Weather:
Today was another beautiful spring day in Colorado with cirrus cloud cover
and light winds from the SE/E for most of the day. Barometric pressure
dropped relatively significantly over the day and dark clouds rolled in the
last hour. No precipitation was predicted, but it sure felt like it was on
it's way.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor activity was slow in the first hour of the day with very few birds
seen at all, minus one migrant and one local. Movement picked up a little
bit and brought us some very high flying overhead birds. Our highlight of
the day was a dark-morph Ferruginous Hawk that flew much lower than other
migrants seen today. Migratory activity continues to be as expected for
early March at Dinosaur Ridge.
Local raptor activity picked back up today after a few seemingly slow days.
5 species of non-migrating raptors were seen today: RT, GE, BE, AK, and CH.
The Cooper's Hawk gave us great looks, and also led us to our migrating BE
and a RT.
Non-raptor Observations:
We got our FOS Sandhill Cranes today! 6 birds in a beautiful V-formation
came astronomically high through the western valley in the last hour of the
day. We have discussed SACR in the last few days, hoping they would come
soon. MOBL movement continues to be present throughout the day. We also
heard our FOS Spotted Towhee today and look forward to them returning en
masse around the ridge.
Sandhill Crane 6, Northern Flicker 1, Black-billed Magpie 2, Common Raven
5, Black-capped Chickadee 4, American Bushtit 2, Mountain Bluebird 17,
American Robin 4, House Finch 3
Predictions:
Tomorrow is expected to be a bit chillier than it has been the last few
days, but still a very pleasant day in early March. Winds are predicted to
have a West component to them, potentially bringing a slow count day.
Colorado spring is notoriously impossible to predict, though, so we stay
hopeful for a great day! Trail conditions are currently ideal.
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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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