Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley, Soren Zappia, Emma Riley, Soren Zappia
Observers:
Visitors: 12 visitors. It was a busy day for visitors at the ridge! We had two separate out of state visitors who were in town for work. Both were able to see a new life bird (SS and GE) and were very excited!
Thanks to volunteers Sharon Kelly, Karen Fernandez, Clay Gibson, Ric Olson, Kathie Moses, Janet Peters, and Sammy Korengut for their help today!
Weather: It was a windy and warm day at the ridge. The wind started as moderate from the west with strong gusts. The wind calmed around mid-afternoon before increasing again, as the temperatures rose to around 80 F.
Cloud cover started as thin wisps across most the sky - ideal hawkwatching clouds. In the early afternoon, the cloud cover vanished almost entirely.
Raptor Observations: The spring migration is starting to pick up, and we had our highest migrant raptor count of the season so far with 19 birds. Despite the winds, a burst of activity in the late morning included Sharp-shinned Hawks, a Cooper's Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawks. Many birds took an overhead line, but a few were sighted on the east as well. There was a noticeable pause in activity during midday.
It was a good day for small falcons, and we had our first Merlins of the season zoom past the ridge. In the afternoon, we counted 5 American Kestrels, mostly at eye level on the west side - an exciting preview of things to come.
We also had many migrating Mountain Bluebirds, with our highest total for the season so far.
Non-raptor Observations: Mourning Dove 2, Northern Flicker 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 7, Black-capped Chickadee 1, European Starling 2, Mountain Bluebird 134, Western Bluebird 3, Townsend's Solitaire 1, thrush sp. 7, House Finch 1, Pine Siskin 1
Predictions: Tomorrow, near record high temperatures and sunny skies are predicted with moderate winds from the southwest. Bring sunscreen and lots of water. Trails are dry. ======================================================================== 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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