1, found when I looked at my mallard group picture
Canada Goose 20, watch the slide show to see the goose fight.
Wood Duck 12
Mallard 20
Double-crested Cormorant 10
American White Pelican 7
Great Blue Heron 3, see Bird of the Day
Snowy Egret 3, see slide show
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 3, see slide show
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 1
American Avocet 1
Killdeer 4
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Ring-billed Gull 50
California Gull 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Mourning Dove 14
Belted Kingfisher 4
Northern Flicker 6
American Kestrel 2
Western Wood-Pewee 2
Empidonax sp. 2
Eastern Kingbird 3
Blue Jay 2
Black-billed Magpie 1
Tree Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 40
Black-capped Chickadee 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren 4
American Robin 1
European Starling 6
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow Warbler 6
Lark Sparrow 8
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Yellow-headed Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 10

Total species seen: 43

Note: Species in bold are birds that were special on the walk for
reasons like a great view, out-of-season, great numbers, or rarity.

Every Saturday Morning

- From 7:30 a.m. (promptly) to 10 am -

Meet at Wild Bird Center of Boulder

1641 - 28th St., Boulder, CO 80301

(303) 442-1322

Every Saturday year-round. No reservations required. Every last Saturday of the month we travel further afield than normal and return a little later. Bird Walk locations are determined on the morning of the walk.All ages and birding abilities are welcome!

To Sign Up for our "Saturday Bird Walks" List or "Monthly eNewsletter" List

simply Click Here. (Note: The "Saturday Bird Walks" list is a separate list from our "Monthly eNewsletters." You can update your preferences to receive one or both.)

--Thanks, Steve

Wild Bird Center of Boulder, CO

AUGUST 23, 2014

Wild Bird Center

Boulder, Colorado

Quick Links

Join our Bird Walk email list!

Website:

Wild Bird Center of Boulder Website

Catalog:

Wild Bird Center of Boulder Product Catalog

eNewsletter Archive:

Boulder Backyards eNewsletter Archive

Slide Shows of Photos taken by participants on our Saturday Bird Walks

2014 (all photos)

2014 (grouped by Walks)

2013 (all photos)

2013 (grouped by Walks)

2012 (all photos)

2012 (grouped by Walks)

Bird of the Day
August 23, 2014
Saturday Bird Walk

Great Blue Herons

�Steve Frye

Click to Enlarge

Great Blue Heron

Two great blue herons engaged in a territorial dispute this morning which was fascinating to watch. One great blue flew over towards a second and then all the posturing took place. One threat display that great blue herons use is with their neck fully extended and their head pointing upwards. Both of the herons this morning were using this posture. They also had their wings opened and hanging low. I could not find anything describing this wing posture in conjunction with the neck extended for great blue herons. One of the herons was escorted away, albeit slowly. The one being shown the way is a juvenile - note its dark head compared to the white crown of the adult. It looked quite elegant, like a slow dance was taking place, but it was really a dispute among stubborn neighbors over fishing rights. Look for images of this dispute on the slide show.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
All About Birds

Great Blue Heron

BirdFellow

Great Blue Heron

Youtube Video by
James Knott

Great Blue Heron - HD
Mini-Documentary