Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 12:00:00
Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers: Liza Antony
Visitors:
Zak Hepler texted me yesterday wanting to come to the watch, presumably to
find BW. The raptors were so very high today, I texted him not to come
today, but rather to wait until the spring watch when migrant raptors are
more frequent and lower.
Weather:
Winds were light from the NW, temperature 19 to 23° C, low humidity 20%,
cloud cover 70% to 65% high cirrus, clear visibility to 24 km.
Raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall count 2025.
See:https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk
The first migrant was an RT to the West at 10:37 a.m. MDT. At 11:24 a.m.
Liza remarked on a pretty cloud overhead and to the SW, and she found two
migrants that I didn't see. Thereafter I looked in that channel, helped by
high cirrus clouds, and was able to find 5 more migrants which were
completely at the limit of binocular ID, though after 12:15 pm the only
migrant I was able to find was a high overhead GE at 12:38 p.m., presumably
because of its large size and dark coloration.
At 11:28 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. I had 2 dark morph juvenile RT - both with
translucent square window panels, the first having a light red tail
indicating it was changing to adult plumage.
Non-migrant Raptors: CH 1, RT 1 TV 2.
Non-raptor Observations:
Black-capped and Mountain Chickadee, Steller's Jay 1, Say's Phoebe 1, Barn
Swallow 2, Northern Flicker 1.
Predictions:
The winds aloft are predicted to come from the NW at 8 km/h, similar to
today.
========================================================================
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)
--
--
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/<0101019988411bf7-c7ab59ca-05ef-477e-a86c-4cd599b2551e-000000...>
