Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 11:00:00
Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers:
Weather:
The surface forecast was light winds from the north changing to NE, with
cloud cover of 31% increasing to 66% after noon with a chance of
thunderstorms. Earth.nullschool.net had winds aloft at 700 hPa from the WNW
at 9 km/hr, so there would be a partial headwind for southbound migrants.
The soaring forecast was poor with no lift, and thermals predicted to only
2999 ft above ground level, so I wondered whether we would get some
migrants lower than usual. At the watch, the winds were light from the
east, temperature 25>22 C, cloud cover 55>70% with very nice cirrus clouds
overhead and cirrocumulus to the N and NW, visibility to 24 km.
Raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall hawk count 2025.
See https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk The first migrant was an SW at 9:30 AM MDT over the western ridge, found
with binoculars but unidentifiable. I almost lost it setting up my scope,
but found it over Mount Morrison.
At 10:33 AM an SS attacked a CH and both migrated. These were at almost two
bino fields already above the ridge to the west, I only saw them with binos
because there was a clean white cloud background. There were no raptors in
the last hour, presumably too high to be seen even with binoculars.
Non migrant raptors: RT 2, TV 3.
Non-raptor Observations:
Steller's Jay 1, Northern Flicker 4, Blue Jay 1, Common Raven 2,
Black-capped Chickadee 1, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 4.
Predictions:
https://earth.nullschool.net/#2025/09/17/1600Z/wind/isobaric/700hPa/<orthographic...>,27.20,783/<loc...>,39.343 predicts winds aloft from the NW at 9 km/hr (giving a partial tailwind to
southbound migrants) SW of a low-pressure zone. The surface forecast
predicts winds from N>NE with a chance of thunderstorms after 12 noon and
15 mph gusts, cloud cover 41% increasing to 74%, so our count may be
limited.
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Report submitted by Official Counter of the day shown above (<dinoridgehw...>)
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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