Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers:
Visitors:
It was a slow day at the site with 6 visitors stopping by.
Thank you to Clay Gibson, Ric Olson, Mike Serruto, and Bill Young for their
help on the ridge today.
Weather:
Today was hot with scattered clouds and a nice breeze to cool us off. Winds
were from the SE in the morning before switching to the W/NW and picking up
a bit in the afternoon. Cloud cover never got very heavy, but still aided
in spotting a few birds.
Raptor Observations:
We had another classic early March day with slow migratory activity and
high local activity. Migrants were seen in the morning coming nice and low
overhead and west of us. The highlight of the day was a low overhead adult
Ferruginous Hawk! This bird came so close we could see the adult red
feathered tarsi naked eye. We also had a good look at a dark-morph
Red-tailed Hawk (calarus) that was moving with a mission along the W ridge.
A few local Red-tailed Hawk pairs could be seen scattered across the sky,
with the most obvious being the pair that took up the nest just W of the
site. One of the two birds was seen with three different prey items today,
including a snake! We watched this bird bring the prey to the nest that was
used last year. Very exciting to have them back this year. We also saw the
local Golden Eagle performing incredible aerial displays, and a nice
dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk coming along the ridge before heading SW.
Passerine activity was a bit low today.
Non-raptor Observations:
Canada Goose 12, Northern Flicker 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed
Magpie 1, Common Raven 5, American Bushtit 4, Mountain Bluebird 4,
Townsend's Solitaire 3, American Robin 1, Spotted Towhee 2
Predictions:
Tomorrow's conditions are predicted to be similar to today. High
temperatures (high 60s F), scattered clouds, and light winds. Winds are
once again expected to shift W in the afternoon, potentially causing
migration to slow/halt in the afternoon.
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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, and
American White Pelican. 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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