Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Clay Gibson, Eileen Warner , Eleanor Weng , Michael Serruto,
Shannon Campbell
Visitors:
Thank you to all of the volunteer observers who helped spot raptors and
push through the windy afternoon! We continue to have a great amount of
support at the ridge this season and couldn't be more grateful for you all.
A total of 40 visitors were seen at the hawk watch today, with a few people
coming to the site to eat lunch.
Weather:
Today started out idyllic with scattered clouds, light winds from the NNE,
and pleasant temperatures. Winds continued from the NE direction longer
than predicted, but eventually turned to W winds in the afternoon. Winds
picked up in the afternoon with gusts up to 32 km/h.
Raptor Observations:
Migrants today took an overhead line giving us great views of both adult
and immature RT. The one migrant that didn't come overhead was an adult
Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk that flew along the west ridge. This was our first
Harlan's of the year, and as always it was a stunning bird with an
especially light tail.
Local RT continue to be seen en masse, again with up to 6 seen at one time.
BE and GE were missed all day, with 2 visitors of course hoping to see GE
today. One male AK was seen perched and flying across the ridge just south
of the count platform.
Non-raptor Observations:
Northern Flicker 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 2, Common
Raven 6, Black-capped Chickadee 2, American Bushtit 25, Mountain Bluebird
3, House Finch 1
Predictions:
Winds are supposed to shift back to the E tomorrow for most of the day,
hopefully bringing in a few more migrants than we've seen the last two days
with our W winds. Temperatures are supposed to remain very pleasant through
Thursday.
========================================================================
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)
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate.
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ ---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<01010195831e9328-ff7283d6-74b6-46d8-a6d9-a556bd496ca8-000000...>
