Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Soren Zappia
Observers: Laura Farnsworth
Visitors: 14 visitors. We had our first DFO field trip of the season visit this morning! They enjoyed watching both local and migrant raptors on the ridge. Thank you to Ajit and Liza Antony for leading the trip.
Thank you also to Karolyn Chan for volunteering today.
Weather: The heat wave continued today with record high temperatures in the mid to high 80s F. Winds were light, starting from the west in the first hour before shifting east and southeast for most of the day. Cloud cover was variable - in the morning the sky was mostly covered in thin cloud cover, which disappeared during the midday before returning in the late afternoon.
Raptor Observations: The raptors were active as soon as the count started. We had a string of Red-tailed Hawks in the morning, already quite high, and a few American Kestrels. Throughout the rest of the day, more RTs were seen at a spectacular height, barely visible against the sparse cloud cover. It was amazing watching how efficiently these birds could utilize lift today!
An afternoon highlight was our second Turkey Vulture flying right overhead, then thermal hopping north. Even in the late afternoon, RTs could still be seen soaring overhead and over the ridges, with one final migrant in the last hour of the count.
Raven activity seemed higher than usual, and they reached heights that rivaled the RTs. We saw our first Tree Swallows at the ridge as well, and a group of 6 American White Pelicans.
Non-raptor Observations: American White Pelican 6, Northern Flicker 1, Common Raven 9, Tree Swallow 3, American Bushtit 2, Townsend's Solitaire 1, American Robin 1, House Finch 2, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1, Spotted Towhee 1, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions: A gradual drop observed in barometric pressure throughout the day today gives hope for a cold front moving through tonight! Temperatures are expected to drop to the 50s through mid 60s F, with winds light and variable. Cloud cover is predicted to be light and vary from mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Trails remain 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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