Observation start time: 08:45:00
Observation end time: 11:15:00
Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers:
Visitors:
A Chinese woman hiker came up and asked what I was looking for, and I
discussed raptor migration and she asked me a number of questions, Her
companion, an older white gentleman then came up, and he seemed to want to
impress me with his knowledge of raptors. He said some decades ago he was
up here and the paid counter whose salary he mentioned too, told him that
he had seen 27,000 raptors in one day! I told him that there is no such
record at this site in Hawkcount, and the maximum seen in a whole season
would be around 6500, He then dropped his number to 2700 a day. He then
claimed that hawks were not tasty to eat. I told him that he should be
careful, or he could get arrested under the Migration Bird Treaty! Amusing.
Weather:
The forecast for the winds aloft was 29 km/hr from the south, and so it was
the watch, temperature 17 - 20 C, low humidity 25-33%, cloud cover minimal
initially only to the south and by noon MDT there was a bank of cumulus
clouds to the west, visibility 24 km.
With the south winds, no cloud cover with increasing thermalic cumulus
clouds (my neologism, the -ic suffix indicating 'pertaining to') from the
west, and a good soaring forecast with lift of 3.9 m/sec, and maximum
height of thermals 8989 feet above ground level, I knew it was in for a
tough time finding migrants, though I hoped to see a few raptors before
they got too high to be seen even with binoculars.
Raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall count 2025.
See: https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk There were only 2 adults RT I found migrating today at 10:28 AM, they acted
like non-migrants, dropping below the ridge top, then I saw them over Mount
Morrison to the SW, and they took off to the SSE.
Non migrant raptors: RT 2, TV 3.
Non-raptor Observations:
Blue Jay 3, American Robin 3, Northern Flicker 10, Common Raven 3, House
Finch 2.
3 paragliders.
Predictions:
The winds aloft are expected to be from the WSW at 14 km/hr. The surface
forecast is for light winds from the west, gradually changing over to NE
with gusts to 18 mph by 2:00 PM, but with better cloud cover 40% at 9:00
AM, and increasing.
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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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