Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Soren Zappia
Observers:
Visitors: 5 visitors. We had a few birders visit the ridge today in the last hour. They had wonderful views of a female Northern Harrier low overhead before it circled higher into the sky.
Thank you to Holly Houser, Helen Berkman, Leslie Dixon, Mike Fernandez, and Myron Gerhard for volunteering today!
Weather: The morning started overcast and cool, a drastic change from prior days. Visibility was slightly decreased by fog. We had overcast skies until mid-afternoon, after which the cloud cover started to clear. By the end of the day, thin and partial cloud cover remained and skies were sunny.
Winds were light from the E throughout the day, shifting to NE in the final hour of the count.
Raptor Observations: In the cool and cloudy morning, we had an early push of migrants, and many eagles were active including 2 migrant BEs and a GE. After this initial period, activity was very quiet until midafternoon when the clouds shifted.
When the sun came out, so did the raptors! Thermals were quick to develop - First on the smaller peak north of Mt. Morrison. Many birds took advantage of this, and at once point 3 Cooper's Hawks were seen at once along with a few RTs. Later, a thermal developed directly overhead and more RTs came in. At once point we had twelve circling overhead and we counted them as they streamed out, even as more birds joined them. After this excitement, things slowed down but we had a few accipitrines and RTs continue on the west. An interesting dark morph Buteo was seen to the east with a cleanly banded black-and-white tail - possibly an early BW but looks were brief. We will have to see what the future holds.
We also welcomed back our local Rock Wren today!
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose 8, Great Blue Heron 3, Northern Flicker 2, Magpie 4, Black-billed Magpie 2, American Crow 1, Common Raven 3, American Bushtit 6, Rock Wren 1, Western Bluebird 1, American Robin 1, Pine Siskin 2, Spotted Towhee 1, Western Meadowlark 1, Red-winged Blackbird 1, Common Grackle 2
Predictions: Tomorrow, temperatures are forecasted to rise throughout the day, starting in the low 60s F but approaching the high 70s in the afternoon. Cloud cover is predicted to vary from few clouds in the morning to partly cloudy in the afternoon. Expect light to moderate winds to the west and southwest.
======================================================================== 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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