Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley, Audrey Anderson
Observers: Bill Young, Chip Dawes, Dave Erickson, Mariane Erickson,
Marianne Erickson, Natalie Uschner-Arroyo, Pam Schmidt
Visitors:
Thank you to everyone who came out today, we had a great day full of
volunteers, committee members, counters, and visitors.
28 visitors came to the ridge today including a pilot from New Hampshire!
He is flying himself (and others) home tonight.
Weather:
We had a foggy start to our morning this morning but the fog lifted and
revealed nice blue skies by the middle of the afternoon. We could see the
storm front and precipitation north of us for a lot of the day but stayed
dry. Winds picked up and temperatures dropped in the last 30 minutes.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor activity was a bit odd today with almost constant non-migrant
raptors active in the area, but no migrants counted. At one time we counted
6 Red-tailed Hawks up, some of them performing aerial displays throughout
the day. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen crossing the ridge W to E but then
turned S in the morning. We also saw a Northern Harrier presumably hunting
below Mt Morrison in the afternoon. Eagle activity was lower today than it
has been this week.
Late in the count day Audrey spotted a flock of at least 120 Grey-crowned
Rosy Finches moving North, providing a lot of excitement at the end of a
slow day. This is the second time this week we have seen these birds, and
the only records of them ever seen at Dinosaur Ridge!
Predictions:
Rain and snow are predicted overnight into tomorrow. We are hopeful that we
can get a full day of counting in as there is only an inch or two
predicted, but spring in Colorado is rarely predictable. Bring warm layers
and some good boots, and prepare for a beautiful snow covered ridge!
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Report submitted by Official Counter (<j.f.peters58...>)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at:
www.dinosaurridgehawkwatch.org
Site Description:
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawk watch in Colorado and is
the best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Hawk
watchers may see 17 species of migrating raptors; and it is an excellent
site to see rare dark morph buteos including Broad-winged hawk,
Swainson’s hawk, Ferruginous hawk, Rough-legged hawk and Red-tailed Hawk.
Other raptors we see include Golden and Bald Eagles, Northern harrier,
Osprey, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned
Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlin, and Turkey Vultures. American Goshawk is
uncommon but also counted each season. Non-raptor species include Rock
Wren, Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift,
American White Pelican, and Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are
always welcome. The hawk watch at Dinosaur Ridge is staffed by Hawk
Counter(s) and volunteers from March through early May.
Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take
left into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow hawk watch signs
from the southwest end of the parking lot to the hawk watch site. The hike
starts heading east on an old two-track and quickly turns south onto a
trail on the west side of the ridge. When the trail nears the top of the
ridge, turn left, and walk to the flat area at the crest of the ridge.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)
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