Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers:
Visitors: 6 visitors stopped by the ridge today to look for birds, including one visitor celebrating a birthday! We had multiple visitors that came up to the Hawk Watch for their first time after hearing about it through DFO or eBird. Yay!
Weather: Today was warmer than it has been the last few days but the winds continue! Within an hour of the count starting winds picked up from the W. Winds stayed strong for most of the morning, took a break in the afternoon, and picked back up at the end of the day causing the count to be ended early.
Raptor Observations: West winds typically bring little to no migration activity but today was a nice exception. Birds moved along the E lines over Green Mountain predominantly, with the common W lines being empty. Many birds stayed low in flight to presumably avoid the winds. Highlights of the day include a picture perfect Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk that came low along the ridge, our first Golden Eagle migrant (finally), our first Turkey Vulture of the season, and our first migrating Northern Harrier! While we didn't break into the 20s+ yet for migrants, we had some great diversity today.
Local Red-tailed Hawks, Golden Eagles, and Bald Eagles could be seen almost constantly using the wind to hunt and perform courtship displays.
Common Ravens were also up moving almost constantly all day.
Non-raptor Observations: Say's Phoebe 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Common Raven 5, Black-capped Chickadee 2, American Bushtit 5, Mountain Bluebird 4, Western Bluebird 4, Townsend's Solitaire 1, American Robin 24, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions: Temperatures continue to rise tomorrow and winds will hopefully relax a bit. Maybe tomorrow will be our first 20+ bird day? ======================================================================== 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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