Date: 11/3/24 5:15 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [cobirds] Mount Zion Hawk Watch at Windy Saddle Park (03 Nov 2024) 11 Raptors
Mount Zion Hawk Watch at Windy Saddle Park
Golden, Greater Denver, Colorado, USA
This is a new raptor migration site identified and designated so only in mid-September 2024. This is Colorado's 1st fall hawk watch. To get to the site which is along Lookout Mountain Rd. in Golden, enter either Windy Saddle Park or Mount Zion into Google Maps on your favorite navigation app, or enter the coordinates 39.7368,-105.2454. From the parking lot ascend the stone steps to the watch site.
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2024
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Observation start time: 10:15:00
Observation end time: 14:30:00
Total observation time: 4.25 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers: Liza Antony
Visitors:
An older hiker wanted to know what we were looking at and I discussed
raptor migration in fall. A young man wanted to know whether we could see
the faces of the paragliders. I offered my scope and 3 of them enjoyed the
view offered, and were impressed by the scope clarity, looking at the
modern Icaruses. While we were looking at a GE in describing it to each
other, a woman wanted to know what we were looking at – I told her while
looking through the scope, and asked if any of them could see it, and none
of them could, even young men and women.
Weather:
Excellent cumulus clouds 70-85% in all directions, winds from the ESE>E,
Temperature 12-9°C, humidity 20-26%, barometric pressure 29.92, clear
visibility initially 19 km with some haze gradually increasing to 39 km,
but we could not see Mount Blue Sky all day for haziness.
Raptor Observations:
Adult GE migrants at 12:31 and 2:03 PM. Every migrant raptor was seen
today only over the eastern one third of Lookout Mountain, though we
scanned in all directions, particularly to the north and west. Perhaps they
were using ridge lift off Lookout Mountain. It was puzzling/frustrating
that we could not see them overhead or further north – if there had been
a stream of birds we could have followed them and found the channel they
were Flying through.
It did not appear that any migrants were flying to the east where we had
seen most of migrants in September and early October.
Non-migrant raptors: At 11:26 AM MST, I saw an adult GE far to the NW being
chased by an RT likely an 'escort' as it flew back North, the GE continue
South but unfortunately dropped below a ridge and was lost to our sight –
it may have been a migrant but we did not count it; at 11:50 AM we saw a GE
flying north from a little further south, likely the same one. At 1:15 PM
found another GE to the SW flying north. BE adult 1. RT 7.
Non-raptor Observations:
Townsend's Solitaire 1, Common Raven 11, American Crow 10.
Today was the day for paragliders – we saw 16, as well as 1 hang glider
– all of whom had quite good lift.
Predictions:
Snow until after 10 AM with light NNE winds and sub-zero windchill. NNE
winds will be new for me at this watch. This should provide southward
migrants with a partial tailwind, as well as pushing any migrants flying
more to the east toward the watch, so it will be interesting to see what I
can see/find.
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Report submitted by Ajit Antony (<aiantony...>)
Directions to site:
From I-70 from Northeast Denver, take Route 58, then a left turn going
south on Route 6, the 1st exit is for Lookout Mountain Road, turn right and
follow the clothes to find Windy Saddle Park parking lot on the right.
From I-70 from points west of Denver, take the Lookout Mountain Road and
follow it to the Windy Saddle Park parking lot, a longer route.
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